Call for Papers – National Forum on Historic Preservation Practice

Sponsors

The Master of Arts in Historic Preservation Program, Goucher College, Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and the National Park Service

Co-Sponsors

General Services Administration, National Alliance of Preservation Commissions, National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers, Society for Historical Archaeology, and the Graduate Historic Preservation Programs of Clemson University & College of Charleston, California State Polytechnic University, George Washington University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

The year 2016 marks the 50th anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act, which responded admirably to the many challenges then facing our country’s historic and prehistoric heritage. The 7th National Forum
on Historic Preservation Practice will focus on the future of historic preservation in the United States within
the context of five significant drivers that will shape that future: Demographics, Economics, Environment, Technology, and Education. Papers are solicited from leaders in each of the driver disciplines as well as from preservationists.

The 7th National Forum will explore the question of how predicted changes in America’s population, economy, natural environment, everyday technology, and education at all levels over the next 50 years will affect
the theories, policies, and professional practice of historic preservation in the United States at all levels of government and within the private and non-profit sectors. The Forum also will seek to understand how we can best prepare for the coming changes. Proposed papers should address how:

• Demographic changes will affect historic preservation.
• The majority-minority population shift will impact how we conceive of preservation as well as the identification, designation and treatments of historic properties.
• We will define differently our collective heritage as well as our national story.
• Economic changes will influence preservation public policies.
• The effects of environmental change, including sea level rise, temperature changes and desertification, will affect historic preservation theories, policies or practices.
• We can better integrate natural resource conservation and cultural preservation.
• The increased emphasis on sustainability will influence how we do the business of historic preservation.
• Advances in everyday technology will influence historic preservation practice.
• Historic preservation can best influence changes in education, and vice-versa.
• Will preservation education need to change to meet the challenges of the future.

The Forum is designed to stimulate discussion and debate among presenters and the audience. Thus the program will consist of 15 papers only and participation will be limited to 150 attendees on site.

Papers should place the future of historic preservation, its theories, policies, or practice, within anticipated changes to the demographics, economics, environment, technology and education of the future. Abstracts,
no longer than one page, single-spaced, 12 pt. type, should be submitted electronically in Word no later than October 15, 2015. Submissions must identify the author’s name, professional title, affiliation, postal and e-mail addresses, and telephone number at the top of the page. The decision of the Papers Selection Committee will be announced to all submitters no later than November 15, 2015. Successful proposals will be chosen based upon how effectively they address the Forum’s focus, critical thinking, creativity, thoughtfulness, organization, and ability to stimulate discussion.

A draft of the complete paper, 12 pt., 12 – 15 single-spaced pages in Word (including footnotes and bibliography), is due no later than January 15, 2016. It will be reviewed by the Papers Selection Committee, and may be returned to the authors for additional work no later than February 1, 2016. An electronic copy of the final
paper, if revisions are requested, will be due no later than March 1, 2016. Copies of final papers will be made available to attendees at the conference. Since it is the intention of Goucher College to publish all papers in a proceeding after the conference, papers may not have been submitted for publication elsewhere and must include appropriate photo captions, credits and copyright, where necessary.

Abstracts (in Word), inquiries, or questions should be submitted electronically to: Prof. Richard Wagner, Goucher College, Master of Arts in Historic Preservation, Welch Center for Graduate and Professional Studies, 1021 Dulaney Valley Road, Baltimore, Maryland 21204, rwagner@goucher.edu.