MOUNT VERNON LADIES ASSOCIATION OF THE UNION
3200 MOUNT VERNON MEMORIAL HIGHWAY, MOUNT VERNON, VA 22121 www.mountvernon.org

---

Organizations Filed Purposes: THE MISSION OF THE MOUNT VERNON LADIES' ASSOCIATION (THE ASSOCIATION) IS TO PRESERVE, RESTORE, AND MANAGE THE ESTATE OF GEORGE WASHINGTON TO THE HIGHEST STANDARDS AND TO EDUCATE VISITORS AND PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD ABOUT THE LIFE AND LEGACIES OF GEORGE WASHINGTON, SO THAT HIS EXAMPLE OF CHARACTER AND LEADERSHIP WILL CONTINUE TO INFORM AND INSPIRE FUTURE GENERATIONS.

TO PRESERVE, RESTORE, AND MANAGE THE ESTATE OF GEORGE WASHINGTON AND EDUCATE VISTORS ABOUT HIS LIFE.

EDUCATION:WE WELCOMED 1,033,000 VISITORS TO THE ESTATE IN 2019, 341,000 OF WHICH WHERE STUDENTS WHO VISITED FROM ALL 50 OF THE UNITED STATES AND AROUND THE WORLD. WE REMAINED THE MOST POPULAR HISTORIC ESTATE IN AMERICA, AND REACHED OVER 8 MILLION MORE INDIVIDUALS THROUGH OUR ONLINE PRESENCE. THIS YEAR MARKED A VERY SPECIAL MILESTONE FOR THE GEORGE WASHINGTON TEACHER INSTITUTE AS IT CELEBRATED 20 YEARS OF RESIDENTIAL TEACHER PROGRAMMING. THE RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS, OFFER TEACHERS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY A WEEK-LONG IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE AT MOUNT VERNON, WHERE THEY INTERACT WITH MOUNT VERNON STAFF TO LEARN NEW WAYS TO TEACH THE FOUNDING ERA AND THE LIFE OF GEORGE WASHINGTON IN THEIR CLASSROOMS. SINCE THE PROGRAM BEGAN, MOUNT VERNON HAS WELCOMED 1,637 TEACHERS FROM EVERY STATE IN THE UNION. TO CELEBRATE THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PROGRAM, MOUNT VERNON INVITED THE ALUMNI TO THE ESTATE FOR AN EXTRAORDINARY EXPERIENCE THAT INCLUDED STAFF AND GUEST LECTURES, TOURS, AND A BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK AT MOUNT VERNON'S COLLECTIONS. IN ADDITION TO THE CELEBRATION AT MOUNT VERNON, SEVEN REGIONAL REUNIONS WERE HELD ACROSS THE COUNTRY. MOUNT VERNON'S TEACHER OUTREACH EXPANDS WELL BEYOND THE ESTATE. EDUCATORS CAN SIGN UP TO RECEIVE MONTHLY EMAILS OFFERING LESSON PLANS, VIDEOS, DIGITAL INTERACTIVES, AND DIGITALIZED PRIMARY SOURCES TO AID LEARNING IN THEIR CLASSROOM. MOUNT VERNON WELCOMED THE FIFTH CLASS OF MOUNT VERNON LEADERSHIP FELLOWS. DURING THE ANNUAL PROGRAM, THE STUDENTS LEARNED ABOUT THE LIFE AND LEADERSHIP OF GEORGE WASHINGTON; EXPLORED THE INTRICACIES OF THE ESTATE WITH THE STAFF OF COLLECTIONS, HORTICULTURE, ARCHAEOLOGY, INTERPRETATION, AND THE LIBRARY; MET WITH NATIONAL LEADERS; AND COMPLETED CAPSTONE PRESENTATIONS ON THEIR PERSONAL, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT PROJECT. THROUGH THEIR STUDIES AND GUEST LECTURERS, THE STUDENTS GAINED A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP, TACTICAL LEADERSHIP AND INSTITUTION BUILDING, STRATEGIC EXECUTION, AND CHARACTER-BASED DECISION MAKING, THE VERY KEY SKILLS THAT MADE GEORGE WASHINGTON A SUCCESSFUL LEADER. THE STUDENTS APPLIED THESE NEW LESSONS TO THEIR CAPSTONE PROJECT AND DISCOVERED HOW THEY CAN BETTER THEIR COMMUNITIES THROUGH THE TEACHINGS OF GEORGE WASHINGTON.THE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS PROGRAM, NOW IN ITS 7TH YEAR, OFFERS LONG AND SHORT-TERM FELLOWSHIPS FOR SCHOLARS. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES FUNDING AND LIVING SPACE AT THE FRED W. SMITH NATIONAL LIBRARY FOR THE STUDY OF GEORGE WASHINGTON. FELLOWS GAIN ACCESS TO THE LIBRARY'S ENTIRE ARCHIVES AND INTERACT WITH MOUNT VERNON STAFF TO ADVANCE THEIR ACADEMIC PURSUITS. THIS YEAR, IN PARTICULAR, A RECORD NUMBER OF BOOKS WERE PUBLISHED BY THOSE WHO HAVE HELD FELLOWSHIPS THROUGH THIS PROGRAM.

HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND COLLECTIONS:IN 2019, THE MOUNT VERNON LADIES' ASSOCIATION SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED SEVERAL MAJOR PROJECTS, INCLUDING THE RESTORATION OF THE WEST FRONT OF THE MANSION, THE UNVEILING OF THE NEWLY RESTORED FRONT PARLOR, AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW LINDA MARS LIVESTOCK FACILITY. THE GEORGE WASHINGTON TEACHER INSTITUTE CELEBRATED TWENTY YEARS OF RESIDENTIAL TEACHER PROGRAMS, AND WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND OUR OUTREACH TO TEACHERS AND THEIR STUDENTS THROUGH OUR DIGITAL OFFERINGS.THE FRONT PARLOR WAS THE FORMAL ENTERTAINING SPACE FOR THE WASHINGTONS, AND THIS YEAR MARKED THE COMPLETION OF ITS RESTORATION AND RE-OPENING OF THE ROOM TO THE PUBLIC. IT HAD BEEN MORE THAN THIRTY YEARS SINCE THE ROOM UNDERWENT SIGNIFICANT CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION. THIS ROOM IS A DEFINING EXAMPLE OF MOUNT VERNON'S INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO HISTORICAL RESTORATION. WITH ADVANCEMENTS IN TECHNOLOGY, THE TEAM WAS ABLE TO IDENTIFY A TOTAL OF FIFTEEN PAINT LAYERS, EIGHT MORE THAN IN THE PRIOR EXAMINATION IN 1980, AND THIS ANALYSIS IDENTIFIED THE 1799 PAINT COLOR AS A LIGHT STONE OR CREAM COLOR, A HIGHLY FASHIONABLE TREATMENT AT THE TIME OF THE NEW REPUBLIC, NOT ONLY IN AMERICA BUT IN ENGLAND AS WELL. A LEDGER KEPT BY THE FAIRFAX FAMILY PROVIDED DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE OF THE ORIGINAL FURNITURE IN THE ROOM IN 1799. THE NEWLY ACQUIRED LEDGER PROVIDED THE CURATORIAL TEAM WITH DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF FURNITURE LISTED IN THE INVENTORY TAKEN UPON WASHINGTON'S DEATH. THE ORIGINAL UPHOLSTERY FABRICA HIGHLIGHT OF THE ROOMIS DOCUMENTED AS BEING SILK AND WORSTED WOOL DAMASK DYED "SAXON BLUE," A VIBRANT COLOR THAT CURATORS WORKED WITH TEXTILE SPECIALISTS TO REPLICATE. WHEN THE CARPENTERS CAREFULLY REMOVED SEVERAL MOLDED WOOD PANELS, THEY DISCOVERED EVIDENCE OF EARLIER ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES PREDATING THE CURRENT PANELING (INSTALLED BETWEEN 1757 AND THE EARLY 1760S). FROM APRIL TO OCTOBER OF THIS YEAR, GUESTS APPROACHING THE WEST FRONT OF THE MANSION FROM THE MANSION CIRCLE HAD THE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE BEHIND THE CURTAIN OF ONE OF MOUNT VERNON'S KEY ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES, THE MANSION'S RUSTICATED SIDING, THE MEANS BY WHICH GEORGE WASHINGTON TRICKED THE EYE BY USING PAINT AND SAND OVER WOOD SIDING CUT TO LOOK LIKE MORE EXPENSIVE STONE BLOCKS. DURING THE RESTORATION PROJECT, UP TO 28 MODERN LAYERS OF PAINT AND SAND WERE REMOVED AND CONSERVATION WORK WAS DONE ON THE SIDING, WINDOWS, DOORS, AND SHUTTERS. BY REMOVING THE PREVIOUS LAYERS OF PAINT, IT WAS POSSIBLE TO MAKE REPAIRS TO THE ORIGINAL STRUCTURE AND ADDRESS MOISTURE ISSUES THAT WERE CAUSING DETERIORATION INCLUDING RUSTING NAILS. WE WERE ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT 83% OF THIS SIDE OF THE MANSION EXTERIOR WAS ORIGINAL. THE TEAM SOURCED SAND FROM THE SAME DEPOSIT OF SANDSTONE THAT WASHINGTON USED, AND THE FINISH YOU CAN SEE TODAY WAS APPLIED USING THE VERY SAME METHODS WASHINGTON DESCRIBED TO THORNTON IN OCTOBER 1799: "SANDING, IS DESIGNED TO ANSWER TWO PURPOSESDURABILITY, & REPRESENTATION OF STONE; FOR THE LATTER PURPOSE, AND IN MY OPINION A DESIRABLE ONE; IT IS THE LAST OPERATION, BY DASHING, AS LONG AS ANY WILL STICK, THE SAND UPON A COAT OF THICK PAINT."THE NORTH GARDEN HOUSE IS A SMALL OCTAGONAL STRUCTURE WAS BUILT IN 1785, SOON AFTER THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR ENDED. ITS PRIMARY FUNCTION WAS LIKELY AS STORAGE FOR TOOLS AND SEEDS. FOR A BRIEF TIME, IT ALSO SERVED AS A SCHOOLHOUSE WHERE MARTHA WASHINGTON'S GRANDCHILDREN, NELLY AND WASHY CUSTIS, WERE TUTORED. REMOVAL OF WORN-OUT ROOF SHINGLES REVEALED THAT THE STRUCTURE'S FRAME HAD BEEN DAMAGED BY MOISTURE PENETRATION AND RODENT INFESTATION BUT THAT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF BOARDS FROM THE 18TH-CENTURY FRAMING SURVIVES. THE PRESERVATION HAS ENTAILED PAINSTAKING REINFORCEMENT OF THE BUILDING'S FRAME AND EXECUTION OF TARGETED REPAIRS AND REPLACEMENTS TO ENSURE CONTINUED STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY. THE INTERIOR PLASTER, WHICH PREDATES THE CIVIL WAR, RECEIVED INITIAL TREATMENT TO STABILIZE IT, TO BE FOLLOWED BY MORE IN-DEPTH CONSERVATION AT A LATER DATE.

---

---

Data for this page was sourced from XML published by IRS (public 990 form dataset) from: https://s3.amazonaws.com/irs-form-990/202003079349302390_public.xml