STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE OF IOWA PRESERVE IOWA SUMMIT Council Bluffs | June 3-5 THE TRAIL AHEAD 2021 WELCOME TO THE 2021 PRESERVE IOWA SUMMIT!
On behalf of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs and its State Historic Preservation Office, as well as the City of Council Bluffs, we thank you for tuning in to the premier statewide annual conference for historic-preservation professionals and volunteers.
Although we would love to gather in person and tour Council Bluffs’ historic properties, museums and landmarks, we’re so glad we can share the city’s rich history through new technology. And of course, we encourage you to visit Council Bluffs soon, to explore all it has to offer, including a vibrant downtown filled with public art, gracious mansions perched on the bluffs, and a thriving 95,000-square-foot hub of creativity in the Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center, housed in a beautifully preserved brick warehouse.
Council Bluffs has always been a destination for exploration. This year’s summit theme “The Trail Ahead” simultaneously looks to the past – when generations of explorers and settlers headed to Pottawattamie County on their way to new adventures – and to our bright 21st century future, as we build culturally vibrant communities across Iowa.
We applaud the people in Council Bluffs who are working hard to preserve its past, including many people who have helped organize this conference. Thank you to: Wayne Andersen, Terri Dowell, John Dresher, Mark Eckman, Alicia Frieze, Christopher Gibbons, Scott Hoffman, Roxanne Johnson, Danna Kehm, Patricia Murphy, Michelle Mutchler-Burns, Rachel Scott, Haley Weber and members of the Council Bluffs Historic Preservation Commission.
We’d also like to thank the summit’s presenters for sharing their expertise and for Paula Mohr from the State Historic Preservation Office and Meg Lein of the Department of Cultural Affairs, who have been planning the event for more than a year.
And of course, we appreciate all of you who are participating in the Preserve Iowa Summit to learn and share ways to preserve our state’s history, build an authentic sense of place, a sense of community pride, and a brighter future for the entire state.
Matt Walsh Chris Kramer Mayor of Council Bluffs Director of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
Session links will be emailed to attendees each day of the summit. Use the unique link for each session to enter the virtual event. QUESTIONS? CALL OR TEXT (515) 216-3953.
IOWACULTURE.GOV 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE 4 SCHEDULE DETAILS 6 - 13 Thursday, June 3 6 - 7 Friday, June 4 8 - 11 Saturday, June 5 12 - 13 KEYNOTE SPEAKER 14 SESSION SPEAKERS 14 - 24
2021 PRESERVE IOWA SUMMIT PARTNERS
WE THANK …
… the speakers for sharing their expertise and for providing rich educational content during the summit. … the many volunteers, without whom the event would not be possible. … the entire team who led the local planning effort, especially Christopher Gibbons and Haley Weber of the city of Council Bluffs; Mark Eckman and Scott Hoffman of the Council Bluffs Convention + Visitors Center; and Terri Dowell and Roxanne Johnson of the Council Bluffs Historic Preservation Commission.
EDUCATION CREDITS
American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) members can earn Certification Maintenance (CM) credits for 16 activities at this event (look for CM AICP in the program). More information about AICP’s CM program can be found at www.planning.org/cm
By attending the Preserve Iowa Summit (HPS2101-HPS2105) June 3-5th, 2021 virtually AIA members can earn up to 3 HSW & 3 LU AIA CES credits. AIA Iowa is an AIA CES Approved Provider (#A023) with The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education System. Credit earned on completion of this program will be reported to AIA CES for AIA members. Certificates of Completion are available upon request. Questions? Contact AIA Iowa at [email protected].
IOWA DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS 3 SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE
THURSDAY, JUNE 3
9:00 a.m. – noon Certified Local Government Roundtable
noon – 1:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00 – 2:45 p.m. Keynote and Awards Ceremony Welcome Remarks The Honorable Kim Reynolds, Governor of Iowa The Honorable Matt Walsh, Mayor of Council Bluffs Chris Kramer, Director of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs Keynote by Dr. Gretchen Sorin: Driving While Black Preservation Awards Ceremony
2:45 – 3:00 p.m. Break
3:00 - 4:30 p.m. Breakout Sessions (Concurrent) What’s New in the Iowa SHPO?
Saving the Historic Iowa Theater, Winterset Exterior Wood Siding
Mapping the Path to a Successful Rehab Council Bluffs: Where the East Ended Iowa West Public Art Virtual Tour
4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Virtual Reception with Preservation Trivia
IOWA DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS 4 FRIDAY, JUNE 4
8:30 – 10:00 a.m. Breakout Sessions (Concurrent)
Preservation Iowa’s Most Endangered Properties Cemetery Preservation Historic Preservation Equity and Iowa’s Civil Rights Project We Are Not There Yet: Hits and Misses Harvesting History: Rehabilitation of the McCormick Harvesting International Building 10:00 – 10:15 a.m. Break
10:15 a.m. – noon State Preservation Plan
noon – 1:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00 – 2:30 p.m. Breakout Sessions (Concurrent) Historic Preservation Commission Meeting: Live! Survey of Rural Schools, Churches, and Cemeteries in Iowa: Advice for Research and Documentation Refreshing Manning Urban Renewal Crumbs: Overcoming Development Barriers to the Last Buildings Standing Hunting Down Your Building’s History 2:30 – 2:45 p.m. Break
2:45 – 4:15 p.m. Breakout Sessions (Concurrent)
Public Education Opportunities in Your Community Broke for Barns: Survey and Historic Tax Credits as Effective Tools in the Preservation of Rural Resources Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center and Iowa’s Great Places Program Beyond the Glen: Distinctive Architecture in Mason City
Sustainable Preservation
SATURDAY, JUNE 5
9:00 – 10:30 a.m. Lightning Round Greenfield: My Hometown Fortepan Iowa
10:30 – 10:45 a.m. Break
10:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Lightning Round New Collections Catalog at the State Historical Society of Iowa Newspaper Archives and Other Digital Resources Digital Resources for Educators & Connecting to Classrooms
12:15 – 1:15 p.m. Lunch
1:15 - 2:45 p.m. Lightning Round
Disaster Planning and Response Iowa’s 175th Anniversary
2:45 - 3:00 p.m. Closing Remarks
IOWA DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS 5 SCHEDULE THURSDAY, JUNE 3
9:00 a.m.-noon
Certified Local Government Roundtable Sara André, Kelli Bacon, Megan Brown, Heather Gibb, Paula Mohr, Linda Smith
All members and staff of Certified Local Government commissions will want to attend this session to learn about CLG basics, Section 106, and an especially robust outreach program that has led to many successful projects in one of Iowa’s CLGs. This session is also an opportunity to hear from Megan Brown, who oversees the national CLG program. Historic preservation commission members and staff from any states are welcome to attend, although some content will be specific to Iowa and Nebraska.
1:00-2:45 p.m. Welcome, Keynote and Awards Ceremony
Welcome The Honorable Kim Reynolds, Governor of Iowa The Honorable Matt Walsh, Mayor of Council Bluffs Chris Kramer, Director of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
Keynote Presentation: “Driving While Black: African Americans, Space, and Mobility” Dr. Gretchen Sullivan Sorin, Director and Distinguished Professor, State University of New York at Oneonta
Dr. Gretchen Sullivan Sorin’s book “Driving While Black: African American Travel and the Road to Civil Rights” (Norton, 2020) explores one of the most pressing racial issues of our time: What happens to Black people on the road as they travel.
