By Dr. Kasey Sease, Albert H. Small Washingtoniana Curator
Hannah Faberman joined the Albert H. Small Center for National Capital Area Studies as a summer intern in May 2024. An undergraduate at GW, Hannah is majoring in Classical & Ancient Near Eastern Studies and archaeology. While her research interests lie far beyond D.C.’s (comparatively) brief history, she sought an internship with the center to learn more about museum careers.
Born and raised in Massachusetts, Hannah graduated summa cum laude from Sharon High School in 2022. Her excellent grades and global curiosity earned her admission to GW’s Elliott School of International Affairs. But once on campus, Hannah soon discovered a passion for ancient history and cultures. She pivoted to CANES, took anthropology classes, and seized a chance to conduct her own research on the ancient world.
In spring 2024 Hannah analyzed an Egyptian textile fragment at the museum’s Cotsen Textile Traces Study Center. The project, directed by Professor Elise Friedland, interrogated the textile’s authenticity. Hannah has submitted a research note on her findings to The Textile Museum Journal, and the experience inspired her to explore more professional opportunities at the museum.
With the Albert H. Small Washingtoniana collection, Hannah has supported curatorial projects, exhibition research, collections care, and the center’s blog. She has examined historical postcards and Civil War covers, combed local repositories’ databases for exhibition loan candidates and searched primary sources, including antique and rare books, for compelling stories from D.C.’s past. Hannah also updates library records and scans objects — important tasks that keep the collection and its supporting resources organized and accessible. Most notably, she deftly recaps the center’s summer programs for Evolution D.C., extending their reach.
When she’s not working at the museum or attending class, Hannah enjoys playing the clarinet and networking with peers. She is a member of the GW Wind Ensemble and Delta Lota Gamma, the first pre-professional fraternity in the country dedicated to the study of anthropology and classics.
About the Author
Curator of the Albert H. Small Washingtoniana Collection since 2023, Kasey Sease activates the collection for exhibitions and research, and engages students and scholars with the Albert H. Small Center for National Capital Area Studies. Dr. Sease holds a Ph.D. in American history from the College of William and Mary, and is a former managing editor of Washington History magazine.
Header Image: Hannah Faberman, intern. Photo by Amid Farahi/the George Washington University.