PreserveCast

Join us as we talk with Dr. Shirley Green about her book Revolutionary Blacks: Discovering the Frank Brothers, Freeborn Men of Color, Soldiers of Independence. Shirley’s book follows William and Benjamin Frank through their military service in the Continental Army, their experience as free Black soldiers, and the paths they travelled.

Join us on this week’s PreserveCast - our 300th episode! - as we talk with Alyssa Lozupone and Kris Turgeon about preservation training opportunities at Newport Restoration Foundation. Alyssa and Kris will provide us with background on this legacy preservation organization and the work they’ve done to establish a robust and successful Preservation Trades Specialist Training program and what lessons were learned along the way that could help other efforts like it around the country. In 2023 The Campaign for Historic Trades partnered with Newport Restoration Foundation (NRF) to create a customized training program focused on providing participants with an introduction to the preservation trades. The 12-week program is comprised of 60 contact hours of instruction including lectures, in-class activities, demonstrations, site visits, and shop tours. Learn More: https://www.newportrestoration.org/preservation/

Join us on this week's PreserveCast episode as we talk with Mary Cleary, Senior Editor at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and Michael Knapp, Chief of Historical Services at the American Battle Monuments Commission, about the newly released book, Time Will Not Dim: American Battle Monuments Commission, A Century of Service, 1923 - 2023. Mary and Michael will take us through the book, their experience working on the book, and the history and future of the ABMC.

On the heels of The Campaign for Historic Trades' announcement that is has successfully registered its group apprenticeship program, Trades Takeover returns! The Campaign's Director, Natalie Henshaw, speaks with Héctor J. Berdecía-Hernández, founding Director-General of the Centro de Conservación y Restauración de Puerto Rico (CENCOR). CENCOR is a unique institution that seeks to develop the capacity of communities in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean to protect and conserve their cultural heritage. Its initiatives, programs, and projects provide educational and professional development opportunities to public and private cultural institutions, professionals, and the general public. Through preservation and conservation projects, study and research, education and training, dissemination, and promotion of cultural heritage, CENCOR helps people to know and explore Puerto Rican culture, history, and heritage, to protect and preserve it. In this episode, Natalie and Héctor discuss his career path into conservation, leading to the founding of CENCOR.

Cemeteries, like historic buildings and landscapes, provide critical connections to our past. On today’s episode of PreserveCast we’re talking with Preservation Maryland’s Program & Outreach Manager Christiana Limniatis about U.S. presidential gravesites – how presidents are laid to rest, cemetery architecture, and a discussion about the unique features of presidential gravesites across the country.

Join us this week's PreserveCast episode as we talk with Senior historian and interpretive planner, Scott Vierick with the History Associates, Inc (HAI). We’ll talk with Scott about the Falling Waters Battlefield and how HAI and Preservation Maryland worked to conduct an interpretive reconnaissance survey and the impact it had on plans for the Battlefield.

Join us on this week’s PreserveCast as we talk with Robyn Hodgson about her book Abandoned Maryland Houses: Ruins of the American Dream, which she co-authored with her partner Rhea Hodgson. Her book takes the reader through abandoned historic homes throughout Maryland through photographs and history. Robyn will share some of the behind-the-scenes of her photography and book. A brief disclaimer on this episode – neither PreserveCast nor Preservation Maryland, which powers this podcast, endorses, suggests or encourages anyone to ever explore, enter or otherwise investigate a historic place without owner consent. Always engage in ethical documentation and exploration of historic places. Learn More: https://www.instagram.com/morning_reveries/ Order the Book: https://www.arcadiapublishing.com/products/9781634994361

Our team has happily welcomed "spooky season" and this week we're bringing you a tale of old about the story of Michael Zittle – the Wizard of South Mountain. If you enjoy this type of content, you'll also want to tune in next week for another Halloween-inspired episode, an in-depth feature on the Maryland Witch Trials. Much of what we know of Michael Zittle and the lore of South Mountain comes from Madeline Vinton Dahlgren, a 19th-century author, tavern keeper, anti-suffragist, and owner of the still-operational South Mountain Inn. New research, writing, and dramatic reading by your host, Nicholas Redding. As the chill of autumn arrives and we approach All Hallows Eve, we'll indulge in this haunted history and talk of wizards, spells, and sorcery...

You’re visiting New Orleans and you want to get off the beaten path – out of the French Quarter and into neighborhoods to experience the real, authentic cultural assets this historic, over 300-year-old city has to offer. So where do you go and what do you do? On this week’s PreserveCast, we’re sitting down with Danielle Del Sol, the Executive Director of the Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans and Nathalie Jordi to talk about an Authentic New Orleans experience.