Much of the nation’s turmoil over slavery, race, and civil rights connects to the ability of Black people to move freely through the country. For many African Americans, mobility, a central tenet of freedom, comes into focus in the story of the automobile. To overcome their challenges, many Blacks worked together to create a network of travel-related businesses that supported them while they were on the road. This story, at once deeply troubling yet inspiring for what it reveals about African American ingenuity and courage, offers a way to understand civil rights, personal freedom, and the organization of space. It reverberates with an urgent and powerful message for Americans today, a reminder of the tenacity of a people as well as the fragility of democracy.
CM AICP 1.25 Credit Hours
Preservation Awards Ceremony
Celebrate historic preservation when the State Historical Society of Iowa presents its Preservation Projects of Merit and its awards for Excellence in Archaeology and Historic Preservation. The nonprofit Preservation Iowa also announces its Preservation at Its Best winners.
2:45-3:00 p.m. Break
3:00–4:30 p.m. Concurrent Breakout Sessions: Block 1
What’s New in the Iowa SHPO? Sara André, Heather Gibb
The drive to digitize affects many aspects of daily life, even in historic preservation. SHPOs across the country have made major efforts to digitize their records and processes, and each state’s office has developed its own processes for submitting and tracking E-106 projects. In this session, Iowa SHPO staff walk you through the latest efforts to kick off E-SHPO, a digital information exchange between SHPO and its stakeholders. Participants will also learn about the new Guidelines for Historic Architectural Survey in Iowa, developed in cooperation with Iowa Department of Transportation.
IOWACULTURE.GOV 6 SCHEDULE THURSDAY, JUNE 3 (CONTINUED)
Saving the Historic Iowa Theater in Winterset Marianne Fons, Rebecca Fons
The mother-daughter duo Marianne Fons and Rebecca Fons share their story of saving the historic Iowa Theater in Winterset, from acquiring the space in 2015 through a whirlwind of fundraising, rehabilitation and reopening in 2017. With photos and hard-won insights, the Fonses discuss how they helped restore the power of cinema and a vital art space in their community. The Iowa is now a film, performance and gathering place, has won numerous local and state preservation awards, and attracts thousands of patrons each year. This engaging presentation will be followed by an opportunity for participants to ask questions about preservation, rehabilitation, nonprofits, the film exhibition industry, and how special (and stressful!) it was for a mother and daughter to take on a multi-year and multi-million-dollar project.
CM AICP 1.5 Credit Hours
Exterior Wood Siding Sandra Johnson, Terry Philips
If there’s an exterior painting project in your future, this session is for you. The expert presenters discuss and demonstrate time-tested techniques and materials for maintaining exterior wood trim and siding. Participants will learn what causes paint to fail, how to safely remove it, and how to prep a surface for a long-lasting paint job.
Mapping the Path to a Successful Rehabilitation Project Steve Wilke-Shapiro
There’s no getting around it: Rehabilitation of older commercial buildings can be a risky adventure. The list of challenges includes determinations about scope and use, building codes, funding and, of course, potential unknowns. The best way to reduce risk is to prepare a thorough but flexible project plan – before anyone starts swinging a hammer. This session is geared toward Main Street-type projects, for-sale or rental redevelopment, architects, business owners, historic preservation commissions and municipal staff. Participants in this session will learn about key unknowns to consider when planning historic rehabilitation projects; the right people to have on the team and when to bring them on board; how to build a “project outline” to guide the development and decision-making process; potential pitfalls and traps; and resources for success.
CM AICP 1.5 Credit Hours Mapping the Path to a Successful Rehabilitation Project- 1.5 LU AIA Course #: HPS2101
Council Bluffs: Where the East Ended Richard Warner
The people who settled Council Bluffs, as well as those who just passed through, have shaped a rich history that includes explorers like Lewis and Clark, gold rushers, westbound settlers, railroads, and the first highways. This fast-paced program reviews 175 years of Council Bluffs history with a look at the city’s unique preservation challenges, including the 1960s efforts to demolish the central downtown core and the various challenges of bumping up against another city that is seven times larger.
CM AICP 1.5 Credit Hours
Iowa West Public Art Virtual Tour Matt Henkes, Nicole Lindquist, Veronica O’Hern
Join Iowa West Foundation staff as they lead a virtual tour of some of Council Bluffs’ most significant public art installations and discuss how the city’s art program began. Also, a member of the Iowa Arts Council explains several options for public-art funding and technical assistance.
4:30-5:30 p.m. Virtual Reception
Join your friends and colleagues for a virtual reception and a round of historic preservation trivia!
IOWA DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS 7 SCHEDULE FRIDAY: SPOTLIGHT ON COUNCIL BLUFFS
8:30–10:00 a.m. Concurrent Breakout Sessions: Block 2
Preservation Iowa’s Most Endangered Properties Kevin Mason, Bruce Perry, Leigh Ann Randak
As Preservation Iowa marks the 25th anniversary of its Most Endangered Properties program, it’s an opportune time to showcase the special buildings and historic sites that have been saved as well as those that are gradually slipping away. The Most Endangered Properties often attract media coverage and introduce property owners to preservation advocates and resources that can help save their properties. Each year, nominations come from Preservation Iowa members, Main Street communities, and historic preservation commissions, and then a panel of judges chooses a list of properties according to four criteria: historic significance, nature of the threat, geographic distribution, and variety of building types. In this session, participants will hear some success stories and learn a few tips to save buildings from architectural “hospice” to become valued properties again.
CM AICP 1.5 Credit Hours
Cemetery Preservation Amanda Burke
Do you have a cemetery you’d like to preserve? Participants in this session will learn what makes a cemetery historic, as well as the difference between preservation and conservation. They’ll also learn how to document and assess a cemetery’s needs, how to plan for its maintenance and conservation, and how to properly clean its monuments.
CM AICP 1.5 Credit Hours
Historic Preservation Equity and Iowa’s Civil Rights Project Matthew Gilbert, Amanda Loughlin, Paula Mohr
This session explores how historic preservation can embrace equity and inclusion by developing the tools and best practices that give every person a voice in determining what is worth preserving in their community. Session participants will learn how groups can work together to document historic events, share stories of important persons, and amplify the voices of underrepresented communities. Presenters also will discuss Iowa’s Civil Rights project, a statewide survey and video series that documents Iowans’ stories and voices.
CM AICP 1.5 Credit Hours
We Are Not There Yet: Hits and Misses Sheryl Garst
Council Bluffs has a deep history that includes the Mormon Trail, Abraham Lincoln, and the transcontinental railroad. In the 1960s, however, the city turned its back on its historic roots and embraced urban renewal with an attitude of “out with the old, in with the new.” This session focuses on policies that affect local preservation efforts and how community groups can support each other with a more unified voice for better preservation policies, programs and education. Led by planners who have seen their share of wins and losses, this session also offers insight into what’s still needed.
CM AICP 1.5 Credit Hours
Harvesting History: Chris Jansen, Danna Kehm, Rehabilitation of the McCormick Harvesting International Building Todd Moeller, Jenny Zimmer
Once a busting transfer house that shipped farm equipment nationwide, the McCormick Harvesting International Building fell into disrepair in the 1970s and was largely neglected until three years ago when Pottawattamie Arts, Culture & Entertainment (PACE) and Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture (APMA) began rehabilitating and preserving its history. Session participants will hear some of the project’s key players discuss how they turned the space into a state-of-the-art arts and culture center. A related session is scheduled for 2:45 p.m. Friday.
