Pay/Hours/Benefits: This is a full-time, limited-term grant funded position paying $60,000 per annum with benefits. The position is funded for 3-years. For more information about potential benefits please visit: The Mariners’ Museum and Park – Archaeological Conservator, Yorktown Collections

Institution/Work Location/s: 100 Museum Dr, Newport News, VA 23606

Application Deadline: October 9th, 2026

Brief Description: 

The Mariners’ Museum and Park is seeking an Archaeological Conservator for a grant-funded, 3-year position.  The conservator will undertake the assessment, direct treatment, and preventive conservation care of select objects recovered in the 1930s and 1980s from shipwrecks associated with the Siege of Yorktown (September – October 1781) at Yorktown, Virginia within the holding of The Mariners’ Museum and Park and the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (VDHR). This position has been made possible in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Rediscovering Our Revolutionary Tradition, which frames the scope of work performed.

Contact Info/Link to Online Application: 

The Mariners’ Museum and Park – Archaeological Conservator, Yorktown Collections

The post Archaeological Conservator (The Mariners’ Museum and Park) appeared first on Washington Conservation Guild.

Pay/Hours/Benefits: Not applicable

Work Location/s: 650 Jefferson Drive SW, Washington DC 20004

Application Deadline: Bids are due by 5:30 on Sept 14^th, 2026.

Brief Description: 

The National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution seeks to contract 1 to 2  individuals to provide conservation assessments and treatments.

The Request for Quote and Statement of Work, which contain the details regarding this contract opportunities are available upon request until September 8, 2026. Requests to obtain these documents will not be accepted after that date.

Contact Info/Link to Online Application: 

All correspondence regarding this request should include the subject line “Conservation Treatments”

Please submit your request for the RFQ, SOW, and any questions to:

Lauren Horelick

Objects Conservator

NASM Conservation

Horelickl@si.edu

The post Contract Opportunity: National Air and Space Museum appeared first on Washington Conservation Guild.

Pay/Hours/Benefits: This is a full-time position with an annual salary range of $55,736 – $75,059 per annum with benefits. For more information about potential benefits please visit: USAJOBS Help Center – Benefits 

Institution/Work Location/s: Library of Congress, 100 1st St SE, Capitol Hill, DC

Application Deadline: September 16th, 2026

Brief Description: 

This position reports to the Chief, Preservation Research and Testing Division (PRTD), Preservation Directorate. The Directorate is responsible for the long-term, uninterrupted access to the Library’s numerous and diverse collections through a variety of preservation programs. The incumbent provides assistance to PRTD programs and projects involving scientific analysis and research related to the preservation of collections; the development and maintenance of scientific reference collections; and the testing of materials used to exhibit, house, or store collections to ensure they meet current Library specifications.

Contact Info/Link to Online Application: 

USAJOBS – Job Announcement

The post Preservation Science Technician (Library of Congress Preservation Research & Testing Division) appeared first on Washington Conservation Guild.

Overview

WCG’s 2025–2026 Season Community Partnership Project took place at the General Federation of Women’s Clubs Headquarters at 1734 N St NW, Washington DC, on April 11, 2026. Over 30 WCG volunteers at different levels of career development gathered and were separated by specialization to document, assess, and rehouse 125 objects significant to GFWC’s history.

GFWC is the oldest organization of Women’s volunteer groups in the country, dating back to 1890, and has also been proud to include international chapters throughout its history, reflecting its members’ travels and commitment to diplomacy. Its history and the service of its members is documented in its own Women’s History and Resource Center, founded in 1984. Highlights of the WHRC collection include scrapbooks showing the Federation’s involvement in the Suffrage movement, historic quilts, and inscribed silver given as gifts of sorority by Presidents from international chapters.

The one-day project in April 2026 was the culmination of a seven-month joint organizing effort between WCG and the GFWC Women’s History and Research Center Librarian, Joanna Church.

