Americana Foundation Curatorial Fellow

Who We Are

Founded in 1926, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation is a private, not-for-profit educational, historic, and cultural institution that owns and operates one of the largest and best-known museum complexes in the world. Our mission is “that the future may learn from the past” through preserving and restoring 18th-century Williamsburg, Virginia’s colonial capital. We engage, inform, and inspire people to learn about this historic capital, the events that occurred here, and the diverse peoples who helped shape a new nation. Today, Colonial Williamsburg is the largest living history museum in the U.S. The Historic Area is the 301-acre restored colonial capital with 88 original buildings and 525 buildings reconstructed to how they appeared in the 18th century through extensive archaeological, architectural, and documentary research. The Historic Area is staffed by highly trained, historically dressed interpreters and expert tradespeople who bring the 18th century to life. The Foundation also owns and operates two world-class museums, the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum, and the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum, and a renowned research library, the John D Rockefeller Jr Library. Additionally, Colonial Williamsburg is home to five world class accommodations at the Williamsburg Inn, Williamsburg Lodge Autograph Collection, the Griffin Hotel, the Williamsburg Woodlands Hotels and Suites and the unique Colonial Houses in the Historical Area. Visitors may also indulge in food and drink at our many on site restaurants and taverns that blend a historically inspired dining experience with today’s evolved tastes. Each year over 5 million people visit Williamsburg and another 20 million engage with us digitally.

Summary / Objective:

Assists the Associate Curator of Maps and Prints with the research, management, interpretation, and preservation of Colonial Williamsburg's decorative, fine and folk art collections while gaining professional experience with hands-on training. This is a 12-month position full-time at 37.5 hours per week, $18 an hour and benefits eligible.

Essential Functions:

• Assists with proper documentation of objects in the collection, including developing appropriate data for the creation of full catalog records in The Museum System (TMS) database, as well as paper files.
• Gains and enhances knowledge of proper storage techniques of selected decorative, fine and folk art collections.
• Enhances knowledge in specific areas of curatorial responsibility as well as general American history and material culture through reading, research, and participation in bi-weekly accessions meetings with Colonial Williamsburg staff.
• Assists with researching, planning, and preparation of exhibition proposals, and assists with the design and installation of exhibitions and exhibition rotations in the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museums (DWM) and the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museums (AARFAM) as well as furnishings installations in the Historic Area.
• Assists in planning and movement of antique items throughout the Foundation to provide for their proper storage, study, and exhibition.
• Assists Associate Curator in collaboration with Conservation Department staff to ensure the proper care of objects and learns basic principles of conservation through this exposure.
• Assists with routine research requests, file maintenance, and Historic Area needs and requests.
• Assists with expanding biographical information and genealogical data on artists and owners as needed.
• Performs other related duties as required.
  
  

Required and Preferred Education and Experience:

Required: Must have excellent communication skills, both oral and written; strong organization and interpersonal skills; and have the ability to work independently and as a team member. Applicants should have a Bachelor's degree and 30 semester hours of decorative and fine arts, material culture, or equivalent academic preparation, in addition to a strong understanding of American history; and work experience in a museum setting including object handling, cataloguing, and conducting primary research. Must be able to lift and carry 30 pounds.

Preferred: Ability to conduct independent research projects, prepare written descriptions of objects and catalog artifacts; familiarity with genealogical research; work experience in a museum environment; familiarity with 18th-19th century decorative and fine arts and 18th-20th century American folk art. Coursework or interest in the history of cartography or prints and printmaking.

Qualifications

Applicants should have a Bachelor's degree and 30 semester hours of fine art, decorative arts, material culture, or equivalent academic preparation, in addition to a strong understanding of American history; and work experience in a museum setting, including object handling, cataloguing, and conducting primary research. Must be able to lift and carry 30 pounds.