CM AICP 1.5 Credit Hours Harvesting History - Rehabilitation of the McCormick Harvesting International Building- 1.5 HSW LU AIA Course #: HPS2102
IOWACULTURE.GOV 8 SCHEDULE FRIDAY, JUNE 4 (CONTINUED)
10:00-10:15 a.m. Break
10:15 a.m.–noon Plenary Session
State Historic Preservation Plan Workshop Nancy Finegood, Alan Levy, Cheri Szcodronski, Goaltrac Consulting Team
Every 10 years, Iowa’s State Historic Preservation Office leads the development of a statewide plan to guide historic preservation across Iowa. The plan reflects current challenges and opportunities as well as emerging issues in the field of historic preservation. It’s shaped by preservationists, archaeologists, state and federal agencies, nonprofit organizations, and private citizens with an interest in the state’s historic preservation work. This session is led by the consultant team hired to facilitate this effort for the state’s new plan (2023-2032) and is your opportunity to weigh in on the preservation priorities for the next 10 years. Come and make your voice heard!
noon–1:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00-2:30 p.m. Concurrent Breakout Sessions: Block 3
Historic Preservation Commission Meeting: Live! Jessica Bristow, Ginalie Swaim
In this session, participants can jump into a live design review meeting! The session presents a mock historic preservation commission meeting, with deliberations about fictional projects on real properties. Iowa City staff and a former commission chair explain their method to facilitate project review and approval, with the applicant, staff, commissioners and chair. The session explains the applications, staff report and meeting presentation, as well as details about how the U.S. Secretary of the Interior’s Standards are applied and deliberated. At the end, participants will get a chance to decide the big question: Would you vote to approve the projects?
Survey of Rural Schools, Churches, and Cemeteries in Iowa: Jane Daufeldt, Sandra Clem Leininger, Advice for Research and Documentation Lynn Pruitt, Leah Rogers
This session concerns two rural reconnaissance surveys in Adams and Muscatine counties that were funded by recent Certified Local Government grants. These studies involved field surveys and research to locate former rural schools, churches and cemeteries. The properties include archaeological sites of former school and church locations as well as standing schools and churches. Both studies utilized GIS mapping programs tied into their county GIS systems. The session’s presenters will discuss research and field methodologies, including research sources, GIS mapping and how to safely conduct rural surveys with volunteers during a pandemic.
CM AICP 1.5 Credit Hours
IOWA DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS 9 SCHEDULE FRIDAY, JUNE 4 (CONTINUED)
Refreshing Manning Pete Franks, Dawn Meyer
In 2009, the western Iowa town of Manning (population 1,500) appointed its first historic preservation commission and became an Iowa Main Street community, beginning a decade-long commitment to preservation-based economic development in the city’s small historic downtown. Subsequently, the community applied for a Downtown Revitalization Grant that enabled the rehabilitation of 17 facades, which in turn amplified local enthusiasm for preservation and led to the downtown’s listing as a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places. In the years since, that momentum has continued with several other public and private downtown projects. This presentation shares some of the lessons Manning learned from its preservation efforts and advocacy.
CM AICP 1.5 Credit Hours Refreshing Manning- 1.5 LU AIA Course #: HPS2103
Urban Renewal Crumbs: Sheryl Garst, Richard Warner Overcoming Development Barriers to the Last Buildings Standing
While Council Bluffs underwent an aggressive urban renewal campaign in the late 1960s, a local group is working hard to save downtown’s early 20th century buildings through adaptive use. The 500 Block of West Broadway is the group’s next venture, which entails both opportunities and challenges. In this session, participants will learn how a local development corporation is structuring the financing for the adaptive use of the former Iowa Clothes store to create a vibrant entrance to downtown Council Bluffs.
CM AICP 1.5 Credit Hours
Hunting Down Your Building’s History Laura Sadowsky
Ever been curious how historians track down information to tell the story of a building? Perhaps a fascination about your own house or a building in your downtown has inspired you to don your detective’s hat and dig into local archives and online databases. With all the information out there, it’s easy to get intimidated by the process and hard to figure out what is important to know and what to do when all you find are scraps of information. Participants in this session will learn how to plan their research, where to look for information, and how to put it all together.
CM AICP 1.5 Credit Hours
2:30–2:45 p.m. Break
Share your experiences
#preserveiowasummit #iowahistory #iowaculture
IOWACULTURE.GOV 10 SCHEDULE FRIDAY, JUNE 4 (CONTINUED)
2:45-4:15 p.m. Concurrent Breakout Sessions: Block 4
Public Education Opportunities in Your Community Kelli Bacon, Kim Beger, Erv Portis
Creating support for historic preservation projects can be an uphill battle for communities of all sizes and demographics. Even communities that generally have good support may run into roadblocks. Many times, support for historic preservation begins with public education opportunities. These efforts can be supported through the Certified Local Government (CLG) program. Participants in this session will learn about some unique approaches from Auburn, Plattsmouth, and other CLGs across Nebraska.
CM AICP 1.5 Credit Hours
Broke for Barns: Surveys and Historic Tax Credits as Effective Tools Kristen Johnston in the Preservation of Rural Resources
This session will showcase Kansas’ program to document and preserve agricultural properties through survey work and with the help of the historic tax credit program. Kansas has completed a comprehensive statewide survey of agricultural resources. This, in turn, has paved the way for National Register listing and the preservation and continued use of these valued resources. This session will provide an overview of these programs and showcase several rehabilitation projects that allowed for continued agricultural use or in some cases adaptive use.
CM AICP 1.5 Credit Hours Broke for Barns: Survey and Historic Tax Credits as Effective Tools in the Preservation of Rural Resources- 1.5 LU AIA Course #: HPS2104
Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center and Iowa’s Great Places Program Jon Berg, Danna Kehm
Pottawattamie Arts, Culture & Entertainment (PACE) recently rehabilitated the McCormick Harvesting International Building, turning it into the Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center. This session features a video tour, an overview of the project and how it’s become an economic and cultural engine for Council Bluffs. Session participants also will hear from a member of the Iowa Arts Council about Iowa’s Great Places program, which helped fund the Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center. A related session on this project is scheduled for Friday morning at 8:30.
Beyond the Glen: Distinctive Architecture in Mason City Terry Harrison, Laura Little, Kristine Urdahl
This session is a teaser for the Preserve Iowa Summit hosted by Mason City in 2022! Mason City is famous for its Rock Crest- Rock Glen Historic District and the Park Inn Hotel, but those are just part of the story. This session highlights three other significant architectural collections in Mason City: the work of E. R. Bogardus, a self-taught architect in the late 19th and early 20th centuries; other local Prairie School buildings; and the designs of Carl and Tom Waggoner, a father-and-son architecture firm with a body of work that spans the Prairie School to Mid-Century Modern eras.
Sustainable Preservation Michelle Cunliffe, Stephanie Rouse
Since the National Historic Preservation Act was passed in 1966, the standard criteria for deeming a building significant has been history and architecture. Today, we recognize that existing structures are the greenest buildings, but local ordinances and building codes do not always take advantage of their sustainability. Programs like LEED have evolved to reward green building rehabilitations, and some cities are adopting sustainable preservation plans. This session offers an overview of preservation benefits and explains how local codes can support sustainable preservation, as well as how outside programs like LEED are promoting green building rehabilitation work across the Midwest.traveling exhibits and educational programs to grants and technical assistance, the society helps strengthen the long-term sustainability of Iowa’s local and county historical societies, history museums, archives, genealogical groups and historical libraries. Learn about an array of statewide resources and how your organization can tap into them.