Interest in the project, in the months leading up to it, was helped by a talk that Joanna gave at WCG’s February 2026 Three-Ring Circus about the challenges of caring for a collection in a working historic property. GFWC’s headquarters was a unique site for a conservation project in that, while it is a historic building housing the WHRC archives and many culturally significant objects, it is also a working gathering space for the present-day members of the GFWC and the home of its sitting President. Curious staff and volunteers from GFWC joined Joanna and WCG on the day of the project to learn about conservation and collections care practices that they could implement and advocate for in their space moving forward. 

The Project was a success both in the scope of artifacts treated and also in connecting two DC-based, women-led groups during a challenging political time.

Teams

Works on Paper

The WHRC archives had the biggest volume of materials to be assessed. On the day of the project, professional conservators and pre-program volunteers worked alongside station co-facilitators Ewa Paul and Jane Klinger to assess and develop treatment recommendations for representative objects from the WHRC’s collection. Re-framing with archival materials was recommended for watercolor paintings, prints, and photographs. Consolidation of leather covers, the introduction of interleaving archival-grade tissue paper, and the digitization of scrapbook contents for research purposes was recommended for scrapbooks dating as far back as the 1920’s.

Textiles Team

Nancy Pollak and Katya Zinsli co-facilitated the textiles portion of the GFWC project. They instructed and guided early pre-program volunteers as this team worked together to provide preventive treatment for seven historic quilts, banners, and tapestries. The textiles were vacuumed with HEPA filter-fitted museum vacs before being rolled in buffered tissue and rehoused.

Books Team

Working with station facilitator Anne Marigza, the Books team assessed 33 representative volumes from the WHRC. This was a valuable educational opportunity for pre-program volunteers to gain experience in evaluating objects for both short-term preventative care and longer-term care needs.

Paintings Team

Kristen Loudermilk led the Paintings team in assessing seven works on canvas as well as the 11 wall panels prominently displayed in the front drawing room of GFWC Headquarters. As with the Books team, Paintings helpfully provided recommendations for future interventive treatment alongside more immediate adjustments to environmental conditions that could be made to support the longevity of the collection. Christy Jackson supplied a full treatment survey of the wall panels, providing a rough time estimate of 600-800 hours for their care and recommending an initial pilot project fully treating 1-2 wall panels to better refine time needed for the remainder of the room.

Objects Team

The co-coordinators of the Community Partnership Project, Liatte Dotan and Jen McNulty, shared the duties of heading the Objects team. The main focus of this team was the care of the GFWC’s collection of silver. Pre-program volunteers learned to distinguish between solid and plated silver objects and the different care needs of the two object types. Treatment recommendations were further refined depending on whether an object would be intended for storage, display, or ongoing use. GFWC volunteers and staff present listened in during these discussions and a silver polishing demonstration. Other objects in the collection assessed included German porcelain figurative lamps and a 19th-century saddle.

Acknowledgements

Thank you to Joanna Church, GFWC WHRC Librarian, for reaching out to WCG about this project, giving an illuminating talk on the challenges of archival and conservation work in a working historic property, for your careful cataloging work, and for all of your contributions during the planning of this year’s project.

Thank you Keara Teeter, for going above and beyond as WCG’s President and our ongoing supporter throughout the project’s planning stages and keeping operations running smoothly the day of the Project—in taking the time to help us set up, break down, and provide a model of leadership.

Thank you University Products, WCG Diamond-level sponsor, for providing funding that made this year’s Community Partnership Project possible.

Thank you WCG member Gwen Manthey for lending equipment, including HEPA vacuums and work lights.

Thank you to GFWC volunteers and staff for your hospitality, helpfulness, and eagerness both to learn about the work we do as conservators and to teach us about your organization’s work and history.

Lastly, thank you to the wonderful team of WCG members who came out to volunteer at our Community Partnership Project this spring! Here’s to many more.

The post 2025-2026 Season Community Partnership Project Summary: GFWC Women’s History and Resource Center  appeared first on Washington Conservation Guild.

 Would you, or someone you know, like to volunteer with us?
New WCG Board Members are needed to help share responsibilities of the organization.

*Emerging professionals who serve on the WCG Board receive free membership* 

Below is a selection of open positions.

Interested? Email nominating@washingtonconservationguild.org.

