Conservation Institute, Smithsonian

Conservation Institute, Smithsonian
Name	Conservation Institute, Smithsonian
Formation	1965
Headquarters	Washington, D.C.
Parent organization	Smithsonian Institution

Conservation Institute, Smithsonian The Conservation Institute of the Smithsonian Institution is a multidisciplinary center for the preservation, scientific study, and technical treatment of cultural heritage and natural history collections. It provides conservation services, conducts research in materials science and preventive care, and supports museums and cultural organizations through training, publications, and collaborative programs with federal agencies, universities, and international bodies.

History

The Institute traces its origins to early 20th-century preservation efforts within the Smithsonian Institution and formalized work in the 1960s influenced by initiatives at the National Gallery of Art, Museum of Modern Art, and the Getty Conservation Institute. Its development intersected with federal programs such as the National Historic Preservation Act and collaborations with the National Park Service, Library of Congress, and the National Archives and Records Administration. Leadership and staff have included conservators and scientists who trained at institutions like the Cooperstown Graduate Program, Winterthur Museum, and the Courtauld Institute of Art, and who collaborated with international bodies such as UNESCO and the International Council of Museums. Major projects have involved treatment and study of iconic objects associated with the American Revolution, Civil War, Lewis and Clark Expedition, and artifacts from partnerships with the National Museum of Natural History and the National Air and Space Museum.

Mission and Functions

The Institute's mission aligns with the Smithsonian Institution's charter to increase and diffuse knowledge, emphasizing stewardship of collections from institutions including the National Museum of American History, National Portrait Gallery, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, and the National Museum of the American Indian. It provides consultative services to museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, American Museum of Natural History, Field Museum, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and supports policy frameworks like guidelines from the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works, the National Research Council, and standards used by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The Institute also advises cultural property matters related to treaties such as the Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and partnerships with agencies including the U.S. Department of State.

Research and Scientific Programs

Scientific programs integrate expertise from the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, and university laboratories at George Washington University, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Pennsylvania. Research topics span analytical methods using instrumentation akin to facilities at the Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, examination methods developed in concert with the Getty Conservation Institute, and environmental monitoring aligned with standards from the American Society for Testing and Materials and International Organization for Standardization. Projects have applied techniques from the fields exemplified by the Max Planck Society, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology to study pigments, adhesives, corrosion, and biodegradation in objects ranging from paintings associated with the Hudson River School to textiles linked to the Maya and metallurgical artifacts from the Smithsonian American Art Museum collections.

Collections Care and Conservation Services

The Institute provides hands-on treatment for objects from museums including the National Zoological Park, Anacostia Community Museum, Renwick Gallery, and traveling exhibitions organized with the National Air and Space Museum and Smithsonian American Art Museum. Services include preventive conservation informed by climate control research from groups like the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers and integrated pest management strategies used by partners including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Treatments draw on case studies involving artifacts related to the Lewis and Clark Expedition, textiles from the National Museum of the American Indian, and archival materials from the Bibliothèque Nationale de France in cooperative projects. Emergency response coordination has involved exercises with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, National Guard, and international disaster response frameworks under UNESCO.

Training, Outreach, and Publications

Educational programs include internships, fellowships, and workshops developed with academic partners such as George Mason University, University of Delaware, and the Cooperstown Graduate Program. The Institute publishes technical bulletins and contributes to journals and manuals used across institutions like the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works, ICOMOS, and the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property. Outreach initiatives collaborate with cultural organizations such as the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and museums including the Baltimore Museum of Art to disseminate conservation practices to professionals and the public alike.

Facilities and Collaborations

Facilities include specialized laboratories, analytical equipment, and controlled-environment storage located on the National Mall campus adjacent to the National Museum of Natural History and coordinated with Smithsonian units such as the S.I. Archives and the Office of Facilities Engineering and Operations. The Institute maintains partnerships with federal entities including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, U.S. Geological Survey, and the National Endowment for the Arts, and international collaborations with institutions like the British Museum, Musée du Louvre, and the State Hermitage Museum to advance conservation science and standards.

Category:Smithsonian Institution