National Trust for Historic Preservation Features #DismantlePreservation

A few weeks ago Priya Chhaya, Associate Director of Content for the National Trust for Historic Preservation, reached out to discuss why I organized the #DismantlePreservation virtual unconference and connected with some of the speakers to find out what they think the future of historic preservation could/should look like. Priya thoughtfully put together these reflections in the piece, “Dismantle Preservation: Getting Serious about Building a New Model for the Field.”

“In late July 2020, preservationists from across the country gathered for the Dismantle Preservation Virtual Unconference. Organized and sponsored by Sarah Marsom a heritage resource consultant, this conference directly addressed some of the problematic areas of the preservation profession to encourage practitioners to confront and acknowledge  systems that hamper equity within the field. With panels that ranged from racial bias to mental health (and a quick project share at the end of the night called “Burning Down the House.”) the conference directly spoke to issues related to racial bias, the weaknesses brought forth by COVID-19 in terms of pay equity and recruitment, and mental health.

As a follow up to the conference, I reached out to Marsom and several of the speakers to ask about the future of the field, and what we, as a profession, need to act on as we go forward. Each of the featured speakers bring with them different experiences and expertise in the preservation field. Some are long time professionals who have made an impact in telling the full story through preservation, while others come to the practice with fresh eyes having just entered the field a few years ago. Learn more about the speakers and hear what they have to say—including what is next for the #DismantlePreservation series.”

Click here to keep reading.

Elevating Unpopular Opinions Panel Discussion

On August 26, June Ahn, Rose Cannon, and Emma Turner-Trujillo; Co-Founders of Death to Museums, Jobie Hill; Preservation Architect and Founder of Saving Slave Houses, Bonnie McDonald; President & CEO of Landmarks Illinois, Zulmilena Then; Founder of Preserving East New York, and Liz Waytkus, Executive Director of Docomomo US came together to discuss strategies to elevate unpopular opinions. Click the video above to view a recording of the conversation.

Abandoned architecture along a backroad in Oregon.

I was delighted to organize this panel discussion as a part of the #DismantlePreservation: Let’s Keep Talking discussion series and would like to give a special thank you to Northwest Vernacular Historic Preservation Consulting for sponsoring this event.

To help you feel confident advocating for change, I worked with the speakers to create a resource guide! You’ll find organizations, articles, podcasts, and more below. This list is meant to be a living document, so feel free to email me@sarahmarsom.com if you have any suggestions.

Resources 

Organizations (in alphabetical order): 

• Asian & Pacific Islander Americans in Historic Preservation - “APIAHiP’s mission is to protect historic places and cultural resources significant to Asian and Pacific Islander Americans through historic preservation and heritage conservation by: (1) creating an information-sharing network which can provide support for established and emerging historic preservation programs, and also to define issues; (2) establishing educational programs for raising public awareness and impacting historic preservation policy on local, state, and national levels; and (3) increasing public and private resources for building historic preservation capacity. The term "historic preservation” and “heritage conservation" are meant to include educational and community development activities involving the preservation, conservation, and protection of tangible and intangible historic and cultural resources.”

• Death to Museums-  “Death to Museums asks why save museums at all? The idea to “destroy” museums comes not from a place of hate. As museum workers, we see the untapped potential in museum collections and programs to challenge engrained ideologies rather than maintain them. However, we question the efficacy of changing museums from within when inequity is built into their core identity. As Tunde Wey, a New Orleans-based activist and artist, writes, “Can you renovate a burning house? Can you renovate a single room in a burning house?”” 

• Latinos in Heritage Conservation - “Founded in 2014, LHC is the leading organization for the preservation of Latina/o places, stories, and cultural heritage in the United States. We are a diverse network of intergenerational advocates conserving Latina/o sites and living cultures in the fabric of American society, affirming the value of our history in the hemispheric struggle for social justice.”

• Museum Hue - “Museum Hue is the leading organization dedicated to advancing Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color in the cultural field.”

• #MuseumWorkersSpeak - “#MuseumWorkersSpeak is an action-oriented platform for social change at the intersection of labor, access, and inclusion. [They] are a collective of activist museum workers interrogating the relationship between museums’ stated commitments to social value and their internal labor practices.” To date, their Museum Workers Relief Fund has granted $500 gifts to $100 museum workers who have been furloughed or laid off by large institutions. 

• National Organization of Minority Architects - NOMA’s mission, rooted in a rich legacy of activism, is to empower our local chapters and membership to foster justice and equity in communities of color through outreach, community advocacy, professional development and design excellence.