Join us this week's PreserveCast episode as we talk with Dr. Christopher Finan about his book Drunks: The Story of Alcoholism and the Birth of Recovery. We’ll talk to Chris about the history of alcoholism in America, the story of recovery, and how the preservation and museum community can approach telling the full story of alcohol at sites and places across the nation. All that and more on this week’s PreserveCast. BIO: Chris Finan is executive director of the National Coalition Against Censorship, an alliance of 56 national non-profits that defends free speech. Mr. Finan has been involved in the fight against censorship for over 40 years. He is former president of American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression. A native of Cleveland, Chris is a graduate of Antioch College. After working as a newspaper reporter, he studied American history at Columbia University, where he received his Ph.D. in 1992. He is the author of How Free Speech Saved Democracy: The Untold History of How the First Amendment Became an Effective Tool for Securing Liberty and Social Justice (Steerforth Press), Drunks: An American History (in paperback, Drunks: The Story of Alcoholism and the Birth of Recovery) (Beacon Press) and Alfred E. Smith: The Happy Warrior" (Hill and Wang), a biography of the New York governor who was the first Catholic to run for President. His book, From the Palmer Raids to the PATRIOT Act: A History of the Fight for Free Speech in America (Beacon Press), won the American Library Association’s Eli M. Oboler Award for the best work on intellectual freedom published in 2006 and 2007. Chris is married to Pat Willard, a writer whose most recent book is "America Eats! On the Road with the WPA - the Fish Fries, Box Supper Socials and Chitlin Feasts that Define Real American Food" (Bloomsbury). They have two sons and live in Brooklyn, New York. Learn More: https://www.chrisfinan.com/ Find the Book: https://bookshop.org/p/books/drunks-the-story-of-alcoholism-and-the-birth-of-recovery-christopher-m-finan/7213639?ean=9780807019931&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.chrisfinan.com%2F&source=IndieBound&title=Drunks%3A+The+Story+of+Alcoholism+and+the+Birth+of+Recovery

Get a peek behind the curtain and join us on this week’s PreserveCast as we talk with Ann Powell, Principal Owner of Plan B. Ann will share what she does as an owner's representative and how she supports preservation projects. After 25 years as an architect, Ann will let us glimpse the complexities of preservation projects and how an owner's representative can benefit the project.

Join us on this week’s PreserveCast as we discuss the rebirth of Downtown Frederick, Maryland. We’re talking with writer and journalist Kate McDermott about her book, From the Brink to Brilliant: The Revitalization of Downtown Frederick, Maryland, where she paints a picture of downtown Frederick’s revitalization and what lessons this story holds for cities like it across America. Kate McDermott is the author of “From the Brink to Brilliant: The Revitalization of Downtown Frederick, Maryland.” She is a freelance writer and journalist, working with clients that range from national transportation companies to major medical centers and biotechnology firms. She holds a degree in journalism from Kent State University and resides in Frederick. Learn More: https://www.amazon.com/Brink-Brilliant-Revitalization-Downtown-Frederick/dp/B0BV43CXJZ

When in San Francisco you could be walking over thousands of forgotten graves. Join us on this week’s PreserveCast as we talk with Beth Winegarner about her book San Francisco’s Forgotten Cemeteries: A Buried History. Beth will take us through why San Francisco’s cemetery history, relocation, and the oversight that left thousands of graves and their deceased behind. Beth Winegarner is an author, journalist, essayist, and pop culture critic who’s contributed to the New York Times, the New Yorker, the Guardian, the Washington Post, Wired, Mother Jones, and many other publications. Her books include Sacred Sonoma, The Columbine Effect: How Five Teen Pastimes Got Caught in the Crossfire and Why Teens Are Taking Them Back and Tenacity; Heavy Metal in the Middle East and Africa. She grew up in northern California and now lives in San Francisco. Learn More: https://www.bethwinegarner.com/san-franciscos-forgotten-cemeteries Order the Book: https://bookshop.org/p/books/san-francisco-s-forgotten-cemeteries-a-buried-history-beth-winegarner/19987377?ean=9781467154925

On this week’s PreserveCast we are talking with Paul Coussan, the Director of Government Relations at the American Battlefield Trust about Boots on the Ground: A Manual for Battlefield Friends Groups. Paul walks us through how the manual aims to provide resources for friends groups, new and established, who serve as the first line of defence against potential threats to American heritage.

Join us on this week’s PreserveCast as we talk with Lara Miller, the Director of Member Engagement for the Early American Industries Association. Lara will take us through EAIA’s history of being the go-to community to learn about American tools, trades, and industries for 90 years. She will also dive into their resources, network, and how listeners can get involved. Lara Miller Rowand is the Director of Member Engagement for the Early American Industries Association. Growing up in the Central Appalachian regions of eastern Kentucky & southern West Virginia, she garnered an appreciation for and dedication to historic trades and crafts. When not engaging with trades for her day job, she can often be found throwing pottery, carving print blocks, finding something to sew, or growing vegetables. She holds an undergraduate degree in History & a graduate degree in Nonfiction Writing, and has formerly worked for institutions such as Old Sturbridge Village and the Valentine Museum in Richmond, Virginia. She now lives in rural Connecticut with her shoemaker husband, two dogs, and overly sassy cat. Learn More: https://www.eaia.us/

Some people take their recipes to the grave, others put them on their gravestones. On this week’s PreserveCast, join us as we talk with Rosie Grant about her journey recreating gravestone recipes. Rosie documented her journey of making recipes of Spritz, Fudge, and everything in between on TikTok. Listen in as we hear how all of this started. Rosie Grant is a part time digital librarian at the American Jewish University in Los Angeles and full time Outreach and Communications Manager at UCLA. Follow her on TikTok @ghostlyarchive or message on Instagram @ghostly.archive. Fellow taphophiles and cemetery lovers are welcome to connect and share any favorite graves or cemetery recommendations. Learn more: https://www.tiktok.com/@ghostlyarchive?lang=en