Meeting Coordinator: Primary Duties: organize and run the monthly member meetings by collaborating with a team to ensure each meeting is engaging, informative, and well-executed. Tasks include corresponding with invited speakers to confirm details, as well as creating compelling meeting announcements to generate interest and attendance.

• In-person Point of Contact (PoC) for Speakers: In addition to the primary duties, in-person PoCs assist with the reception by welcoming attendees, providing information, and fostering a friendly atmosphere for all participants before chairing the lecture portion of the meeting. Board members in this role must be available for in-person meetings in the DC area.
• Emerging Professionals Committee (EPC): In addition to the primary duties, EPC coordinators make WCG a welcoming place for newer members. Generate the Williston Fund application and select recipients. Host lab tours, social events, and other in-person or virtual activities. Help organize WCG’s Emerging Professionals Talks in the spring.

Logistics Team: Help spend WCG’s money on delicious refreshments, and share your creative cuisine and entertaining skills with colleagues! Work with a team member to facilitate happy hour receptions before in-person meetings. Correspond with other WCG Board Members regarding food and drink, supplies, facility details, and set-up/clean up. This is a chance to get away from your computer during the months when in-person meetings are organized. Access to a vehicle is necessary to purchase provisions and bring supplies to meetings.

DEAI Action Committee: The DEAI (Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion) Action Committee fosters a welcoming organizational culture by guiding the WCG and the larger conservation community. Develop short- and long-term goals for the organization and maintain an accountability model to ensure sustainability of these initiatives.

2026/2027 WCG season memberships are $35 for professionals, $25 for renewing emerging professionals, and free to emerging professionals who are entering their first season as a WCG member. 

For more information about this season’s meetings, please visit https://washingtonconservationguild.org/meeting-schedule-2026-2027-season/
Our meetings are public, and pictures may appear on WCG’s website and social media accounts. 

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube!

The post Call for Volunteers, 2026/2027 Season appeared first on Washington Conservation Guild.

When: Wednesday, September 30^th, 2026 9:00AM – 12:00PM
Where: NGA Warehouse, 2000 South Club Drive, Landover MD 20785
What: 10+ bins of small to large gold, black, white, and various other finish frames (see photos below)
How: Park in the back parking lot of the warehouse and enter through the open loading dock. 

All materials must be taken with you on the day of the event. There is no limit to how many frames you can take, but all are first come, first served. 

Please RSVP to Lily Tyndall (l-tyndall@nga.gov) at your earliest convenience, or by September 16^th, 2026. 

A reminder will be sent out before the event. 

We hope to see you there!

The post Frame Donation Event (National Gallery of Art) appeared first on Washington Conservation Guild.

The Williston Fund supports all of WCG’s Emerging Professional members by providing networking opportunities through social activities, lab tours, workshops, and more. In addition, the Guild awards up to five recipients with:

• Free WCG professional organization membership
• Reduced registration fees for WCG-sponsored workshops and events
• Reimbursement for Emerging Professional membership to the American Institute for Conservation (AIC)

Award recipients are given priority to present their work at the Emerging Professionals meeting in April 2027 and will be asked to assist the WCG board with meeting administration, such as writing lecture summaries to be published on the website. These are great opportunities for emerging conservators to network with area professionals and learn more about our field. 

Williston Fund applications are open to all Emerging Professionals in the DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia area, including students, recent graduates, volunteers, interns, and fellows. Priority will be given to those who have not previously been awarded the Williston Fund.

The application is available at this link: Sidney S. Williston Fund Application 

Questions? Contact EPC@washingtonconservationguild.org

Applications are due by 5:00 PM EST on Sunday, 20 September 2026.
Award recipients will be notified via email and announced at the October 1st meeting.

2026/2027 WCG season memberships are $35 for professionals, $25 for renewing emerging professionals, and free to emerging professionals who are entering their first season as a WCG member.
Join or renew at www.washingtonconservationguild.org/membership. 

For more information about the Williston Fund or WCG, please visit www.washingtonconservationguild.org

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube!

