Why Volunteer?
Volunteers aid NEHGS with onsite help or at home locations scattered across the country and abroad. They can work in the library, manuscripts, research, conservation, website, or membership areas at NEHGS headquarters or on special projects from home.
Whether you live in Boston, Belgium or Baton Rouge, please consider joining our growing group of volunteers. You will enjoy the experience and the time you contribute helps to enrich the NEHGS collection.
How to Become a Volunteer:
For more information on the volunteer program contact Helen Herzer by email at hherzer@nehgs.org or by phone 617-226-1276.
Volunteer Opportunities
Development
ATTN: Director of Development
The Development department occasionally needs "hands on" help with large mailings. Volunteers who enjoy company do this task as a group and help the staff meet deadlines.
Electronic Publications Department
ATTN: Website
Volunteers work both onsite and from home with staff contact and instruction. Projects include transcribing manuscripts, proofing and editing, as well as extracting information from documents to place in spreadsheets. Volunteers who are able to come into the library at 101 Newbury Street can assist the department by scanning printed materials and “cleaning up” previously scanned text and images. This is a great, “hands-on” way to learn the process of transferring printed material to the Internet! NEHGS staff will provide training; however volunteers should have basic computer skills. Indexing requires basic knowledge of spreadsheet software programs, such as Excel.
Volunteers should have basic computer skills. Indexing requires basic Excel. NEHGS staff will provide training.
Research Library
ATTN: Director of Library Services
The library needs volunteer assistance at reference desks. Volunteers should be familiar with the Research Library and able to to help researchers with locating materials. Opportunities on the fourth floor Technology Center include assisting visitors with searching computer databases, microfilm, and microfiche or taking part in indexing projects.
Manuscripts
ATTN: Manuscripts Curator
Help us process, catalog, and organize items in our manuscript collections. The ability to read old handwriting is helpful, as well as having neat handwriting. Volunteers should be able to donate several hours a week at 101 Newbury Street, Boston. Training will be provided.
NEHGS Book Publications
ATTN: Book Publications Supervisor
We seek volunteers who have proofreading experience, writing, data entry, indexing, transcription, or editing skills. Here is your chance to take part in creating valuable new resources for the genealogical field.
Research Services
ATTN: Research Services Coordinator
The Research Service needs onsite volunteers familiar with the NEHGS collections and able to assist in preparing research reports. Training is provided and a regular time commitment is important. Volunteers who enjoy genealogical research will find this volunteer opportunity interesting and highly satisfying.
Technical Services Department
ATTN: Director of Tech Services
Volunteers with computer skills are needed to help with a variety of online data cataloging and data entry tasks. Processing new books is a regular task. Help is also needed with inventory and retrieval of books and journals from the library stacks. This position does require some bending and lifting. For volunteers with a background in bookbinding, the conservation department is always in need of those with hand skills in repairing books and manuscripts.