Professor, Researcher, Book Historian
Dr. Martha W. Driver
Martha Driver is Distinguished Professor of English at Pace University in New York City. A co-founder of the Early Book Society for the study of manuscripts and printing history, she writes about illustration from manuscript to print and manuscript and book production. In addition to publishing some 80 articles in these areas, she has edited twenty-eight journals, including the Journal of the Early Book Society. Her books include The Image in Print: Book Illustration in Late Medieval England (2001), The Medieval Hero on Screen: Representations from Beowulf to Buffy, with Sid Ray (2004), An Index of Images in English MSS, with Michael Orr (2007), Shakespeare and the Middle Ages, with Sid Ray (2009), Preaching the Word in Manuscript and Print in Late Medieval England: Essays in Honour of Susan Powell, with Veronica O’Mara (2013), and John Gower in Manuscript and Early Printed Books, edited with Derek Pearsall and Robert F. Yeager (2020). Her recent essays include “How English Is It? Scribal Cultures in Late Medieval England: A Festschrift Honoring Linne Mooney, edited by Holly James-Maddocks, Derek Pearsall, and Margaret Connolly (2022), “There and Back Again: Manuscripts after Printing” in Middle English Manuscripts and their Legacies: A Volume in Honour of Ian Doyle, Library of the Written Word 102, vol. 14, edited by Corinne Saunders, Richard Lawrie ( 2022), and “Medieval Women Writers and What They Read, ca. 1100 to ca. 1500” in The Edinburgh History of Reading: A World Survey from Antiquity to the Present (2020).
Professional Experience
Member, Lecture Subcommittee for the American Trustees of the British Library, ATBL (2022-)
Fellow, Society of Antiquaries (2022-)
Member, The Grolier Club (2019-)
Trustee, American Patrons of the National Library and Galleries of Scotland (2007-2023)
Search Committee, American Patrons of the National Library and Galleries of Scotland (2017-2023)
Executive Committee, American Patrons of the National Library and Galleries of Scotland (2014-2023)
Chair, Early Book Society (1988-2023)
Schallek Award Committee, Medieval Academy of America (2004-2007)
Member, Program Committee, Medieval Academy of America (2000-2002)
Conference Co-ordinator, Medieval Club of NY (1989-1994)
President, Medieval Club of New York (1987-1989)
Reader-Consultant, Fellowships, AAUW Educational Foundation (1987, 1988)
Guest Curator, "The Pictures of Wynkyn de Worde," exhibition at the
John Hay Library, Brown University (1986)
Consultant, "Censorship: 500 Years of Conflict," exhibition at
the New York Public Library (1984)
Guest Curator, "Martin Luther and the Popular Imagination," exhibition at
the New York Public Library (1983)
Reviewer, editor, and researcher, Publishers Weekly (1982-1984)
Employment
Distinguished Professor of English, Pace University (2003- )
Professor, Pace University (1995-2003)
Associate Professor, Pace University (1988-1995)
Assistant Professor, Pace University (1981-1988)
Lecturer in English, Vassar College (1980-1981)
Lecturer in English, University of Pennsylvania (1977-1979)
Teaching Fellow, University of Pennsylvania (1975-77)
Education
Vassar College, A.B. (1974), Phi Beta Kappa, FSA
University of Pennsylvania, M.A. (1975), Ph.D. (1980)
Dissertation: "The Early Editions of Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde"
Honors & Awards
Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, London (February 2022)
Kenan Award for Teaching Excellence (2020)
Dyson Faculty Excellence in Scholarship Award (2016)
Dyson Distinguished Achievement Award (2003)
NYSERNET Sponsored Education grant (2002)
National Science Foundation grant (2001-2003)
Rodney G. Dennis Fellow in the Study of Manuscripts, Houghton Library,
Harvard University (1996-1997)
NEH Research Tools Grant (1995)
American Council of Learned Societies Travel Grant (1995)
Seminar Participant, Folger Institute, Folger Shakespeare Library (1994)
Fellow, Society of Fellows of the Dyson College (1994, 1995)
American Philosophical Society Grant (1990)
NEH Fellowship for College Teachers (1988-89)
Bibliographical Society of America Fellowship (1987)
Scholarly Research Grant, Pace University (1990-2000)
Summer Research Grant, Pace University (1986-2001)
NEH Travel to Collections grant (1986, 1987, 1990)
NEH Summer Seminar, Columbia University (1982)
Lectureship in English, University of Pennsylvania (1977-1979)
Teaching Fellowship, University of Pennsylvania (1975-1977)
at Pace University
Member, English Dept, Appeals (2020-2023)
Member, English Dept, Elections (2016—2023)
Faculty Representative to the Trustees, Development Committee (2005-2017)
Co-chair, Dyson Humanities and Social Sciences Seminar (2014-2016)
Member, Distinguished Professor Advisory Committee (2014-2016)
Member, NYFC, Faculty Affairs Committee (2013-2016)
Member, Elections Committee, English Department (2017-2019)
Advisor, Curriculum Committee, English Department (2015-2017)
Member, Personnel Committee, English Department (1997-2000, 2007-2009, 2011-2013)
Member, Elections Committee, English Department (2011-2014, 2016-2018)
Member, Curriculum Committee, English Department (2007-2009, 2013-2014)
Member, Appeals Committee, English Department (2002-2005, 2006-2008)
Chair, Ad Hoc Committee, Dyson Faculty Assembly (2005-2006)
Member, Writing Contest Executive Committee, English Department (2005-2006)
Member, Curriculum Committee, WGS (1996-2000, 2004-present)
Member, Fundraising, WGS (2004-2006)
Member, Curriculum Committee, English Department (2004-2006)
Judge, English Department Writing Contest (2004-2006)
Member, Dean Search Committee (2003-2004)
Member, Advisory Board, Honors College (2003-2007)
Chair, Personnel Committee, English Department (2002-2004)
Member, Dyson International Committee (2002-2004)
Presidential Alumni Commission 2001 (spring 2001)
Director, The Honors Program (1998-2000)
Chair, Feminist Research Group (1996-1997)
Member, Feminist Research Group (1995-1998)
Co-Chair, Technology Committee (1996-97)
Member, Theater Advisory Committee (1996-2001)
Member, Academic Resources Committee (1996-1998)
Chair, Scholarly Research and Kenan Committees (1993-1995)
Member, Scholarly Research and Kenan Committees (1991-1993)
Member, Committee on Scholarship (1993-1997)
Member, Women's Studies Lecture Index (1994-1995)
Secretary, Faculty Council (1984-1987)
Member, Cultural Affairs Committee (1983-1991)
Tom and I met on a dance floor in 1999 and still enjoy learning new steps. Our current love is New York style salsa. Anyone who can walk can dance, and we are the living proof of that!
“Dance is the hidden language of the soul”
― Martha Graham
This photo of our victorious croquet team from the recent EBS conference at Limerick (2023) is one of many, both serious and fun. For more pictures from the eighteenth biennial conference, please see the Early Book Society FB page and earlybooksociety.org.