U. S. Treasury Build

Achieving a Ba

The Stewardship 

Historical Landm

and its Collect
His

The first Treasury building, a Georgian stbuilding used by the Department from 18burnt to the ground by the British in 181present building was constructed on the original building between 1836-1869. The earliest east and center wings were Robert Mills, architect of the Washington and the Patent Office building in WashingLater additions were designed by ThomaAmmi B. Young, Isaiah Rogers and Alfred The Treasury Building is the oldest deparbuilding in Washington and has had a greon the design of other government build
Treasury Historic Sp

Historically

Significant

Architecturally

Significant

Public Areas
Adaptive U

 Executive Offices Public Lobbies & C Bureau Offices “Production” Spac Additions and alte
TBARR (Treasury & Annex Restoration and Repai

 Multi-year Project Congressional Authorization Comprehensive Utility Modernization Efficient use of space Improve work environment Restoration is a “companion” 

activity within the project
TBARR (Treasury & Annex Restoration and Rep

Which is more important, to preserve the maximum amount of historic materials from different periods with little context or to preserve the original intent, using restoration, even if it may require the loss of historic materials or the use of replacement materials? 
“Historic Fa

 1869 signature on the inside of a marble pa Original 19th century escutcheon hardware Sympathetic granite corner “Dutchman” rep
“Historic Fab

There is a significant amouoriginal materials and finisremain in the Treasury buioften covered over with sufinishes and alterations.

Although there are often conflicts in presenting a cabinet level, landmark building to ovisitors and the public, there is a strong commitment to retaining and documenting or19th century features and finishes.
Authenticity vs. Period Restor

 Public spaces retain a significant amoun

materials with restored, period finishes.

 Significant offices have been restored to 

period, and furnished with original or copieces.

 Select conference and reception rooms a

period rooms. They are not restorations spaces.

 Multiple architects, and architectural per

interpretive challenge that often is at oduse and expectations.

The current restoration and modernization project is the first tim

that a single architectural team has worked on the ent

Treasury Building comprehensive
Restored Off

Historic offices that were restored less then 15 years ago will be the larger TBARR project. While items from the Collection can bremoved, interior finishes will be extensively protected and monwhile work is being performed. 
 Paintings

 Decorative Art Objec Furniture Historical Artifacts Architecture

the COLLECT

Over 65% of the paintings, objects, 

and furniture from the collection are in 

use at any given time.

The Treasury Collection is one ooldest and most intact collectionand decorative arts in the Execubranch of the United States govMany of the objects in the Collecontinue to be used for their intpurpose and are exhibited in rehistoric suites, reception and corooms as well as in offices.
Collection 

Temporary

Accessions 

Accessioned

Items

COLLECTION

Accessioned Objects 3,525Temporary Accessions 50Loans 92Other 188

• Moves and inventories are

correlated to administratio

• Temporary accessions hav

dramatically due to the buand modernization project site storage requirements.
Object Tra

OBJECT EN

COLLECT

ENTER INTO

COLLECTION

DATABASE

ASSIGNED

LOCATION

IN BUILDING

OR OFF-SITE

STORAGE

CONDITI

REVIEW

CONSERVATION

(IF NEEDED)

Once a part of the Collection, tracking the object is primarily a functannual inventory reports, moves, and a repair/conservation history.
The Secretary’s Po

 Every Secretary of the Treasury has a portrait. Portraits are only hung within the Treasury BuildAfter a roof fire in 1996, every portrait and frame on display was cleaned and conserved. The fire forced a reconsideration of emergency response requirements for the Collection.
Balancing care and 

the Coll

The Collection is used in the offices of Senior Treasury officials and selected conference and reception rooms. 
Office of the Secretary of the Tre

The Office of the Secretary of the Treasury is a combination of selected items from the Collection infused with furnishings distinct to the requests of each Secretary. Artwork is often selected and loaned from Washington, DC museums in addition to pieces from the Collection.
Office of the Secretary of the Treasury 1974
Office of the Secretary of the Treasury 1992
Office of the Secretary of the Treasury 1974
Interpretation of an O

1970 (1974) 1989 2002

This chair was a part of the rediscovered Mint collection in 1969, and made its way Washington, DC c.1970. The chair was covered in period practice upholstery. In thlate 1980’s with additional research, a lithograph of an interior office in Treasury of similar chair was the basis for the upholstery and refinishing of the chair. In 2002, once the full set of chairs was acquired, historic documents relating to their originause at the S.F. Mint were able to guide a more appropriate upholstering and refinishing of the chairs.
Furniture from the S.F. 

The San Francisco Mint building was completed in 1874 by architect Alfred B. Mulletcompleting the north wing of the Treasury Building. Mullett designed many of the fufor the executive offices, and Mint records trace much of the furniture production baLuchsinger, a furniture manufacturer in San Francisco.Much of the furniture was in disrepair and out of use until 1969 when Mary Brooks tDirector found them in storage and had them restored. In 1994, the Mint building amuseum suffered damage in an earthquake. Furniture was transferred to Washingtoand in 1996 the Curator’s Office at Treasury began accessioning excess pieces into tCollection. This process is continuing, and recent additions have completed the restof the original holdings of the Superintendents Office at the San Francisco Mint.

Recently conserved chairs from the S.F. Mint Additional objects being transferred from the 

Mint to the main Treasury Building.
The CASH RO

The Cash Room was completed in 1869 as part of the north wing constr1976 it was open to the public as a banking room where government cuchecks could be cashed or exchanged. During the early 1980’s the space restored and has been used as a ceremonial space since that time.
The CASH R

The breadth of the previous restoratioinclude the cleaning and repair of the brass balustrade, and the decorative bscreens at the doors. Additionally, the walls were inspected and minor repaimade, and the plaster ceiling repairs, gilding were completed
The CASH R

Paint analysis revealed a gray ceiling color that more appropriately coordinated with known historic events, and a signature behind a marble panel dated after the “initial” completion of the room for the Inaugural Ball for President Grant.
EXHIBITI

Exhibitions at the Treasury buidisplay departmental and bureIn addition, topical presentatioto historical figures, history, anof the building are displayed wbuilding for a 6-9 month period
Edu

Education is a process that takeamong the building users, new management executive, peers ifederal government, and with thpublic.
Exhibitions on the Interne