Rod Scott is in the Hospital September 30, 2008
Posted by history in : Uncategorized , add a commentI just received this message from Preservation Action.
When I was working in Iowa and Wisconsin, I was always impressed by Rob’s boundless energy and enthusiasm. Here’s to a speedy recovery.
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Our “Barn Guy” Hospitalized
Preservation Action’s lead barn preservation advocate and primary “go to” guy in Iowa has taken a bad fall and is in the middle of numerous surgeries. He has been the primary grassroots contact for Midwest flood relief for owners of damaged historic properties.
Rod’s tireless support for historic barn preservation recently got the attention of the New York Times:
We’re thinking about you Rod - hang in there!
You can send your get-well wishes to Rod at:
Make Like Your Early Hominid Ancestors! September 29, 2008
Posted by history in : History of Preservation, Sustainability, Things to Read, Views , add a commentJust as the turning of the previous century brought massive changes to the way in which we lived, worked, communicated, shopped, traveled and a whole host of other things, so to will the turning of this century. This month, Wired Magazine released its 2008 Smart List: 15 People the New President Should Listen To. The only article that really deals with the built environment Redesigning Cities from Scratch is written by Mitchell Joachim who is described in the article as, a “kind of Frederick Law Olmsted for the 21st century.”
While I would argue that starting from scratch is a bit dramatic, okay waaay to dramatic, I think that in the coming decades preservationists will face some really profound challenges as we try to adapt 18th, 19th and 20th century cities to the 21st century and meaningfully address climate change. It is an interesting and thought provoking article. I lthought what he has to say about cars was interesting as was the concept of the edible house. The car v. city battle has always been a thorn in my side. I grew up in Chicago, in the city, and we were a one car family, one car that my dad used to get to and from work. That left us carless. No worries. There were stores, a bakery, a hot dog stand, restaurants, public library and our grade school within walking distance. We lived between two “L” stops. Downtown and its museums and department stores was a short train ride away. In high school I took the train or bus to school. I didn’t have a car until college. It is amazing how quickly I got soft. Before I knew it I was going to meet friends and rather than hoping on the train or a bus, I found myself driving around looking for parking and cursing all the other people that were already parked. Yes, a car is convenient, but when your are not using it, you have to put it somewhere and cars aren’t like purses, they can’t be stashed under the table, in a desk drawer or in a locker. They need space and lots of it. Indeed, many iconic Chicago buildings were lost to the perceived need for more parking. Here is what Joachim says on the matter of cars and the city:
“‘At the top of the agenda, Joachim says, is mobility and its inefficiencies. Citing US Department of Energy statistics, he says that while 29 percent of the nation’s energy expenditure–what he calls “the suck”–now goes toward getting around, ‘in 50 years that will double.’ Among the biggest sources of waste, he argues, is the automobile–not only in energy but in the space it occupies (cars, he notes, spend more than 90 percent of the day parked). For nearly a century, Joachim says, “cities have been designed around cars. Why not design a car around a city?’ So he did just that. One of his concept vehicles, the City Car , was named to Time magazine’s Inventions of the Year list in 2007.”
Ninety percent…Think about all we do for cars. We build houses for them (garages), storage spaces (parking lots and garages), places to bathe them (car washes), their very own roadways on which pedestrians are forbidden (highways and expressways), shops for them (name your favorite), hospitals (mechanics) and restaurants (gas stations). It is not just the space to store the cars but all the services they require that is astounding. Think about the impact that all this accommodation has had on the historic fabric of American cities
I agree that we need cars for cities but it will take a long time for this to happen. We forget the history of our cities, that many were built before the introduction of the automobile, people were dependent on rail, horse or their own two feet to get from place to place. Today, the average American makes thirteen, yes THIRTEEN car trips a day and half of them are under three miles! When it comes to reenvisioning our future, I heartily agree that we need to think big, but perhaps we can start by reconnecting to a part of our past. Since horses and street cars are not necessarily a viable option, I mean walking. This is how we, from our early hominid ancestor Lucy to homo sapiens sapiens, have experienced their environment. If we are going to lament the impact of cars on our cities, shouldn’t we try to minimize our use of them? This can be challenging; time, safety, convenience, the lack of viable public transit and a host of other factors lead to a dependence on cars. All these issues can’t be solved just by designing better cars, although they certainly can’t hurt. But more urban walkers and bikers means less cars. I never have stoplight rage when I am walking and seldom do I curse out my fellow pedestrians, besides it is a great way to experience your community. With a Walk Score of 86, Savannah has been voted one of the most walkable cities in America. Some neighborhoods of Savannah are much more walkable than others, check out your neighborhoods Walk Score here.
