- Bouldering (Rock Climbing) and Horseback riding
- Experimenting with different creative mediums, like embroidery, knitting, and needle felting, to expand hand skills and techniques
- Designing and making my own clothes and hats
- Vintage car restoration
- Animal Welfare Advocacy
Katherine Smokowicz
Washington
Summary
Passionate conservation professional with extensive experience at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Practiced in artifact handling and preventive conservation, I developed comprehensive conservation plans and improved cataloging systems, enhancing accessibility and care for valuable collections. Proven ability to collaborate effectively with curatorial teams while ensuring environmental monitoring and pest management.
Overview
2
2
years of professional experience
Work History
Conservation Technician
Smithsonian National Museum Of African American History And Culture
10.2024 - Current
- Performing custodial and lab duties such as housekeeping, integrated pest management (IPM) of both site and off-site facilities, and maintaining safety equipment.
- Mixed resin solutions, performed Oddy tests, and executed minor treatments to objects, photographs, textiles, and paper objects.
- Created exhibition housing for various objects, including hats, textiles, books, paper, and photographs.
- Preserved and protected valuable artifacts by implementing proper handling, storage, and documentation techniques.
- Created detailed condition reports and assessments, and treatment photo documentation.
- Facilitated interdepartmental communication between curatorial staff, conservators, registrars, educators and exhibition specialists.
- Performed routine cleaning on open air exhibit displays, guaranteeing longevity and visual appeal for visitors.
- Developed a comprehensive artifact conservation plan that adhered to industry standards and best practices.
Conservation Intern (Textiles)
Smithsonian National Museum Of American History
01.2024 - 06.2024
- Assisted in creating mannequin and exhibit mounts, carving ethafoam forms by hand and with a bandsaw, rehousing standing collections, and performed preventative conservation treatments of various textiles, metals, objects, and paper.
- Working with: historic wood, stone, metals, plastics, Epoxy and other adhesives, abrasive grinding and polishing compounds, and solvents. Working with asbestos/carcinogenic materials, radioactive materials, hazardous chemicals, flammable chemicals, pesticides, biohazards, and heavy metals including arsenic, lead, and mercury.
- Balanced item protections with aesthetic standards while preparing artifacts for exhibition.
- Improved artifact cataloging system for more effective inventory management and research accessibility by creating the Women's Military History archive within the museum.
- Developed comprehensive artifact conservation plans that adhered to industry standards and best practices.
Preservation and Restoration Intern
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
06.2023 - 08.2023
- Utilizing machine shop equipment such as manual lathes, and knee milling machines. Fabricating using protractors, calipers, micrometers, rulers, scales, and dial indicators.
- Utilizing equipment manuals, technical publications, personal contacts, archival documents, catalog records, photographs, log books for airplane, mechanics textbooks, FAA publications to handle various aircraft. Using engineering drawings, building plans, sketches, and verbal instructions for fabrication.
- Experience using specialized handling equipment, such as crating systems, lifters, or climate-controlled containers. Designing and constructing forms, jigs, cradles, dollies and slings as needed to safely handle the artifacts during the restoration process and in preparation for the movement of the artifacts to be rigged into locations for exhibit
- Experience designing and constructing of containers, cradles, dollies, and other supports necessary to ensure safe handling, movement, relocation, and storage of artifacts. Overseeing and performing all types of artifact handling operations, including de/installations, which required the operation of trucks, hoists, forklifts and similar equipment.
- Minimized further deterioration and restored original appearances by filling in missing or broken areas with fabricated components.
- Balanced item protections with aesthetic standards while preparing artifacts for exhibition.
Education
Master of Arts - Public History
American University
Washington, DC05-2024
Bachelor of Arts - History
Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr, PA05-2019
Skills
- Conservation Techniques
- Storage solutions
- Environmental monitoring & pest management
- Historical research
- Preventive conservation
- Curatorial collaboration
- Mount making
- Digital archiving
- French - Intermediate
- Microsoft 365 Applications
- The Museum System (TMS)
Accomplishments
Presented research at the annual National Council on Public History Conference, 2024.
Affiliations
- National Council of Public History
- Washington Conservation Guild
Interests
Timeline
Conservation Technician
Smithsonian National Museum Of African American History And Culture
10.2024 - Current
Conservation Intern (Textiles)
Smithsonian National Museum Of American History
01.2024 - 06.2024
Preservation and Restoration Intern
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
06.2023 - 08.2023
Master of Arts - Public History
American University
Bachelor of Arts - History
Bryn Mawr College
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