The post Call for Applications: Sidney S. Williston Memorial Fund for Emerging Professionals appeared first on Washington Conservation Guild.

Saturday, September 12th,
3:00–4:30 pm

Location:
2401 Tilden St NW, Washington, DC
Parking: there is a lot across the street
Nearest Metro station:
Cleveland Park (Red line)
See website for amenities and accessibility.
Wear comfortable shoes appropriate for stairs.

Image courtesy of the NPS website

Peirce Mill was built on Rock Creek in 1829 at the behest of Isaac Peirce. Using the moving water as a power source, the mill ground corn, wheat, and rye. Succeeding generations further developed the mill, sawmill, orchard, and tree nursery. In 1890, an act of Congress incorporated the mill and 350 acres of the property into Rock Creek Park. The mill operated until the turbine’s shaft broke in 1897. At the turn of the century, park managers went to work improving the site, improving roads and bridges and adding a new dam that provided a nice aesthetic for picnickers. In 1905, the mill was converted into a tea room complete with electric lights. In 1933, New Deal legislation transferred Rock Creek Park to the National Park Service. The National Park Service restored the mill and grounds to their historic layout by 1936. 

This is a free tour for WCG members only.
RSVP is required to attend. RSVP closes September 4th, 2026
RSVP link: https://forms.gle/SLu337mP2bd8SNTDA  

Please contact membership@washingtonconservationguild.org if you need to check your membership status

2026/2027 WCG season memberships are $35 for professionals, $25 for renewing emerging professionals,
and free to emerging professionals who are entering their first season as a WCG member.
Join or renew at www.washingtonconservationguild.org/membership. 

For more information about this season’s meetings, please visit:
https://washingtonconservationguild.org/meeting-schedule-2026-2027-season/

The post WCG Member Tour of Pierce Mill/Rock Creek Park appeared first on Washington Conservation Guild.

Welcome to the Washington Conservation Guilds 60th season!

I am honored to be writing my first Letter from the President to you all. First and foremost, I would like to extend a heartfelt thank-you to Keara Teeter for the hard work and dedication she put into her WCG leadership. I had the pleasure of working closely with her this past season and noticed how gracefully she handled the twists and turns thrown at her. Her tenure is going to be an extremely tough act to follow but I look forward to the challenge!

By way of introduction, I have bounced in and out of the DC area since 2018, first as an undergraduate conservation intern, then as a home-base while attending grad school in England, before finally settling here as a conservator in 2023. My first encounter with WCG was as a Three-Ring Circus presenter in January 2024. I fell in love with WCG for the networking and educational opportunities it provided, especially to an emerging professional. I joined the Board as a Director in 2024 before being invited to run for Vice President for the 2025/2026 season. It is beyond exciting to be able to give back to this wonderful and welcoming organization as President.

The WCG Board has been working hard over the past month to prepare our programming for the upcoming season (did I mention it’s our 60th?!). Our programs continue to be generously subsidized through the WCG sponsorship program. We’ve got a great lineup of lectures, tours, and events coming your way including but not limited to: a talk on the preservation of the Northwestern Terra Cotta collection at The National Building Museum, a talk on the sculptural cleaning of protest-related graffiti from former NPS conservator Courtney Magill, and a member workshop on how to build visual didactics for presentations, social media, and community outreach. Check out the Meeting Schedule page on our website for the most up-to-date information.

I would like to give a friendly reminder that WCG offers complimentary membership to emerging professionals for their first season. Membership is also free to any emerging professionals serving on the Board (see end of letter for currently vacant positions). In addition, we will be releasing our call for applicants for the Williston Award in the coming weeks so keep an eye on your inbox for that announcement. Benefits of receiving this award include free WCG membership, reimbursement for one year of membership to AIC, reduced registration costs for WCG workshops, as well as the opportunity to present to our membership at our April Emerging Professionals Talks. Supervisors, please help us spread the word about this award and encourage your interns and fellows to apply!

