175th Anniversary Historic Archive Modernization and Public Access Project's Intern

Town of McCandless

Project Contact & Location 

Abby Lucostic, Parks & Recreation Director 

9955 Grubbs Rd, Wexford PA

About Town of McCandless: Located in the North Hills of Allegheny County, McCandless was established in 1851, later becoming the Town of McCandless in 1975 and operating today as a home rule municipality. The Town spans 16.4 square miles and a population of over 28,000 residents. With its blend of suburban character, natural spaces, and community‑focused governance, McCandless remains one of the North Hills’ most desirable places to live.

Project Title: 175th Anniversary Historic Archive Modernization and Public Access Project's Intern

Project Description: This project supports the Municipality’s 175th anniversary by digitizing historical documents, maps, photographs, and other archival materials, and by reviewing municipal records to determine which items should be preserved for their historical or public value.

Anticipated Assignments / Key local government experiences: The intern will organize and categorize historical archives across all municipal departments, helping to build a clear, accessible system for managing records and expanding the digital catalog. The intern will support the Municipality’s 175th‑anniversary celebration by working with Parks and Recreation, the Heritage and Cultural Center, and the anniversary committee to prepare materials, assist with events, and help preserve local history. 

Throughout the internship, the intern will collaborate with multiple departments, gaining a broad understanding of municipal operations, documentation practices, and the role of historical preservation in community identity. This experience offers a meaningful experience while contributing to an important community milestone, and it will continue the digital record catalog initiated by an intern in 2025. 

Placement Site attributes and benefits to the community By creating a digital archive, the Municipality will be able to operate more efficiently in retrieving information for residents, enhance transparency, and provide easy access to documents that were before unavailable. This project will directly support the work and celebrations of the Municipality's 175th anniversary. The timing of this opportunity will offer the intern a unique experience in an important benchmark in our history.

Opportunities for engagement with elected officials & community: The intern will engage with elected officials and the community through public meetings, community events, internal meetings, and departmental job‑shadowing, and will have the opportunity to present a report to Council with staff support to ensure they are fully prepared.

Public Transportation Availability: Yes, PRT bus stop and Park and Ride is over a half mile from the Town Hall building