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Education

Cardiff University

2016-2018

MSc Conservation Practice; Distinction

Dissertation: Petrographic study of Islamic Period ceramics from Ghor es-Safi, Jordan

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Bryn Mawr College

2010-2014

BA Archaeology and Geology; Summa cum laude

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Professional Memberships

American Institute for Conservation (AIC) - Member since 2018; OSG Postprints editing team since 2023

 

Southeast Regional Conservation Assocation (SERCA) - Member since 2024

Work Experience

Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Assistant Conservator of Objects, October 2022-present

  • Assisting with exhibit-driven conservation of materials including silver, ceramics, mechanical arts and arms, painted surfaces, outdoor ironwork, and more

  • Preparing, packing, and couriering objects for loan, both virtual and in-person

  • Documenting object materials, conditions, and treatments with photography, X-radiography, microscopy, and pXRF, and maintaining documentation in TMS

  • Working with preventive conservation technicians to improve storage and display conditions and carry out preventive maintenance

Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History
Conservation Fellow, October 2019-September 2022

  • Conservation assistant for Anthropology collection move in preparation for renovation: condition reports, cleaning (~1000 objects), triage treatments, photography, packing for transport (~10,000 objects), pest mitigation

  • Assessed and treated objects for the renovated galleries, conducted condition assessments for outgoing and returning loans

  • Taught object handling lessons to volunteers, classes, and new hires

  • Maintained condition and treatment documentation in EMu

Yale Babylonian Collection
Conservation Fellow, September 2018-October 2019
  • Carried out a condition assessment and created a rehousing plan for the tablet and seal collection, carried out environmental monitoring study
  • Did minor repairs when necessary to ensure stability and legibility of objects
  • Supervised collection volunteers
  • Conserved a Parthian Slipper Coffin for display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Select Other Experience

Museum of Welsh Cricket
Volunteer, Spring 2018
  • Instructed and supervised 3 volunteers in labeling and handling museum objects to ensure compliance for Arts Council England accreditation audit. Accreditation was awarded October 2018.
  • Created a labeling kit and instructions for future use by volunteers
Cardiff Arms Park Rugby Trust
Volunteer, Spring 2018
  • Packaged an important collection of Welsh rugby memorabilia to ensure safe storage until suitable display cases are made
  • Helped to supervise Trust volunteers in handling fragile textiles
Cowbridge and District Museum
Volunteer, October 2017-July 2018
  • Catalogued, photographed, and packaged previous and recent accessions to the collection
  • Basic cleaning of historic materials, advising on further treatment
  • Designed a new display on the Geology of South Wales
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Museum of London
Summer placement, June-August 2017
  • Treatment of archaeological material (~25 objects): metal, ceramic, bone, glass, wet/dry leather, human remains
  • Labeling/packing/storing of a collection of modern material (paper, plastics)
  • Condition assessments for 3 loans (~30 objects)
  • Additional experience: Museum Environment Course, Collections Access Course, Courier Training Course, exhibit installation
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Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History
Intern, Sept. 2014-May 2016
  • Conserved ~36 Pacific barkcloths, packaged /organized entire collection of 180 for storage
  • Assisted with photography: VIS, IR, UV
  • Photo post-processing (Photoshop) and upload to database (EMu)
  • Article: Tapa cloths treated in IPCH lab​
 
Volunteer, Summer 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
  • Assisted in conservation, documentation, packaging for transport/storage of Pacific ethnographic collection
  • Assisted with conservation and installation of exhibit 'Samurai and the Culture of Japan's Great Peace'
  • Conserved 6 ceramic vessels
  • Labeled and stored bead collection, vertebrate zoology specimens
Ceramic Conservation Workshop
Balkan Heritage Foundation, Macedonia
June 2013

  • Learned the basic skills of ceramic restoration, conservation and documentation

  • Reconstructed and gap-filled two Late Roman vessels

  • Documented several vessels using photography and Adobe Illustrator

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© 2018 by Aliza Taft. Proudly created with Wix.com

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