Carolyn L. Rose

Carolyn L. Rose (March 24, 1949 – August 29, 2002) was an American archaeological conservator who worked for the Smithsonian Institution and was one of the first ethnographic conservators in the United States.^[1]

Carolyn L. Rose
Born	March 24, 1949  Pittsburgh
Died	August 29, 2002  (aged 53) Washington, D.C.
Alma mater	George Washington University Sweet Briar College
Employer	George Washington University National Museum of Natural History
Position held	chair, conservator-restorer, conservation technician

Early life and education

Carolyn L. Rose (nee Rusch) was born on March 24, 1949, in Pittsburgh and raised in Washington, Pennsylvania.^[1] She was the daughter of The Reverend William G. Rusch and Ruth J. (Johnson) Rusch. She was married to Horace Rose and later to Dr. David von Endt.^[1][2]

Career

She earned a degree in art history from Sweet Briar College, and later obtained a master's degree from George Washington University (GWU) in 1976.^[1][3]

She first interned as a student and then later started working for the Smithsonian as a conservation technician in 1972. She became a senior research conservator for the National Museum of Natural History in 1990.^[1][4] In 2000, she began her position as a chair woman at the Smithsonian Institution's anthropology department.^[1][2] Rose was also an adjunct associate professor at George Washington University since 1983.^[1][4][2] She created anthropological conservation, a sub-discipline ethnography.^[1]

Rose was president of the Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections (SPNHC) from 1994 to 1995.^[1][3][4] and the Washington Conservation Guild.^[1][4]

Awards and honors

In 1992, Rose won the Rutherford John Gettens Merit Award for contributions to the American Institute for Conservation.^[5][6] In 1996 and 1998, she received Exceptional Service Awards from the National Museum of Natural History.^[1] In 1996, Rose also received the Award for Outstanding Service as President of SPNHC.^[4]

In 2001, Rose was awarded SPNHC's President's Award for distinguished service as President of SPNHC.^[3] In 2002, Rose was awarded SPNHC's Award for distinguished service and lifetime contribution to SPNHC's mission and values.^[7]

Rose was awarded the President's Medal at George Washington University.^[3] George Washington University President Stephen Joel Trachtenberg described her as a "one-woman graduate school," due to having taught many ethnographic and archaeological conservators.^[3]

Death and legacy

Carolyn L. Rose died of cancer on August 29, 2002, in Washington, D.C.^[1][4] She is survived by her husband, mother, siblings, daughter, and grandchildren.^[2][4] The Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections' highest honor – SPNHC Award – was renamed in Carolyn Rose's honor.^[8][7][4] Dr. Hanna M. Szczepanowska dedicated her 2012 textbook, Conservation of Cultural Heritage: Key Principles and Approaches, in memory of Rose.^[9]

Publications

• Examination and Stabilization of two Bull Mummies (1978)
• Protein Chemistry for Conservators (1984) Editor^[10]
• Ethical and Practical Considerations in Conserving Ethnographic Museum Objects (~1998)
• Storage of Natural History Collections: Ideas and Practical Solutions (1992)
• Preserving Natural Science Collections: Chronicle of Our Environmental Heritage (1993) – Preface