BOARD OF DIRECTORS Anthony C. Wood, Chair Elizabeth R. Jeffe, Vice-Chair Stephen Facey, Treasurer Lisa Ackerman, Secretary Daniel J. Allen Eric Allison Michele H. Bogart Joseph M. Ciccone Susan De Vries Amy Freitag Shirley Ferguson Jenks Otis Pratt Pearsall Duane A. Watson NEWSLETTER SPRING 2012 Welcome to the sixteenth edition of the newsletter of the New York Preservation Archive Project. The mission of the New York Preservation Archive Project is to protect and raise awareness of the narratives of historic preservation in New York. Through public programs, outreach, celebration, and the creation of public access to information, the Archive Project hopes to bring these stories to light. New Oral History Projects Launched! The Archive Project Embarks Upon Ambitious Array of Interviews with Preservation Leaders The New York Preservation Archive Project is from the Robert A. and Elizabeth R. Jeffe range of cultural, historical, and architectural thrilled to announce the launch of our newest Foundation. aspects of the city. Each individual house has oral history initiative, Leading the Movement: * * * a distinctive preservation history and a unique Interviews with Preservationist Leaders in New For the first time in our organization’s history, set of people who ensured its survival, whether York’s Civic Sector. The goal of this project is the Archive Project is teaming up with New they were concerned citizens, directors of civic to record oral histories with 15 key leaders in York University’s Museum Studies Program organizations, or descendents of the houses’ the preservation civic sector, capturing their to produce a series of oral histories focused original inhabitants. Through this new oral unique experiences and perspectives on how on the preservation narratives of selected history project, many of these figures will now preservation in New York City has evolved house museums managed by the Historic be able to share their stories for the first time. over the course of their careers. Participants House Trust (HHT). Students enrolled in * * * include architects, professors, authors, lawyers, the NYU course “Historic Spaces, Cultural Continuing for the fourth year is the Archive community activists, preservation professionals Landscapes, and the Politics of Preservation” Project’s successful collaboration with Pratt and funders, and other civic figures from will collaborate with HHT and the Archive Institute’s Historic Preservation program. As every borough. Paired with our ongoing oral Project to conduct oral histories with a variety in previous years, the Archive Project develops history project with the former chairs of the of figures who have been involved with the a theme for a group of interviews and each Landmarks Preservation Commission, these preservation of five properties throughout student enrolled in the program’s “Public new oral histories will capture information New York City. These properties include the History” course is assigned a preservation and attitudes from within the preservation Wyckoff Farmhouse Museum in Brooklyn, figure who fits within that theme. This year we “infrastructure” and from outside influences, the Lewis H. Latimer House in Queens, Staten have set our sights on preservation advocacy on crafting a nuanced portrait of the field and a Island’s Seguine Mansion, the Morris-Jumel the Upper East Side and East Harlem. With the comprehensive account of the first 47 years of Mansion Museum in Upper Manhattan, and recent anniversaries of neighborhood groups the city’s Landmarks Law. The Archive Project’s the Bronx’s Van Cortlandt House Museum. such as CIVITAS and Friends of the Upper hope is that future historians, preservationists, Located across the five boroughs, these sites East Side Historic Districts, it seems a fitting urbanists, and others interested in the history collectively tell the story of New York City’s time to look back at the undocumented stories of New York City will avail themselves of evolution. From a humble Dutch colonial of individuals associated with preserving the personal accounts of these remarkable farmhouse to a pre-Revolutionary War country this architecturally rich corner of the city. preservation leaders. Leading the Movement: retreat, and a grand Staten Island estate to The Archive Project is eager to capture these Interviews with Preservationist Leaders in New York’s the modest home of an African-American stories, and expose a new group of students to Civic Sector is made possible through funding inventor, these houses chronicle a wide the power of oral histories. Page 1 Mayor Wagner signs the New York City Landmarks Law, Courtesy of Margot Gayle Photo Archive Chairman’s Column: Believe It or Not, It’s Time to Start Planning for the 50th! By Anthony C. Wood, Founder & Chair It seems like it was only yesterday that we were preservation. Both received extensive media Each one represents a vibrant neighborhood celebrating the 45th Anniversary of the passage attention. full of citizens