Collections Highlight: The Washington National Cathedral Construction Archives

In 2015, the National Building Museum received an incredible donation of more than 32,000 materials related to the design and construction of the Washington National Cathedral and other historic buildings on the 57-acre campus in Northwest D.C. The Construction Archives Collection dates from 1896 to 2007 and includes sketches on trace paper, correspondence with contractors and craftsmen, iterative renderings, design cartoons, and construction drawings featuring the contributions of the many prominent architects and landscape architects who worked on the Cathedral.

As the Museum’s Collections team continues to preserve the history of the Washington National Cathedral’s Construction Archives Collection, it has become commonplace to encounter prints and drawings deemed as “problems.” These “problems” can contain a plethora of conditions that jeopardize the long-term health of the historic drawings. Below, explore artifacts that illustrate these challenges and reaffirm the importance of thoughtful preservation and responsible archival stewardship.

Crayon Sketches of Miracle and Parable Windows

This artifact represents one of the most complex condition assessments undertaken for the collection. Fifteen sketches, along with eight typed labels, were glued or taped to a brittle backing board. The primary support board had been partially severed, resulting in severe structural vulnerabilities on the sketches, many of which were completely torn from the board or missing altogether. The Collections team determined that all sketches were created on trace paper and, as a result, exhibited significant staining and discoloration caused by the adhesive materials.

Given the sheer number of sketches, staff deduced that this board may have been used as a proposal or presentation piece for window mockups at the Cathedral. With this context in mind, the team determined that the most appropriate preservation approach was to remove loose tape and dried glue, then encapsulate the entire board in a non-toxic polyester film. This type of film is commonly used in conservation to support and protect brittle objects due to its stability and transparency.

Plan of the Cathedral’s Crypt

This artifact’s unstable condition is unfortunately typical of many early construction drawings of the Cathedral. Created in 1929, the drawing was mounted on a brittle sheet of vellum or parchment, materials commonly and inexpensively used by architects for drafting at the time. While practical for architectural production, these materials are not well-suited for exhibition or long-term storage. The presence of extensive tears, losses, and residual tape made it clear to staff that the drawing required additional stabilization. To safeguard its integrity, the Collections team created a custom polyester encapsulation measuring over 30 inches wide and 40 inches long, providing essential support and protection from future damage during handling and rehousing.

Accretion on a Blueprint

The condition of this blueprint of the Crossing Chapel, now known as the Chapel of St. Joseph of Arimathea, was shocking. After a thorough assessment, the team concluded that this blueprint was suffering from accretion damage. In this condition, a non-original material is attached to the surface of a paper support. While the cause of this accretion remains unknown, staff concluded that a hot, fibrous object was placed on the blueprint at some point. When this object was removed, it took with it pieces of the blueprint’s original surface. This artifact also exhibits losses along the left edge. Given the extent of the damage, the Collections Department sees this artifact as a prime candidate for outsourced conservation treatment.

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To conduct research using the Washington National Cathedral Construction Archives Collection, please fill out a Research Request Form. You can learn more about other collections held at the Museum by searching the online database here!