Mysterious Parking Lot Construction Demystified September 23, 2008
Posted by history in : Classes, Events, SCAD, Structures, Students , add a commentFor those of you that are not students at SCAD, our HP Department is part of the SBA (School of Building Arts) located in Eichberg Hall which is the former Administration Building of the Georgia Southern Railroad. Today, it is home to the Departments of Architecture, Interiors, and Historic Preservation as well as the Cultural Landscape and Urban Studies programs. I really enjoying being a part of the larger SBA community and it is alwalys fun to see what my colleages in other departments are up to. For a few days I have been watching students building large models in an odd assortment of materials in the parking lot. My curiousity was piqued. Turns out that this is a project for Professor Julie Granacher’s Architecture Studio I. In an e-mail about the project, Professor Granacher describes it thusly, “My studio is experimenting with controlling human behavior through creation of sculptures using only re-used or recycled materials that must inspire one non-visual sense (taste, touch, smell, hearing, and psycho-emotive). The sculptures will be completed Wednesday [September 25] during studio and will be on display Wednesday beginning at 4pm just outside the main entrance on the north side of [Eichberg Hall]. The active exhibit will continue until 5pm, but the sculptures will be on-site through Friday. Please come by and encourage your students to come by to experience these sculptures and vote for your favorites and those that are most successful…I look forward to hearing your comments on the projects.”
Since HP is a very sensory field—think about that old building smell that you encounter when you walk into a building that hasn’t been occupied for years, or the amazing array of textures when you walk down the street in Savannah, or the sound of tires running across cobblestones—I think this is a great project and look forward to seeing the results.
Chi-Town Challenge! Support the Work of Preservation Action September 22, 2008
Posted by history in : Advocacy, Conferernces and Symposia, Opportunities, People , add a commentThis e-mail just came to me from Preservation Action (www.preservationaction.org). Not only is PA a great and important organization but having biked in my former hometown, Chicago, I can say that this is a high-stakes event. Pledge today! For more on the HP Tax Credit Conference, click here. September is a great time of year to visit Chicago.
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Two Titans of Tax Credits Race to Raise $25,000 for Federal Preservation Tax Advocacy at National Historic Tax Credit Conference – September 24, 8am
Where: The Streets of Chicago
Pledge today for John Tess or Bill MacRostie
(John Tess now leads with $1,500)
John Tess (left) and Bill MacRostie (right) have challenged each other to a bike race through Chicago’s streets to raise vital funding for Preservation Action.
As a part of the National Historic Tax Credit Conference in Chicago, Illinois this week (September 23 - 25), two of Preservation Action’s longtime supporters and leaders within the rehabilitation tax credit community, John Tess and Bill MacRostie, have challenged one another to a bike race in downtown Chicago! On September 24, these titans of the rehab tax credit have one goal: raise funds for Preservation Action and its grassroots network.
