Brodsky Series for Advancement of Library Conservation Special Collections Research Center

Endowed through a generous gift by William J. ('65, G'68) and Joan ('67, G'68) Brodsky of Chicago, Illinois since the 2004/2005 academic year, this sponsored program promotes and advances knowledge of library conservation theory, practice, and application among wide audiences, both on campus and in the region. Programs typically include lectures and workshops by prominent library conservators.

The idea for an endowed lecture and workshop series on library conservation was inspired by Joan Brodsky's strong interests in the traditional arts of book production and her experiences working as a volunteer in conservation facilities, including the Newberry Library and the Spertus Museum in Chicago. Joan Brodsky also served on the board of visitors for the School of Information Studies, from which she earned a graduate degree in library science, and is a member of the Libraries' advisory board. She remarked that "Bill and I are delighted to establish a program that promotes the understanding and importance of book and paper conservation. We hope and expect this initiative will fill a void that currently exists in this field. We are excited that our gift will both enhance learning within the university community and also showcase our library and its expertise in the art of conservation."

The Brodsky's gift enables SCRC to offer high-quality theoretical and practical learning opportunities in library conservation that appeals to students and faculty from the School of Information Studies and the College of Visual and Performing Arts, which offers a graduate degree in Museum Studies and courses related to the arts of the book. It also contributes to regional educational needs, bringing visibility to Syracuse University nationally.

Endowment-sponsored events complement the internship, independent study, and class presentations currently offered by our conservation lab, which leads some students to pursue library conservation careers.

Past Events

• April 4-5, 2024 - Alexis Hagadorn - Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle: A Conservator Reviews the Long History of Binding Waste
• March 28, 2023 -Nancy Turner - Materials of the Illuminator’s Art: Medieval Recipes, Modern Identifications, and the Preservation of Pigments, Dyes and Metals in Medieval Manuscripts.
• April 6, 2022 - Anna Laganà - The Conservation of Plastics in Collections: A Challenging Path
• May 3, 2021 - Monique Lassere - Translating Bits: Maintaining (Born-)Digital Heritage
• April 11, 2019 - Deborah Lee Trupin – A Tale of Two Flags: How History of Treatment and Ownership Affected Conservation Treatment of Two Early Nineteenth-Century American Flags
• March 22, 2018 - Deborah Stoiber - Conserving cinema's legacy at George Eastman Museum
• March 23, 2017 - Maria Fredericks - Rare Books as Museum Objects: Considerations for Safe Exhibition and Loan
• March 24, 2016 - Sam Brylawski - Knowledge Crowns Those Who Hear Her: Sound Archives in the 21st Century
• March 26, 2015 -Gary Albright - The Intensification of Photographs: Observations from Recent Research and Practice
• October 3, 2013 - Jeffrey S. Peachey - Reconstructing Diderot: Eighteenth-Century French Bookbinding
• October 28, 2011 - Lois Olcott Price - Line, Shade and Shadow
• October 22, 2010 - Holly Krueger - Featuring Herblock!
• October 16, 2009 - Don Etherington - A Sixty-year Odyssey in Bookbinding and Conservation
• November 7, 2008 - Consuela "Chela" Metzger - Rare Skills for Rare Books: Book conservation education
• November 1, 2007 - William Noel - The Archimedes Palimpsest
• November 3, 2006 - Gary Frost - The Aesthetics of Conservation
• October 8, 2005 - Hedi Kyle - Conservation and the Book Arts: Creative and innovative solutions for preserving library and archival materials
• April 1, 2005 - John F. Dean - Conservation and Preservation in the Digital Age

To view list of past lectures, visit SURFACE and search "Brodsky Series."