Nancy Hiller
{{Short description|American cabinetmaker (1959–2022)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox artist
| name = Nancy Hiller
| style = Period and Arts & Crafts
| website = http://www.nrhillerdesign.com/
| known_for = Cabinetmaking, furniture making, restoration
| death_date = {{death date and age|2022|8|29|1959|7|2}}
| death_place = Bloomington, Indiana
| birth_date = July 2, 1959
| birth_place = Miami Beach, Florida
}}
Nancy Hiller (July 2, 1959 – August 29, 2022) was a cabinetmaker, period furniture maker, and author based in Bloomington, Indiana. Hiller owned and operated NR Hiller Design: Custom Furniture and Cabinetry, taught woodworking classes, and was the author of several books including Making Things Work: Tales from a Cabinetmaker's Life.{{Cite web|url=http://nrhillerdesign.com/|title=NR HILLER DESIGN, INC. – CUSTOM FURNITURE & CABINETRY|website=NR HILLER DESIGN, INC.|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-18}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.finewoodworking.com/author/nancy-r-hiller|title=Nancy R. Hiller|website=FineWoodworking|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-18}}
Early life and education
Nancy Hiller was born on July 2, 1959, in Miami Beach, Florida to Herbert Hiller and Mary Lee Adler.{{Cite news |last=Risen |first=Clay |date=2022-09-25 |title=Nancy Hiller, Who Broke a Glass Ceiling in Woodworking, Dies at 63 |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/25/obituaries/nancy-hiller-dead.html |access-date=2022-09-26 |issn=0362-4331}}
Hiller moved to England with her mother and sister in 1971 after her parents' divorce. She started building furniture out of necessity and for additional income while living as a young person in London in the late 1970's.{{Cite web|url=http://www.limestonepostmagazine.com/big-mikes-b-town-nancy-hiller-cabinetmaker-and-author/|title=Big Mike's B-town: Nancy Hiller, Cabinetmaker and Author|last=Glab|first=Michael G.|date=March 16, 2017|website=Limestone Post Magazine|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-19}} Inspired to learn the craft, she earned a Certificate in Furniture Making from the City & Guilds of London in 1980. After graduation, she worked for Roy Giffiths building antique kitchens in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire. She went on to work briefly in the wood shop at the Imperial War Museum at Duxford Airbase outside of London.{{Cite web|url=https://www.popularwoodworking.com/woodworking-blogs/woodworking-america-interview-nancy-hiller/|title=Popular Woodworking In America: An Interview with Nancy Hiller|date=August 11, 2016|website=Popular Woodworking Magazine|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-19}}{{Cite web|url=https://pride.iu.edu/arts-culture/into-the-wood/|title=Into the Wood|last=Elliott|first=Bill|date=August 20, 2018|website=Pride.IU.edu|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-19}}
Upon returning to the United States, she attended Indiana University, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1993 and a Master of Arts degree in 1996, both in Religious studies.{{Cite journal|last=Harl|first=Linda|date=Summer 1993|title=Student Awards|url=http://philosophy.indiana.edu/about/Newsletters/1993.pdf|journal=Philosophy: Indiana University Alumni Newsletter|publisher=Indiana University Alumni Association|volume=VIII|pages=4}}
Career
= Woodworker =
In 1995 Hiller founded NR Hiller Design, Inc. She is inspired by 19th- and 20th-century architecture and furniture, and specializes in restoration and period work.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lyndensculpturegarden.org/calendar/womens-speaker-series-nancy-hiller-how-restoring-house-can-restore-life|title=Women's Speaker Series – Nancy Hiller: How Restoring a House Can Restore a Life|website=www.lyndensculpturegarden.org|language=en|access-date=2020-03-19}}{{Cite web|url=https://overthewireless.com/2017/11/26/utility-dovetails-nancy-hiller-on-furniture-in-the-wild/|title=Utility Dovetails – Nancy Hiller on furniture in the wild|last=overthewireless|date=November 26, 2017|website=Over the Wireless|language=en|access-date=2020-03-19}} She enjoys custom work on old houses and antique architecture. Her work has been featured in Popular Woodworking, Old-House Journal, and Fine Woodworking.
= Educator =
Hiller has taught woodworking and cabinetmaking workshops at Kelly Mehler School of Woodworking in Berea, Kentucky, and Marc Adams School of Woodworking in Franklin, Indiana.
= Author =
Hiller has written articles for journals including Fine Woodworking, Popular Woodworking, and Huffington Post, She has authored the books English Arts and Crafts Furniture (2018), Making Things Work: Tales from a Cabinetmaker's Life (2017), Historic Preservation in Indiana: Essays from the Field (2013), A Home of Her Own (2011), and The Hoosier Cabinet in Kitchen History (2009).{{Cite journal|date=June 2019|title=Women in Business|url=http://www.magbloom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/WIB-78.pdf|journal=Bloom|pages=103}}
Publications
= ''English Arts and Crafts Furniture: Projects & Techniques for the Modern Maker'' =
Published in 2018, this book is an in-depth depiction of the furniture of the Arts and Crafts movement. This book includes historical lessons as well as drawings and photos to illustrate the traditional construction methods.{{Cite journal|last=Pekovich|first=Mike|date=Summer 2018|title=A BookTour " ENGLISH ARTS & CRAFTS FURNITURE " BY NANCY R. HILLER|url=https://www.sapfm.org/component/jdownloads/send/16-2018/98-summer-2018?option=com_jdownloads|journal=Pins & Tales|pages=44}} She describes the founding principles, the people such as William Morris and John Ruskin, and links the methods of construction to the philosophy of the movement.{{Cite journal|last=Jones|first=Derek|date=November 2018|title=English Arts & Crafts Furniture: Review|journal=Furniture & Cabinetmaking Magazine}}
= ''Making Things Work: Tales from a Cabinetmaker's Life'' =
First published in 2017, this book is a reflection of Hiller's decades-long career as a cabinet maker. This book is a series of short essays about making things from wood and about running a one-woman business in a traditionally male field.{{Cite web|url=https://www.highlandwoodworking.com/woodworking_books/making-things-work-tales-from-a-cabinetmakers-life-book-review.html|title=Making Things Work – Tales From a Cabinetmakers Life {{!}} Book Review|website=www.highlandwoodworking.com|access-date=2020-03-19}}{{Cite web|url=https://craftcouncil.org/magazine/article/unvarnished-truth|title=The Unvarnished Truth|website=American Craft Council|language=en|access-date=2020-03-19}}
Death
Hiller died on August 29, 2022, of pancreatic cancer at her home in Bloomington, Indiana.
References
External links
- [https://lostartpress.com/products/making-things-work-tales-from-a-cabinetmaker-s-life Making Things Work: Tales from a Cabinetmaker's Life]
- [https://www.abebooks.com/products/isbn/9781440350825 English Arts & Crafts Furniture: Projects & Techniques for the Modern Maker]
- [https://www.huffpost.com/entry/a-home-of-her-own_b_1025970 The House That Saved Me, Huffington Post]
- [https://www.finewoodworking.com/author/nancy-r-hiller Fine Woodworking Magazine: Nancy Hiller]
- [https://www.popularwoodworking.com/author/nancyhiller/ Popular Woodworking: Nancy Hiller]
- [https://books.google.com/books?id=_DcEAAAAMBAJ&q=hiller Arts & Crafts Homes and the Revival]
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Category:21st-century American non-fiction writers
Category:American women non-fiction writers
Category:21st-century American women writers
Category:American furniture designers
Category:American cabinetmakers
Category:People from Bloomington, Indiana
Category:20th-century woodworkers