ON February 18th, 2012, the historic preservation department hosted its first Mini-Symposium on Historic Virginia Kitchens. The official title, 'Research perspectives on Historic Virginia Kitchens: Architecture, Slavery & Interpretation" became a platform through which preservation faculty, students, alumni and research enthusiasts could share with each other and the general public their expertise regarding historic kitchens. The morning began with the newly-returned Professor Doug Sanford sharing his research on urban slave kitchen architecture and archaeology in Charleston, South Carolina. Professor Sanford explained how the architectural and archaeological evidence of urban kitchens in Charleston had been largely destroyed due to the socioeconomic changes occurring in the area over the past 50 years. Professor Sanford also explained how archaeological clues give insight to the lifeways of slave cooks. Professor Kelley Deetz from Randolph College then took the stage to … [Read more...]
Chris Betts Visits UMW
From November 5th-November 12th, Christopher Betts, a renowned architectural conservationist from the United Kingdom visited Fredericksburg, Virginia to meet with UMW Historic Preservation students and faculty and discuss his work. Chris has over 25 years of specialist expertise as an architectural conservationist and is acting partner of Purcell Miller Tritton, an architectural practice that manages historic properties across eight different sectors of building types. Chris leads the residential sector of Purcell Miller Tritton. Chris Betts posing with Professor Michael Spencer following his lecture on Tuesday night. Chris spoke to students on two separate occasions. His first talk occurred at 5:00pm on Tuesday, November 8th. During this lecture, Chris provided students with an inside look at his day-to-day activities, from the approach and planning of a conservation project to the execution, coordination and management of a historic property. Some startling contrasts … [Read more...]
Preservation Students Head to Buffalo
This past October the Center for Historic Preservation assisted in sending four historic preservation students, in addition to UMW professor Dr. Andrea Livi Smith to Buffalo, New York for the annual National Trust for Historic Preservation Conference. The students (Senior Cameron Henry, Juniors Susanna Parmelee and Sarah Sanders, and Sophomore Danielle Payne) and Dr. Smith were in attendance at the conference from Wednesday, October, 18 until Saturday, October, 22. Themed “Alternating Currents,” this year’s conference discussed many new and hot topics in the world of preservation including: issues of adaptive reuse, salvaging, budgeting, and many other similar topics. The conference attendees received the opportunity to attend either three or four different educational sessions each day to learn more about issues such as these. For a more detailed recount of events at the conference, please read their stories below: A Little About Buffalo From Hisp Club to New … [Read more...]
Dr. Heather Huyck Visits UMW
On Wednesday, October 5th, 2011, the Center for Historic Preservation, in cooperation with the Department of Women and Gender Studies, co-sponsored a lecture featuring Dr. Heather Huyck, a public historian with more than 30 years of experience in the field. Dr. Huyck’s 5:00pm lecture in Combs Hall was titled, “Hard Hats & High Heels: Women Working in Historic Preservation”. Dr. Huyck gave a brief history of her personal experience entering the field of historic preservation and public history, including the challenges she faced as a career-seeking woman in the 1970’s; during a time when social and economic equality for American women did not exist. Dr. Huyck attributes her success to her persevering nature and desire to fulfill her own dreams. “Do what you love, and the rest will work itself out.” Hyuck explained to her audience. From here, Dr. Huyck began delving into her research interests and some of the work she had accomplished while employed at the National Park … [Read more...]