Barbara was the gift shop manager for Bedrooms of America Museum in Historic New Market, Virginia from 1988 until it closed in 2004 following the passing of owner Benny Long. The museum was located in an early 1800s building that later served as the Lee-Jackson Hotel; in 1864 the building was used as Confederate General Jubal Early’s headquarters. Barbara gained considerable knowledge of antiques while working at the museum, which displayed antique furniture dating from 1650 to 1930 within eleven bedrooms, as well as collections of baskets, pottery and other antiques, including an impressive doll collection. After the museum closed in 2004, Barbara came to work for Jeff & Beverley Evans as a cataloguer for their specialty antiques auctions, and she also provides assistance to photographer Will McGuffin as needed. In 2008, she took on the additional responsibility of Shipping Manager.
As Shipping Manager, Barbara personally coordinates and supervises all post-auction packing and shipment of antiques for delivery to successful bidders; always striving to provide the safest and most economical method of delivery. Since September 2007, Jeff Evans’ auctions have been offered not only to local, absentee and telephone bidders, but also to Internet buyers who bid remotely from their own computers. Because of the increased exposure from the Internet, Barbara has coordinated shipments to buyers all across the world.