Discover Three Important Preservation Organizations
In a world where historic places and cultural heritage is threatened by so many factors, it is good to know about organization that can help.
The world of historic preservation encapsulates a diverse and multifaceted approach to preserving history. It includes many layers of laws and policies and has many different kinds of organizations. From preserving homes that once housed a famous individual, to saving the cultural artifacts of countries threatened by war and calamity, there are organizations devoted to these specific areas. These organizations exist on the international stage, they are national (in this country and others), and they start at the local levels in states and cities. They may also be found in small communities and neighborhoods where local folks take on the mantel of preserving their history.
To understand at preservation efforts and organizations, it helps to have a definition of historic preservation. The US National Parks Service explains it this way. “Historic preservation is a conversation with our past about our future. It provides us with opportunities to ask, “What is important in our history?” and “What parts of our past can we preserve for the future?” Through historic preservation, we look at history in different ways, ask different questions of the past, and learn new things about our history and ourselves. Historic preservation is an important way for us to transmit our understanding of the past to future generations. Our nation’s history has many facets, and historic preservation helps tell these stories. Sometimes historic preservation involves celebrating events, people, places, and ideas that we are proud of; other times it involves recognizing moments in our history that can be painful or uncomfortable to remember.” [1]
One of the ways to officially honor historic places is through heritage designations on local, national, and sometimes, international levels. UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, is an international designating body. It was founded in 1945 as a post-war effort to protect cultures from war and destruction and identify and educate about important cultural areas that needed protection. [2] The National Register of Historic Places was founded in 1966 as “the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation,” according to the US National Parks Service. [3] Similarly, in 1966, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission was founded to administer the city’s Landmarks Preservation Law and officially designate landmark properties. [4]
Achieving an “official” designation is important on many levels, as it gives credibility and importance to heritage sites and areas, and it can help with tourism and town pride. It can also save important and precious places from ruin. In some cases, designations offer protections or perks. While national designations in the United States don’t come with legal or financial protections, they are still coveted. However, this is just a part of preservation. The realm of organizations interested in preservation is expansive.
Here are three different organizations that represent the international, national, and local (New York) level.
- International: International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM)
This intergovernmental organization (IGO) is devoted to do the conservation of cultural heritage and covers every region in the world. The organization evolved from a proposal at the UNESCO General Conference in New Delhi, in 1956. It’s based in Rome, Italy. As an IGO, it has links to the United Nations and adheres to UN policies. Members are based around the world, and listed from A to Z, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe. It also makes mention of some troublemakers or those members who did not pay their bills. It speaks of members who dropped out and came back in, like the USSR which then came back in as the Russian Federation (membership was renounced and then they reentered in 2013). [5] Overall, they appear to take a focused view on cultural heritage that does not make judgements on their members and rather looks at preservation issues. Their website says they envision a world where cultural heritage is preserved, protected, and celebrated and they express many optimistic sentiments about ways in which it is “inextricably linked with notions of progress, inclusivity, well-being and stability.”
To understand ICCROM it helps to understand cultural heritage conservation. UNESCO describes it this way: “The conservation of cultural heritage refers to the measures taken to extend the life of cultural heritage while strengthening transmission of its significant heritage messages and values. In the domain of cultural property, the aim of conservation is to maintain the physical and cultural characteristics of the object to ensure that its value is not diminished and that it will outlive our limited time span.” [6]
ICCROM is a leading international organization that focuses on studying and promoting cultural heritage conservation, addressing critical issues of conservation by mobilizing and coordinating expert help, and giving members research tools and ways to implement suggestions. They focus on sharing knowledge, the best resources, and training “for the benefit of all people.” Their mission statement offers their intention and vision: “ICCROM harnesses the power of cultural heritage to make the world a better place to live. By empowering all Member States to preserve their cultural heritage, ICCROM contributes to the environmental, social and economic sustainability of communities. ICCROM is also strategically placed to foster best practices and to communicate international standards and shared responsibility consistent with United Nations policies and objectives. ICCROM focuses on methods for managing deterioration of heritage, whether through slow decay or rapid or unexpected changes. It is well positioned to take a leadership role while also collaborating with major decision-making organizations to protect cultural heritage in the face of global change.” [7]
This organization offers a mix of hopefulness for a better world through conservation along with hands-on help on the front lines. They list a number of different key programs and projects, including World Heritage Leadership (WHL), Architectural Archaeological Tangible Heritage in the Arab Region (ATHAR), Sustaining Digital Heritage, and SOIMA: Sounds and Image Collections Conservation.
