Preservecast

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 Beca

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

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 n

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.

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 Unive

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 liv

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, J

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, althoug

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 col

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  

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