It is fitting that this Festschrift in honor of Andrea Berlin’s 70th birthday takes as its theme the alchemy she practices so well: transforming artifacts into history. Each contribution in this volume is, in its own way, a reflection of Berlin’s influence and a continuation of her approach. The authors–colleagues, students, and collaborators from across the world that Andrea has not only worked with but consistently supported and encouraged, forming close friendships—were challenged to take “mere artifacts” and tease out their historical significance, just as Berlin has done throughout her career. The resulting chapters span a wide array of topics that mirror the breadth of Berlin’s interests.