CM AICP 1.5 Credit Hours Sustainable Preservation- 1.5 HSW LU AIA Course #: HPS2105
IOWA DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS 11 SCHEDULE SATURDAY, JUNE 5 SPOTLIGHT ON LOCAL HISTORY
Saturday’s lightning rounds feature short, high- energy presentations on a variety of historic and historical topics to help you with the work in your community!
9:00-10:30 a.m. Lightning Round 1
Greenfield: My Hometown Catherine Olesen, Linda Sidey, Brenda Thaden
This presentation features a “living history” 4th grade curricular unit developed by a group of teachers, historic preservationists, volunteers and artists, all sharing a passion for experiential learning and a desire to enliven Greenfield’s sense of place. Central to this vibrant project’s success is a multifaceted approach to learning. Participants in this session will learn how walking tours, in-depth study of historic buildings and historic photographs from the Adair County Free Press archives, and oral histories culminated in a 4th grade art exhibit at the Warren Cultural Center and got residents excited about learning more.
Fortepan Iowa Isaac Campbell, Bettina Fabos
As the first photo archive of its kind in the United States, Fortepan Iowa enables a bright new future for Iowans at the intersection of public archiving, local history, and collective memory. This presentation introduces attendees to the Fortepan Concept and highlights some of the project’s initiatives, such as crowd-sourced tagging and public forum capabilities; public lecture series; a proliferation of public library scanning hubs; and billboard-sized photo murals, installed with wheat paste. Participants will learn how they can contribute to and participate in this initiative.
10:30-10:45 a.m. Break
10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Lightning Round 2
New Collections Catalog at the State Historical Society of Iowa Jodi Evans
In 2017 the State Historical Society of Iowa embarked on an ambitious project to create a single collections management system. This project combines the society’s museum, archives, library and special collections into one online catalog with public access. Join us for a progress update and to learn how the new tool can benefit your research projects.
Newspaper Archives and Other Digital Resources Anthony Jahn
Today millions of items in the State Historical Society of Iowa collections are digitized and currently available online. This session highlights these research resources, where they can be found, and which new Iowa resources are coming to the internet.
Digital Resources for Educators & Connecting to Classrooms Matt Beyer, Megan Card, Jennifer Cooley
Technology is an integral component of classrooms today, and with it, cultural organizations have the opportunity to reach wider and virtual audiences. Learn tips, tools and best practices for using your digitized resources to create educational opportunities for students in your area and across the state.
12:15-1:15 p.m. Lunch
IOWACULTURE.GOV 12 SCHEDULE SATURDAY, JUNE 5 (CONTINUED)
1:15-2:45 p.m. Lightning Round 3
Disaster Planning and Response Kay Coats, David Janssen, Cecilia Rokusek
Disasters and emergencies are impossible to predict and enormously challenging. Leaders from two institutions in Cedar Rapids – Brucemore and the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library – share how their teams responded to the challenges of 2020, including the August derecho. Additionally, a collections coordinator from the State Historical Museum of Iowa shares tips for drafting a disaster plan with help from available resources.
Iowa’s 175th Anniversary Jennifer Cooley, Andrew Harrington, Leo Landis, Michael Plummer
Happy birthday, Iowa! In this session, staff from the State Historical Society of Iowa talk about this important milestone and the various ways the society is commemorating this anniversary with historical presentations, Goldie’s Kids Club activities, a roadside markers program, and a new exhibit. Join in and learn how your own historical organizations can participate in the state’s 175th commemoration.
2:45-3:00 p.m. Closing Remarks
Susan Kloewer, Administrator, State Historical Society of Iowa
IOWA DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS 13 KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Dr. Sorin teaches at SUNY’s Cooperstown Graduate Program, a training program for museum curators, educators, and directors. She writes and lectures frequently on museum practice, diversity and inclusion, and African American history. In addition to writing “Driving While Black,” she was also the co-writer and senior historian for the documentary “Driving While Black: Race, Space and Mobility,” which aired nationwide on PBS in October 2020.
Dr. Sorin has more than 30 years of experience in the museum profession, working for more than 250 museums as an exhibition curator and a consultant for education, programming, and interpretive and strategic planning. Her portfolio of major exhibitions includes “In the Spirit of Martin: The Living Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.” for the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, “Through the Eyes of Others: African Americans and Identity in American Art” for the Fenimore Art Museum, “Bridges and Boundaries: African Americans and American Jews” for the Jewish Museum in New York, the award-winning “Wilderness Cure: Tuberculosis and the Adirondacks” for the Adirondack Museum, “It All Happened at the Audubon: A History of the Audubon Ballroom” for Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, and “Dvorak: Culture and Society in the 19th Century” for the Bard College Center for Curatorial Studies and Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center.
Dr. Sorin holds a bachelor’s degree in American studies from Rutgers University, an M.A. in museum studies from SUNY’s Cooperstown Graduate Program, and a Ph.D. in American history from the University at Albany. In 2006, SUNY promoted Dr. Sorin to the rank of Distinguished Service professor to honor her sustained effort in the application of intellectual skills to issues of public concern, and in 2018, she was added to the university’s list of distinguished alumni. For the past 20 years, she has worked to broaden representation in the museum field for underrepresented groups.
SESSION SPEAKERS
SARA ANDRÉ is an architectural historian with the Iowa State Historic Preservation Office. She has been working professionally in the preservation field since 1999 and has experience with survey work, National Register nomination review, preservation planning and regulatory review. An Iowa native, Sara and her family returned after 15 years in New Jersey, where she worked in that state’s historic preservation office. She is currently working on SHPO’s review and compliance program and, in her spare time, enjoys rediscovering and reconnecting with her home state.
KELLI BACON is the Certified Local Government coordinator in the State Historic Preservation Office at History Nebraska. Kelli works with eight CLGs across the state and is helping numerous other communities on their path to becoming CLGs. She also works with the office’s archival material and monitors covenants held on buildings across the state. Prior to joining the Nebraska SHPO, she worked in the archeology division at History Nebraska, cataloging artifacts, processing archives and conducting fieldwork.
KIM BEGER is an administrative assistant with the city of Auburn, Nebraska, where she also directs the local historic preservation board. Kim also serves on the board of the Auburn Development Council. She has experience with community and economic development and has held multiple volunteer positions in the community. Her enthusiasm and creativity have sparked new opportunities to promote historic preservation in Auburn.
IOWACULTURE.GOV 14 SESSION SPEAKERS
JON BERG is the Iowa Arts Council’s program manager for arts in community development and the Iowa Great Places program. Jon previously served as director of the IndyEast Promise Zone, a national place-based initiative that helps secure state and federal grants for projects in high-poverty zones. He has also filled roles with Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and served on the board of IndyFringe Creative Arts. Jon is an alumnus of Iowa State University and a musician.
MATTHEW BEYER is the museum education and engagement coordinator for the State Historical Museum of Iowa. A 2015 Iowa State University graduate, he previously held positions at both University Museums and Living History Farms. Matthew oversees the museum’s internship and volunteer programs and assists with creating and developing educational programs and materials for learners of all ages.
