Author Archive

[10 on Tuesday] How to Pitch a Preservation Story to the News Media

Posted on: March 5th, 2013 by National Trust for Historic Preservation

 

Written by Sarah Coquillat, Public Affairs Intern

Historic places have important stories to tell, and it is important to share these with the community and nation at large.

Pitching a preservation story to a reporter -- i.e., alerting them to all the good work you’re doing -- can seem daunting the first time. While you might have an excellent idea, perhaps you don’t know how to approach a reporter or frame your story.

This toolkit offers 10 basic tips to get you started with media outreach. The more you know, the better your chances are for reaching the right media outlets and sharing your preservation story with the wider world.... Read More →

National Trust for Historic Preservation

National Trust for Historic Preservation

The National Trust for Historic Preservation, a privately funded non-profit organization, works to save America's historic places.

From Questions to Action: How Sweet Auburn Is Reviving Its Historic Community

Posted on: February 18th, 2013 by National Trust for Historic Preservation 2 Comments

 

Written by Teresa Lynch, Senior Program Officer, National Main Street Center

Streetscape in Sweet Auburn. Credit: Stan Kaady
Sweet Auburn

I consider myself privileged to be part of the National Trust’s National Treasure team working to preserve and revitalize one of the most significant historically African-American commercial areas in the South -- Sweet Auburn in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Sweet Auburn neighborhood is particularly distinct in that it was the birthplace of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It is where he was raised, worked, and worshiped, and it is where he is buried, within the 10-block Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site centered on Auburn Avenue. (It was also listed as one of our America's 11 Most Endangered Places in both 1992 and 2012.)... Read More →

National Trust for Historic Preservation

National Trust for Historic Preservation

The National Trust for Historic Preservation, a privately funded non-profit organization, works to save America's historic places.

[10 on Tuesday] 10 Tips for Nominating Your Site to America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places List

Posted on: February 12th, 2013 by National Trust for Historic Preservation 2 Comments

 

Written by Sarah Coquillat, Public Affairs Intern

The National Trust’s America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places list for 2013 will be announced this June, and we’ve got good news: There’s still time to nominate your favorite endangered site.

First, a little background. For the past 26 years, the 11 Most list has been one of the most effective tools in the fight to preserve our country’s irreplaceable architectural, cultural, and natural heritage. In the past, the list has spotlighted important places such as Nine Mile Canyon, TWA Terminal at JFK International Airport, and Little Rock Central High School.

Are there historic sites in your community or your state that you think would be good candidates for 11 Most? Then check out our top 10 tips for presenting a strong case when nominating your site. Good luck!... Read More →

National Trust for Historic Preservation

National Trust for Historic Preservation

The National Trust for Historic Preservation, a privately funded non-profit organization, works to save America's historic places.

National Trust Board Member Susan Chapman Honored on theGrio’s 100 List

Posted on: February 5th, 2013 by National Trust for Historic Preservation

 

Susan Chapman, National Trust Board of Trustee member. Credit: Susan Chapman

We're pleased to share that National Trust Board of Trustees member Susan E. Chapman is one of theGrio's 100, an annual list that shines a light on African-American history makers and industry leaders in a variety of fields who foster change locally and nationally.

Ms. Chapman, who is Senior Vice President, Global Real Estate and Workplace Enablement for American Express in New York, oversees global real estate operations supporting the American Express portfolio of over 65,000 employees in 41 countries. In addition to serving as one of our trustees, she also volunteers on the boards of the Executive Leadership Foundation, Leadership Education and Development (LEAD), and the NYU Schack Institute of Real Estate Advisory Board.

As her listing on theGrio shares, Ms. Chapman is focused on "driving innovation in built environments" and applies her expertise "in solving challenges in low income housing and in preserving sites that help communities to thrive."

We're proud to count her within the preservation movement. Congratulations Susan!

National Trust for Historic Preservation

National Trust for Historic Preservation

The National Trust for Historic Preservation, a privately funded non-profit organization, works to save America's historic places.

Preserving African-American Historic Places: New Resource Available

Posted on: February 4th, 2013 by National Trust for Historic Preservation

 

Written by Brent Leggs, Harvard Loeb Fellow, Boston Field Office

This post was adapted from its original version on the Preservation Leadership Forum blog.

At the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tenn., visitors can tour the Lorraine Hotel, where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was killed. Credit: Isaac Singleton Photography, flickr
At the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tenn., visitors can tour the Lorraine Hotel, where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was killed.

In 2004 my job as research assistant for the Kentucky Heritage Council was to inventory Rosenwald Schools in Kentucky. I traveled across the state to document what were the most advanced, architecturally designed school buildings constructed for African-American students between 1917 and 1932.

I was always excited when I found a Rosenwald School standing. Many times, however, nothing was left. It was as if these places had never existed; only landscapes remained, rich with memories of students walking to school. In many cases entire communities had disappeared. People had left rural areas for the big city, leaving significant parts of the history of African-Americans behind. I realized these stories would be all but erased from memory if we didn’t act to protect them.

My experience has shown me that the preservation of historic African-American sites often happens on an informal basis. To be sure, some significant sites associated with African American history are formally recognized and serve as permanent reminders about our ancestors and their journey in America -- for example, the African Meeting House in Boston or the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. But relatively few places that are important to or representative of the African American experience enjoy this level of recognition. ... Read More →

National Trust for Historic Preservation

National Trust for Historic Preservation

The National Trust for Historic Preservation, a privately funded non-profit organization, works to save America's historic places.