German studies alumna uses interdisciplinary passions for work in moving image archives

When Erin Palombi ’10 arrived at The College of Wooster as a first-year student, she knew she loved movies, but her film classes at Wooster introduced her to a discipline that she would continue to pursue after graduation and beyond. While at Wooster, Palombi majored in German studies and minored in film studies. As a moving image archives technician in the Library of Congress, Palombi relies on her interdisciplinary education every day.  

While at Wooster, Palombi involved herself across campus. She took as many art classes as she could fit into her schedule, sang with the Wooster chorus, lived in the organic farming house, and studied abroad in Freiburg, Germany for a full year. “A liberal arts education allowed me to get involved with different groups in and outside of academia. I was able to pursue a German degree while also exploring interests in art, film, music, and nature,” she shared. “The combination of experiences helped paint a fuller picture of the world for me.” 

Elements of her Wooster education still impact her work, including her senior Independent Study Project, “I am currently co-writing a book for the Library of Congress about a foundational film collection,” Palombi shared. “My I.S. experience was a valuable window into the writer-editor relationship. It gave me the freedom to pull on the threads that interested me and taught me how to own my ideas.” 

Her background in film studies at Wooster prepared Palombi to pursue a post graduate degree. “My film classes gave me a foundation of knowledge that I built on in grad school and continue to reference today,” Palombi said. 

After attending graduate school and receiving a master’s degree in film and media preservation, Palombi began a career working with moving images. She currently works as an archives technician working with films and descriptive materials related to films at the Library of Congress. “On the best days, I get to work with German collection items or translate German scripts, subtitles, or intertitles,” Palombi said. 

Her daily responsibilities focus on processing collections: inspecting, identifying, and organizing materials. She has worked with a variety of moving image collections including film and video TV series, century-old copyright deposits, 70 mm feature films, and silent-era nitrate. “I enjoy being able to step away from my computer and interact with physical objects—sometimes in a 38-degree vault!” Palombi shared, noting that the temperature of the vault helps to preserve film.  

Palombi’s passion for film, which blossomed during her time at Wooster, is evident in her work at the moving image archive. “I see the power of moving images, especially as links to the past. Anyone who treasures a home movie collection or who has memorized a favorite film can relate to that idea. I feel lucky to be a custodian of the country’s moving image heritage,” she said. 

Posted in Alumni, Homepage Featured on December 2, 2024.