JESSICA BRISTOW is the historic preservation planner for the city of Iowa City, where she reviews proposed alterations to landmarks and buildings within historic and conservation districts. With degrees from Iowa and Kansas in art and architectural history and a professional master’s degree in architecture from the University of Kansas, Jessica has worked in a diverse set of related occupations. Her freelance work extends from architecture into graphic design, historic research and building assessment. Jessica lives in Iowa City with her daughter, Geneva, and incorporates sustainability and education in her advocacy, trying to bring the preservation bug to the next generation.
MEGAN BROWN has worked at the National Park Service for more than 14 years as a grants management specialist, Certified Local Government (CLG) coordinator, and now chief of the State, Tribal, Local, Plans and Grants Division. She is responsible for the management of the Historic Preservation Fund and the $50-70 million that it disburses annually to state, tribal, and local preservation partners. Almost 1,000 active grants fund annual assistance to states and tribes, as well as project grant programs such as Underrepresented Communities, African American Civil Rights, Save America’s Treasures, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Megan previously worked for the National Trust for Historic Preservation in Fort Worth, Texas, and the State Historic Preservation Office in South Carolina. She has a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Auburn University and a master’s degree in historic preservation from the University of South Carolina.
AMANDA BURKE is the section chief for the Missouri SHPO’s Review, Compliance, and Records unit, as well as the SHPO’s built environment reviewer for Section 106 and cemetery coordinator. She received her B.A. in anthropology from Northwestern State University in Louisiana and a master’s degree in historic preservation from Savannah College of Art and Design. She came to the Missouri SHPO from Mississippi, where she surveyed historic structures as part of Hurricane Katrina recovery. Since arriving in Missouri, she worked briefly in the National Register program, initiated the creation of a cemetery recordation program, and recently, one of Amanda’s projects won the Advisory Council for Historic Preservation Chairman’s Award.
ISAAC CAMPBELL is a master’s student in communications at University of Northern Iowa and co-director of Fortepan Iowa. In 2018, he spent a year in Budapest, Hungary, as a Fulbright student research recipient, working with the Fortepan project team and the National Ethnographic Museum. He graduated in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in digital media production from the University of Northern Iowa and has worked as a digital media specialist and web animator based in southeast Iowa.
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MEGAN CARD is the digital education coordinator for the State Historical Society of Iowa. Since joining the staff in 2017, Megan has developed multiple projects with the Library of Congress’ Teaching with Primary Sources grant (Primary Source Sets, Read Iowa History, Goldie’s History Kits) and has expanded and adapted multiple museum programs to virtual formats for children, families and educators. Before returning to her home state of Iowa, she worked in Atlanta as a program assistant for the international nonprofit, The Carter Center, in its Global Access to Information Program.
KAY COATS is the Collections Coordinator for the State Historical Museum of Iowa and is tasked with the physical care for more than 100,000 objects. She spends most days photographing objects and updating database records to inventory the collection. She also finds herself strategically placing buckets under leaks, moving objects to safety, and updating the disaster plan. Kay has a bachelor’s degree from Central College and a master’s degree from the University of Kansas.
JENNIFER COOLEY is the education and outreach manager for the State Historical Museum of Iowa. She manages all of the public and school programs as well as a multi-year grant from the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources for the museum. She has worked in museum education for more than 19 years in art and history museums as well as historic homes. Jennifer completed her undergraduate studies from Michigan State University and earned a master’s degree in museum studies from John F. Kennedy University and a master of public administration degree from Drake University.
MICHELLE CUNLIFFE is a historical architect in the Restoration Focus Market, where she has more than 15 years of experience working with historic buildings. She loves sharing her passion for historic architecture through her various project types – from historic design guidelines to whole building rehabilitations. Michelle is heavily involved with the Iowa Architectural Foundation and its Architecture in the Schools Committee, where she enjoys sharing her love of history and historic buildings with all ages.
JANE DAUFELDT was vice president of the Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce for 15 years. Previously she served as executive director for Wahoo Industries and Chamber of Commerce, focusing on community and economic development. Jane also served on the board of the Lower Platte North Natural Resources District for 10 years and prior to that worked as a loan officer. She now serves as a small business counselor and mentor for SCORE and is currently a member of the Muscatine County Historic Preservation Commission.
JODI EVANS was hired in 1987 to help move the State Historical Museum of Iowa to the new State Historical Building and has been the museum’s registrar since 1990. She is responsible for the legal and intellectual control of more than 100,000 objects and specimens. Deeds of gift, loan agreements, database management and day-to-day problem-solving keep her busy. A specialist in ad hoc research, she holds a bachelor’s degree from Luther College and a master’s degree from the University of Iowa.
BETTINA FABOS is a professor of interactive digital studies at the University of Northern Iowa. She earned a Ph.D. from the University of Iowa, and her written and creative work revolve around digital culture, digital photo archiving, digital visualization, and the Creative Commons. She is the co-founder and co-director of Fortepan Iowa and creative director of the award-winning interactive timeline project “Proud and Torn: A Memoir of Hungarian History,” an extensive photo history of Hungary based on amateur family snapshots.
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NANCY M. FINEGOOD was executive director of the Michigan Historic Preservation Network from November 2002 through April 2019. Nancy also serves on the boards of Preservation Action, The Albert Kahn Legacy Foundation and the National Preservation Partners Network, where she is the board’s treasurer. She served for more than 10 years on the Advisory Boards of Oakland County Main Street and Michigan Main Street programs. She is a native of Michigan and a founding member of Michigan’s Sense of Place Council. Nancy also was the executive director of the St. Croix Landmarks Society in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where she developed a passion for historic properties.
MARIANNE FONS, teacher, author, lecturer, publisher and well-known television personality, has seemingly done it all in the world of quilting, including co-writing one of the all-time best-selling quilt books, the “Quilter’s Complete Guide” in 1993 and co-founding Fons & Porter’s Love of Quilting magazine and television series in 1996. After selling the business in 2006, Marianne’s contributions to the quilting world continued as she co-hosted the television show with daughter Mary Fons for several years and served on the board of directors and as liaison between Quilts of Valor and the quilting industry.
REBECCA FONS is the programming director at FilmScene, an art house theater in Iowa City, and serves as the development and programming director for the historic Iowa Theater in her hometown of Winterset, and is the director of film at the John and Nancy Hughes Theater in Lake Forest, Illinois. Rebecca was the education director for the Chicago International Film Festival for nearly a decade and received a master’s degree in arts management from Columbia College Chicago and a bachelor’s in cinema and comparative literature studies from the University of Iowa.
PETE FRANKS is a Pennsylvania native and well-rooted Midwestern transplant. He is a graduate of the College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning at the University of Cincinnati. He has worked in the profession since the late 1980s, including time with firms in Washington, D.C.; Cincinnati; Pittsburgh; and Omaha. Pete is the founder and president of The Franks Design Group, PC, in Glenwood, Iowa; an architecture firm specializing in the appropriate treatment of existing and historic buildings. Since the firm’s establishment in 2006, it has worked on a wide variety of historically significant properties across the region. During the last several years, the firm has served as the architect for Downtown Revitalization Façade Rehabilitation projects in eight smaller Iowa communities. Through these projects, they have impacted over 140 historic buildings. The first of these was a 17-building project in Manning.
