Professional Experience
Steven Miller Conservation Laboratory of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Senior Conservation Technician, August 2018–Present
Book Conservation Technician, May 2011–August 2018
-Propose and perform treatment on books and objects from the Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts and Fisher Fine Arts Library from basic stabilization to complete rebinds
-Create custom housing for special collection materials
-Work with fellow conservation staff team to design the Steven Miller Conservation Laboratory
Fleisher Art Memorial, Philadelphia, PA
Instructor, January 2019-Present
-Teach a variety of bookbinding techniques and structures
Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts, Philadelphia, PA
Book Conservation Technician, July 2008–May 2011
-Worked independently on books, performing a variety of treatments from basic stabilization to complete rebinds and custom housing
-Created time-lapse films of treatments, and assisted with offsite projects including surveys
Gladys Brooks Book and Paper Conservation Lab, The New York Academy of Medicine, NYC
Intern, May 2008–July 2008
-Learned a variety of preservation principles under the guidance of the conservation staff
Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts, Philadelphia, PA
Collection Care Conservation Technician, July 2006–May 2008
-Performed a variety of treatments on paper, books, photos, slides and assisted with lab upkeep<
Main Line Art Center, Haverford, PA
-Taught papermaking and painting onsite, and as part of the Carelink program in institutional settings
Wagner Free Institute of Science, Philadelphia, PA
Assistant Conservator, June 2002–October 2002
-Repaired and conserved natural history books from the institution’s collection
American Philosophical Society Conservation Department, Philadelphia, PA
Intern, October 2001–May 2002
-Conserved books and pamphlets using cleaning, binding, and enclosure methods
The University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA
Papermaking Assistant, September 2000–May 2002
-Assisted Professor with preparation and execution of class
Professional Activities
Philadelphia Center for the Book, Philadelphia, PA
Member, November 2007–Present
President, January 2014–February 2019; Events Chair, January 2012–January 2014
-Organize and attend members’ meetings, workshops, and large events
-Prepare yearly budget and maintain financial records
Guild of Book Workers-Delaware Valley Chapter, Philadelphia, PA
Webmaster, June 2011–Present; Member, February 2011–Present
-Update website and promote chapter activities through online media. Attend meetings and workshops
Education
The University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA
Master of Fine Arts Book Arts/Printmaking, May 2002
Loyola University New Orleans, LA
Bachelor of Fine Arts, May 2000
Teaching
Simple Sewn Book with Drummed Cover, School of Design at the University of Pennsylvania, November 29, 2021
-Students created a book using traditional sewing methods with a drummed cover structure
Simple Sewn Book with Drummed Cover, School of Design at the University of Pennsylvania, November 11, 2019
-Students created a book using traditional sewing methods with a drummed cover structure
Flag Books, Parkway Central Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia, May 4, 2019
-Students created two flag books. A simple paper flag book and one with rigid covers and ribbon tie.
Fun Paper Advertisements, DVC-GBW, The Library Company of Philadelphia, PA
-Students created some paper advertisements including a swinging postcard and ball calendar
Simple Sewn Book with Drummed Cover, School of Design at the University of Pennsylvania, November 26, 2018
-Students created a book using traditional sewing methods with a drummed cover structure
Japanese Binding, History of the Book in East Asia at the University of Pennsylvania, February 27, 2018
-Students created a historical model of a four hole side stitched stab binding.
Miniature Book Workshop Series, Branches of the Free Library of Philadelphia, October 2017 – March 2018
-In this series, children created a simple accordion album with case cover and adults created twotiny case bindings to be made into jewelry.
Simple Sewn Book with Drummed Cover, School of Design at the University of Pennsylvania, November 20, 2017
-Students created a book using traditional sewing methods with a drummed cover structure
Digital Scholarship Fellows, July 25, 2017
-Students created one-page books and pamphlets
Simple Sewn Book with Wove Paper Cover, School of Design at the University of Pennsylvania, April 10, 2017
-Students created a book using traditional sewing methods with a simple wove cover structure
Tiny Wearable Books, Parkway Central Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia, January 14, 2017
-Students created two tiny books they then turned into a pair of earrings, or two necklaces
Disappearing Box, Various Branches of the Free Library of Philadelphia, February – March 2017
-Students created a simple pop-up box
Pamphlets, Fine Arts Class at the University of Pennsylvania, December 2, 2016
-Students created traditional pamphlet structures
Sewn Book with Breakaway Spine, School of Design at the University of Pennsylvania, November 14, 2016
-Students created a book using traditional sewing methods with a contemporary false spine structure
Campaign Pamphlets and Printing, Wynnefeild Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia, November 3, 2016
-Students created folded and sewn pamphlet structures
Sewn Book with Wove Paper Cover, School of Design at the University of Pennsylvania, April 18, 2016
-Students created a book using traditional sewing methods with a contemporary wove cover structure
Create a Friendship Album, Various Branches of the Free Library of Philadelphia, February – March 2016
-Students created a simple no sew album structure
Box Making, The Library Company of Philadelphia, PA, December 13, 2014
