Background
Christel Ludewig McCanless was born on November 20, 1939, in Peenemünde, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. She is the daughter of Hermann Richard R. and Emmy (Jaglitz) Ludewig.
2304 Billie Watkins St SW, Huntsville, AL 35801, United States
Huntsville High School where Christel McCanless studied.
75 College Dr, Montevallo, AL 35115, United States
The University of Montevallo where Christel McCanless received her Bachelor of Arts degree.
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where Christel McCanless received her Master of Science degree in Library Science.
(Fabergé and His Works: An Annotated Bibliography of the F...)
Fabergé and His Works: An Annotated Bibliography of the First Century of His Art is the first attempt by any author to compile and annotate the voluminous literature published about the celebrated firm of Fabergé with its 500 employees and their prolific output.
https://www.amazon.com/Faberge-His-Works-Annotated-Bibliography/dp/0810828367
1994
(Fabergé Eggs: A Retrospective Encyclopedia is the most co...)
Fabergé Eggs: A Retrospective Encyclopedia is the most complete reference available on Fabergé eggs lavishly illustrated with beautiful four-color photos. Essential for all fine arts and museum libraries, it is also of interest to academic and public libraries, collectors, and dealers.
https://www.amazon.com/Faberge-Eggs-Retrospective-Will-Lowes/dp/0810839466
2001
researcher author library consultant
Christel Ludewig McCanless was born on November 20, 1939, in Peenemünde, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. She is the daughter of Hermann Richard R. and Emmy (Jaglitz) Ludewig.
Christel McCanless and her family came to the United States in 1953. After finishing Huntsville High School, she went to the University of Montevallo where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English in 1961. After that, she obtained a Master of Science degree in Library Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1966.
Christel McCanless began her librarian career in 1963 as library director at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, the position she held till 1968. That year she became a bookstore consultant and worked in this position till 1976. From 1975 till 1978 she was a consultant at the Huntsville-Madison County Public Library. She also worked as a consultant at The Huntsville Times in 1985-1989, at Alabama Library Exchange in 1991-1999, and at Huntsville Museum of Art in 1999-2000.
McCanless is also known as an independent researcher. She became interested in the art of Fabergé in the late 1960s when she read Robert K. Massie's book, Nicholas and Alexandra, and Morton Shulman's book, Anyone Can Make a Million. As a practicing librarian, she began collecting pieces of paper, books, and journals, which mentioned Fabergé and his art. In 1994 she published the book Faberge and His Works: An Annotated Bibliography of the First Century of His Art, which is considered to be an invaluable reference tool for Fabergé enthusiasts and collectors, art historians, librarians, museum curators and registrars, art dealers, jewelers, auctioneers, and students.
After the publication of her bibliography, Will Lowes from Australia contacted her and soon a collaborative effort began. The one-volume encyclopedia Fabergé Eggs: A Retrospective Encyclopedia (2001) is their first joint effort. Because they were on two different continents in the world and in different time zones, all their work was done by e-mail, fax machine, FedEx, and infrequently via phone and mail. One special treat from this joint venture was that Lowes and she met twice in the United States and traveled with a Fabergé scholar to modem St. Petersburg, once the Mecca of tsarist Russia, Fabergé, and his 500 artisans.
Their next project is The Lowes and McCanless Index to Fabergé at Auction, 1934-2000. It is the descriptive database of 19,000 Fabergé objects which came under the hammer on the world auction market between 1934 and 2000. The rewards of this writing project for McCanless were a deeper understanding and appreciation of the decorative arts, travel to museums and libraries worldwide, and exciting friends.
(Fabergé and His Works: An Annotated Bibliography of the F...)
1994(Fabergé Eggs: A Retrospective Encyclopedia is the most co...)
2001Christel McCanless is a member of the Art Librarians Association of North America, Alabama Library Association, Alabama Museum Association, Fabergé Arts Foundation, WLRH Radio, Beta Phi Mu, and Mu Alpha Theta. She is a member of the board of directors of the Huntsville Literary Association, Monte Sano Civic Association, Burritt on the Mountain, and Huntsville-Madison County Public Library.
Christel McCanless married George F. McCanless, Jr. on July 11, 1963. The marriage produced one daughter, Katherine.