The Magazine Project

The Magazine Project at Colonial Williamsburg is a multi-year project that includes archaeological excavation, architectural investigation, and remodeling of the 18th century building. I was hired as a two-year project conservator to treat the historic firearms of the Magazine before reinstallation in 2025. To begin, I surveyed approximately 150 arms and armor objects that were previously on display in the Magazine. From my survey and in conversation with the curator, I made a treatment priority list for all the objects.

Treatment of the metal largely included corrosion reduction, coating removal, and cleaning old polish residues. To facilitate these treatments, each firearm was disassembled to the furthest extent possibly - including full lock disassembly.

The wooden stocks also needed treatment. In many cases, this was reversing and retreating old repairs, some of which were done as early as the 1940s.

Additionally, based on my work on the Magazine Project, I have given a public talk at Colonial Williamsburg, a professional talk at the Arsenals of History Symposium, and ran a public program in the Colonial Williamsburg Historic Area on firearms conservation.