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Every day, Preservation Action makes connections between constituents and Congress to improve federal preservation policy. Every day, Preservation Action staff and members gather information and insights from policy makers and other constituents that improve federal incentives for adaptive reuse projects nationwide. In March, Preservation Action led a national Lobby Day in Washington, DC, that brought together hundreds of preservationists from around the country to advocate a common grassroots agenda. In 2008 alone, Preservation Action and its membership conducted over 300 meetings with members of Congress in Washington, DC, and in local district offices. Since it was established in 1974, Preservation Action members have held over 10,000 face-to-face meetings with members of Congress and their staff. Preservation Action is the face of preservation on Capitol Hill. Preservation Action is the grassroots’ lobby.
Preservation Action is the only 501c4 lobbying organization for historic preservation at the federal level. Preservation Action lobbies for priorities set by our national membership through a grassroots vote. Our members fund 100% of Preservation Action’s work.
Pledge your support for either John or Bill today, and help Preservation Action meet our goal of raising $25,000 for grassroots lobbying in 2009.
You can do this a few ways:
1) Call Preservation Action’s office (202) 637-7873, and make your pledge. You can pay via credit card or you can have us send you an invoice for your pledged amount. Be sure to let our staff know whether you’re supporting John or Bill.
2) Go to http://www.preservationaction.org/chi-town_challenge.htm, fill out the pledge form and follow the payment instructions.
Preservation Action’s grassroots network needs to be ready to make the most of historic changes coming in Congress and in the Administration. Preservation Action needs to be front and center when federal policy is comprehensively rethought. Preservation Action needs to demonstrate our leadership by rallying our community with common goals, great information, and an energized grassroots base. To do this, Preservation Action needs your support.
John Tess founded Heritage Consulting Group based in Portland, Oregon.
Bill MacRostie heads MacRostie Historic Advisors LLC based in Washington, DC.
Pledge Today for John Tess or Bill MacRostie:
http://www.preservationaction.org/chi-town_challenge.htm
Jobs: Regional Historic Preservation Planner September 19, 2008
Posted by history in : Jobs , add a commentRegional Historic Preservation Planner, South Georgia Regional Development Center in Valdosta, Georgia. Duties: provide historic preservation technical support to local governments, organizations, and individuals in a nine county region in South Georgia. Responsibilities include undertaking Section 106 consultation on behalf of the Georgia State Historic Preservation Office, conducting countywide surveys, preparing staff recommendations for certificate of appropriateness applications, writing grants, assisting units of government in the implementation of local comprehensive historic resource plans, and disseminating information on local, state, and federal programs to cities and counties. Qualifications: Master’s degree in historic preservation or architectural history; or Master’s degree in planning, history or a closely related field (archaeology, history, art history, architecture, landscape architecture, interior design, geography, urban studies, or American studies) with an educational emphasis on historic preservation; or B.A. degree in one of those fields plus two years’ closely related historic preservation experience AND strong community planning and communication skills, plus a thorough understanding of historic preservation. Reply to: South Georgia RDC, P.O. Box 1223, Valdosta, GA 31603 or email: sdavidson@sgrdc.com. Web site - www.sgrdc.com
Sophmore Career Networking Social September 19, 2008
Posted by history in : Conferernces and Symposia, Events, History of Preservation, Internships, Jobs, Opportunities , add a comment|
Greetings. You are cordially invited to attend the 2nd Annual Sophomore Career Networking Social events. This year we have selected several undergraduate students to share their recent internship experiences with SCAD students, faculty, and staff. We would be honored if you could attend your school’s event and engage in networking with the students in a social environment. The Sophomore Socials event schedule is as follows:
Sept. 30, 7-9 p.m.: School of Building ArtsOct. 1, 7-9 p.m.: School of Design Oct. 2, 7-9 p.m.: Schools of Film and Digital Media and Performing Arts Oct. 7, 7-9 p.m.: School of Communication Arts Oct. 9, 7-9 p.m.: Schools of Fine Arts and Liberal Arts Location: Oglethorpe House Ballroom, 201 W. Oglethorpe Ave. |
Internships at the National Museum of the American Indian September 17, 2008
Posted by history in : Internships , add a commentSubject: Internships at the National Museum of the American Indian
Ten-Week Winter Internships
Conservation Department
National Museum of the American Indian
Cultural Resources Center, Suitland, MD
January 5, 2009 - March 13, 2009
The National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) is offering up to
two internships in ethnographic artifact and textile conservation
funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The Conservation
Laboratory at NMAI’s Cultural Resource Center in Suitland, MD (Metro
DC area) is the work site. Andrew W. Mellon internships focus
primarily on the survey and treatment of artifacts for exhibits at
NMAI’s facilities in Washington, D.C., and New York City, loans and
other ongoing projects. Current exhibition projects include an
exhibit on horses opening 2009 and a collection survey exhibit
opening 2010 both in New York City
Candidates who demonstrate a career interest in the conservation of
material culture of indigenous peoples of North, South and Central
American will be especially welcome to apply. The internships are
designed for students currently in or graduated from a graduate
program in conservation or practicing conservation professionals.
