Overview
On Saturday, March 15th, a large group of volunteers gathered at 330 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20003. Work started at 9:30 am and ended at 4:30 pm. Volunteers included fifteen WCG members led by the 2024–2025 CPP Coordinator, Howard Wellman, ten Naval Lodge members led by Naval Lodge Historian Isaiah Akin, and Catherine P. Foster from Argus Cultural Property Consultants.
The 2025 WCG Community Partners Project was structured to assist the Naval Lodge—the first Masonic lodge in Washington DC, founded in 1805—with assessing and rehousing a number of historic documents, books, photographs, paintings, objects, and textile artifacts. The volunteers collectively assessed approximately 200 sheets of documents, 25 books, 13 photographic items, 13 paintings, 21 objects, and 11 textiles. A portion of these assessed collections were also cleaned, rehoused in boxes, or given advice regarding other types of storage.
$2,000 worth of archival supplies—including acid-free cardboard, tissue, phase-boxes, folders, and document boxes—were purchased with money fundraised by the Naval Lodge, following materials guidance from WCG members.
Beverages, snacks, and lunch were provided jointly by the Naval Lodge and the WCG General Fund.
Teams
Document Team
Led by Jeanne Drewes, the Document Team worked on the paper archives with two volunteers from the Naval Lodge. One Naval Lodge volunteer put together the boxes for file storage and helped make boxes for the books, while the second Naval Lodge volunteer cleaned paper documents with cosmetic sponges and then wrote information on their new file folders. Most of the work was done by four WCG volunteers. They did assessments and foldering with penciled labels for approximately 200 sheets, and then put the sheets in two boxes—one for legal-sized and one letter-sized sheets. They cleaned, assessed, and filed. Archives of various dates and provenance were completed, including all documents provided from King David Lodge No. 28 of Washington, DC (this lodge was chartered in 1893, and it was consolidated with the Naval Lodge in 1975).
Book Team
Led by Anne Marigza and assisted by Kim Thompson, they surveyed about twenty-five books and made six boxes for rehousing.
Photo Team
Led by Ariadna Romer, they surveyed and rehoused the following thirteen items: Item 1 was a leather-bound album with metal hinges and clasps; it had the gilded title “Naval Lodge No.1 FAAM // Washing[to]n D.C. // 1893” This album consisted of twenty pages, each with four slots in the recto (front of the page) and four in verso (backside of the page). The images were made in a range of photographic processes from collodion (early ones), matte collodion, and gelatin. The order of the images has been disturbed, and latter photographs are placed next to the earlier ones.This album was featured in a video interview with Ariadna Romer (https://www.facebook.com/share/v/198ZHFcoZi/) Items 2–4 (three Cabinet Cards), items 5–11 (seven color photographs, consisting of Gelatin with RC support), and items 12–13 (two lantern slides; Gelatin positives) were photographed, dusted, and stabilized with an acid-free enclosure.
Paintings Team
Conservator Keara Teeter assessed a portrait painting of John Davis of Abel (Master Mason from 1805–1808, 1811–1813) and one painted ceremonial object from the Naval Lodge collection. She also completed a general survey of 12 paintings from the Grand Lodge of DC collection (in 1811, the Naval Lodge and several other lodges that existed in the District of Columbia formed the Grand Lodge of DC). The survey’s aim was to provide advice for minor frame modifications and ongoing display recommendations.
Objects Team
Led by Howard Wellman and assisted by Liatte Dotan, they assessed approximately twenty objects of wood, stone, and metal; several wooden ballot boxes; a silver-plated beverage service; a mason’s leather setting maul; various other items.
A video interview with Howard Wellman (https://www.facebook.com/share/v/12MergCGCvy/) features three metal objects from the collection.
Textiles Team
Led by Cathleen Zaret, they assessed four banners, five aprons (one was removed from its frame, given an Ethafoam standoff and blue board cover, and is awaiting removal of pressure sensitive adhesive tape), and surface cleaned and two collars. The objects were wrapped in tissue and placed on lifting boards. Metallic components were isolated from the objects with tissue. Additional advice was shared for costume storage, hanger type, and hat storage.
Lessons Learned:
- When ordering cardboard sheets for box making, order the smaller size to avoid excess shipping costs.
- When ordering polyethylene envelopes for photos, get the “L”-shaped envelopes with two sides sealed.
Acknowledgements
Thank you to Catherine P. Foster, of Argus Cultural Property Consultants, for conducting a security risk assessment of the building and collection spaces.
Thank you to WCG member Gwen Manthey for lending equipment, including HEPA vacuums and tripod work lights.
Thanks to the Naval Lodge volunteers for their aid, enthusiasm, and hospitality: Isaiah Akin, David Newstead, Marc Meyer, Randall Hopkins, Sergio Aleman, Dan Mattausch, Keenan Ward, Jason Chang, Pete Rodgers, and Andres Uzcategui.
Finally, our appreciation and gratitude goes out to WCG members who spent the day volunteering at the Naval Lodge: Daniella Briceño Villamil, Ana Gabriela Calderón Puente, Rhea DeStefano, Jeanne Drewes, Liatte Dotan, Sarah Fong, Pamela Kirschner, Anne Marigza, Rebecca Putnam, Ariadna Romer, Keara Teeter, Kim Thompson, Howard Wellman, Cathleen Zaret, and Katya Zinsli.
Respectfully submitted by Howard Wellman, 2023–2025 WCG Director and 2024–2025 WCG Community Partnership Project Coordinator. After action report date: April 28, 2025.
