William Anthony Conservation Lectures

The William Anthony Conservation Lecture Series is an annual lecture hosted by the University of Iowa Libraries Conservation Lab, supported by the William Anthony Conservation Fund.  Each year, a visiting Book and Paper Conservator is invited to present to the public at the University of Iowa Libraries. The lecture series began in 2013 and is a valuable event for the UI book arts community and beyond.

 

Head detail of a Persian-style binding book model from a workshop lead by Yasmeen Khan, 2022 William Anthony Lecturer.

Head detail of a Persian-style binding model from a 2017 University of Iowa workshop lead by Yasmeen Khan, 2023 William Anthony Lecturer.

2023

Yasmeen Khan, Book Conservator; Washington, D.C.

“Growing with the Job: Reflections on a Career in Conservation”

 

The 2023 William Anthony Lecture was held in person at the University of Iowa on Thursday, March 23, and was simultaneously broadcasted via Zoom for online attendees of the program. The event was free and open to the public, and a recording of the lecture is available for viewing below.

 

2022

Program postposed to 2023

 

Pappband book cover

Pappband cutaway book model by Peter D. Verheyen, 2021 William Anthony Lecturer.

2021

Peter D. Verheyen, Bookbinder & Conservator; Librarian, Syracuse University Libraries

“Down the Rabbit Hole: Embracing experience and serendipity in a life of research, binding practice, and publishing”

 

The 2021 William Anthony Lecture was held as a virtual webinar, free, and open to the public on September 30, at 6pm. The recorded event is available for viewing below.

 

Flier for the 2021 William Anthony Conservation Lecture hosted by the University of Iowa Libraries, featuring Peter D. Verheyen. His lecture, titled ‘Down the Rabbit Hole: Embracing experience and serendipity in a life of research, binding practice, and publishing,’ was held virtually on September 30 at 6pm CST. The event explored his career in bookbinding and conservation, including work on German binding traditions and the Pressbengel Project.

2020

Postponed due to Covid-19

2019

Maria Fredericks, Sherman Fairchild Head of Conservation, Thaw Conservation Center, Morgan Library

“Evidence in Old Books: Identification, Interpretation, and Preservation”

Flier for the 6th Annual William Anthony Conservation Lecture at the University of Iowa Libraries, featuring Maria Fredericks, Sherman Fairchild Head of Conservation at the Morgan Library. The lecture, titled ‘Evidence in Old Books: Identification, Interpretation and Preservation,’ took place on Wednesday, October 2 at 6pm in the Main Library Gallery.

 

2018

Deborah Howe, Collections Conservator, Dartmouth College Library

“Old Books, New Books, and In Between Books: A Brief Look at the Path in Bookbinding and Conservation”

Flier for the 5th Annual William Anthony Conservation Lecture hosted by the University of Iowa Libraries. The featured speaker is Deborah Howe, Collections Conservator at Dartmouth College Library, presenting ‘Old Books, New Books, and In Between Books: A brief look at a path in bookbinding and conservation’ on Thursday, October 4, 2018, from 6:00–8:00 pm in Main Library Room 2032. Includes a biography of Howe highlighting her training and teaching experience. The lecture series honors William Anthony, the University’s first Library Conservator and bookbinding instructor.

 

2017

Mark Esser, Bookbinder, Conservator in private practice

“Book Binding Has Been Very Good to Me”

Flier for the 4th Annual William Anthony Conservation Lecture hosted by the University of Iowa Libraries. The featured speaker is Mark Esser, presenting ‘Book Binding Has Been Very Good to Me’ on Thursday, October 12, 2017, from 6:00–8:00 pm in E105 Adler Journalism Building, University of Iowa. Light refreshments at 6:00 pm, lecture begins at 6:30 pm. Additional events include a roundtable discussion on October 12 at 2:00–3:30 pm in Main Library Room 2032 with Mark Esser and Gary Frost, and an onlays demonstration by Esser on October 13 from 2:00–5:00 pm in the Conservation Lab, 5th floor, Main Library. Includes a photo of Mark Esser and an image of a decorative bookbinding design. A brief bio of Esser is included, noting his career from the Harcourt Bindery to the North Bennet Street School and Boston College.

 

2016

Barb Korbel, Collections & Exhibitions Conservator, Newberry Library

“There and Back Again: A Conservator’s Tale”

Flier for the 3rd Annual William Anthony Conservation Lecture at the University of Iowa Libraries. Barbara Korbel presents ‘There and Back Again: A Conservator’s Tale’ on Thursday, November 10, 2016, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm in Main Library Room 2032.

 

2015

Gary Frost, Conservator Emeritus, University of Iowa Libraries

“Great Legacy, Great Prospects — The Historical Bookbinding Model Collection at Iowa”

Flier for the 2015 William Anthony Conservation Lecture at the University of Iowa. Gary Frost presents ‘Great Legacy, Great Prospects — The Historical Bookbinding Model Collection at Iowa’ on Thursday, October 8, from 6:00–8:00 pm in Adler Journalism Building E105. The talk highlights the development of the UI Libraries’ Historical Bookbinding Model Collection, initiated by Bill Anthony.

 

2014

Adam Larsson, Conservator, University of Uppsala University Library

 

2013

Pamela Spitzmueller, Conservator Emerita, University of Iowa Libraries, Harvard University Library

“Books as Physical Objects or How Conserving Damaged Rare Books and Manuscripts Inspired Me to Create New Book Objects”