The Battle of Antietam is the single bloodiest day in American history, chronicled in D. Scott Hartwig's new book I Dread the Thought of the Place: The Battle of Antietam and the End of the Maryland Campaign. Join us on this week’s PreserveCast as we talk with Scott about the vital turning point that was the Battle of Antietam. He will give us a sneak peek into his book, the research it took to write it, and how the Battle of Antietam shaped the American Civil War. **Join Preservation Maryland September 13th for a special book release party at McClintock Distilling to celebrate Dread the Thought of the Place: The Battle of Antietam and the End of the Maryland Campaign. Purchase tickets https://www.eventbrite.com/e/an-antietam-evening-a-book-release-party-for-d-scott-hartwig-tickets-673181924257?aff=oddtdtcreator

On this week’s PreserveCast, take a step back in time as we talk with Timothy Ware about his book Maryland in the French & Indian War. Tim will talk to us about where his interest in American history started, why he decided to write his book, and the importance of the French & Indian War to Maryland. Tim Ware grew up outside of Martinsburg, West Virginia, in a region filled with history spanning from the colonial period to the American Civil War and beyond. His passion for history pushed him to pursue an undergraduate degree in history from Shepherd University and a graduate degree in American history from American Public University. In the first book, Tim dives into Maryland’s participation in a war that began as a skirmish on the frontiers of Pennsylvania and grew up into a global war for empire. Tim resides in Hagerstown, Maryland, with his wife, Heather; son Clyde; and two dogs, Nell and Kash. Learn More: https://www.amazon.com/Maryland-French-Indian-War-Military/dp/1467150347

Today we're joined by our own Preservation Program & Outreach Manager Christiana Limniatis where we're talking about preservation in pop culture, specifically preservation on the silver screen. Listen in to hear Christiana and Nick's chat about their favorite preservation-related films.

Join us in the garden on this week’s PreserveCast as we talk with John Forti about his book, The Heirloom Gardener: Traditional Plants & Skills for the Modern World. John will take us through how he started gardening, why he decided to put pen to paper, and the importance of heirloom and indigenous plants in our gardens. John Forti is an award-winning heirloom specialist, garden historian, ethnobotanist, garden writer, and local foods advocate. He is Executive Director of Bedrock Gardens, an artist-inspired public sculpture garden and landscape in Lee, New Hampshire, and the recipient of a 2020 Award of Excellence from National Garden Clubs. He is also a regional governor and biodiversity specialist for Slow Food USA, a national chapter of Slow Food, a global organization and international grassroots movement that connects food producers and consumers to champion local agriculture, farmers markets, and traditional, regional cuisine. John gardens and lives along the banks of the Piscataqua River in Maine. Learn More: http://jforti.com/

Join us with guest Despina Stratigakos, who participated in a fascinating effort to get the Mattel Corporation to give Barbie a career in architecture. We like to keep things of topical interest here on PreserveCast and with the new Barbie movie out this week, it seemed fitting to revisit this conversation about representation and the future of the field. We all need role models – and we need to see ourselves represented – whether in film, print . . . or in Mattel’s iconic Barbie. Today’s guest, Despina Stratigakos, Vice Provost for Inclusive Excellence at the University at Buffalo, is a writer, historian, and professor. She is the author of three books that explore the intersections of power and architecture. Her most recent book, Where Are the Women Architects? confronts the challenges women face in the architectural profession.

Join us on this week’s PreserveCast as we talk with Dr. Jocelyn Imani, the National Director for the Black History and Culture program at Trust for Public Land. Dr. Imani will discuss the importance in creating shared spaces that are more relevant and accessible to all populations. All that and more! Dr. Jocelyn Imani is a storyteller, educator, and community builder with over a decade of experience as a public historian; she joined us as national director of our Black History and Culture program in 2022. In her work, she is focused on reimagining how Black history and culture sites are activated and aims to make shared spaces more relevant and accessible to all populations. Prior to joining TPL, Dr. Imani spent time as an interpretive ranger with the National Park Service, served as historian at Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site, and worked in the Office of Curatorial Affairs at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. She has taught U.S. history at Fisk and Howard Universities, as well as Washington Adventist University, Coppin State University, and others. She is also particularly dedicated to the development of strong children, a passion reflected in her founding of the Big Brown Get Down, an annual community event that connects upwardly mobile professionals with middle and high school students from underserved communities. Dr. Imani holds a PhD in African diaspora and public history from Howard University and a BA in history from Fisk University. She is a member of the Nashville Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc and the Junior League of Nashville. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Progress, Inc, an organization that promotes health, happiness, and safety for people with disabilities and senior adults needing care. An avid fan of arts, music, and culture, Dr. Imani comes from a long line of musicians and sang before she spoke. A proud daughter of the South, she is a native of Nashville, Tennessee. Learn more: https://www.tpl.org/black-history-and-culture

