The First Couple Days

Well, I must say that although these past two days have been wonderful, I am exhausted! Yesterday was my first day at the Museum. I started by showing up 20 minutes early (in true Allyssa fashion…rather be extremely early than late!) and I walked in at the same time as another intern. This was really nice because while we waited I was able to talk to her and found out she will be working in the museum as part of a Teacher’s Association; basically she’ll write lesson plans for teachers to be able to use before or after their visit to the museum. Side note-over the past few days, I’ve noticed a TON of teachers bring their students. I find this amazing and an incredible opportunity for children to learn outside of the classroom. 

Anyways, I ended up having a quick orientation with two other girls who are very nice and I hope to run into them again. After the first hour, we took a 15-minute walk to a building to get our official Smithsonian ID Badge. Little did we know that it would take an hour and a half to finally be called up, have our picture taken, and be given our ID. While walking back to NMAH, I saw the Newseum and the National Archives. I can’t wait to visit both of these! We were hoping to make it back to the museum by noon because a lot of the interns meet in the cafeteria for lunch. Unfortunately we didn’t make it back until 1:30. So we ate together and went our separate ways since each of us are working in a different department. I went into the Archives Center kind of confused; the door wouldn’t open for me! The center is only available to those with an appointment and to enforce this, one cannot get in unless a staff member pushes a button to open the door. To signal that one is at the door, a doorbell must be rung (And yes, they get doorbell ditched a lot by the visitors/kids of the museum!). Luckily I saw this fairly quickly and didn’t make too much of a fool of myself as I was tugging on the door  =)

After heading inside, I met my supervisors and the intern coordinator who had me fill out some paperwork, gave me a quick tour, and informed me that once she signed off on a form, I would be able to get a library card and access the materials upstairs in the library (Yes! I can’t wait to check out what they have up there!). After some quick training, I was “thrown in the deep end”, as my supervisors have said quite a few times. It was wonderful though. One of the things I did was fulfill a request from a researcher who was asking for the correct page numbers of an article in a magazine. Well, the magazine was from 1933! I was amazed that I was touching papers that old. Truly spectacular. Side note-the magazine was called “Doughnut Magazine”…I had never heard of it before! 

After work, I decided to head to the DC Library to get a library card so I can check out items while I am here. I had come to DC thinking I was going to have to pay $20 for a 2 year membership because I do not reside in the area. But one of the girls from my orientation recommended I show my Smithsonian ID and find out if since I’ll be working here, if I can obtain a card without the fee. Well, I am so glad I took her advice! I didn’t have to pay anything for the card! So now I am officially a library card holder for the DC Public Library System. I got two books and headed back to the metro to get back home where I cooked my dinner and headed to bed.

Today, I had to be at work an hour earlier than yesterday and although I slept for about 8 hours, I was still exhausted throughout the day. Marco says it is because I am lazy, but I am blaming it on the time change and the fact that I am walking more than my norm ;-) Anyways, today I mostly shadowed the other Reference Intern; she started last Monday and has a better idea of what to do than I do. I already have learned a lot about the Center and was even sent downstairs by myself to re-shelve some folder boxes that contained documents; it is definitely interesting walking the halls where only staff is allowed. I thought for sure I would get lost, but I found my way back and even told my supervisor that I made it back alive! Later in the afternoon, I looked at old record books that contained logs of railroads (where they traveled between, when they got to a destination, and what the cars carried). What was amazing was that these papers began from the late 1800’s. Literally, I was turning the very brittle, broken pages that contained hand written information from 1884. Incredible. That’s all I can say. 

Before coming here, I really didn’t know much about the Smithsonian’s Archives Center and what they had to offer researchers. I am quickly finding that it is a place that many come to gather information for a thesis or to write a book. People come from all over the country to look at the materials that we have. I am so glad I have the opportunity to be working in a place that has so much information to offer those that need it. 

I got out of work a few minutes early and came straight back to “home” to cook dinner and have been fighting sleep for a couple of hours now. But now that it is about 10:00, I guess I should probably head to bed! 

Until next time,

Allyssa

P.S. I am really missing my amazing boyfriend and wonderful family! Love all of you! And McGuire and Hunter too!

This is the building across from my work:

So squirrels are everywhere around here! And they are not afraid to approach you! Their coloring reminds me of my dog =)

An extraordinary building across from MLK Library:

 

Not as good as mom's cooking, but it will do until I get back home =)