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Good afternoon -

Mount Vernon, George Washington's Estate has an upcoming internship position:  Mid-West Tool Collectors Association Curatorial Summer Internship 2012, George Washington's Mount Vernon.
Please find information detailing the requirements below.
Regards,
Leah Noce
Human Resources - Special Projects
703.799.5081
George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate, Museum and Gardens




Mid-West Tool Collectors Association Curatorial Summer Internship 2012
George Washington's Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon, VA

Mount Vernon, the home of George and Martha Washington, originally extended over eight thousand acres and was divided into five farms. The property remained in the Washington family until 1858, when it was purchased by the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association, a non-profit organization founded by Ann Pamela Cunningham in 1853 to "perpetuate the sacred memory of 'the Father of his Country'" and to "preserve the relics at Mount Vernon." The current historic site encompasses George Washington's original Mansion House Farm and consists of 500 acres.

Today, Mount Vernon welcomes approximately 1 million visitors a year, and it is the responsibility of the Collections Department to ensure that the objects on view in the Mansion and outbuildings are historically accurate and preserved for these visitors. The Curatorial collection is built around the documented household and personal possessions of George and Martha Washington. The Association's mission is to show the Mansion and Outbuildings as they were furnished in 1799. Through the generosity of the Mid-West Tool Collectors Association (M-WTCA), Mount Vernon offers one summer internship to an individual interested in assisting with this preservation and accuracy mission.

Intern duties:
The M-WTCA Curatorial Intern will be responsible for developing a comprehensive interpretation and furnishing plan for the smokehouse.  Located along the Estate's South Lane, the smokehouse played an important supporting role in feeding the Mount Vernon community - primarily the Washington's and their guests in the Mansion, but on occasion the Estate's slaves as well.

Using the Mount Vernon Library and Archives, the intern will be asked to examine the furnishings and tools utilized in this space, the people involved in completing the tasks that took place there, and the interpretive history of the smokehouse.  During this process, the intern will examine the inventories taken after the deaths of George and Martha Washington, as well as the inventories of the Washingtons' contemporaries, to determine what objects were most likely in the smokehouse in 1799. The intern will then synthesize his/her research to determine which objects should be on display in the space in order to demonstrate historical accuracy.  Once those objects are determined, the intern will be asked to inventory and re-evaluate the current smokehouse display and determine a plan of action for items currently installed, pulling from storage any additional pieces deemed appropriate for the interpretation.  S/he will consult with the Conservator about objects that may need conservation attention, construct a wish list of those objects not currently represented in the Mount Vernon collection (including both period and reproduction items), and locate appropriate vendors of needed reproductions.

Mount Vernon will use this valuable research to re-interpret the smokehouse for the visiting public, and will make available the M-WTCA Curatorial Intern's research to Mount Vernon's Education and Interpretive staff for inclusion in public programs and tours.

The M-WTCA Curatorial Intern will also have opportunities to participate in Curatorial functions as may be needed and relevant to the internship's main focus, possibly including (but not limited to) cataloging, documentation of inappropriate items proposed for deaccessioning, object research, and curatorial inquiries.

Qualifications:
The successful M-WTCA Curatorial Intern candidate will be enrolled in a graduate-level program with a major in Material Culture, American Studies, American History, Museum Studies, Art History, or a related field. Previous experience with historic site or museum collections, and/or interest in 18th-century Chesapeake social history/material culture, preferred.

Compensation and Hours:
The M-WTCA Curatorial Intern is expected to fulfill a 10-week, full-time internship commitment. Compensation in the amount of $3,000 is offered for this 10-week internship, payable on Mount Vernon's bi-weekly pay schedule. There is also a travel and research allowance of up to $300 for expenses related to the project duties.  The internship period will be determined based upon the candidate's schedule with expected work hours of Monday-Friday from 9:00am-5:00pm during the selected 10 weeks. Housing and daily transportation to/from Mount Vernon will be the responsibility of the successful candidate. Mount Vernon is happy to work with the intern's academic program to provide credit for the internship period.

Application Procedure:

By March 23, 2012 please send letter of interest, resume, and contact information for three references to:

           Alison C. Bliss
           Assistant Curator
           George Washington's Mount Vernon
           P.O. Box 110
           Mount Vernon, VA 22121
           Fax: 703.799.8698
           [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>

 All applicants will be notified of the success of his/her application by April 15, 2012.





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