who (despite their occasional of New York City’s Landmarks Law. With the frustrations with the Landmarks Preservation law’s Golden Anniversary not occurring until The 50th Anniversary of the Landmarks Law Commission) are fervent supporters of historic 2015, you might think that there was time creates an opportunity to reach out to all New districts. What would your neighborhood be for a break before beginning to plan for this York and remind them why the citizens of like without its landmark designation? At least truly special opportunity to focus New York’s this city began the fight for the passage of one opponent of historic districts has called for attention on its beloved—yet at times, taken for the law over 50 years ago, and why dozens of the de-designation of some existing districts. granted—Landmarks Law. You would, however, neighborhoods are still clamoring to be added What about organizing and promoting special be wrong. to the city’s roster of historic districts. The walking tours in every district during the 50th anniversary provides a chance to educate New year celebration? How about 105-plus “historic The types of activities and projects needed to Yorkers on preservation’s role as a tool to district” block-parties to celebrate New York’s meaningfully commemorate the law’s Golden advance the livability of our city, by furthering its most distinctive neighborhoods? Should every Anniversary require planning, organization, economic health, promoting its environmental building in every district get a landmark decal funding, and time. Now is the time for sustainability, and securing its sense of place. for its front door window? preservationists and preservation organizations The Golden Anniversary gives us a chance to decide how they will commemorate this to broaden the ranks of preservation while Why doesn’t every neighborhood seeking landmark event. The good news is you still have also reinvigorating a now very “middle-aged” historic district status somehow visually mark time—just not as much as you thought you had! preservation movement. itself? In a 1980 public art piece “Nieuw Amsterdam Shoreline,” the artist Eric Arctander Why is this anniversary so important? Celebrating preservation’s inspiring and painted a simple blue line down the middle of Preservation is such an established part of life instructive history is one way to engage a new the streets of lower Manhattan demarking the in New York City that the general public largely generation of New Yorkers in preservation. original shoreline of Manhattan. What 2015 art assumes that any site of historical, cultural, or New Yorkers need to understand what has been project can dramatically highlight New York architectural importance will be, or already has accomplished over the last 50 years and what City’s unprotected historic neighborhoods? been, protected. However, as preservationists it will take to sustain and advance that success. And/or our existing districts? are too frequently reminded, preservation Preservation’s place in New York needs to be requires constant vigilance and an engaged made manifest. Every landmark in New York Cultural institutions can do their part as public. There is no graver threat to preservation City should be made obvious to passersby. Is it well. What better focal point for the Golden than the apathy of New Yorkers. time to bring back banners and identify every Anniversary than an exhibition exploring the individually designated landmark in our city? first 50 years of the Landmarks Law and its If New Yorkers continue to take preservation Do we need Christo to wrap them? How can role in shaping the future of New York over the for granted, the anti-preservation forces today’s exciting new assortment of technologies next half century? Exciting news on this front will gain traction in their ongoing efforts to be used to help New Yorkers see and appreciate comes from the Museum of the City of New undermine New York City’s ability to manage the history and architecture they experience, and York, which is planning such an exhibition. This change through our Landmarks Law. Make no often take for granted, in their daily lives? can be the centerpiece of a multitude of special mistake, there are still powerful forces who programs and activities hosted by organizations would welcome the demise of preservation. Historic districts are increasingly coming under all across the city, educating New Yorkers about Last year alone witnessed at least one prominent attack by free-market ideologues and the real the importance of preservation in their lives. book, Edward Glaeser’s Triumph of the City, and estate lobby. Isn’t the 50th anniversary of the one attention-getting exhibit, “Cronocaos” by law the ideal time to showcase the city’s 105- The 50th Anniversary is also the perfect time Rem Koolhaas, that unapologetically attacked plus historic districts and 16 district extensions? to publish biographies and monographs on Page 2 some of New York’s great preservationists.