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.

About the Position

Assists the Curator of Textiles and Historic Dress in caring for, researching, and developing the Colonial Williamsburg collection of Textiles and Historic Dress.

Essential Functions:

1. Develops extensive knowledge of Textiles and Historic Dress, including period production methods, materials, national and regional structural and ornamental traits, and authorship, among others.
2. Assists with the research and documentation of objects.
3. Assists with organization and maintenance of proper storage of Textiles and Historic Dress collection.
4. Assists with development of storylines, labeling, and object content for exhibitions at the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg based on thematic considerations; assists with exhibition installations; and development and installation of historically accurate furnishings schemes for the Foundation's Historic Area sites, trade shops, operating taverns, and similar structures.
5. Interacts with Foundation conservators regarding preservation of the Textiles and Historic Dress collection.
6. Learns to produce and deliver high quality public presentations, including illustrated lectures, workshops, and tours of the Art Museums and exhibitions buildings.
7. Assists with training for interpreters, other public contact staff, and special interest groups as required.
8. Undertakes other tasks and assignments as appropriate.

Other Duties: Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Required and Preferred Education and Experience:

Required: The above generally gained through a four-year degree in fine arts, decorative arts, history, or a closely related field plus at least two years of curatorial work or internships or related experiences.

Preferred: Graduate degree in fine arts, decorative arts or closely related field, plus experience with a similar museum collection; publication of scholarly articles or thesis pertinent to Textiles and Historic Dress history, production, and usage; and direct familiarity with the craft skills and technology associated with the production of Textiles and Historic Dress.

Qualifications:

1. Developing knowledge of Anglo-American and associated material culture, including fine arts, decorative arts, folk art, architectural history, and related subjects.
2. Developing research and writing skills.
3. Excellent verbal communication and organizational skills.
4. Ability to work well under pressure, set and meet deadlines, and manage multiple priorities.
5. Ability to work well in a team environment and interact successfully with employees, guests, donors, and vendors.
6. Sound and accurate judgment.