• Rainbow Heritage Network - The Rainbow Heritage Network (RHN) is a national organization for the recognition and preservation of sites, history, and heritage associated with sexual and gender minorities in the United States. This includes, but is not limited to, those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ). 

• Seize the Museums - “For full public control of all museums, libraries, archives, parks, and educational institutions”.

• Society of Black Archeologists - “The vision of the Society of Black Archaeologists (SBA) is to create a strong network of archaeologists that advocates to ensure the proper treatment of African and African diaspora material culture, promotes more people of African descent to enter the field of archaeology, ensures community collaborations, raises and addresses concerns related to African peoples worldwide, and highlights the past and present achievements and contributions people of African descent have made to the field of archaeology.”

• We Here - “We Here seeks to provide a safe and supportive community for Black and Indigenous folks, and People of Color (BIPOC) in library and information science (LIS) professions and educational programs, and to recognize, discuss, and intervene in systemic social issues that have plagued these professions both historically and continue through present time.”

Social Media Accounts You Should Follow: 

• AAM Accountable - “ Holding the @AkronArtMuseum accountable to the public trust for unchecked discrimination and toxic work environment.”

• Change the Museum - “Pressuring US museums to move beyond lip service proclamations by amplifying tales of unchecked racism.”

• Decolonize the Art World - Anti-colonial art school for dreamers. 

• Design As Protest - “Mobilizing our collective power to confront the violence and injustices of architecture, design, and urban planning practices.”

• Equity By Design - “Repositioning Architecture by Equitable Practice - Equity is Everyone's Issue. Minimizing Barriers to Maximize Our Potential for Success”

• For the Culture 2020 - “A coalition of current/former Black & Brown employees & allies united together to call out systemic racism in Museums & other cultural institutions.”

• Indigenous Archeology Collective -  “The Indigenous Archaeology Collective is a network of Indigenous and non-Indigenous scholars within archaeology and related fields.” 

• MCAccountable - A coalition of workers of the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago demanding accountability from their leadership.

• No Neutral Alliance - A coalition of Black artists fighting against censorship and anti-Blackness at SFMOMA.

• Parlour - “Parlour: gender, equity, architecture. Bringing together research, resources & informed opinion.”

• Visitors of Color - “Blog documenting the experiences of marginalized people with museums. “

• VMFA Reform - “The purpose of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Reform Committee is to hold museum administration accountable for their complicity in systemic racism 365 days a year.”

• xSFM0MA - A coalition working against racism at SFMOMA.

Toolkits/Articles/Database:

• OF/BY/FOR/ALL - has free toolkits, articles, and a self-assessment.  

• The Dreamspace Project: A Workbook and Toolkit For Critical Praxis in the American Art Museum, created by Alyssa Machida.

• The Incluseum - “a project based in Seattle, Washington that advances new ways of being a museum through critical dialogue, community building and collaborative practice related to inclusion in museums.”

• Women Also Know History - A crowdsourced database of women and non-binary individuals whose primary occupation is historical work

• The Guide to Managing Up and Across (Harvard Business Review) - A guide to how to present unpopular opinions to your supervisor and making change within institutions.

Books/Podcasts: 

• Cultura Conscious - Paula Santos hosts conversations “with other museum and cultural workers, educators, artists, activists, and leaders about how we work with our communities and the public at large.”

• FWD: Museums - A yearly journal produced by graduate students at the University of Illinois at Chicago that “strives to create a space for challenging, critiquing, and providing alternative modes of thinking and production within and outside of museums.”

• Opening up the Museum - A TEDxSanta Cruz Talk by former director Nina Simon of the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History talking about engaging the diverse community around the museum and being okay with losing established donors and board members in the process. Also read her book, “The Art of Relevance”.

Dismantle Preservation Unconference Recap

Nimisha exploring the Packard Plant during a Rust Belt Takeover.

Since starting my preservation career I have had the privilege of producing everything from private tours for small groups to helping with large scale events, such as the German Village Society’s annual Haus und Garten tour (avg. 5k+ attendees) and Rust Belt Takeovers (experiential education weekends). Through my work, volunteerism, and participation in a variety of capacity at conferences, I’ve cultivated a strong understanding of the preservation practice/profession and event coordination skills. 

When I conceptualized the Dismantle Preservation Virtual Unconference, I was excited to put together my ideal educational event for someone who works in cultural resources. The response to the event exceeded my expectations. 

