About Hometown Treasures

Hometown Treasures is a national education initiative that inspires individuals, families, and communities to preserve their personal and community history by learning how to care for treasured objects and document the stories they represent. Participants may bring up to three personal items for review by Smithsonian preservation professionals. Hometown Treasures is organized by The National Museum of African American History and Culture, in collaboration with the Glenstone Museum and Juneteenth Scotland Foundation.

Hometown Treasures: Capital Region

Location: Beth Carolson Scotland Neighborhood Recreation Center, 7700 Scotland Dr, Potomac, MD 20854

Program Schedule:

• Friday, September 18, 2026: 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
• Saturday, September 19, 2026: 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

This is an excellent opportunity to connect with the community, collaborate with colleagues across disciplines, and help preserve family and community history through meaningful one-on-one conversations.

Brief Description:

As we are preparing for Hometown Treasures: Capital Region, we are extending our invitation to recruit additional reviewers for this special two-day community preservation event. We are seeking museum professionals with expertise in conservation, curation, archives, history, genealogy, and related fields to share their knowledge with participants. We are looking for 2-3 additional paper/photo/book conservators and 2-3 objects/ephemera conservators. We can pay an honorarium of $900 for participating.

Priority consideration will be given to reviewers who are available to serve on both Friday, September 18, and Saturday, September 19, although we also welcome those who are available for one day.

Professional Reviewers meet individually with participants during 15-minute sessions to:

• Listen as participants share the history, provenance, and personal meaning of their treasured objects.
• Offer general preservation guidance and resources to help participants care for their heirlooms.
• Encourage individuals and families to preserve their stories and collections for future generations.
• No monetary appraisals are provided

Deadline: If you are interested in serving as a Professional Reviewer, please complete the availability survey by Friday, July 31, 2026.

Complete the Survey of Availability:

Know someone who would be a great fit? Feel free to share with professional colleagues passionate about cultural preservation, family history, and community engagement.

Selected reviewers will receive additional program details, assignments, and logistics in advance of the event.

Thank you for considering this opportunity to share your expertise and help preserve history—one family treasure at a time.