Faculty & Student Resources
GW faculty and students from all disciplines are encouraged to use our collections, educational programs and professional expertise to support their teaching, learning and career development. Collaborate with us on gallery visits, object-based learning and research, student- and faculty-driven events, and projects inspired by the museum collections.
Gallery Visits
You can arrange a group visit to our galleries to explore current exhibitions and study works on view. Guided tours are available by appointment. Please reach out to our museumed
gwu [dot] edu (Education Department) for advice on class visits and assignments.
Research Center Appointments
Students and faculty have access to tens of thousands of artworks and artifacts beyond what is on display in the galleries. Contact us to schedule a class visit to our research centers at the museum on the Foggy Bottom campus, and to our collections center on the Virginia Science and Technology Campus.
- Arthur D. Jenkins Library
Non-circulating research library focused on textiles, fashion, design and global traditions.
Please note: The library is temporarily closed through the summer for renovations. During this time, library services and resources are not available. We look forward to welcoming you back in fall 2024.
Contact: Tracy Meserve, museumlibrary
gwu [dot] edu (museumlibrary[at]gwu[dot]edu)Location: Foggy Bottom Campus, the museum at 701 21st St. NW
- Cotsen Textile Traces Study Center
Study collection of 4,000 global textile fragments ranging from antiquity to contemporary art.
Contact: Karthika Audinet, cotsentextiles
gwu [dot] edu (cotsentextiles[at]gwu[dot]edu)Location: Foggy Bottom Campus, the museum at 701 21st St. NW
- Albert H. Small Center for National Capital Area Studies
Study collection of maps, prints, newspapers and ephemera, as well as a non-circulating research library, focused on D.C. history.
Contact: Kasey Sease, washingtoniana
gwu [dot] edu (washingtoniana[at]gwu[dot]edu)Location: Foggy Bottom Campus, the museum at 701 21st St. NW
- Avenir Conservation and Collections Resource Center
Storage, conservation and care for The Textile Museum Collection and GW’s art collection.
Contact: collections
gwu [dot] edu (collections[at]gwu[dot]edu)Location: Virginia Science and Technology Campus
Student Opportunities
Textile Research Day
Students present and network with professionals in the fields of decorative arts, art history and museum studies in this annual spring event.
Evolution D.C. Blog
Students publish original research on the history and development of the nation’s capital on the museum's Evolution D.C. blog.
Work with Us
The museum provides GW students with professional development opportunities through part-time paid positions that provide hands-on learning and career training.
Propose an Event
Student groups can propose a cultural or arts-related event to be hosted at the museum during public hours.
Faculty Opportunities
Faculty from across the GW community can partner with us on unique projects to enhance teaching, research and professional growth. katrinaorsinigwu [dot] edu (Contact Katrina Orsini), academic programs associate, to begin a conversation about your idea.
Students in Professor Jessica McCaughey’s COMM 3190 class explored objects from the Albert H. Small Washingtoniana Collection as part of a collaboration with the center, contributing blog posts to Evolution D.C.
Undergraduate students in Professor Oluseyi Agbelusi's Black Atlantic course deepened their engagement with the curriculum through object-based learning with artworks from the Cotsen Textile Traces Study collection.
Professor Cecilia Gunsburger teaches undergraduates in Textiles 101: Fiber to Fabric using the Textiles 101 classroom for hands-on learning.
Students in Professor Emma François's writing class engage with objects in the Cotsen Textile Traces Study Center.
Students in Professor Elise Freidman's Classical Washington class admire their work after collaborating with the Albert H. Small Center for National Capital Area Studies to curate the exhibition "Classical Washington."