The Washington Office established eleven permanent positions for the western laboratory in September and October 1957. These would provide Jenkins with an office staff of one clerk-stenographer and an administrative assistant, a curator to function as Winkler did in the eastern laboratory, four exhibits construction specialists, and four exhibits workers. Jenkins requested the transfer of David Lillis from the eastern laboratory to procure equipment and supplies for the preparators. Until Lillis arrived in December Ray Price, whose position on the planning team now came under the new laboratory, saw to these chores. In November D. Robert Hakala, a naturalist who had demonstrated his intelligence and energy in National Capital Parks, reported as laboratory curator. Laura D. Obwald moved from the Region Four Office as secretary and C. Kenneth Kegler as administrative assistant in December. Six preparators arrived in March 1958. John Babyak transferred from the eastern laboratory. William D. Berry, a first-class wildlife artist, and Bernard Perry, another able artist, gave the laboratory a solid basis particularly for graphics. Marian S. R. Fischer and Jean H. Rodeck (Swearingen) assisted them as exhibits workers. Less experienced than most of the others, Edward LeRoy Vella brought artistic training and enthusiasm. The crew plunged into building exhibits for the unique Quarry visitor center at Dinosaur National Monument, scheduled for dedication June 1. In less than ten weeks twelve creditable exhibits were ready for installation.

The laboratory's preparation staff grew modestly during the remaining years of Mission 66. In July 1958 John Segeren, model maker in the eastern laboratory, replaced Babyak upon the latter's return to Washington. That October Jenkins hired a promising young art student, Dick T. Morishigi, who advanced steadily and became the shop supervisor in 1963. Two other preparators entered on duty in late 1958. Clair Younkin, who had proved his worth during summers at the eastern laboratory, and Reginald W. Butcher, a reliable and skillful exhibits worker, enhanced production throughout the program. Jenkins added three more to the staff in 1961: David Ichelson, who began as shop supervisor, Francisco G. Garcia, an exhibits worker, and Herbert Carey, a 65-year-old illustrator. In October 1962 Joseph H. Rockwell transferred from a maintenance job at Death Valley National Monument to become an able and productive illustrator.

As the number and variety of exhibits under construction increased, so did demands on the staff curator. The lead position changed hands three times during Mission 66 and a fourth time soon after as each incumbent accepted offers for professional advancement. Robert Hakala carried the load ably until January 1962, when he transferred to the regional office as a park planner. Richard M. Howard, archeologist at Canyon de Chelly National Monument, then performed the arduous duties for two years before moving back to a field archeology position at Mesa Verde National Park. In February 1964 Edward D. Jahns, also an archeologist, left Ocmulgee National Monument to replace him. Jahns stayed until May 1967, when the Western Region asked him to reactivate the regional curatorship vacated by Leland Abel in 1959. Vernon C. Tancil from the Independence National Historical Park curatorial staff filled the critical position thereafter until the laboratory closed.

These men could not supply the need unaided. Jean Rodeck switched from the preparation staff to become an assistant curator under Hakala during 1960, and John B. Johnson held the job for most of the following year. In 1962 Jenkins tried to fill the gap by hiring an experienced curator, Sally Johnson Ketcham, on a when-actually-employed status, but she found that growing family responsibilities made the arrangement impractical. Thereafter he hired a succession of bright, energetic novices, including several scions of Park Service employees, as temporary curatorial assistants.

The laboratory also benefited from the exceptional expertise of a parttime consultant, Carl Russell. One of the western laboratory's first projects involved planning and preparing exhibits for a new visitor center at Moose in Grand Teton National Park. Regional Historian Merrill J. Mattes's museum prospectus called for about 25 exhibits largely concentrated on the Rocky Mountain fur trade. It thus proposed to fulfill a dream of Russell nearly thirty years earlier when he worked as the Service's first museum expert. Russell's advice on these exhibits helped give them depth and detail unusual in park museums.