Fallingwater staff
Hannah Ciocco
Collections Manager and Archivist at Fallingwater
With the exception of those who work outdoors for a living, few people would name “humidity” as the number one challenge in their profession. But as collections manager and archivist at Fallingwater since October 2023, Hannah Ciocco confronts the problem constantly. “With no air conditioning or humidity regulation at Fallingwater,” she says, “it is a constant challenge to eliminate the agents of deterioration.”
It’s a rather specific concern, but one she must take seriously to maintain the collection’s quality. In addition to routinely assessing temperature, relative humidity and light levels and the condition of collection items, just a few of Hannah’s extensive responsibilities include recommending and implementing collections and archives policies and procedures, cataloguing material, overseeing object movement, supervising housekeeping and much, much more. (Hannah discusses her job in this clip from our webinar, “Five Women Discuss Careers in Conservation and Preservation.)
The objects and art she protects aren’t just pretty things on a shelf. Fallingwater is a “connection to and representation of the Kaufmann family,” Hannah explains. “Decorated with objects from around the world, countless textiles, and a variety of art that was hand-selected by all of the members of the Kaufmann family, the collection offers a real glimpse into the taste and interests of Liliane, Edgar Sr. and Edgar jr.” The objects, in essence, help to tell the story of Fallingwater.
An avid reader who loves to travel, Hannah earned a Master’s of Museum Studies with a certificate in Digital Curation at Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of History with minors in Art History and Religious Studies at Elizabethtown College. For someone considering a career in collections or archival work, she offers this advice: “Get as much hands-on experience as possible! Volunteer, intern, etc.!”
Preserving the collection and archive so future generations may be educated and inspired motivates Hannah. No item is too insignificant for her attention, and she approaches the care of each piece with a simple philosophy: “Treat every item as of equal value and importance.”
The following lists some of the ways you can volunteer at the Conservancy. We welcome volunteers to help in our community flower gardens, plant trees or maintain our preserves and trails, among other tasks. View a list of our current or upcoming volunteer opportunities and register for one today.