CV | Sarahlerner

CV

EDUCATION

PhD coursework in History

Stanford University, 2024-2025

Southern US History

M.S. Historic Preservation

University of Pennsylvania, May 2020

Concentration in Public History

B.A. Studio Art

University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, May 2016

Minors in Folklore and Jewish Studies

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

October 2023-Present

Freelance Consultant

PUBLIC HISTORY // My specialized practice combines archival research, oral history, and visual documentation to produce historical narratives—from traditional scholarship to creative storytelling. Together, I worked with partners to untangle fact from fiction, decolonize narratives, reclaim cultural heritage, and curate content to educate the public about the significance of the past and how the past has shaped the present landscape. //

Clients:

Urban Heritage Project: Hired by the University of Pennsylvania to research, write and manage the completion of a National Register Nomination for Ramah Baptist Church in Lowndes County Alabama, with significance tied to the long struggle for Black Civil Rights.
Hidden City Philadelphia: Brought on to lead research initiatives and consult on creative direction for Philadelphia in Color: 1950-1990 a book project to feature color photography of Philadelphia taken between 1950-1990. The book is scheduled for publication in Fall 2026.
Levi Strauss & Co.: Worked with historian and archivist at the San Francisco headquarters to document vintage and luxury garments for the company’s special collection archive.
Philadelphia Water Department: Consultant for an upcoming exhibit on waterways in Philadelphia at the Atheneum of Philadelphia.

VISUAL MARKETING // I work with lifestyle brands to elevate the aesthetic, material, structural and cultural facets the wardrobe for commercial campaigns. My styling work is rooted in creative storytelling and the formation of identity. I work with clients to curate looks that are fun, bold, distinct, and illustrative — combining rich textures and color palettes that respond to the context and personality of the look. //

Clients:

*Wardrobe Styling

Universal Music Group: Led the wardrobe styling for UMG artists’ digital marketing, commerce and social media presence. Roster of artists include Eminem, ODEZSA, Illenium, and Blue Note Records. Duties include research current fashion trends and artist aesthetic, sourcing items for looks, curating looks based on the creative brief, meeting with Creative Director and Producer to review proposed looks, prepping all outfits before shoot, working with an assistant on set to steam clothing and other props, pin and adjust clothing on-model on set, return all sourced looks, and work with producer to organize closet.
Anthropologie: (E-commerce Styling Assistant): A creative, detail oriented, and solution minded member of the Anthropologie creative team. Supports the creation of in-studio imagery by on-set assisting, steaming, style out assistance and styling closet organization.
E.J Gallo Company: Lead stylist for marketing campaign for world renowned wine brand.
Token’ Jew: Lead stylist for creative marketing campaign.

*Prop Styling

Spoonflower: Served as assistant prop stylist for Spoonflower’s Craft Revival collection lifestyle shoot, contributing to set composition, prop sourcing, and on-set styling execution.

*Graphic Design

Safran Everyday: Commissioned by Safran Everyday to redesign packaging for a direct-to-consumer home goods line, developing a cohesive visual system aligned with the brand’s material and design ethos.

*Retail Merchandising

Kai Hill Metalsmithing: Designed a pop-up event for Kai Hill Metalsmithing, including a curated, interactive display highlighting the artist’s process.
Middle of May Vintage: Assisted with store merchandising and led the design and production of a ticketed pop-up event for Middle of May Vintage and collaborating vintage sellers.

*Production Coordination

Universal Music Group: Working alongside the producer on creative photoshoots to ensure a seamless on-set experience for all members of the team. Clients include Taylor Swift and The Rolling Stones. Duties include projects include but are not limited to prepping set elements (clothing and props), helping set up creative backgrounds, meal ordering and pickup, facilitating cars at the end of the day, etc.
Palette Group: Hired by the Executive Producer to represent the company at all pre-production and in person meetings. Duties included, location scouting, scheduling production timeline, ordering all snacks and meals for the cast and crew, liaison between wardrobe stylist and cast members.

September 2020-October 2023

Manager, The Center for the Preservation of Civil Rights Sites, Weitzman School of Design, University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia PA

Recruited to join the University of Pennsylvania’s newly formed Center for the Preservation of Civil Rights Sites as its first full-time employee. In this position, I served as the team’s architectural historian and managed multiple preservation projects with partners across the United States. These projects included site investigations, in-depth archival research, architectural photography, resource evaluation, and building documentation. Over the course of three years, I directed multiple National Register and Philadelphia Register nominations. Through these initiatives, I represented individuals, organizations, and communities throughout the application process, managed project budgets, and conducted site assessments. In addition to my work as the team’s architectural historian, I also curated and managed the Center’s public programs, symposia, and educational initiatives; and led the communications, branding, and digital media strategy for the organization.

May 2020-September 2020

Design Fellow, PennPraxis, Weitzman School of Design, University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia PA

Architectural historian and community engagement coordinator for cultural landscape studies in Washington DC and the Hudson Valley.

November 2018-February 2020

Architectural Photographer, Partners for Sacred Places

Philadelphia, PA

Responsible for documenting and recording pipe organs in the city of Philadelphia through digital photography.

November 2018-September 2021

Architectural Photo Assistant

Assisted shoots with architectural photographers Christopher Payne and Joseph Elliot.

