Deirdre A. Scaggs will bring a unique program. One of Kentucky’s most distinguished archivists, Professor Scaggs has a grounding in academics, with strong sense of the common touch, born of her upbringing in Powell County, Kentucky.

She will talk about her role as the leading archivist in Kentucky and her newest book, Simplicity and Elegance: Elizabeth Kremer from Beaten Biscuits to Shaker Lemon Pie. This is the first biography of Kremer, who carved a distinguished career at a time when only 20 percent of women worked outside the home. Kremer ended her career by shaping the food served at Shaker Village.

Professor Scaggs is the associate dean for special collections at the University of Kentucky Libraries. She serves as co-director of the Wendell H. Ford Public Policy Research Center, also at UK. Previously, Deirdre served as director of archives and as the university archivist. Under her direction, UK Libraries Special Collections is focusing on the use of primary resources in teaching and research for students. Within the field of archives, her specialty is in photographic resources, education, and history; Deirdre is also a photographer and part-time photography instructor at UK. Prior to her work at UK, Deirdre worked on the Historic Pittsburgh Project at the Archives of Industrial Society, University of Pittsburgh. She holds an MLIS from the University of Pittsburgh and an MFA from The Ohio State University.