The internships are intended to cultivate practical skills as well
as to foster a solid understanding of the contexts of material
culture, the philosophies of conservation at NMAI, and the ethics of
the conservation profession. Museum programming involves
collaboration with Native Peoples in the development of appropriate
methods of care for, and interpretation of their cultural materials.
Application procedure: There is no formal application form for
Andrew W. Mellon Internships. Applications, postmarked no later than
October 1, 2008, must include the following in English:
Cover letter explaining the candidate’s interests and intent in
applying for the internship;
Curriculum vitae including basic biographical information with
current and permanent addresses, telephone numbers, and email
address;
Transcripts of both undergraduate and graduate courses of
academic study with an explanation of the evaluation system if
it is not equivalent to that of the United States (cumulative
GPA of 3.0 or better is required);
Three letters of recommendation: two from conservation
professionals familiar with the candidate’s work and one letter
of personal reference. These may be sent under separate cover.
Letters should be in sealed envelopes with the referee’s
signature across the flap.
Notifications will be sent by email or phone message on or before
November 1, 2008. The 10-week internship includes a generous
stipend. The term for the project is January 5, 2009 - March 13,
2009.
NMAI is an equal opportunity employer. All applications should be
sent to:
Marian A. Kaminitz
National Museum of the American Indian/Smithsonian Institution
Cultural Resources Center, MRC 538
4220 Silver Hill Road
Suitland MD 20746
For more information please see
<URL:http://www.nmai.si.edu/>
Help for Galeveston September 16, 2008
Posted by history in : Uncategorized , add a commentOur friends and colleagues in Galveston, TX need your help. Hurricane Ike caused significant damage to historic places there, and the Galveston Historical Foundation is working hard to respond. Preservation Texas and the National Trust for Historic Preservation are helping out by providing technical support and other on-sight assistance.
You can help by making donations to the effort through the Galveston Historical Foundation’s website:
https://ghf.destinationnext.com/donation.aspx
Thanks in advance for pitching in!
Free Lecture on Tuesday Night September 15, 2008
Posted by history in : Uncategorized , add a commentThe Coastal Heritage Society is hosting a free film premier and presentation next Tuesday night, September 16th at 6:30pm, at the Savannah History Museum/Visitors Center (303 MLK, Jr. Blvd, at the corner of MLK and Liberty downtown). “In the Footsteps of Heroes” tells the story of the Revolutionary War 1779 Siege of Savannah. The 12-minute film will be followed by a presentation by CHS archaeologist Rita Elliott, who will reveal recent battle-related discoveries throughout downtown Savannah. Best of all, the program begins with a FREE reception at 6:30!
We want to invite all of you to attend this premier, because your students are learning about Georgia history. We are looking at ways to distribute the film and a related lesson plan throughout the county next year in time for the 230th anniversary of the Siege and battle on October 9th, 2009, and we want you to be in the first audience to get a sneak preview of the film, and give us your feedback.
Please let me know if you have any questions, and we hope to see you next Tuesday night at the museum.
Michael Jordan
Coastal Heritage Society
(912) 651-6895