Research & Collections
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Webster Institute for the History of Astronomy Staff
Staff
Curator Emerita
Marjorie Webster is Curator Emerita at the Webster Institute for the History of Astronomy. She received her education in archaeology at Sarah Lawrence College and the University of California at Berkeley. She and her husband, Roderick Webster (1915-1997), first came to the Adler Planetarium as volunteer supervisors of the scientific instrument collection in 1962. In 1969 they were appointed Co-Curators and in 1991 they became Curators Emeriti. During their tenure, they traveled widely to study collections of scientific instruments and became experts in the field. Marjorie Webster continues as an active member of the Adler community.
Curator & Vice President for Collections
Marvin Bolt is Curator and Vice President for Collections at the Adler Planetarium. Bolt earned a Ph.D. in History & Philosophy of Science from the University of Notre Dame, where he concurrently holds the position of Adjunct Assistant Professor. Bolt is the author of the Adler’s exhibit catalogue Telescopes: Through the Looking Glass and forthcoming Optical Instruments collections catalogue; his research for this project has been funded by grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Assocation of Museums’ International Partnerships Among Museums program. Bolt served on the editorial team of the recently published Biographical Encyclopedia of Astronomers, continues to study the Herschel family of astronomers (William, Caroline, and John), and conducts research on the history of the telescope, early 17th-century examples in particular.
Curator
Bruce Stephenson is Curator in the Webster Institute for the History of Astronomy. Stephenson received his Ph.D. in History from the University of Chicago, where he is an Associate member of the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics. He is the author of Kepler's Physical Astronomy and The Music of the Heavens: Kepler's Harmonic Astronomy, both published by Princeton University Press. He belongs to numerous professional organizations relating to the history of science, astronomy, and scientific instrumentation. His most recent research project studied the metallurgical characteristics of astrolabes in a high-energy X-ray beam at the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory.
Assistant Curator
Jodi Lacy is Assistant Curator in the Webster Institute for the History of Astronomy. Lacy holds an M.A. in Public History from Loyola University Chicago and a B.A. in History and English from Marquette University. At the Adler, she is responsible for archival collections and coordinates production of the collections catalogue. She is the author of the exhibition catalogue Mapping the Universe (2007).
Collections Manager
Devon Pyle-Vowles is Collections Manager of the Webster Institute for the History of Astronomy. She holds an M.A. in Museum Studies: Collections Care and Management from George Washington University, and a B.A. in Archaeological Studies from Oberlin College. At the Adler, she is responsible for the documentation, care, and preservation of the collection of over four thousand antique scientific instruments and rare books. Among her professional organization memberships, she is currently serving as the is the Treasurer for the Midwest Registrars Committee. Among her professional organization memberships, she is currently serving as the Planning Coordinator for the International Registrars Symposium in Chicago November 2009 and is on the Board of Directors for the Mitchel Museum of the American Indian in Evanston, IL.
Collections Projects Assistant
Jennifer Brand is Collections Projects Assistant in the Webster Institute for the History of Astronomy. Brand holds a B.F.A. in Art History and a B.F.A. in Metalsmithing from University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Her interests include book, paper, and object conservation and pest management in museum collections.
Research Center Collections Librarian
Jill Hamrin Postma is the Research Center Collections Librarian in the Webster Institute for the History of Astronomy. She holds a Masters degree in Information and Library Science from Dominican University and a B.A. (summa cum laude) from the University of St. Francis (Joliet, IL). Postma is involved in several professional organizations, including the Special Libraries Association, and serves on the public library board in Homewood, IL.
Research Center Projects Assistant
Misty DeMars is Research Center Projects Assistant in the Webster Institute for the History of Astronomy. She received a B.A. in Visual and Critical Studies from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Interns
The History of Astronomy Department periodically hosts interns from area universities seeking training in curatorial work and collections management.
Contact Information
Webster Institute for the History of Astronomy
Adler Planetarium
1300 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605
312-322-0594
Fax: 312-341-9935
astrohistory@adlerplanetarium.org
 
 
 
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1300 South Lake Shore Drive • Chicago IL 60605 • 312-922-STAR (7827)
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