Carolyn Horton Scholarship

This scholarship supports members of our Book and Paper Group to help defray costs for attending meetings, seminars, and workshops or for conducting research or special projects that take place six weeks to twelve months after the application deadline. 

Submission Deadline: February 1

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Funding for the scholarship comes from the Carolyn Horton Fund, which we established to honor Carolyn Horton (1909-2001), who was an early pioneer of book and paper conservation in the United States.

Carolyn began her career in conservation in Vienna where she studied hand bookbinding from 1929 to 1930. Returning to Philadelphia in 1931, she apprenticed with master binder Albert Oldach; then founded her own company in 1934. From 1935 to 1939 she worked at the American Philosophical Society and in 1939 was appointed the first book restorer at Yale University. In 1943, she and her husband Donald moved to New York, then on to Washington, D.C., and Chicago, where she set up studios and began to train students. In 1958, the Hortons moved back to New York, where Carolyn Horton and Associates performed high quality book and paper and art conservation for museums, libraries and private collectors. She was one of many conservators who responded to the appeal for assistance in Florence after the 1966 floods. Her book, Cleaning and Preserving Bindings and Related Materials, was published in 1967 and revised in 1969. Throughout her career, Mrs. Horton was noted for her willingness to share her knowledge and her adherence to excellence. She was an AIC Honorary Fellow and was always a strong supporter of the AIC Code of Ethics.

Review Process

The Education and Training Committee reviews the applications anonymously and makes a recommendation to the FAIC board for final approval. 

• They will automatically consider all applicants for the Christa Gaehde Scholarship as well.
• They fund individual scholarships up to $1,500, depending on the earnings on the endowment and the number of applicants in any given year.
• They will notify successful applicants via staff six to eight weeks after the deadline.
• They review applications using the guidelines below and an established evaluation rubric based on the criteria for review. 

Criteria for Review

• Status as a current member of the Book and Paper Group
• Usefulness to the applicant and/or the conservation field
• Qualifications of applicant to conduct project
• Dissemination plan on the outcomes of project or meeting (publication, teaching, presentations, etc.)
• Appropriateness of budget/financial need
• Completeness of application

Application Process

The online form will take you through the application. You will be asked to provide the following information:

1. Applicant information (name and contact information, resume/CV, etc.)
2. Project information (description of the project and how it will help you advance professionally)
3. References
4. Budget information (project costs and support) 

Applicants can save their application and return later to complete it. When they are satisfied with their responses, they can click “save and finalize” to submit their application. Once they submit their application, they cannot return to edit the form.

Final Report

In order to remain eligible for future funding, applicants must submit a final report within 30 days of the completion of the project to funding@culturalheritage.org

The report must include:

• a 500 - 1,000 word narrative
• at least two images
• a final budget summarizing the expenses and sources of revenue

We may publish reports in full or in part, including posting on our website.

Questions?

Email funding@culturalheritage.org or call us at (202) 661-8071.