TUSC’s Summer Graduate Interns Put Theory to Practice

TUSC was excited to host two MLIS graduate students for hands-on training and processing projects this summer. TUSC resumed the Special Collections paid internship program in 2022 as part of our commitment to support the next generation of archivists.  

Christine Garaudy and Mary Larson are both in the Master of Library and Information Science program at Louisiana State University-Baton Rouge. Mary processed the records of Parkway Partners (LaRC-1131), while Christine surveyed student organization records in the Tulane University Archives.

According to Christine Garaudy, “One of the most rewarding aspects for me has been working directly with archival materials and becoming more familiar with professional practices. Other standout moments included visiting the offsite conservation lab, where I had a fascinating conversation with conservationist Carrie Smith, Conservation Librarian, about her career and expertise. Another highlight was touring the Amistad Research Center and viewing powerful pieces from some of their photographic collections.  Informational interviews with Kure Croker, Processing Archivist, and Madeleine Weiand, Digital Production Librarian, provided additional perspective on career paths in archives.  This has been a deeply rewarding and meaningful experience.” 

Parkway Partners sought to improve New Orleans’ green spaces through events like adopt-a-neutral ground and community garden partnerships. Mary Larson said that working with the records of Parkway Partners was especially interesting because you can see the work of the organization throughout the city. “One of the most practical skills I learned is the importance of arranging a collection with researchers in mind. When I first developed my processing plan, I thought of arranging the Parkway Partners records in relation to specific neighborhoods, but that is not practical from a researcher perspective. Learning to organize records in a way that will make them most accessible to researchers will be invaluable to my future career as an archivist.”

The work our interns and graduate assistants do is not only an opportunity to build skills and develop a professional network but also provides crucial help in expanding access to our collections. We wish Mary and Christine the best as they move forward in their careers.

Published 8/8/2025