Neal T. Hurst will join the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation as its new associate curator of costumes and textiles effective Aug. 22 and marks a return for him to Colonial Williamsburg. Hurst is currently employed as assistant curator at the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia.
Bringing a particularly deep understanding of 18th-century clothing to his new position; from 2004-2011, Hurst completed a seven-year apprenticeship in Colonial Williamsburg's Department of Historic Trades to learn the trade of tailoring and worked as a journeyman tailor. There, he studied and recreated 18th-century men's garments using only period construction techniques. In 2012-2013, he also served as Mellon Foundation Curatorial Intern at the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg. Since 2013, while at the Museum of American Revolution, Hurst has been responsible for overseeing the reproduction of George Washington's office tent at Williamsburg.
"I am very excited to start work with the curatorial team (at Colonial Williamsburg)," said Hurst. "As humans, we come in contact with clothing and textiles every day, which makes these material objects engaging and relatable. Colonial Williamsburg maintains a wonderful and growing collection to share with the public."
"Neal Hurst is that rare variety of material culture curator who brings to the post both impressive research skills and firsthand knowledge of period trade practices," said Ronald L. Hurst (no relation), the Foundation's Carlisle H. Humelsine chief curator and vice president for collections, conservation and museums. "Neal is an outstanding addition to an already exceptional curatorial team and we look forward to working with him."
Hurst received a Master of Arts and Sciences degree from the University of Delaware's Winterthur Program in American material culture and a Bachelor's degree in history from the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg.