Tunic, Peru, The Textile Museum 91.341

Collections

Illustration of 19th-century Washington, D.C.

When not on view in the museum's current exhibitions, the museum's collections are stored offsite at the Avenir Foundation Conservation and Collections Resource Center. Explore highlights from these diverse collections online.

The Textile Museum

The Textile Museum's highly regarded collection of non-Western textiles and carpets encompasses more than 19,000 objects that date from 3,000 BCE to the present. The 20,000-volume Arthur D. Jenkins Library of Textile Arts is a leading resource for the study of textiles.

The Albert H. Small Washingtoniana Collection

Rare maps, drawings, letters, documents, prints, and photographs in this collection tell the story of how Washington became the vibrant commercial center that George Washington envisioned.

On View

Detail of textile designed byChristina Kim

Scraps: Fashion, Textiles, and Creative Reuse

"Scraps" presents the work of three designers who have pioneered creative approaches to recycling textiles: Luisa Cevese in Milan; Christina Kim in Los Angeles; and Reiko Sudo in Tokyo. Opens September 2.

Detail of pillar rug from the museum's collections

Selections from The Textile Museum Collections

You can always find a rotating selection of objects from The Textile Museum collections on view in the museum's lower-level galleries, including many objects that have rarely or never before been displayed.

Detail of "Bird’s-Eye View of Capitol Dome and the Mall"

Foundations for a Nation: Architectural Images from the Albert H. Small Washingtoniana Collection

Historical images reveal how public competitions, presidential preferences, and unanticipated historical events shaped the U.S. Capitol and White House.

Colonial-era navigational chart detailing Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania off the Chesapeake and Delaware bays

A Collector’s Vision: Selections from the Albert H. Small Washingtoniana Collection

A new selection of maps, letters, prints, and artifacts on display from the museum’s Albert H. Small Washingtoniana Collection includes recent acquisitions and rare treasures.

"Expansive Visions" gallery

Expansive Visions: GW Collection Past, Present, Future

Organized by GW's Luther Brady Art Gallery and presented in the museum's lower-level galleries, this exhibition traces GW's history and evolution as a presenter of contemporary art through highlights from the university collection.

Rights and Reproductions

If you are interested in requesting images of works in the museum's collections for publication, contact museumreproductions@gwu.edu.