August 2019-Dember 2019

Teaching Assistant, Weitzman School of Design, University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia PA

Assisted students with archival research and architectural photography. Also organized lesson plans and class presentations for HSPV 6000.

May 2019-August 2019

Curatorial Intern, The Tenement Museum

New York, NY

Hired by the Director of Curatorial Affairs to spearhead research for an exhibit which interprets the history of preservation and conservation initiatives at 97 Orchard Street, the original Tenement Museum building. This program launched in Winter 2022.

October 2017-August 2019

Event Coordinator, New York Times Live Events

Washington DC, Philadelphia and New York

Hired by the New York Times Live Events team to assist with live event productions.

December 2016-June 2018

Director of Events, Dupont Underground

Washington DC

Responsible for the curation of exhibitions, production of events, and community engagement initiatives. Which included writing and reviewing artist and client contracts, exhibition production, marketing of exhibitions and events, managing contracted employees per production. Joined as an early team member and spearheaded the creation of a new revenue stream – historic tours of the space - by creating all tour content, hiring and managing a staff of 10 tour guides and security members.

June 2016-March 2017

Intern, The American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress

Washington DC

Hired to log interviews from the Civil Rights History Project and assist with all public events – which required interacting with the public and assisting artists and other professionals during performances.

June 2016-August 2016

Intern, Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage

Washington DC

Hired as the research assistant for folklorist Marjorie Hunt – conducted research for the 2017 Smithsonian Folklife Festival and assisted with the coordination of the Ralph Rinzler Concert through the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. Also, helped facilitate the children’s area as the 2016 Folklife Festival.

INVITED TALKS AND STUDIO REVIEWS

“Historic Preservation Studio, HSPV 7010,” University of Pennsylvania, Department of Historic Preservation, studio reviewer, 2020-2023.

“National Register Nominations in the Alabama Blackbelt,” guest lecture for the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s HOPE Crew Digital Documentation Fellowship Program, virtual, July 18, 2023.

“Piedmont, 601 Studio,” University of Pennsylvania, Department of Landscape Architecture, studio reviewer, Fall 2022.

“Academic Partnership: Tuskegee University School of Architecture and University of Pennsylvania Project Center for Preservation of Civil Rights Sites,” panelist for the Alabama African American Civil Rights Heritage Consortium 2022 April Virtual Convening, April 28, 2022.

CONFERENCES & SYMPOSIA ORGANIZED

Organizer

Preserving and Sustaining Civil Rights Sites Symposium

The Center for the Preservation of Civil Rights Sites, University of Pennsylvania, November 18-19, 2021.

Curator and Organizer

CPCRS Dialogues

The Center for the Preservation of Civil Rights Sites, University of Pennsylvania, 2020-2022.

ACADEMIC PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Sustainable Site Management Assessments

The Center for the Preservation of Civil Rights Sites in partnership with The Alabama African American Civil Rights Heritage Consortium and Tuskegee University, 2022-2023.

Preserving the St. Paul Baptist Church and The Armstrong School

The Center for the Preservation of Civil Rights Sites in partnership with Tuskegee University, 2021-2023.

PUBLICATIONS

Journal Articles

“Sanitary Acculturation: The Social History of Progressive Era Public Bath Houses in Philadelphia,” The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, vol. 145 no. 3, 2021.

National Register Nominations (completed)

Sarah Lerner and Elizabeth Donison. “Federation of Southern Cooperatives Rural Training and Research Center” National Register of Historic Places. RS #100009125, Epes vicinity, Al. Listed October 6, 2023.

Sarah Lerner and Dr. Shari Williams. “St. Paul Baptist Church and Armstrong School” National Register of Historic Places. MP #100009106, Tuskegee vicinity, Al. Listed July 7, 2023.

Magazines

Cover Art for Cellar Door Magazine, The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Literary and Art Magazine, Spring 2014.

Exhibitions

Photography featured in "Inspired Sound: Philadelphia's Pipe Organ Heritage " Athenaeum of Philadelphia, October 2021.

Blog Posts

"Memorializing Covid 19," Making Sense, Weitzman School of Design Historic Preservation Program, March 16, 2020.

“Kentucky Bourbon, Millennial Tastes, and the Language of Folklore,” Folklife Today, American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, December 16, 2016.

MEDIA

Documentary

“HOPE Crew: Building the Next Generation of Preservation Leaders,” interview with National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Hands-On Preservation Experience (HOPE) Crew. Documentary film. October 4, 2023.

Journalism

“Paideia Program to Launch New Spring Courses on Grit, Civil Discourse, and Chinatown,” interview with Andrea Pinga, The Daily Pennsylvanian, December 4, 2019.

“Eastern State Penitentiary: A Penn Class about the Past Speaks to the Present and the Future,” interview with Deborah Lang, Urban Link by the Penn Institute for Urban Research, May 22, 2019.

“Tunnel Vision,” interview with Alexander Nazaryan, Vehicle Magazine by Uber, 2018.

AWARDS AND HONORS

The Hume Graduate Fellowship Fund in History

Stanford University, 2024

The Anthony Nicholas Brady Garvan Award for an Outstanding Thesis

University of Pennsylvania, 2020

National Society of the Colonial Dames of America Fund Recipient

University of Pennsylvania, 2019

Robin M. Beckett Fund Recipient