On this week’s PreserveCast, join us as we talk with Carole Boston Weatherford and her son, Jeffrey Boston Weatherford, about their book Kin: Rooted in Hope. Carole and Jeffrey will share their journey creating this book, set in Talbot County, Maryland, which reimagines Wye House plantation and the nearby all-Black, Reconstruction-era hamlets of Copperville and Unionville, and the research into their ancestors that shaped the narrative. Carole Boston Weatherford has written many award-winning books for children, including You Can Fly illustrated by her son Jeffery; Box, which won a Newbery Honor; Unspeakable, which won the Coretta Scott King award, a Caldecott honor, and was a finalist for the National Book Award finalist; Respect: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, winner of the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award; and Caldecott Honor winners Freedom in Congo Square; Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer, Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement; and Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom. Carole lives in North Carolina. Jeffery Boston Weatherford is an award-winning children’s book illustrator and a performance poet. He has lectured, performed, and led art and writing workshops in the US, the Middle East, and West Africa. Jeffery was a Romare Bearden Scholar at Howard University, where he earned an MFA in painting and studied under members of the Black Arts Movement collective AfriCobra. A North Carolina native and resident, Jeffery has exhibited his art in North Carolina, Georgia, Maryland, and Washington, DC. Learn more: https://cbweatherford.com/

Join us on this week’s PreserveCast as we talk with Noami Doddington from Consigli Construction. Naomi takes us through her choice to change careers from a high school teacher to historic preservationist. We'll also discuss one of her projects, the Glass House at Menokin, where part of the structure will be preserved in glass. BIO: Naomi Doddington is a Project Manager and Historic Preservationist with Consigli Construction. She holds an MSHP degree from Clemson University. In the years that she has been working for Consigli, Naomi has had the privilege to work on some of our Capital City’s most renowned buildings, including the US Capitol Building’s Olmsted Terrace, the Netherlands Carillon near Arlington National Cemetery, and Meridian Hill Park in the heart of the Columbia Heights/Shaw neighborhoods. She has been working on the Menokin Plantation project for several years and is excited to continue to work on “the most engaging preservation project in America.” Naomi lives in Alexandria with her partner, Jeff, and their dog, Lulu. Learn More: https://www.consigli.com/

Join us on this week’s PreserveCast as we head back to frontier Indiana where we’ll talk with Michelle Evans, the Domestic Trades Manager at Conner Prairie, one of the largest open air history museums in the nation. Michelle will take us through the background of Conner Prairie and her experience over the past four decades on site as well as Conner’s Prairie’s use of heirloom plants within their 1000 acres and 14 areas of interaction.

On this week’s PreserveCast join us as we talk with Dr. Roeland Paardekooper about EXARC, a global network of professionals active in archaeological open-air museums and experimental archaeology, ancient technology, and interpretation. Dr. Paardekooper will talk us through this unique field of study and how you can learn traditional skills by engaging with EXARC. Dr. Roeland Paardekooper serves as the Director & EXARC Journal Executive Editor, and has expertise in Archaeological Open-Air Museums and Experimental Archaeology. Dr Paardekooper graduated from Universiteit Leiden (NL) with his BA & MA, and from the University of Exeter (UK) with a PhD. He was awarded the Museum Horizon Award in 2015 and the Knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau in 2012. Learn More: https://exarc.net/ Guedelon: https://www.guedelon.fr Colonial Williamsburg: https://www.colonialwilliamsburg. org/ Lejre Land of Legends: https://sagnlandet. dk

*Emergency Episode* French Quarter with Danielle Del Sol In this special edition of PreserveCast, we are sitting down with a friend of our organization, Danielle Del Sol, the Executive Director at Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans. She talks with us about the proposed changes to the French Quarter governance and the impact it could have to one of the oldest historic districts in the United States. Help save the enforcement that protects this historic landmark neighborhood by signing the petition here

Trades Takeover is back! In this episode, Director of Historic Trades Natalie Henshaw speaks with Melanie Weston, one of our panelists for the inaugural American Historic Trades Summit. Held from June 12 – 14, in Providence, Rhode Island, the Summit will develop a network for historic trades training programs, creating a central source of knowledge and resources on how to start, maintain, and propel a training program. As General Manager of Heritage Restoration Inc., Melanie is responsible for the oversight, development, and outreach of the business. Melanie will participate in Session 7: Employer Perspectives, alongside Julie Butler of Durable Restoration Company and Naomi Doddington of Consigli. These different employers will discuss how training programs can meet industry needs and ensure graduates get quality jobs. Melanie is a graduate of Clemson University’s Master in Historic Preservation, and has a Bachelor’s Degree in History from Mills College. She spent her early career restoring windows, although quickly rose to become responsible for overseeing preservation, maintenance, and capital improvements of structures and landscapes for Historic New England at the Eustis Estate in Milton, Massachusetts as well as nine other properties in Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. Concurrent with her role as General Manager, Melanie helps administer and teach for Providence Preservation Society’s Window & Workforce Training Program and is Chairperson for the Window Preservation Standards Collaborative. The WPSC’s Fifth Summit will be held at Pine Mountain Settlement School in Kentucky October 8 – 13, 2023.

