Fellowship in Historic Ship
Preservation and Education
HSMC Research and Collections
and HSMC Education Departments
Name of Hiring Contact: Captain William
Gates
Title of
Hiring Contact: Maritime Curator,
HSMC
Email: wsgates@smcm.edu
Phone: 240-895-2090
Student Responsibilities/Benefits:
The usual responsibilities will be working with the Shipwright/Bosun Andy Shaw or with Captain Will Gates, assisting with the daily tasks of maintaining historic watercraft and presenting them to the public. Tasks may be scheduled to expose the Fellow to a broad range of skills. Work will also be scheduled with the Education Department Waterfront staff, who interprets the ship and maritime history for school tours as well as the general public. Photo and/or video documentation of ship’s work and skills will be among the tasks assigned.
Both operational skills and instruction/presentation skills will be learned and practiced during the Fellowship. The Fellow will be expected to master basic seamanship skills, basic marine coatings skills, and basic rigging skills. The Fellow may also gain some familiarity with historical navigation skills, ship-carpentry, and timber harvesting and storage. They will learn the historical context of the ship and develop skills to present this information to visitors. The Fellow will be expected to lead discussions and hands-on demonstrations of ship’s equipment and navigation tools.
Student Qualifications:
A mature individual with a proven record of reliability in a daily work or volunteer environment is required. The applicant needs to be an articulate speaker and have (or be ready to develop) the confidence to present complex information to both small and large groups of visitors. Both interest and experience in a practical skill such as painting, carpentry, rigging, metal work or boat repair, is highly desirable. The applicant will need to have excellent research and writing skills, and be competent with still photography. Experience or training with publishing software for graphic design, and experience with video cameras and video/film editing will be considered assets for this position.
In addition to a resume and cover letter, applicants must submit a sample of their writing (ie. a short term paper or essay from a previous class), and a sample or photos of a craft or skill item which they have produced. The photos –ideally taken by the applicant-- should show detail of craftsmanship as well as the overall scope of the project or object. Finalists for this position will be interviewed in-person, and may be asked to do a short demonstration of their practical skill.
For more information on how to apply and a list of the other fellowships available, click here.
