PEABODY ESSEX MUSEUM
Dr. R. Ruthie Dibble appointed Robert N. Shapiro Curator of American Decorative Art
Most recently serving as Curator at The Chipstone Foundation in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Dibble specializes in American and British decorative arts from the eighteenth century to the present. Her curatorial work expands the field of American decorative arts by examining the global circulation of objects, the relationship between craft and identity, and the role of craftspeople as agents of social change. Emphasizing collaboration and community connection, Dibble's curatorial projects empower diverse perspectives and audiences.
Dibble received a Ph.D. and M. Phil in the History of Art from Yale University, an M.A. in Art History from Williams College, and a B.A. in Art History from Hamilton College. At PEM, Dr. Dibble will oversee one of the country’s preeminent American decorative arts collections, featuring exceptional holdings of furniture, furnishings, and works of material culture. She will also develop an American decorative art gallery and exhibition roster, as well as help develop new interpretative strategies for PEM’s historic houses.