Join LancasterHistory.org on Thursday, April 19 as we welcome Virginia Whelan to discuss Conserving George Washington’s Tent. The Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, PA opened its grand, new facility to the world on April 19, 2017. Its showpiece is the oval-shaped tent—or marquee—used by General George Washington. The large 22’ x 15’ linen marquee served as Washington’s portable field office and sleeping quarters, and was repeatedly assembled and dismantled to travel with him throughout the Revolutionary War. An interdisciplinary team, including textile conservator Virginia Whelan, worked for five years to create an archival, adjustable, yet invisible to the eye structure to support the delicate artifact and reconstruct Washington’s 18^th-century field office. Whelan’s talk will describe the process and materials used in the tent’s conservation, as well as show how the hidden support structure was designed to display and protect this important artifact while maintaining historical accuracy.

Please Note: The tent itself will not be at LancasterHistory.org. The tent is currently on display at the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, PA.

Virginia Jarvis Whelan is a textile conservator and sole proprietor of Filaments Conservation Studio, based outside Philadelphia, PA. She specializes in the conservation and treatment of historic needlework and fine textiles. Whelan received her B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania and a M.S. in Art Conservation from Winterthur/University of Delaware with a concentration in textiles. In 2015, Whelan was commissioned by the Museum of the American Revolution to stabilize and frame George Washington’s Commander-in-Chief 13-star silk flag. She also conserved George Washington’s Revolutionary War Tent—a centerpiece of the Museum—and was part of the team that prepared it for display. Other significant textiles she has conserved include Benjamin Franklin’s Masonic Apron, Ghandi’s cotton shawl, and Muhlenberg’s Revolutionary War flag.

The talk, Conserving George Washington’s Tent, will take place on Thursday, April 19, 2018 in Ryder Hall at LancasterHistory.org, 230 N. President Avenue in Lancaster. A speaker’s reception will begin at 4pm, followed by the main presentation at 4:30pm. The event is free and open to the public. Due to the popularity of the Regional History Colloquium series, seating is available on a first come, first serve basis. LancasterHistory.org will also be streaming the event on Facebook Live starting at 4:30pm.

Featured image courtesy of the Museum of the American Revolution. Image of Virginia Whelan courtesy of Virginia Whelan.