ICCROM’s flagship program is First Aid and Resilience for Cultural Heritage in Times of Crisis (FAR). “It trains, builds knowledge, creates networks, increases awareness and informs policy with an overall aim to reduce disaster risk for tangible and intangible heritage and associated communities,” according to the website. “The Programme motto — culture cannot wait — is grounded in the belief that by integrating heritage into the wider programmes for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), Humanitarian Aid, Peacebuilding and Climate Action, we can build peaceful and disaster-resilient communities.” They proudly state that the FAR network has over 800 first aiders from 87 countries. They have served 97 member states as well as 18 non-member states, by advising on how to protect cultural heritage in crisis times of a disaster or conflict. [8]
To show how important the FAR network is, a recent blogpost on the website discussed the continued relevance of The Hague Convention, an iconic sixty-eight year old convention that laid out “the first — and perhaps the most important — international legislation framework for the protection of cultural property during armed conflict.” With twenty armed conflicts in different parts of the world in 2022, this iconic resource is more important than ever. [9]
2. National: Society for American Archeology (SAA)
The Society for American Archeology (SAA) calls itself an international organization but it also has national focus. It was founded in 1934 and “has been dedicated to research about, and interpretation and protection of, the archaeological heritage of the Americas.” SAA boasts almost 7,000 members. They represent professional and avocational archaeologists, as well archaeology students. Members include archaeologists working at Tribal agencies, museums, government agencies, and in the private sector. They are spread around the United States and there are also members in different nations. SAA appears to pride themselves on “unrelenting advocacy on the part of all archaeologists.”[10]
The organization mission was re-envisioned on March 30, 2022, for the first time in a generation, to try to foster more inclusion. It was meant to bring the organization into the future — or at least update it for modern times. The new SAA mission and aim is: “SAA empowers its members to understand humanity’s past through ethically-based scientific and humanistic investigation, to promote preservation of archaeological resources and cultural heritage through support of legislation and education, to create collaboration between the profession and descendant communities, and to assist professional growth.” [11]
The website shows an organization that is rooted in traditional archeology but it is unique in that it focuses on the Americas. It shows a passion for traditional archeology as well as an attempt to expand into the more politically correct realms of the field. As would be expected, they have a full section on Repatriation. Even though SAA and their members appear to work respectfully with indigenous communities, like all archeological organizations, they seem to be attempting to show that they are trying to do better. In their section on Equity Initiatives, they take a stand against racist practices. “Combating structural racism and injustice is a task that institutions and individuals must both take on simultaneously. At SAA, we want to be a part of the solution, and that means using our position to elevate and amplify the voices of historically underrepresented groups.” On the same page, they share member initiatives addressing key issues. For example, there are two petitions: A petition in support of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement (with no date) and a 2020 petition organized by the Indigenous Archaeology Collective that takes issue with an SAA statement. [12]
This organization also aims to support the advancement of careers. They have educational programs and outreach, they sponsor scholarships, they offer publications, and have a Government Affairs department. They also speak out, and take positions, on issues that impact the careers and practices of archeologists. They also seem positioned as an authority on these matters. Some recent statements cover the following topics:
· Statement Concerning the Treatment of Human Remains (2021)
· Guidelines for Promotion and Tenure for Archaeologists in Diverse Academic Roles (2019)
· Statement on Collaboration with Responsible and Responsive Stewards of the Past (2018)
· Statement on the Participation of BLM Archaeologists at the 83rd Annual Meeting (2018)
3. New York State: State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO)
New York’s State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) comes under the umbrella of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation. They are dedicated to helping communities identify, evaluate, preserve, and revitalize their historic, archeological, and cultural resources. They also “administer programs authorized by both the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and the New York State Historic Preservation Act of 1980.” There are a number of programs that operate through SHPO, including:
· The Statewide Historic Resources Survey
· The New York State and National Registers of Historic Places
· The federal historic rehabilitation tax credit
· The Certified Local Government program
· The state historic preservation grants program
· State and federal environmental review
They also provide a wide range of technical assistance and have teams set up in various territories in the state. The role of SHPO is work with governments, the public, and educational and not-for-profit organizations “to raise historic preservation awareness, to instill in New Yorkers a sense of pride in the state’s unique history and to encourage heritage tourism and community revitalization.” [13]
It does not appear to have its own mission statement but seems to be related to the mission statement of its parent organization, which states: “The mission of the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is to provide safe and enjoyable recreational and interpretive opportunities for all New York State residents and visitors and to be responsible stewards of our valuable natural, historic and cultural resources.” [14]
SHPO offers a series of online tools to help people with preservation efforts, called Cultural Resources Information System (CRIS). The topics include links to various practical resources, such as: National Register, Surveys, Preservation Assistance, Tax Credit Programs, Certified Local Governments, Archeology, Environmental Review, and Technical Assistance. The linked pages in these categories all seem very practical.