Join us on this week’s PreserveCast as we talk with Dr. Maureen Elgersman Lee about her work at the Bray School Lab at William & Mary. Dr. Lee shares some background on the Williamsburg Bray school that was hidden in plain sight for over 200 years on the William & Mary campus in Virginia, and some of its history as the oldest extant building dedicated to the education of Black children in the United States. BIO: Dr. Maureen Elgersman Lee is the Mellon Engagement Coordinator for African American Heritage and Director of the Bray School Lab at William & Mary. A history professor for more than two decades, she has held academic and/or administrative positions at universities in Georgia, Maine, and Virginia—and spent five years as executive director of Richmond’s Black History Museum. An award-winning scholar and professor, Maureen has produced numerous books and articles on various aspects of Black history in the United States, Canada, and the British Caribbean. Her current book project is a new collection on the Williamsburg Bray School (1760-1774) to be co-edited with Nicole Brown and published by The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in 2026. Learn More: https://www.wm.edu/sites/brayschool/people/elgersman-lee-m.php

I have been a big fan of Peter Ginn ever since I watched the first episode of Victorian Farm, where he portrayed a Victorian-era farmer in England alongside Ruth Goodman and Alex Langlands. Peter has deftly combined his knowledge of the past with entertainment and is a proud ambassador for preserving historic trades and crafts. In short, he’s the ideal PreserveCast guest.

On this special edition of PreserveCast we're flipping the script! Normally, our host Nicholas Redding asks the questions and our guests tell us the story. On today's episode Nick will be our storyteller, chronicling one of his first preservation advocacy battles and the hard-won lessons learned that can listeners can heed and use to speak out on behalf of places that matter to their communities. Video links, referenced in Nick's "second lesson" to have fun and use creative strategies. https://youtu.be/G4n93XD9Bt4 https://youtu.be/338ptCG1SbQ

Saving communities and historic places from an increasingly unstable climate takes real action – and thoughtful, well-crafted policy. Maryland State Senator Sarah Elfreth is a national leader on this issue and has helped to craft a new funding source to help communities battle climate change and save historic places. I first met Senator Elfreth outside of a Budget and Taxation hearing to discuss an opportunity to save one of Annapolis’ last standing waterman’s cottages that was imminently threatened by rising sea levels. Since then, we’ve collaborated on a variety of efforts and her work has been recognized nationally for climate resiliency. Saving places often means getting involved in crafting policy which is why I knew we had to bring Senator Sarah to PreserveCast.

On this week’s PreserveCast we’re diving deep into the technology of preservation with Greg Galer and Taryn Williams about their roles at The Association for Preservation Technology International (APT). We’re talking about how preservationists keep up with changing technology and how those trends, tools and the science of buildings is helping keep our historic structures standing. And, we’ll discuss how you can get involved and learn more about the science behind preservation. ABOUT Greg Galer, Ph.D., Hon. AIA, HREDFP is the Executive Director of APT. He began this role in early 2022, having previously served as Executive Director of the Boston Preservation Alliance where he impacted over $5 billion of real estate development. His 30-year career spans the breadth of public history including historic preservation, collection management, museum exhibits, documentation of historic sites, and adaptive use projects. Greg holds a bachelor’s degree from Brown University and a Ph.D. in the History and Social Study of Science and Technology from MIT. His past research includes the evolution of iron truss bridges and American ironworking history. Taryn Williams is the President of the Association for Preservation Technology International (APT). She has served on the APT Board of Directors since 2016, and co-chaired APT’s Partnerships & Outreach committee from 2017-2021. She is a Senior Project Manager at Simpson Gumpertz & Heger in Washington, DC where her work focuses on investigating and repairing existing and historic buildings. Taryn holds bachelor and master of engineering degrees in civil engineering from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. She is a licensed structural engineer in California and Hawaii; a licensed civil engineer in California, Maryland, Nevada, Virginia, and Washington, DC; and an APT Recognized Professional. Learn more: Greg Galer's Previous Episode (Ep. 50)

What is smart growth and why should preservationists care about it? On this week’s PreserveCast we’re talking with David Adler, an asset manager from David S. Brown Enterprises about transit-oriented development, incentives for smart growth, and how historic preservationists can incentivize better growth in their own communities. All that and more, as we push the boundaries of preservation, on this week’s PreserveCast

On this week’s PreserveCast, we’re heading back 250 years to the mid-18th century to talk to Ed Schultz, master farmer of Colonial Williamsburg. We’ve covering a lot of ground in this episode – rich fertile ground – and will take a closer look at what it takes to learn this style of farming and what lessons it holds for the future of sustainable agriculture. We’ll also talk with Ed about his work with ALFHAM – an association for living historians and what that organization does for the field of heritage preservation. All that and more on this week’s PreserveCast.

The experiences of hundreds of free and enslaved people of color who witnessed and took part in the Battle of Antietam, one of America’s bloodiest battles, have never been shared in depth until now. Join us on this week’s PreserveCast as we talk with author Dr. Emilie Amt about her book Black Antietam: African Americans and the Civil War. Emilie will give us a glimpse into her book and the African American perspectives in Sharpsburg before, during, and after the Battle of Antietam and the Civil War. Dr. Emilie Amt is an award-winning writer on the African American history of western Maryland. A Maryland native, Emilie is an emeritus professor of history at Hood College in Frederick. She spent much of her career as a medieval historian, but since 2010, her research has focused on slavery in Washington County, where she lives. Her most recent book, published by The History Press, is Black Antietam: African Americans and the Civil War in Sharpsburg (available for purchase here). She is on the board of the Friends of Tolson’s Chapel, a National Historic Landmark in Sharpsburg, and is a founding director of the Friends of Halfway African American Cemetery, in Hagerstown. Learn more: https://emilieamt.com/ Purchase Book: https://www.arcadiapublishing.com/Products/9781467150729

On this week’s PreserveCast, we’re heading to the brackish waters of the Chesapeake Bay to revisit an episode with Imani Black, founder of Minorities in Aquaculture, a dynamic new organization that is using heritage and history and a host of other innovative tools to develop opportunities for minorities to engage in this growing and sustainable industry. Like many guests, I read about Imani in an article and knew we had to get her on PreserveCast – especially because of her background, heritage and focus on using history to get minorities interested and engaged in careers in aquaculture. We’re talking sustainability, environmentalism, history and the bay on this week’s PreserveCast.

