Ruth Rogers

As Laura Daignault Gates '72 Curator of Special Collections in the Clapp Library, Rogers administers a collection of over 40,000 items, including rare books, medieval and renaissance manuscripts, modern fine press books, and contemporary artists' books. Specializing in the evolution of the book as material culture, visual communication, and artistic form, she is responsible for strategic collection development through purchases and gifts. She prepares lectures for visiting classes in consultation with faculty throughout the curriculum. As Visiting Lecturer in the Art Department, Rogers teaches a hands-on intensive seminar, History of the Book from Manuscript to Print. Rogers is a co-founder and collaborator in the area of Book Studies at the College, a cross-disciplinary approach to past and future forms of textual communication.

Among the exhibitions she has curated are Beyond Words (Sewanee University), Reading with the Senses (Lesley University College of Art and Design) and Seductive Alchemy (Texas Woman’s University). her focus is on the critical reading of international contemporary artists’ books as a resource in academic libraries.

Rogers is a frequent juror for exhibitions and awards in book arts, and has taught seminars on developing collections and teaching with artists’ books at California Rare Book School and the Codex Foundation.

Special Collections at Wellesley College

Book Studies at Wellesley College