2026 HBCUI Intern
BIOGRAPHY
D’Mya McCray, a Texas Southern University alumna with a degree in English and a minor in African American Studies, serves as an Archival Processing Intern at Gateway Arch National Park through the HBCUI Internship Program.
During her time at Texas Southern University, D’Mya demonstrated a strong commitment to leadership and community engagement by rechartering the campus chapter of the National Council of Negro Women. Through this work, she sought to help develop a generation of women prepared to organize, lead, and contribute meaningfully to their communities. Her academic background in English and African American Studies, combined with her interest in archives, history, culture, and community development, provides a strong foundation for her work in preserving and making historical collections accessible.
During her internship at Gateway Arch National Park, D’Mya works alongside National Park Service staff to help strengthen the organization, preservation, and accessibility of the park’s archival collections. Her work includes examining and inventorying archival materials, documenting collection information, identifying preservation needs, arranging and rehousing historical records, and helping process an archival collection from beginning to end. She is also gaining experience in developing professional finding aids that help researchers and future generations discover and understand the historical materials preserved within the park’s collections.
Following her internship, D’Mya plans to pursue a Master of Science in Library Science with a concentration in Archival Studies, followed by a Ph.D. in Urban and Regional Planning with a concentration in Architecture. Her long-term vision is to combine archival preservation, community planning, and the built environment to help preserve historic neighborhoods and strengthen communities connected to African American history and culture. Through her experience at Gateway Arch National Park, D’Mya is building the research, archival, and preservation skills that will support her future academic and professional goals.
Education & Experience
Education
Texas Southern University
NPS SITE
Gateway Arch National Park
POSITION
Archival Processing Intern
Internship Overview
As an Archival Processing Intern, D’Mya supports the organization, preservation, and accessibility of historical collections at Gateway Arch National Park. Her work includes inventorying archival holdings, examining and documenting historical materials, identifying preservation needs, arranging and rehousing records, and helping process archival collections according to professional standards. She is also gaining experience in creating finding aids that help researchers and future generations discover and understand the historical resources preserved within the park’s collections.
Working alongside National Park Service staff and the park archivist, D’Mya is gaining hands-on experience in archival research, collections management, historical documentation, preservation practices, and descriptive writing. Through her work with historical records and archival materials, she is helping strengthen access to the park’s collections while developing the professional skills that will support her future studies in archival science, historic preservation, architecture, and community planning.
Skills Developed & Accomplishments
Skills Developed
- Archival Processing
- Collections Management
- Archival Research
- Historical Documentation
- Finding Aid Development
- Preservation Practices
- Descriptive Writing
- Inventory and Data
- Management
Accomplishments
- Inventoried and documented archival holdings to help improve the organization and accessibility of historical collections at Gateway Arch National Park.
- Assisted with processing archival materials by arranging, rehousing, labeling, and documenting records according to professional archival practices.
- Helped identify preservation concerns and organizational needs within the park’s archival collections to support their long-term stewardship.
- Contributed to the development of archival finding aids and descriptive records that help researchers locate and understand historical materials.
- Gained hands-on experience applying archival principles such as provenance, original order, preservation-minded rehousing, and professional documentation standards.
Testimonial
Coming soon.