Once one of the top 10 cities in the United States, Buffalo’s historic Elmwood district could once again be a model for America’s cities. On this week’s PreserveCast, join us as we talk with Clinton Brown, a heritage and project architect, about his book Olmsted’s Elmwood: The Rise, Decline and Renewal of Buffalo’s Parkway Neighborhood, A Model for America’s Cities. Brown takes us through this Buffalo, NY neighborhood's rich history, devastating decline, and ongoing renewal. Historic preservation architect Clinton Brown, FAIA, is a graduate of Franklin & Marshall College, the Institute for Architecture and Urban Studies, and the University of Virginia School of Architecture. He has taught at the Willowbank School of Restoration Arts and is a frequent speaker about historic preservation and Main Street revitalization. He is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects. He founded Clinton Brown Company Architecture, pc, a leading full service historic preservation, architecture, and grant services firm, which is driven to renew historic buildings and heritage place to be better for everyone. CBCA nominated the Elmwood Historic District for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, one of the country’s largest historic districts. This is the genesis of his book, Olmsted’s Elmwood: The Rise, Decline and Renewal of Buffalo’s Parkway Neighborhood, A Model for America’s Cities, published by City of Light Publishing in 2022. The New York Governor appointed him to the Board that is overseeing the rehabilitation of the National Historic Landmark Richardson Olmsted Campus, the former Buffalo State Asylum for the Insane. Successive Secretaries of the Interior have appointed him a Commissioner of the state-wide Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Commission, an affiliate of the National Park Service. He is a Board Member of the Willowbank School of Restoration Arts in Queenston, Ontario, of which HRH Prince Charles has been Patron. Purchase the Book: https://cityoflightpublishing.com/product/olmsteds-elmwood-the-rise-decline-and-renewal-of-buffalos-parkway-neighborhood-a-model-for-americas-cities/

Join us on this week’s PreserveCast as we talk with Katherine Porter, a design director at Waterhouse Wallhangings. Waterhouse’s collections contain new and old wallpaper designs, including some authentic reproductions, first used in the early days of the US. Join us as we explore how wallpaper has changed since it was first brought to the US, peeking into Waterhouse’s archives, and the differences between historic and modern wallpaper. Originally from Amityville, New York, Katherine Porter attended Syracuse University and graduated with a BFA in surface pattern design. Fresh out of college she landed a job in New York City working for a lively and very productive textile design studio. Surrounded by talented and interesting people, young and old, from all over the world, she really learned the ropes. Now located in rural northeast Ohio she continues to work in the fabric and wallpaper field from her home studio. Katherine’s fabric designs appear in the following collections: Isaac Mizrahi for S. Harris, Jaclyn Smith Home, Charlotte Moss for S. Harris, Mount Vernon Home for Fabricut, Vervain, Valdese Weavers, and Longaberger Company. Since 2017 Katherine has been partnered with Lance Houpt in the Thomas Strahan Collection of wallpapers. Thomas Strahan, a sister company to Waterhouse Wallhangings, is one of the oldest wallpaper companies in the United States. Currently located in New York, the designs are drawn from an extensive archive (over 12,000 patterns) and printed on the premises. Waterhouse and Thomas Strahan offer a high-end showroom line of wallpapers and fabric as well as specializing in reproductions for historic house museums. Both Katherine and Lance share a love for the beauty and history of these timeless designs. We are proud to carry on this unique legacy of pattern design. Learn more: https://www.waterhousewallhangings.com/

Want to know how sailors used to get their tattoos centuries ago? On this week’s PreserveCast, we will be talking with Owen McGarry a New England tattoo artist who specializes in hand poked tattoos. The stick and poke tattoo method has been performed for thousands of years from sailors to indigenous Americans and Europeans. Owen will walk us through this slow tattooing process and where he gets his inspiration from. __ Owen Payette McGarry is a traditional hand poke tattoo artist based in Boston, Massachusetts. He came to tattooing in 2014 through his interest in maritime folk art, while working as a boat builder. His work attempts to recreate what tattooing in New England may have looked like in centuries past. Owen’s tattoos are entirely hand poked, the same technique practiced for thousands of years by both Indigenous Americans and Europeans. Though the process is slower than the tattoo machine, hand poking better recreates the experience and the style of historic tattooing. As tattooing leaves little physical evidence after the wearer is deceased, Owen references other surviving examples of maritime folk art from around the North Atlantic; scrimshaw, graffiti, woodblock prints, needlework, painted ship’s chests &c. to create contemporary work informed by our past. Learn More: http://themassachusite.com/index.html

One a day keeps the doctor away. Join us on this week’s PreserveCast, as we talk with Tom Brown who is on the search for “Lost” heritage apple varieties. Listen in as Tom shares his decades-long journey to rediscover heritage apples and what it takes to preserve these “Lost” breeds.