-Students constructed a single walled cloth covered clamshell box and corner finishing techniques
Construction of Book Supports, The College of Physicians of Philadelphia, PA, March 10, 2010
-Students constructed simple book supports for use in exhibitions
Bookbinding, Springside School for Girls, Chestnut Hill, PA, November 2004
-Students created a flag book and Japanese stab binding
Papermaking, The University of the Arts, Philadelphia, Bridge Program, August 2004
-A group of incoming freshman experimented with papermaking in this two hour class
Papermaking, Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Deer Isle, ME, July–August 2002
-Assisted in studio, prepared pulp and performed demos for the class taught by Jeanne Jaffe
Workshops Attended
Magic Box Workshop with Kristin Balmer
Saturday, December 4, 2021, Zoom
Standards of Excellence Seminar 2021
Seventeenth Century English Bookbinding Tools with Jeff Peachey
The Even More Simplified Binding with Karen Hanmer
Making a Place for Paper with Radha Pandey October 2021, Zoom
Magic Box Workshop with Lucia Farias
Saturday, June 26, 2021, Zoom
AIC’s 49th Virtual Joint Annual Meeting: Transform 2021
Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections May 10 – June 25, 2021, Zoom
AIC/SPNHC Virtual Workshop: How to Label and Mark Your Collections Workshop with Eugenie Milroy & Fran Ritchie
Friday, May 7, 2021, Zoom
Exposed Sewing with Decorative Guards and Self-locking Wrapper with Karen Hanmer
Saturday, August 22, 2020, Zoom
AIC’s 48th Virtual Annual Meeting Conservation: Reactive and Proactive Friday, May 21 – Thursday, September 2, 2020, Zoom
Fish Skin Leather: Tanning with Tea, Janey Chang Art + Ancestral Skills
Saturday, May 16 & Saturday, 23rd, 2020, Zoom
Long Stitch Sewing Through a Slotted Wrapper Cover with Rosae Reeder
Saturday, April 25, 2020, Zoom
Standards of Excellence Seminar 2019 with Rebecca Chamlee, Graham Patten, Julia Miller, and Jeff Altepeter
Thursday, October 24– Saturday, October 26, 2019, Lowes Hotel Philadelphia, PA
AIC’s 47th Annual Meeting -New Tools, Techniques, and Tactics in Conservation
May 13-17, 2019, Uncasville, CT
Paired Station Binding with Rosae Reeder
Saturday, April 27, 2019, The University of the Arts Philadelphia
Animated Structures Workshop: Adding Moving Elements to Books with Thomas Parker Williams
Saturday, March 23, 2019, The University of the Arts Philadelphia
Gels for Paper Conservation with Michelle Sullivan and Anne Mayheux
Wednesday, September 19 – Friday, September 21, 2018, Steven Miller Conservation Laboratory, University of Pennsylvania
Pierced Vellum Binding Workshop with James Reid-Cunningham
Saturday, March 24 & Sunday, 25, 2018, Library Company of Philadelphia
Rigid Page Book with Rotating Panels with Alicia Bailey
Sunday, January 7, 2017, Library Company of Philadelphia
Palm Leaf Manuscript Workshop with Jim Canary
Wednesday, December 6, 2017, Kislak Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Basics of Medieval Bindings with Alberto Campagnolo
November 9, 2017, Kislak Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Islamic papermaking with Radha Pandey
Saturday, September 23, 2017, The University of the Arts Philadelphia
Storage Techniques with Rebecca Newberry
May 2017, Museumstudy.com
The Bibliophile as Bookbinder: The Angling Bindings of S.A. Neff, Jr.
Saturday, November 5, 2016, Kislak Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Illuminated Manuscripts with Rebecca Allan
Saturday, August 20th, 2016, Bard Hall, New York, NY
Movables in a Book Format with Emily Martin
Saturday, June 4, 2016, Library Company of Philadelphia
Conservation of 19th Century Cloth Publishers’ Bindings with Todd Pattison
Saturday, April 23, 2016, Library Company of Philadelphia
The Amazing Expandable Album Structure with Rosae Reeder
Saturday, April 2, 2016, Library Company of Philadelphia
Historic Book Structures for Conservators: Bound books 1450-1850 with Jeff Peachey
July 2 – 30, 2015, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, The Winterthur, University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation
Secret Letter Folding with Jana D’ambrogio,
Saturday, June 20, 2015, Library Company of Philadelphia
Brass Clasp Workshop with Jeff Altepeter
Saturday, January 17, 2015, Library Company of Philadelphia
The Case for Leather: A “Fairly” Simple Leather-Spine Binding with Todd Pattison
Saturday, February 22, 2014, Library Company of Philadelphia
Practical Origami Workshop with Bill Hanscom
Sunday, June 10, 2012, Library Company of Philadelphia
Toolmaking with Jim Croft
Friday, November 4, 2011, The New York Academy of Medicine
Standards of Excellence Seminar 2012 with Todd Pattison, Daniel Essig, John DeMerritt, and Katherine Beaty
Thursday, October 6– Saturday, October 8, 2011. Park Plaza Hotel in Boston, MA
Scaleboard Binding Workshop with Julia Miller
November 13-14, 2010, Library Company of Philadelphia
The Nag Hammadi Codice with Julia Miller
June 18-19, 2010, Gladys Brooks Book and Paper Conservation Lab, The New York Academy of Medicine
Limp Vellum Binding with Anne Hillam
December 2009, Gladys Brooks Book and Paper Conservation Lab, The New York
Awards & Publications
From Seneca Falls to Phila.: Fourth of July 1876 and the Women of the Centennial, Part of PIFA 2013
Favorite Edible Book, The PCB Second Annual Edible Book Festival, April 1, 2012
Honorable Mention, Animal Images Real or Imaginary, November 2003
Lenore Adelman Award for Book Arts, May 2002
Mary Beasom Bishop and Francis Sumner Merit Scholarship, Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, April 2002
Festival of Fins, May 2000, New Orleans, LA,
Robert Munsell Award, For Departmental and University Service, May 2000
Revisions 2001, 2000, 1999, literary magazine, Loyola University’s Literary Magazine
Collections
The Free Library of Philadelphia Print and Picture Collection, Philadelphia, PA
University of Colorado, Norlin Library, Special Collections, Boulder, CO
Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University, New York, NY