Curatorial Assistant Internship (Woodlawn/Pope-Leighey House)

PROJECT SUMMARY

Woodlawn, completed in 1805, was built on land gifted to Eleanor Parke Custis and Lawrence Lewis by George Washington. Woodlawn operated as a plantation where the family enslaved more than ninety men, women, and children of African descent. After the Lewis family sold the property to Quakers in the 1840’s, Woodlawn became a free labor colony in the years prior to the Civil War. In the early 20th century, the owners modernized the home and in the 1950's Woodlawn was purchased and became the first public site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Staff at Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House are working to update Woodlawn’s collections documentation and further enhance interpretive materials. Most of the objects within the Woodlawn collection are tied to the Lewis Period (1805-1839), and we are seeking innovative ways to activate these objects as part of our mission to tell the full history of the site.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, driven, and knowledgeable intern to join our team for the summer and help staff with updating documentation and interpretive materials. National Trust internships are temporary experiential learning opportunities with no expectation of employment at the conclusion of the internship.

For this internship, the National Trust is offering a stipend of $4,000 to help offset expenses. The period of the internship would be from approximately June 1 – July 24, for approximately 28 hours per week (some flexibility of schedule available).

DUTIES

• Under the direction of Interpretation and Collections staff, assist in a variety of general curatorial activities.
• Conduct research on museum collections to expand institutional knowledge and interpretational use.
• Assist Interpretative staff to develop self-guided tour materials, including historical research, drafting interpretive text, and gathering historic images.
• Assist with processing museum collections, including completing condition reports, photographing, and conducting provenance research.
• Assist with the installation of new exhibit Friends Gather Here, opening June 27, 2026.

EDUCATIONAL VALUE TO THE INTERN

The intern will gain experience under the mentorship of respected preservation and museum professionals, in an educational setting at one of the nation’s leading arts & cultural and non-profit advocacy organizations. The intern will also have the opportunity to participate in educational programming offered via the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s organization-wide internship program. Students may also be eligible for college or graduate school academic credit at the discretion of their institution.

Specifically, the intern will gain knowledge in the following areas:

• Historic House Museum Collections
• Interpretation of Slavery at a Historic House Museum
• Public History Research and Writing

At the end of the project the intern will have produced a written report of Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House’s collections and their use in interpretation, which will be published in the site’s monthly newsletter. Additionally, they will have the opportunity to create a digital exhibit, which will be housed on Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House’s website.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Completed undergraduate degree in Art History, Museum Studies, Public History or related field and entering graduate school, OR current graduate student enrolled in an Art History, Museum Studies, Public History or related program.
• Knowledge of early nineteenth-century social and material culture.
• Experience handling historic objects, archival materials, and conducting historical research.
• Knowledge of Inclusive and Culturally Responsive Interpretation – awareness of best practices in presenting complex or underrepresented histories.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to collaborate and work successfully in close proximity to others.
• Strong organizational skills required, with ability to prioritize, multi-task efficiently, and meet deadlines in a timely fashion.
• Ability to adapt and be flexible in a dynamic work environment.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work on site in Alexandria, VA three days per week.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products required, including Outlook, Word, and Excel.
• Ability to lift 25lbs.
• Ability to work effectively in a historic house setting, including routine use of stairs and working in spaces without consistent climate control.