One of preservation’s biggest challenges is climate change. On this week’s PreserveCast, we are talking with Benjamin Curran, a 2021 recipient of the Harrison Goodall Fellowship. Curran’s project intended to explore the viability of constructing low-cost open-source sensors for the purpose of increasing the breadth of communities engaged in self-monitoring their susceptibility to sea level rise. Join us in talking with Curran on how his project unfolded and what lessons it holds for preservationists across the nation. Benjamin works as the Historic Trades Curriculum Developer at Preservation Maryland, where he designs and develops multimedia educational content available online. Curran is the former Department Head of STC’s Historic Preservation and Restoration Program and the Director of STC’s Center for Traditional Craft. He was the lead faculty instructor for Historic Preservation at Edgecombe Community College in Taraboro, NC. While working in the remote sensing lab at the University of New Hampshire Earth System Research Center in Durham, N.H., he was a co-investigator for research funded by a National Geographic Society/Waitt Foundation grant investigating the impacts of sea level rise on saltwater intrusion for coastal heritage sites. Benjamin received his bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from the University of New Hampshire and his graduate degree from Plymouth State University where he studied Historic Preservation and Education. Learn More: Interview with Harrison Goodall: https://www.preservecast.org/2020/05/11/building-a-legacy-in-the-preservation-trades-with-dr-harrison-goodall/ 2021 Fellows Selected: https://www.preservationmaryland.org/2021-harrison-goodall-fellows-selected/ 2022 Fellows Selected: https://www.preservationmaryland.org/2022-harrison-goodall-preservation-fellow-selected/

On this week’s PreserveCast, we’ll head back to the 19th century to explore the landscapes and sites associated with Frederick Douglass and talk with Jeffrey McGuiness about his photographic journey to document these sites for his new book published by The St. Michael’s Museum, Bear Me Into Freedom: The Talbot County of Frederick Douglass. Jeff McGuiness is a photographer and writer fascinated by history, politics, art, and photography. He lives in St. Michaels on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. For the past five years, he has worked on a photographic essay of the place where Frederick Douglass was born and lived for eleven years enslaved—Talbot County, Maryland. His photobook, published in November of 2022 by the St. Michaels Museum Press, is entitled Bear Me Into Freedom: The Talbot County of Frederick Douglass. McGuiness was born in California and grew up in suburban Washington, D.C. After graduating from college with an art degree in 1969, he spent the next four years in the U.S. Air Force as a photographer during the Vietnam conflict. He then worked for a commercial photographer in St. Louis for a time before deciding to pursue a law degree. McGuiness was a practicing attorney in Washington, DC, for more than four decades, concentrating on public policy and managing non-profit organizations. These days, McGuiness does what he enjoys most. An avid boater, he explores his beloved Chesapeake Bay in his powerboat while using his varied experiences to pursue photography and writing projects through his company, Bay Photographic Works. Learn more: https://www.bearmeintofreedom.com/ Book: https://www.bearmeintofreedom.com/

On this week’s PreserveCast we are talking with Charles Henry the President of the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR), a non-profit organization that works with libraries, cultural institutions, and higher learning communities to improve research, teaching, and learning environments through the digitization and preservation of cultural heritage. Charles will be sharing the threat that climate change poses on cultural heritage. Charles is the president of the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR), a non-profit organization that works with libraries, cultural institutions, and higher learning communities to improve research, teaching, and learning environments through the digitization and preservation of cultural heritage. He believes preserving cultural heritage connects us with humanity’s collective experience and knowledge, and gives us a sense of identity. However, cultural memory loss can easily occur through destruction (e.g. the early Library of Alexandria), neglect, lack of awareness, war and displacement - even climate change poses a significant threat. To address this, CLIR has been working for decades on the preservation and access to cultural heritage. Projects include the Digital Library of the Middle East, one of the world’s largest online archives of Middle Eastern and North African artifacts; the HBCU Library Alliance Partnership, which fosters awareness of and access to collections held by Historically Black Colleges and Universities; and Digitizing Hidden Collections, a $4 million annual grant program that aims to bring highly significant cultural content to light.

Roll your oak barrels over – we’re making whiskey! On this week’s PreserveCast, join us in talking with Aaron Hollis, the Co-Executive Director of West Overton Village Museum in Scottdale, PA. Aaron will be sharing about re-establishing the whiskey distillery on the property after almost 100 years. The distillery is operational and is used to educate visitors about how whiskey was made over 100 years ago. Aaron Hollis Jr. was born and raised in Scottdale, PA just a few miles from West Overton. He has a B.A. in Archaeology from the University of Pittsburgh and an M.A. in Public History from West Virginia University. He started volunteering at West Overton 10 years ago and today is Co-Executive Director. Outside of the museum, he enjoys hiking with his wife, playing with his two dogs, and tinkering with his 1956 pickup truck. Learn more: https://www.westovertonvillage.org/

Reuse for Our Future! And join us on this week’s PreserveCast as we talk with Stephanie Phillips a recipient of the 2021 Goodall Fellowship. Stephanie will be sharing about the Circular Heritage Project, of which the fellowship supported the launch. The Circular Heritage Project, which seeks to strengthen the alignment between the heritage conservation field and the growing circular economy movement in North America. Stephanie Phillips, AICP, is a San Antonio-based senior public policy & planning professional working at the intersection of heritage conservation and the circular economy. She leads the City of San Antonio's Deconstruction and Circular Economy Program, which aims to maximize material salvage and reuse opportunities from older structures while advancing the City’s climate action, affordable housing, and workforce development goals - all through a heritage conservation lens.

