Carolyn Horton Scholarship

We established the Carolyn Horton Fund to support continuing education for book or paper conservators who are members of AIC's Book and Paper Group.

Submission Deadline: February 1

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• Funds may be used to help defray costs for attending meetings, seminars, workshops, or to conduct research or special projects
• Individual grants are made up to $1,500, depending on the earnings on the endowment and the number of applicants.

About Carolyn Horton

Carolyn Horton 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.

Criteria for Review

• Applicants must be current members of AIC and the Book and Paper specialty group.
• Usefulness of project to the applicant and/or the conservation field.
• Qualifications of applicant to conduct project.
• Plan to disseminate outcomes of project (publication, teaching, presentations, etc.).
• Appropriateness of budget; financial need may be considered.
• Completeness of application.

Application Process

We will automatically consider applicants for both the Christa Gaehde Fund and the Carolyn Horton Fund.

Applications are submitted through our online application portal. When you enter the portal, you will be prompted to login to the system using a login ID and password. If you already have an account (this should be the case if you are an AIC member or have participated in an AIC or FAIC program), use the same login information you use to access that account. If you do not have an account in the system, you can quickly set one up before you begin your application.

The online form will take you through the four sections of the application:

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. Reference information (name and email of reference)
4. Budget information (project costs and FAIC funding request)

You must submit two references. We strongly recommend that at least one reference is a Professional Associate or Fellow member of AIC. Once you submit your reference contact information, the portal will send your references an email with a link directly to where they will complete a brief form regarding their support for your application. You will not be able to view their recommendations.

You can save and return to your application later to complete it. When you are satisfied with your responses, “save and finalize” to submit your application. Once you have submitted your application, you will not be able to edit the form.

A committee will review applications and make a recommendation FAIC board for final approval. Reviewers will follow the Reviewer Guidelines and an established evaluation rubric based on the criteria for review to evaluate all applications. We will notify awardees six to eight weeks after the deadline. Projects should take place six weeks to twelve months after the application deadline. 

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Final Report

In order to remain eligible for future funding, you 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.