Mount Vernon, VA, June 26, 2025 — Following an extensive nationwide search, the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association (MVLA) has named Adam T. Erby to the position of Executive Director of Historic Preservation and Collections at George Washington’s Mount Vernon, effective July 1, 2025. In this role, Erby will oversee the preservation and research of Mount Vernon’s historic core and world-renowned museum collections while fulfilling the longstanding preservation mission of the MVLA.
Erby joined Mount Vernon in 2012 as Assistant Curator, and he rose quickly to the role of Martha Washington Chief Curator and Director of Fine and Decorative Arts Collections. He has led a range of impactful projects, including the restoration of numerous Mansion rooms, discovery of the existence of the Washington’s Saxon blue furniture and the eventual recreation of it, curation of exhibitions including Mount Vernon: The Story of an American Icon and the new historic area permanent exhibit, Lives Bound Together, Slavery at Mount Vernon.
“Adam brings a rich understanding of George Washington’s Mount Vernon and extensive expertise to this position,” said Anne Neal Petri, Regent of the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association. “He has been a key player in the largest preservation project in our history and immensely successful in helping us bring home important pieces to the collection. We look forward to working with Adam and his superb team to advance the MVLA’s commitment to research-based preservation and curatorial excellence.”
“Adam brings both passion and precision to maintaining historical accuracy at Mount Vernon. We are incredibly fortunate to have such a visionary and experienced leader stewarding preservation at one of the most historically significant sites in America,” said Doug Bradburn, Mount Vernon President and CEO. “Notably, Adam has brought hundreds of objects owned by George and Martha Washington back home to Mount Vernon, and we anticipate even more under his capable leadership. Adam and his team will continue to play a vital role in educating millions around the world about America’s founding and why George Washington’s legacy still matters today,” Bradburn said.
“Mount Vernon is a special place for all Americans. I have been delighted to be part of the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association’s most recent round of research and restorations, and I look forward to helping steward the institution’s historic structures and curatorial collections into the future,” Erby said. “Mount Vernon is one of the most studied properties in the United States, but there is always more to learn. I look forward to working with our incredible team to share the stories of this remarkable place and the people who lived here.”
In addition to serving as Executive Director of Historic Preservation and Collections, Erby will retain his title as The Martha Washington Chief Curator. A graduate of the University of Virginia, Erby earned his M.A. in the Winterthur Program in American Material Culture at the University of Delaware and is a proud alumnus of numerous Attingham Trust programs.
Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington, is owned and operated by the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, the oldest national historic preservation organization in the United States. The estate is open to visitors and includes the Mansion, a museum and education center, gardens, tombs, a working farm, a functioning distillery, and a gristmill. It also includes the George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon.
