Marvin Bolt earned a Ph.D. in History & Philosophy of Science from the University of Notre Dame, where he concurrently holds the position of visiting scholar. Bolt is the author of the Adler’s forthcoming Optical Instruments collections catalogue; his research for this project is funded by grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Assocation of Museums’ International Partnerships Among Museums program. Bolt serves on the editorial team of the 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.

Marjorie Webster is Curator Emerita in the History of Astronomy Department. 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.

Bruce Stephenson is Curator in the History of Astronomy Department. He 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.

Devon Pyle-Vowles is Collections Manager of the History of Astronomy Department. 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 Chair of the Registrars Committee of the American Association of Museums. Among her professional organization memberships, she is currently serving as the Planning Coordinator for the International Registrars Symposium in Chicago November 2007 and is the Treasurer for the Midwest Registrars Committee.

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). Involved in several professional organizations, particularly the Special Libraries Association, she also serves as the president of her local public library board in Homewood, IL.

Jennifer Brand is Collections Projects Assistant in the History of Astronomy Department. She 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. She is currently working toward a Masters of Library and Information Science degree at Dominican University.

Jodi Lacy is Assistant Curator in the History of Astronomy Department. She holds an M.A. in Public History from Loyola University Chicago and a B.A. in History and English from Marquette University.

Misty DeMars is Research Center Projects Assistant in the History of Astronomy Department. She received a B.A. in Visual and Critical Studies from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.