Mount Vernon, George Washington's Estate has an exciting upcoming
Curatorial Internship sponsored by the Mid-West Tool Collectors
Association (M-WTCA) within MVLA's Collections Department.  Please find
information detailing the requirements below.  

 

Regards, 

Leah Noce

Human Resources - Special Projects

703.799.5081

George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens 

 

 

Mid-West Tool Collectors Association Curatorial Summer Internship 2010

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 successful candidate for the M-WTCA Curatorial Internship will
assist Mount Vernon's curatorial staff with a variety of projects
involving Mount Vernon's tool collection. The first is to inventory and
catalog a portion of the collection currently stored in our historic
Kitchen building, consisting principally of tools used in food
preparation and other domestic activities from the 18th to 20th
centuries. He/She will be responsible for identifying these tools,
assessing their condition, and conducting object photography. He/She
will utilize Mount Vernon's Library and Archives as well as the M-WTCA
and their Ladies Auxiliary as resources and will consult with the
Conservator about which objects may need conservation attention. The
intern will then synthesize his/her research to make recommendations as
to which objects are appropriate for display and which should be
considered for possible deaccession. 

 

The M-WTCA Curatorial Intern will also assist with the implementation
and installation of new furnishing and interpretation plans for Mount
Vernon's Greenhouse/Slave Quarters complex. Located within the
greenhouse complex (originally built in 1791-1792, destroyed by fire in
1835, and reconstructed in 1950-1951), these quarters housed a portion
of Washington's enslaved workforce at the time of his death. Two
residential spaces (bunk rooms), a Stove Room and Shoemaker's Shop are
scheduled to reopen to the public in October 2010. Tasks related to this
project might include, but are not limited to, developing and writing
label texts, identifying and acquiring appropriate historic and
reproduction items, and placing objects in the spaces.

 

 

Compensation and Hours:

 

The M-WTCA Curatorial Intern may be reimbursed for travel and research
expenses up to $300, and will receive a $3,000 stipend for the 10 weeks
of the internship period, payable on the Mount Vernon pay schedule.  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.  

 

Qualifications:

 

The successful M-WTCA Curatorial Intern candidate will possess an
interest in museum or historic site management, museum collections, or
material culture studies. A graduate-level major in American History,
American Studies, Museum Studies, Art History, or a related field is
required. A special interest in 18th-century Chesapeake social
history/material culture is preferred, although not required.

 

How to Apply:

 

By April 19, 2010 please send letter of interest, resume, and the
contact information for three references to: 

 

           Jennifer Van Horn

           Assistant Curator

           George Washington's Mount Vernon

           P.O. Box 110

           Mount Vernon, VA 22121

           Fax: 703.799.8698

           [log in to unmask]

           No phone calls please

  

All applicants will be notified of the success of his/her application by
April 30, 2010.

EOE

 

 


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