On the National Register page, they offer instructions for state residents and invite them to watch an instructional video if they own property in a proposed State and National Registers Historic District. The video reviews frequently asked questions about the programs, and basic information about preservation tax credits and grants. They also offer guidance about the State and National Registers Nomination Process. “The State and National Register nomination process is designed to assist in the development of complete and accurate documentation of each eligible property according to the professional and archival standards of the National Park Service and the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). The research and technical requirements of the nomination process encourage the active and ongoing participation of owners, sponsors, SHPO staff, and preservation consultants.” [15] They have a list of various buildings and locales in New York that were scheduled for review, or were recently considered by the New York State Board for Historic Preservation. The public can click to read the draft proposals for these sites. They include:
- Avalon Knitting Company Mill, Utica, Oneida County
- Central Lansingburgh Historic District, Troy, Rensselaer County
- Historic Cemeteries of East Hampton, MPDF, Suffolk County
- Ichabod Crane Schoolhouse, Kinderhook, Columbia County
How Do These Organizations Differ?
It is fascinating to learn how different organizations approach preservation and how their main goals differ. Here are some of the most striking things that I noticed about the three I reported on:
1. ICCROM is focused on cultural heritage conservation on a global scale and it is an intergovernmental organization with connections to the United Nations. They have a heavy emphasis on jumping in when there is a war, catastrophe, or natural disaster, and work with government’s like Ukraine’s to try to save the culture. At the same time, The Russian Federation is a member.
2. SAA is focused on archeology on all levels, but specializes in the archeology of one country, and is dealing with matters relative to the United States. Repatriation and respectfully and responsibly dealing with indigenous cultures is a large focus in their organization, and they must also serve the needs of individual archeology members, professionals and students, as well as member organizations.
3. SHPO, compared to the other two, is quite different in that it is an organization that serves the State of New York and, hence, the public. Their role is to help New York and its citizens identify and preserve history and heritage. They are also intergovernmental in that they are involved on state and city levels with preservation, and also intersect with national heritage. They have a specific role and oversee specific programs and a much simpler website that outlines what they do. They appear to be helpful to members of the public who are seeking information on various aspects of preservation in their hometown or related to their private property
SOURCES
[1] “What Is Historic Preservation? — Historic Preservation (U.S. National Park Service),” Nps.gov, 2017.
[2] “What Is Historic Preservation? — Historic Preservation (U.S. National Park Service),” Nps.gov, 2017.
[3] “National Register of Historic Places (U.S. National Park Service),” www.nps.gov, accessed February 5, 2023.
[4] “What Is Historic Preservation? — Historic Preservation (U.S. National Park Service),” Nps.gov, 2017.
[5] “Member States | ICCROM,” www.iccrom.org, November 4, 2016.
[6] “Conservation of Cultural Heritage,” uis.unesco.org, June 22, 2020.
[7] “Mission and Vision | ICCROM,” www.iccrom.org, October 28, 2016.
[8] “First Aid and Resilience for Cultural Heritage in Times of Crisis (FAR) | ICCROM,” www.iccrom.org, accessed February 5, 2023.
[9] “68-Year-Old Convention More Relevant than Ever in 2023: Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict | ICCROM,” www.iccrom.org, January 9, 2023.
[10] “About SAA,” Society for American Archaeology, accessed February 5, 2023.
[11] “Mission & Goals,” Society for American Archaeology, accessed February 5, 2023.
[12] “For Members, by Members,” Society for American Archaeology, accessed February 5, 2023.
[13] “State Historic Preservation Office — NYS Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation,” parks.ny.gov, accessed February 5, 2023.
[14] parks.ny.gov. “About Us — NYS Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation.” Accessed February 5, 2023. https://parks.ny.gov/about/.
[15] “National Register — NYS Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation,” parks.ny.gov, accessed February 5, 2023.
