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.

Photo: The Army Historical Foundation’s Battle Ride program in 2025, courtesy of The Army Historical Foundation (AHF). For more information about the AHF, please visit www.armyhistory.org/about-the-army-historical-foundation 

Saturday, October 31st, 2026  
10:30am – 12:30pm

Location:
National Museum of the United States Army
1775 Liberty Drive,
Fort Belvoir, VA 220660

Transportation:
The best option is by car; free parking is available.
However, it is possible to combine travel by:
Metro (Blue/Orange/Silver) and
Fairfax Connector bus (FFX 334/171)

Please join us in helping conduct a clinic event to help preserve the heirlooms and family archives of service members of the United States Army. Aid in 1:1 consultations of objects (including medals, photographs, uniforms, documents, paintings, among others), as well as in the identification of materials in need of more detailed conservation treatment.

Members of The Army Historical Foundation will be introduced to conservation with a presentation (10:30–11:00 am), followed by the clinic event (11:00–12:30 pm) where they will bring objects for consultation on a first-come-first-serve basis. Please plan to arrive at the venue no later than 10:30 am.

Please fill out the following volunteer expression of interest form here:
https://forms.gle/hJ8VtXEYng3Yukv18
This is a free volunteer opportunity. Priority will be given to WCG members. A boxed lunch will be provided.

For more information about this season’s meetings and events, please visit https://washingtonconservationguild.org/meeting-schedule-2025-2026-season/

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 Community Partnership Project 2026/2027 appeared first on Washington Conservation Guild.

Pay/Hours/Benefits: These two full-time salaried positions at the GS-13 and GS-14 levels respectively. Review of the federal General Schedule (GS) pay scale for Washington, DC workers at the GS-13 level is listed as $121,785 (Step 1) to $158,322 (Step 10) per annum, while the GS pay scale for Washington, DC workers at the GS-14 level is listed at $142,913 (Step 1) to $187,093 (Step 10) per annum. . For more information about potential benefits please visit: https://www.si.edu/OHR/benefits for a complete description.

Institution/Location: National Gallery of Art, 1022 Madison Dr NW, The Mall, DC

Application Deadline: August 20, 2026

Brief Description: 

The Conservation Division of the National Gallery of Art is pleased to announce that two Painting Conservator positions are posted on USAJobs.

The Painting Conservation Lab (CL-PT) at the National Gallery of Art preserves the structural stability and aesthetic integrity of the collection through expert examination, treatment and research. CL-PT uses advanced imaging to analyze artist techniques, guide treatment and collaborate with scientists and curators to ensure long-term preservation for future generations. This vacancy announcement is for two positions. The GS-14 position focuses on Old Master paintings and assists the Head of CL-PT in supervising staff, managing funding and examining, treating and documenting paintings. The GS-13 position is non-supervisory and focuses on Modern and Contemporary paintings

Contact Info/Link to Online Application: 

USAJOBS – Job Announcement

The post Paintings Conservator (National Gallery of Art) appeared first on Washington Conservation Guild.

Pay/Hours/Benefits:  This is a full-time position with an annual salary of $85,447 – $111,087 per annum. For more information about potential benefits please visit: https://www.si.edu/OHR/benefits for a complete description.

Institution: Smithsonian Museum of American Art, 8th and G Streets NW, Washington, DC 20004.

Application Deadline: Due to the large number of qualified applicants for positions of this type, this job announcement will close at 11:59 pm Eastern Time on either: (A) August 17th, 2026 (B) The date that 200 applications are received; whichever occurs first. If the announcement closes on the date that 200 applications are received, all applications submitted by 11:59pm that day will be given consideration, including those in excess of 200.

Brief Description: 

The Conservator will monitor the condition of and treat works of art in the SAAM collection as well as educate the public on the importance of conservation.  