On this week’s PreserveCast, we are talking with Christopher Oakley from UNC Asheville about his research behind solving the number 1 question guests at the Gettysburg National Cemetery ask. “Where did Lincoln stand [during the Gettysburg Address]?” Join us while Oakley takes us through the intense analysis of 19thcentury photographs with today’s technology & 3D modelling software. Christopher Oakley is an associate professor of New Media and teaches courses in animation and the history of animation at the University of North Carolina in Asheville. Christopher is also an animator and director with over 25 years of experience in the film, television, commercial and game industries. After several years working as a stop motion animator and director on commercials and CBS' Pee-wee's Playhouse, Christopher was recruited by Walt Disney Feature Animation to work on their pioneering computer-generated film Dinosaur and other projects. After moving to Asheville, NC, Christopher animated "Into the Groove" for Madonna's Sticky and Sweet world tour. Christopher has a life-long passion for history and has spent much of that time researching Abraham Lincoln. In 2013, Christopher launched an undergraduate research endeavor titled "The Virtual Lincoln Project." Together with his students, Christopher created a photo-real, digital Abraham Lincoln and brought him to life delivering the Gettysburg Address. The discovery was featured in Smithsonian Magazine ("Will the Real Abraham Lincoln Please Stand Up") and went viral worldwide. In addition, Christopher's blending of 19th Century analog materials with 21st Century digital technology has helped him pinpoint the size, shape, and location of the speaker's stand from which Lincoln delivered his Gettysburg Address. Christopher's reveal of that location at a recent gathering of The Lincoln Forum in Gettysburg was featured on the front-page of the New York Times. Christopher received his BFA in Theatre from Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin and his MFA in Film from Columbia University in New York City. Learn more: www.christopheroakley.com

There is perhaps no author or person who has made more of an impact on the modern notion of Christmas than Charles Dickens. The famed author is now almost synonymous with Christmas – and his legendary work, A Christmas Carol, has sold millions of copies and has been turned into no fewer than 135 different movies. With this legendary success, how best to tell his story? That’s the subject of today’s PreserveCast – a deep dive into the legacy and story of Dickens with Dr. Cindy Sughrue, the Director of the Charles Dickens Museum. Living in the past, present and future is the work of preservation – and today’s guest is working to keep the legacy of Charles Dickens, arguably the father of our modern Christmas, alive at his home in London, England. At this festive time of the year, we’re talking with Dr. Cindy Sughrue, the Director of the Charles Dickens Museum. “I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me.” – Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

We're excited to bring you today's PreserveCast live from the field! We're in Annapolis, Maryland on the grounds of the historic State House, where we're sitting down with Drew Brown of the Christman Company to discuss the organization's work on the overhaul of the State House's c. 1788 dome. Then we'll shift the conversation to talk with three of the project's tradespeople, skilled in window restoration, painting, and slate and shingle work. After all - without the trained hands to do the work, preservation is just good intentions. Come along with us as we discuss this unique project and explore careers in the historic trades. PreserveCast is brought to you by Preservation Maryland, which also runs the national workforce development program The Campaign for Historic Trades in partnership with NPS' Historic Preservation Training Center. To learn more about The Campaign's work to expand and strengthen careers in the field of historic trades, visit www.historictrades.org

The first comprehensive research study on the status of heritage trades in the US has now been published! On this week’s PreserveCast, we are talking with Donovan Rypkema from PlaceEconomics about the Historic Trades Labor Study published by The Campaign for Historic Trades (Powered by Preservation Maryland). Rypkema will take us through the research and how he and his team conducted the study, some surprising key findings about Historic Trades in the United States, and about the industry’s expected growth in the next decade. To access the full study and other assets, visit www.historictrades.org/laborstudy Donovan D. Rypkema is principal of PlaceEconomics, a Washington, D.C.-based real estate and economic development-consulting firm. The work of the firm is at the nexus of historic preservation and economics. He has undertaken assignments for public and non-profit sector clients in 49 US states. He also teaches a course on the economics of historic preservation at the University of Pennsylvania where he received the 2008 G. Holmes Perkins Award for Distinguished Teaching. Rypkema was educated at Columbia University receiving a Master of Science degree in Historic Preservation. He is author of several publications including Community Initiated Development, The Economics of Rehabilitation, and the Feasibility Assessment Manual for Reusing Historic Buildings. Rypkema’s book, The Economics of Historic Preservation: A Community Leader’s Guide is widely used by preservationists nationwide and has been translated into Russian, Georgian, and Korean. Rypkema has worked with such groups as the Urban Land Institute, the Mayors’ Institute on City Design, the American Planning Association, Smart Growth America, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the International Downtown Association. Federal Government clients have included the U.S. Army, the Department of State, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Interior, and the Advisory Council for Historic Preservation for whom he prepared a report entitled Measuring Economic Impacts of Historic Preservation.