SHERYL GARST, AICP, is the CEO of The 712 Initiative, Council Bluffs’ leading nonprofit that oversees the economic vitality in redevelopment areas and activating public spaces. Sheryl holds a bachelor’s degree in community and regional planning from Iowa State University and was the director of redevelopment for the Council Bluffs Chamber of Commerce, where she managed the Pottawattamie County Development Corporation. She led planning and implementation of redevelopment projects totaling more than $18.4 million in assessed value that increased the local tax base by 387 percent. The 712 supported local neighborhoods through many initiatives, and neighbor input helped create the Housing Revitalization Fund to catch that worst house on the block and improve it for ultimate homeownership. She has served on many boards, including those of the Lincoln Fairview Neighborhood Association, Council Bluffs Historic Preservation Alliance and Council Bluffs City Council.
HEATHER GIBB is the Iowa State Historic Preservation Office’s interim deputy state historic preservation officer and review and compliance manager. She has previously worked at the Missouri SHPO while finishing her dissertation on conservation biology, GIS and archaeological databases. At the Missouri SHPO, Heather managed their Records, Compliance, & Review Unit. She worked as a National Science Foundation Fellow and focused on combining natural history, archaeology, and science in the classroom as an in-class science expert. Heather is enjoying working on GIS and E-106 for the Iowa SHPO.
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MATTHEW GILBERT is a native of Waterloo and descends from the Furgerson, Harris and Nash families, who are well known for championing civil rights, education, health equity and welfare for African Americans in Iowa. Matthew is an attorney and advocate for community ecosystems that value philanthropy, cooperation and social justice. He is differentiated by a complement of executive strategies, transactional skills and transformative resilience. Matthew is a member of Waterloo’s Historic Preservation Commission.
ANDREW HARRINGTON is the exhibits manager for the State Historical Museum of Iowa. He enjoys collaborating with his colleagues to bring the incredible stories of Iowa to audiences at the museum and throughout the state. Andrew earned his B.A. in anthropology from the University of Iowa and his master’s degree in museum studies from the George Washington University. His background includes archaeological field and lab work with the Iowa Office of the State Archaeologist, exhibition content development for the Historic Annapolis Foundation, and assistance in managing the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Collection with the National Park Service. Prior to returning to Iowa, he spent seven years at the Smithsonian’s Freer and Sackler galleries as an exhibition project manager and exhibition registrar coordinating national and international loans and exhibits.
TERRY HARRISON is chair of the Mason City Historic Preservation Commission. For 25 years, Terry served as the historian and archivist at the Lee P. Loomis Archives of the Mason City Public Library and presided over a collection that included nearly 200,000 photographic images, rare books, newspapers and maps dating to the 19th century. Terry has an M.A from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and an A.B. from the University of Missouri-Columbia. In his spare time, Terry serves on the board of the Iowa Independent Film Festival.
MATTHEW HENKES, as Vice President of Grants and Initiatives, oversees both grants management and the programmatic work of the Iowa West Foundation. Matthew is responsible for leading how the foundation evaluates its work, considers equity through its grant-making, and helps grantees build their capacity. Additionally, he manages the placemaking portfolio, which includes public art and beautification.
ANTHONY JAHN is the state archivist and bureau chief of the historical library and archives of the State Historical Society of Iowa. Since joining the staff in 2014, Tony has led a wide variety of initiatives, including digitizing family history and Iowa newspapers collections for greater public access, updating the society’s research center in Des Moines, collecting COVID-19 materials for posterity, and spearheading the development of the agency’s new collection management system and public access catalog. An Illinois native, Tony previously worked as the senior corporate archivist historian in Chicago and Minneapolis for Target Corporation.
CHRIS JANSEN came to the field of architecture because of her love of historic buildings. Her work documenting and analyzing historic structures across the region has allowed her to study how buildings are shaped and reshaped by shifting cultural currents, usage and values. Her experience ranges from writing National Register nominations to designing a crime scene investigation unit in a historic building. Chris’ understanding of building fabric allows her to incorporate sensitive design and a conscientious approach for each project.
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DAVID JANSSEN has more than 25 years of experience in museum and historic site leadership. He has served since 2012 as the executive director of Brucemore, a National Trust Historic Site in Cedar Rapids. He also served as vice president of collections and interpretation at the Detroit Historical Society, vice president of internal operations at the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House, and as curator of the Smith-McDowell House Museum. He earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Dartmouth College, a master’s degree in history from Duquesne University and an M.B.A. from the University of Iowa.
KRISTEN JOHNSTON is the historic rehabilitation tax credit specialist with the Kansas Historic Preservation Office at the Kansas Historical Society. She administers reviews and program policy and helps property owners to utilize both the Federal and Kansas Rehabilitation Tax Credit Programs. Kristen is a native of Topeka, has worked at the state’s historical society since 2003 and has been working on historic tax credit projects since 2006. She received undergraduate degrees in geography and Russian studies from the University of Kansas and a master’s degree in geography, with an emphasis in demographics, gentrification and neighborhood development, from Indiana University. Kristen is married to an Iowa native (and wants to impress her in-laws!), and they have two kids, Gretchen and Gabe.
SANDRA JOHNSON is a member of the Mills Seed LLC in Washington, Iowa, which provides historic rehabilitation services and materials. She is a member of Friends of Historic Preservation in Iowa City and previously served as the mayor of Washington.
DANNA KEHM is the CEO of Pottawattamie Arts, Culture and Entertainment (PACE) and is responsible for running all facets of the nonprofit, including overseeing the capital campaign and construction of the new $22 million Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center. She earned an associate’s degree from Iowa Western Community College, a bachelor’s degree with a double major in management and marketing at the University of Iowa and an M.B.A. with an emphasis in finance from Bellevue University. Danna grew up participating in the arts in Pottawattamie County, singing, dancing and participating in theater through Council Bluffs Public Schools, Council Bluffs Children’s Theater, Chanticleer Theater and Iowa Western Community College.
SUSAN KLOEWER is the administrator of the State Historical Society of Iowa and director of the State Historical Museum of Iowa. Under her leadership, the society continues to enhance and elevate its preservation of and access to Iowa’s historical resources through a variety of statewide programs, exhibitions, collection projects and educational offerings. Susan received a graduate degree from Drake University and an undergraduate degree from Iowa State University and also holds a Certified Fundraising Executive accreditation. As a lifelong Iowan, Susan takes great pride in sharing Iowa’s rich history and listening to the unique stories of local communities across the state.
LEO E. LANDIS is museum curator for the State Historical Museum of Iowa. His previous work includes time at Salisbury House in Des Moines; Living History Farms in Urbandale; Conner Prairie in Fishers, Indiana; and eight years as a curator at Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan. He received a bachelor’s degree in history from Iowa State University and a master’s degree in historical administration from Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. He has completed all but his dissertation toward a Ph.D. in history from Iowa State University. His fields included Midwestern cultural history and environmental history.
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SAUNDRA CLEM LEININGER, chair of the Adams County Historic Preservation Commission, was an elementary teacher before her love of history and restoration of family heirlooms as an Iowa 4-Her led her to become site manager of the Bagg Bonanza Farm, a National Historic Landmark in North Dakota. She returned to Iowa to develop a tourism and historic preservation program for Adams County Economic Development. Most recently, she has overseen the restoration and development of the French Icarian Village near Corning, Iowa. She holds certifications of training from the National Park Service, National Trust for Historic Preservation and the National Main Street Center.