In other exciting news, this season’s Community Partnership Project is just around the corner. After many months of planning, we are excited to announce a joint endeavor with the Army Historical Foundation to put on a public-facing presentation on preservation, followed by a 90-minute conservation clinic. We will be recruiting volunteers from our membership to speak to the general public in 1-on-1 sessions about how to care for their military memorabilia (note: patrons to this event are not allowed to bring weapons). This event will be held at the National Museum of the United States Army on October 31st, 2026 from 10:30 am – 12:30 pm so mark your calendars!

Another upcoming event to note is the inaugural Cultural Heritage Emergency Summit happening at the Smithsonian Arts & Industries building on November 9th and 10th. This conference is not part of WCG programming but it is certainly relevant to our membership. Registration will open towards the end of the month so if you are interested in learning more about emergency planning and response, come join like-minded peers for two days of talks, workshops, and museum and conservation lab tours.

WCG is always looking for fresh ideas on lecture topics, tours, workshops, venues, etc. If you have any ideas, or just want to say hi, drop me an email at president@washingtonconservationguild.org. If you’re really interested in sharing your thoughts and skills with the Board, we’d love to have you join us! We are currently looking to fill the following positions:

• Emerging Professional Committee member
• Logistics team member
• DEAI Action Committee member

If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about these roles, please reach out to nominating@washingtonconservationguild.org.

Before I sign off, I would like to announce that this season’s kick-off event will be happening on Saturday, September 12th at Peirce Mill in Rock Creek Park (official announcement and RSVP forthcoming). This will be a members-only tour so be sure to visit the website to join or renew your membership (if you need to check your membership status, you can contact membership@washingtonconservationguild.org). Until then, I hope you enjoy the rest of your summer, and I look forward to seeing both new and familiar faces at Peirce Mill.

Sincerely,

Sara Becker (she/her)

President, Washington Conservation Guild

Post-Graduate Fellow in Book & Paper Conservation, National Park Service, Harpers Ferry Center

The post August Letter From the President appeared first on Washington Conservation Guild.

About Hometown Treasures

Hometown Treasures is a national education initiative that inspires individuals, families, and communities to preserve their personal and community history by learning how to care for treasured objects and document the stories they represent. Participants may bring up to three personal items for review by Smithsonian preservation professionals. Hometown Treasures is organized by The National Museum of African American History and Culture, in collaboration with the Glenstone Museum and Juneteenth Scotland Foundation.

Hometown Treasures: Capital Region

Location: Beth Carolson Scotland Neighborhood Recreation Center, 7700 Scotland Dr, Potomac, MD 20854

Program Schedule:

• Friday, September 18, 2026: 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
• Saturday, September 19, 2026: 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

This is an excellent opportunity to connect with the community, collaborate with colleagues across disciplines, and help preserve family and community history through meaningful one-on-one conversations.

Brief Description:

As we are preparing for Hometown Treasures: Capital Region, we are extending our invitation to recruit additional reviewers for this special two-day community preservation event. We are seeking museum professionals with expertise in conservation, curation, archives, history, genealogy, and related fields to share their knowledge with participants. We are looking for 2-3 additional paper/photo/book conservators and 2-3 objects/ephemera conservators. We can pay an honorarium of $900 for participating.

Priority consideration will be given to reviewers who are available to serve on both Friday, September 18, and Saturday, September 19, although we also welcome those who are available for one day.

Professional Reviewers meet individually with participants during 15-minute sessions to:

• Listen as participants share the history, provenance, and personal meaning of their treasured objects.
• Offer general preservation guidance and resources to help participants care for their heirlooms.
• Encourage individuals and families to preserve their stories and collections for future generations.
• No monetary appraisals are provided

Deadline: If you are interested in serving as a Professional Reviewer, please complete the availability survey by August 14, 2026.

Complete the Survey of Availability:

Know someone who would be a great fit? Feel free to share with professional colleagues passionate about cultural preservation, family history, and community engagement.

Selected reviewers will receive additional program details, assignments, and logistics in advance of the event.

Thank you for considering this opportunity to share your expertise and help preserve history—one family treasure at a time.

The post Hometown Treasures: Capital Regional – Call for Volunteers appeared first on Washington Conservation Guild.