September 2025:  Ralls County Historical Society is pleased to announce its second year of the Student Internship Program.  The Student Internship Program is available to youth ages 13 to 19 who are interested in learning about Ralls County history while at the same time helping ensure that the Ralls County Historical Society continues to achieve its mission of preserving, honoring, and celebrating our county’s history.  RCHS’s vice president, Delores Woodhurst, shared that the Historical Society is excited to offer a way to participate in the organization.  

Students who choose to participate in this program have many benefits. Participation provides valuable community service, allows for collaboration between multiple generations, and looks great on job and scholarship applications. Students who successfully participate in the program will receive a letter of recommendation and/or reference letter to use as they pursue educational and work opportunities. 

The program is open to respectful and responsible youth between the ages of 13 and 19 who can work independently under adult supervision. Student interns agree to volunteer a minimum of 10 hours to Ralls County Historical between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026.  Student interns must have their parents'/guardians' consent to participate in the program.  Volunteer work varies and will be based on the talents and abilities of individual interns. Student interns may do activities through the program, including moving and organizing materials, photographing and/or scanning documents, photographs, and other artifacts, transcribing documents, completing research, and inventorying items at the museum and/or library.  

If you are interested in participating in this program, please submit your application to Delores Woodhurst (dvwoodhurst@gmail.com). After RCHS reviews submitted applications, someone from the Ralls County Historical Society will meet each applicant to discuss goals and expectations. 

The Ralls County Historical Society looks forward to partnering with youth in Ralls County.

The Ralls County Historical Society’s 2025–2026 Student Internship Program is officially underway, with the first volunteer workday held on Monday, November 2, 2025. Evie Bickel, Bristol Sharp, Landon Pease, Joslyn Blakley, and Harper Wise spent the day moving, sorting, scanning, and organizing historical materials at the Ralls County Historical Society Library and Museum in Perry.

“Our student interns are amazing,” said Delores Woodhurst, internship coordinator for the program. “We are so thankful for these individuals and their willingness to be involved.”

The Ralls County Historical Society Student Internship Program offers youth ages 13 to 19 an opportunity to learn about Ralls County’s history while actively contributing to the preservation of local artifacts and records. Interns volunteer at least ten hours during the school year, typically completing about two hours each month.

Volunteer activities vary depending on each intern’s skills and interests and may include scanning or photographing historical items, transcribing documents, organizing museum displays, and conducting research on topics such as family history, schools, churches, cemeteries, and township development.

The program provides students with valuable community service experience and encourages collaboration between generations. Participation also strengthens future scholarship and job applications, and RCHS provides a letter of recommendation for all interns who successfully complete the program

So far, ten students have applied to take part in this year’s internship program.  “Seeing young people take an interest in preserving and celebrating Ralls County’s history gives us great hope for the future,” Woodhurst added. “They are helping ensure that our county’s story will continue to be shared for generations to come.”

For more information about the Ralls County Historical Society Student Internship Program, visit rallscohistoricalsociety.com or contact Delores Woodhurst at dvwoodhurst@gmail.com or 573-248-7445.