ALAN S. LEVY is principal at Goaltrac, LLC, which specializes in two products: client-driven strategic plan development and post-plan implementation. He works with nonprofits and governmental agencies at the national, state and local levels. He has a particular depth of knowledge in community development, economic development and historic preservation. He started Goaltrac in 2007 after a 22-year career as a nonprofit and municipal government executive, which culminated in the position of deputy director for planning and development for the city of Detroit.
NICOLE LINDQUIST directs communications for the Iowa West Foundation. She was born and raised in Omaha, went to school in Mondamin, Iowa, and now lives in Council Bluffs. Nicole studied broadcast journalism at Iowa State University and has worked at the Nonpareil, the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Emspace Group, a communications strategy firm.
LAURA LITTLE has lived in Iowa and loved its architecture her entire life. She studied interior design and architectural history at Iowa State University. After graduation, she took a circuitous route to a job as project manager with Habitat for Humanity of North Central Iowa. While living in Mason City, Laura has volunteered at the MacNider Art Museum and Historic Park Inn as a docent and guide for architectural walking tours. Now semi-retired, she serves on Mason City’s Historic Preservation Commission and spends a great deal of time trying to talk her husband into restoring an old house.
AMANDA LOUGHLIN joined the Rosin Preservation team in 2018. She brings eight years of experience working in the Kansas State Historic Preservation Office, the first five as a survey coordinator and the last three as National Register coordinator. These positions honed her skills in researching historic resources and assessing their eligibility for listing in the National Register and provided insights into the development of contexts for thematic studies. At Rosin Preservation, Amanda has prepared a nationwide Historic Context for Public Housing in the United States from 1950 to 1980, as well as the statewide National Register of Historic Places Multiple Property Documentation Forms for New Deal-era Resources in Nebraska and 20th Century African American Civil Rights-related Resources in Iowa. She has also prepared numerous eligibility assessments and National Register nominations for individual properties and historic districts. Amanda holds a bachelor’s degree in interior architecture from Kansas State University and a master’s in historic preservation from the University of Kentucky.
KEVIN MASON works as a rural and environmental historian of the Midwest and chairs the department of history, geography and political science at Waldorf University. Kevin also serves on the boards of Preservation Iowa, Society for Historians of the Gilded Age & Progressive Era, Wright on the Park (Park Inn, Mason City) and the Winnebago Historical Society. Kevin has also served on the Forest City Historic Preservation Commission.
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DAWN MEYER has worked for the city of Manning for 13 years and is the city administrator and clerk. She first got involved with historic preservation through helping Manning apply to be a Main Street Community as well as Manning’s formation of a Historic Preservation Commission and Certified Local Government in 2009. Bitten by the history bug, Dawn continues to be involved with Main Street and the HPC, as well as individual preservation projects. Dawn has served on the State Historical Society of Iowa Board since 2018 and received her Historic Real Estate Finance Professional Certification in 2019.
TODD MOELLER is an architect and partner at Alley Poyner Machietto Architecture with two decades of experience. He brings a passion for design to each of his projects and encourages stakeholders to participate in the design process, resulting in programs and designs that exceed the clients’ needs. As a leader in APMA’s Sustainability Alliance, Todd is committed to finding environmentally conscious solutions for both his projects and daily operations of the firm. He believes in the positive impact good design can have on a space, the people who use it, and our environment.
PAULA MOHR is the coordinator for the Certified Local Government Program for Historic Preservation and architectural historian in the Iowa State Historic Preservation Office. Previously, she has held preservation and curatorial positions at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the White House, the National Park Service and the U.S. Treasury. A native of Bentonsport, she received her undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa, a graduate degree in museum studies from the Cooperstown Graduate Program and a Ph.D. in architectural history from the University of Virginia. She is a co-author of “Campus Beautiful: Shaping the Aesthetic Identify of Iowa State University” published by the University Museums.
VERONICA O’HERN serves as senior program and operations manager with the Iowa Arts Council, a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs. She advocates for Iowa artists and the roles they play in sustaining creative, vibrant communities. She works to provide Iowa’s arts sector the tools and resources it needs to thrive and to communicate artists’ contributions to the state’s economic and social well-being. Veronica oversees the arts council’s grantmaking and artist programs and manages the agency’s federal- state relations, program evaluation and operations. She is a visual artist and an alumna of New York University.
CATHERINE OLESEN taught K-12 special education classes for 35 years. She has written grant applications for state block grants to artist-in-residencies, community health and preschool programs, and various economic development/historic preservation efforts, including the $6.2 K rehabilitation of the Warren Cultural Center in Greenfield and the Nodaway Valley Elementary School playground. Her volunteer work includes serving as president of the Main Street board, a member of the Warren Cultural Center board, a project coordinator for the nomination of the Greenfield Public Square Historic District, the chairman of the local Historic Preservation Commission, and a gardener at the Henry A. Wallace Country Life Center. Wherever children are gathered, Catherine will be involved. “Carpe diem” is her motto!
BRUCE PERRY, a committed advocate for historic preservation, draws on his career in classical music, experience as a council person and a passion for history. Whether he’s bringing to life a Beethoven sonata or an historic treasure, he believes that the effort requires both passion and exactitude. In addition to his work as a church musician in Fort Dodge, Bruce serves on the city council of Sac City, the local historic preservation commission and the board of Preservation Iowa. He has authored several National Register nominations and works tirelessly to preserve and restore local historic properties.
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TERRY PHILIPS served in the U.S. Navy and attended the University of Iowa, where he received a bachelor’s degree in secondary education in 1973. While attending college, he started T K Enterprises, a painting contracting firm that has developed a specialty in historic rehabilitation, especially window rehabilitation. He has provided numerous consultations and led workshops on historic window rehabilitation and historic masonry rehabilitation. He also manages Mills Seed LLC, based in a three-story 1907 brick building in Washington, Iowa, that was moved in 2010 and now serves as a laboratory for historic rehabilitation and related workshops. Terry currently serves as president of the Friends for Historic Preservation in Iowa City.
MICHAEL PLUMMER is the historic sites manager for the State Historical Society of Iowa and the coordinator of its Local History Network. He holds a master’s degree in historic preservation from the University of Vermont and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Loyola University Maryland and has worked at the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Mike and his family live in West Des Moines, where he enjoys a good book and a good laugh and being on the lookout to learn something new.
ERVIN PORTIS is the city administrator for Plattsmouth, Nebraska, a position he has held for 13 years. In that role he also serves as the director for the city’s historic preservation commission. He has experience in law enforcement and community/economic development and has received multiple awards for his economic development efforts, educational programs and professional service.
LYNN PRUITT has worked with the Muscatine County Historic Preservation Commission for eight years, serving as chair and vice chair. He supports local preservation planning, has secured and administered several grants, and has championed numerous projects, including the rehabilitation of a downtown historic district and a historic jail, as well as various churches and country schools. Lynn’s professional background includes environmental and water resource engineering throughout the United States and several other countries.
LEIGH ANN RANDAK has served since 2013 as the volunteer coordinator of Preservation Iowa’s Most Endangered Properties program. She was the curator of the Johnson County Historical Society from 1996 through 2012, has a degree in history from the University of Northern Iowa and lives in Iowa City with her husband and son.