In this position, you will:

• Perform independent technical examinations of works of art submitted to the lab to determine their condition, including the kind and extent of deterioration and treatment needed.
• Perform extremely delicate treatments and operations on fragile artworks.
• Investigate and monitor potential hazards in museum spaces resulting from unfavorable environmental conditions, human neglect, or carelessness.
• Provide expertise on climate control, light intensity, storage, and handling.
• Provide information and advice to the public while performing treatments.
• Partner with other organizations in organizing programs and educational opportunities.
• Demonstrate conservation techniques for interactive kiosks and on-line videos. 

Contact Info/Link to Online Application: 

USAJOBS – Job Announcement

The post Paintings Conservator (Smithsonian Museum of American Art) appeared first on Washington Conservation Guild.

Pay/Hours/Benefits: This is a full-time position with an annual salary of $85,447 – $111,087 per annum. For more information about potential benefits please visit: https://www.si.edu/OHR/benefits for a complete description.

Institution/Work Location/s: Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, 10th St NW & Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20004

Application Deadline: August 12, 2026

Brief Description: 

The Assistant Conservator will support the care of NMNH’s biological, geological, and anthropological collections in a variety of preservation formats.  

In this position, you will:

• Assist in the implementation of conservation services across NMNH and assists the Museum Conservator in planning and coordinating conservation activities.
• Prepare written collection and/or facility or exhibit surveys, technical examination reports, and treatment proposals with sketches, analytical reports, digital images, and radiographs.
• Perform skilled conservation work in the examination, documentation, preservation, and restoration of specimens and objects in the collection.
• Provide exhibition conservation support, guidance, and assistance to the Office of Exhibits and relevant departmental staff.
• Contribute to all aspects of preventive conservation program to generate and disseminate pertinent information to relevant stakeholders.

Contact Info/Link to Online Application: 

The links to the announcement on USAJobs.gov are provided below. Note that the two postings are for those with US Federal hiring status “MPA” and for the general public “DEU” (defined as “US Citizens, Nationals, or those who owe allegiance to the US”); please apply accordingly:

DEU:

www.usajobs.gov/job/877361700

 MPA:

www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/877362600

The post Assistant Objects Conservator (Smithsonian Museum of Natural History) appeared first on Washington Conservation Guild.

Pay/Hours/Benefits: The advertisement does not provide any details as to pay or benefits, but does make clear that this is a full-time tenure track/tenured appointment position.

Work Location/s: University of Pennsylvania: Weitzman School of Design, 210 S 34th St, Philadelphia, PA 19104

Application Deadline: Review of applications will begin on November 1, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled.

Brief Description: 

The Department of Historic Preservation at the Stuart Weitzman School of Design, University of Pennsylvania, welcomes applications for an Assistant, Associate, or full Professor to conduct graduate-level instruction, advising, and research in architectural conservation.

The successful candidate will be expected to teach courses at the graduate level, including the introduction to architectural conservation principles and practices (including laboratory-based analysis), specialized seminars focused on particular material types and conservation issues, applied courses (studios or workshops) using field-based learning, and/or other courses that suit the candidate’s research. The position also includes leadership of the architectural conservation lab for teaching and research, advising of master’s students, and the possibility of supporting doctoral students in allied departments.

The new faculty member will also participate in and cultivate their own funded research projects, supported through the Department’s research center, the Preservation Research Collaborative, and other centers at the School and University. Future opportunities may exist to take on leadership responsibilities in the Department and/or Preservation Research Collaborative.

This position is a tenure-track or tenured appointment at the Assistant, Associate, or full Professor level, with responsibilities for teaching, research, practice, and service. Rank determined based on review of experience.

Contact Info/Link to Online Application: 

Applicants should submit a cover letter that succinctly describes their agenda for research, scholarship, and practice; a curriculum vitae; two recent publications or writing samples; a teaching statement that addresses the above teaching expectations; and the names and contact information for three references who may be contacted at a later date.

Applications should be addressed to Chair, Search Committee.

Review of applications will begin on November 1, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled. The position will begin on July 1, 2027, and the selected candidate will be expected to begin teaching in fall 2027.

Questions should be directed to Micah Dornfeld, Department Coordinator, Historic Preservation, at: micahdor@design.upenn.edu.

To apply, visit https://apply.interfolio.com/187657

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