Patricia (Patty) Madsen was raised in Peoria, Illinois, and is a graduate of Harvard College and the Columbia University School of Law. She came to Bard Graduate Center after a long career as a real estate lawyer. At BGC, she pursued her interests in the history of New York City, Americana, and all things related to food and the table. She lives in Forest Hills, New York, with her husband Steve.

Qualifying Paper: The Business of Art: The Union Porcelain Works