Acquisitions 

Portrait of Martha (Patsy) Parke Custis, daughter of Martha Washington, Charles Willson Peale, watercolor on ivory, 1772. Purchase and partial gift of an anonymous donor, 2000.

Mount Vernon welcomes gifts of objects that are appropriate for its historic collections, and the Collections Department is happy to work with owners of items who wish to donate them to Mount Vernon. Please contact the Director of Collections if you would like to offer an object, sending a good digital image, along with a description of the item, its history, and any other helpful background information.

For a summary of collecting priorities, see 'Related File' at the bottom of the page.

For a summary of the tax advantages to making gifts of personal property, see 'Related File' at the bottom of the page. 

We also welcome donations to our acquisition funds. Your contributions will allow us to continue to acquire objects related to George and Martha Washington and the history of Mount Vernon.

Intern working in the Spinning House

Internships

Mount Vernon recruits graduate students each year to assist with projects, both during the academic semesters and for the summer months. Interns gain valuable, practical experience in museum work, and, often, course credits toward their degree. A donation of $3,500 provides a stipend (and lodging on the estate) for one student for a 10-week internship in the Collections Department. If you would like to make possible a memorable experience for a student – and help further Mount Vernon’s mission – please contact the Director of Collections.

Special Projects

Virginia easy chair in need of conservation

The Collections Department always has several projects underway that would benefit from your support. Our current priority is to prepare for the opening of our new Museum and Education Center, scheduled for late 2006. To this end, we seek support for projects such as the conservation of George Washington’s field bedstead that he used throughout the Revolutionary War ($26,500), a Conservation Fellowship ($30,000), the conservation of a truly remarkable Virginia easy chair ($40,000), and an audio tour for the new Museum that will highlight the treasures of our collection ($50,000).

We also welcome donations to help ensure that our Library and its researchers have the most current reference books and periodicals related to scholarship in the field.

If you are interested in contributing or would like more information on special projects, please contact the Director of Collections.