Apprentice Bookbinder

Founded in 1926, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation is a private, not-for-profit educational, historic, and cultural institution that owns and operates one of the largest and best-known museum complexes in the world. Our mission is “that the future may learn from the past” through preserving and restoring 18th-century Williamsburg, Virginia’s colonial capital. We engage, inform, and inspire people to learn about this historic capital, the events that occurred here, and the diverse peoples who helped shape a new nation. Today, Colonial Williamsburg is the largest living history museum in the U.S. The Historic Area is the 301-acre restored colonial capital with 88 original buildings and 525 buildings reconstructed to how they appeared in the 18th century through extensive archaeological, architectural, and documentary research. The Historic Area is staffed by highly trained, historically dressed interpreters and expert tradespeople who bring the 18th century to life. The Foundation also owns and operates two world-class museums, the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum, and the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum, and a renowned research library, the John D Rockefeller Jr Library. Additionally, Colonial Williamsburg is home to five world class accommodations at the Williamsburg Inn, Williamsburg Lodge Autograph Collection, the Griffin Hotel, the Williamsburg Woodlands Hotels and Suites and the unique Colonial Houses in the Historical Area. Visitors may also indulge in food and drink at our many on site restaurants and taverns that blend a historically inspired dining experience with today’s evolved tastes. Each year over 5 million people visit Williamsburg and another 20 million engage with us digitally.

The primary function of the Bookbinding apprentice is to rediscover, learn and preserve the varied trade skills of the 18th-century Bookbinding and interpret those skills to the public, both orally and written. The apprentice must become proficient in these skills so that he/she can teach future apprentices, insuring the trade is perpetuated. Those in this role will:

• Develops proficiency in skills under the direction of the master and designated journeyman, sustaining continuous incremental growth and progressive skill advancement that completes all apprenticeship skill levels at the established pace. The progression of the apprenticeship is based on the successful completion of object based reproductions as defined in the curriculum
• Researches available information on the trade and practitioners of the trade; works with members of the department and representatives of other departments (for example: research) in developing recommendations on new and/or varied interpretive programs.
• Provides in-depth interpretations on the trade, its history, and its products and services in the community, region, and the world; the technology, processes, skills organization and working environment of the trade; the lives and times of those who pursued the trade; the evolution of the trade; relationships between trades, etc. to a variety of audiences in a variety of settings.
• Assists with in-depth seminars, workshops, and/or forums dealing with the trade.
• Follows safety and security procedures established for the site, tools, materials, and equipment. Ensures that the safety and security procedures are followed in the absence of the master and journeyman.
• Represents the trade on departmental, divisional, and Foundation committees.
• Instructs other Foundation employees on the history of the trade and in ways to interpret the trade skills and its products.
• Maintain a high level of hospitality and courtesy and professionalism while dealing with all guest and fellow employees.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Qualifications:

• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Must have good communication skills, learn, execute, demonstrate, research, and teach varied hand skills usually gained through progressive work experience.
• Must have familiarity with various universal and specific computer platforms as designated by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.
• Must have the ability to handle multiple priorities while working within a set of guidelines and procedures with general supervision, adapting to a changing work environment, and working a flexible schedule, including weekends.