LEAH D. ROGERS holds a master’s degree in anthropology and has more than 30 years of experience as a professional archaeologist and architectural historian. She was a member of Tallgrass Historians L.C. of Iowa City from 2001 through 2017, at which time she became the sole owner of the company, now known as Tallgrass Archaeology LLC. Tallgrass conducts grant-funded studies as well as cultural- resources management studies for local, state and federal governments. Leah has completed more than 70 nominations for the National Register of Historic Places both architectural and archaeological properties, including individual properties, multiple-property submissions and historic districts.
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CECILIA ROKUSEK is the president and CEO of the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library in Cedar Rapids. She is fluent in both Czech and Slovak, has served as the Slovak Honorary Consul for Florida for the last 12 years, and has established many academic affiliations with institutions in the Czech and Slovak Republics, as well as Slovenia, Hungary and South Korea. She’s held top academic and administrative positions at several colleges and universities since 1976, is a former professor of public health and family medicine and co-founded the Center for Disaster and Emergency Preparedness at Nova Southeastern University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine. In 2018, she received the Silver Medal for Distinguished Service from the Slovak Minister of Foreign Affairs and in 2019 received the Woodrow Wilson Award for leadership in diplomacy from the Slovak ambassador to the United States.
STEPHANIE ROUSE has seven years of experience working both within and for municipalities, is a certified planner and meets the U.S. Secretary of the Interior’s standards as an architectural historian. She has been involved in a variety of projects, including historic surveys, National Register nominations, downtown revitalization plans, comprehensive planning, housing studies, and small area planning. She also has shared her expertise about a variety of preservation topics at conferences in Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska.
LAURA SADOWSKY is an historian with the State Historic Preservation Office of Iowa. She is a graduate of the historic preservation program at the University of Vermont and has worked as an architectural conservator at Shelburne Farms National Historic Landmark, a conservation coordinator at Salisbury House, and an architectural historian. She is also currently a Ph.D. student in history at Iowa State University.
CHERI LAFLAMME SZCODRONSKI is the founding principal of Firefly Preservation Consulting, which helps communities identify and preserve their historic resources. She specializes in research, documentation, condition assessment and interpretation, and she enjoys working with individuals, communities, nonprofit organizations and local governments. Previously, she served as the executive director at Preservation Chapel Hill, in North Carolina, and worked at the Center for Historic Preservation in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and ecology from Clarion University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in public history and historic preservation from Middle Tennessee State University. Cheri and her family live near Ann Arbor, Michigan, where she is an avid hiker, snowshoer, book buyer and animal lover – and she used to be a zookeeper.
LINDA SIDEY is a living legacy to the Sidey family who owned and operated the Adair County Free Press newspaper from 1889 through 2014. She worked as a dark-room expert, photographer, reporter, advertiser and layout editor. Upon her husband Ed Sidey’s death in 2006, Linda assumed ownership of the paper and became its publisher. To preserve the paper’s archives, she forged a relationship with Iowa PBS that resulted in the scanning of 20,000 negatives and the production of a documentary called “The Sidey Report: Life and Times of an Iowa Icon.” Linda has shared photos and articles from the newspaper’s archives to produce a trilogy of plays focused on life in Greenfield during World War II.
LINDA GRIFFITH SMITH is a lifelong resident of Madison County. After a career in information technology, she now volunteers in various local history organizations, including the Madison County Historic Preservation Commission, where she serves as its chair. For her, a day well-spent involves researching what actually happened in Madison County’s past (including any fun facts) and engaging the skills and interests of others.
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GINALIE SWAIM has a lifelong commitment to historic preservation. For many years, she edited Iowa History Illustrated, a magazine published by the State Historical Society of Iowa. She was a member of the Iowa City Historic Preservation Commission from 1993 to 1997 and again from 2006 to 2018, including six years as its chair. Now retired, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, appreciating Iowa City’s preserved heritage and serving as president of the local nonprofit Friends of Historic Preservation.
BRENDA THADEN teaches 4th grade in the Nodaway Valley School District in Greenfield, where she has taught general and special education for 20 years. Her passion for Greenfield’s Hometown project was fueled by her love for the town she describes as “scenic, welcoming and historic.” Eager to share her love for exploring the past, Brenda created the Hometown unit and is an active volunteer in the local Cumberland Rose Players as an actor, director, and costume and make-up assistant. Brenda also serves in her church’s praise band and choir, is a member of the church’s worship committee, helps teach youth groups and chaperones junior/senior high mission trips.
KRIS URDAHL is a member of the Mason City Historic Preservation Commission. Originally from northeast Iowa, she learned to appreciate Iowa history as a child traveling the state’s historic sites with her family, and her love of historic buildings was sparked when she lived in several historic homes in Dubuque. Since relocating to Mason City, she has immersed herself in the history of the community and its architecture. Kris has a bachelor’s degree in accounting and works for the North Iowa Area Council of Governments. When she’s not at work or exploring history, she’s most often found on the golf course.
RICHARD WARNER serves on the boards of Preserve Council Bluffs and the Historical Society of Pottawattamie County, a position he has held for 33 years. He has edited the historical society’s member publication for over thirty years and co-authored four books about local history. He also hosts the podcast “Accidentally Historic” and is a frequent speaker on topics of local history.
STEVE WILKE-SHAPIRO helps clients and communities tell their stories through architecture, building meaningful connections between people and place. As a licensed architect, his experience over the past 20 years ranges from rehabilitation and adaptive reuse to new construction design, feasibility planning, construction administration and community development. He specializes in historic preservation, historic tax credits and sensitive rehabilitation (and has a special place in his heart for contemporary and modern design) and is a frequent speaker at community meetings and events across Iowa. He is the president and founder of the Des Moines Rehabbers Club; serves on the State Nominations Review Committee, which recommends Iowa’s nominations to the National Register of Historic Places; and he is a member of Des Moines’ Urban Design Review Board.
JENNY ZIMMER is an award-winning expert in urban design and the design of arts and entertainment space. She has worked on some of Alley Poyner Machietto Architecture’s most complex projects, including the transformation of an abandoned power plant into an iconic and modern apartment building. Jenny also has led design efforts for some of the Omaha-Council Bluffs area’s most exciting entertainment venues, including the Slowdown music venue and the Film Streams independent movie theater, as well as the LAMB Arts Regional Theatre in Sioux City. Jenny’s work in urban settings makes her an expert on managing projects that have tight boundaries and require a sensitive approach to phasing and construction.
IOWACULTURE.GOV 24 STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE OF IOWA PRESERVE IOWA SUMMIT 2022
See you next year! Preserve Iowa Summit 2022, June 16 -18, in Mason City
preserveiowasummit.org Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs Key Leaders
Chris Kramer, Director Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs [email protected], 515-281-3223
Susan Kloewer, Administrator State Historical Society of Iowa [email protected], 515-281-8749
Heather Gibb, Interim State Historic Preservation Officer State Historic Preservation Office [email protected], 515-281-4137
Paula Mohr, Architectural Historian & Certified Local Government Program Coordinator State Historic Preservation Office [email protected], 515-281-6826
Liz Gilman, Executive Producer Produce Iowa [email protected], 515-725-0044
David Schmitz, Administrator Iowa Arts Council [email protected], 515-242-6195
preserveiowasummit.org iowaculture.gov
The Preserve Iowa Summit is supported in part with federal funds from the National Park Service, a division of the U.S. Department of the Interior.
The views and conclusions expressed during this event are those of the speakers and should not be interpreted as representing the opinions or policies of the U.S. government. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute their endorsement by the U.S. government.
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