There were:

• 1,700+ registrants

• 1,000+ live viewers 

• People from approximately 38 states and 4 countries in attendance 

• 7 sessions

• 29 speakers 

I am grateful for all of the speakers willing to share their expertise and be a part of an event that sought to challenge the status quo. The speakers made the event engaging, thought provoking, and helped create a space where attendees felt comfortable. Each session lead took their topic/theme in dynamic direction and coordinated a session that proved eliminating constraints is integral to facilitating meaningful conversations. 

From concept to marketing and day of execution, it was a thrill to produce and organize this event. Knowing #DismantlePreservation resonated with so many people fills me not only with hope for the future of the preservation movement, but added motivation to keep pushing people in new directions through my work.

If you missed being a part of the event day of, don’t worry! Click this link to view session recordings. To learn more about the sessions and the speakers, click this link. 

Dismantle Preservation Virtual Unconference

Preservationists need a different set of resources to be able to advocate for themselves, stories of the past, and the built environment.

In response to conversations with many of you, #DismantlePreservation Virtual Unconference will be a one day free event that will delve into mental health, unions/salary negotiations, public service loan forgiveness, implicit bias in preservation, preserving the full story, and how to expand who is investing in old buildings. Let’s dismantle historic preservation and rebuild it for the benefit of our communities today and tomorrow.

Click here to view recordings of the sessions.

9-10:15 am EST - Expanding Who is Investing

“Preservation” and “real estate investing” typically conjure up images of wealthy elites with a treasure trove of money to capitalize on the hottest opportunities before others even catch wind that they exist. And rightfully so, traditional investing and capital markets were only for those in the know. But as social patterns have shifted, so have living preferences and  the call for more equitable representation at all tables - preservation and real estate development included. 2020 taught us that business can no longer be conducted as usual. Forward thinking is required at the intersection of finance, honoring architecture and practical modernity. Housing Joint Venture is a unique real estate development and education firm on a mission to do just that by democratizing access to real estate investing. Tune in to this session to learn how they use a super boring, almost sleepy model to turn traditional capital markets on their head and deliver value-add real estate investments at scale. 

Speaker: John Delia and Richelle Delia PhD, Founders Housing JV

10:30-11:45 am EST - Identifying and Tackling Implicit Bias in Preservation

Implicit bias is defined as a bias based on our unconscious feelings, including feelings that contradict our actual beliefs. Implicit biases exist within the preservation movement.  This session will be a discussion about how implicit biases affect the work that we do, including how it can impact the projects we take on, professionals we choose to work with and/or hire, and the ways we approach historic interpretations. Panelists will share their experiences with implicit biases, and discuss strategies to mitigate their impacts.

Speakers: Jeffrey Harris, Historic Preservation Consultant; Melissa Jest, Coordinator of African American Programs for Georgia State Historic Preservation Office; Sam Collins, National Trust for Historic Peservation Board of Advisers; Frank Vagnone, Founder Twisted Preservation 

12-12:30 pm EST - Rage Against the Student Loan Machine

Most of us can't escape student loans as we pursue higher education. How do student loans limit our options in the preservation field? How do we deal with the reality of loans as a deterrent to becoming a preservationist? Join Adrienne Burke, six-figure student loan debtor, as she talks about lessons learned, alternative options, and having success with the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.

Speaker: Adrienne Burke, AICP, Esq.

1-2:15 pm EST - Building Union Power in Preservation

In this session attendees will learn about the experience of public and non-profit sector union workers, the benefits of unionization beyond higher wages, and how unionized cultural workers can build power to fight for a better world. 

Speakers: Derek Tulowitzky; TBA American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Organizers 

2:30-3:45 pm EST - Let’s Talk About Mental Health

How does the structure of the historic preservation field and related cultural sectors contribute to and affect mental illnesses in its professional practitioners? This session will deconstruct the long-term impacts of low wages, contract employment, labels and stereotypes, that all contribute to burnout and mental illness as preservation professionals. Speakers will share their experiences in finding individual paths to cope with these conditions, while recommending what the field and its employers must do in pursuit of inclusive and mentally healthy workplaces. 

Speakers: Ms. Camille Bethune-Brown, Museum Worker and Black Historian ; Mx. Ty Ginter, Queer Historian and Architectural Historian;

4 - 5:30 pm EST - Expanding the Preservation Narrative: From Research to Action HEADLINER 

This panel discussion highlights Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) preservationists and their academic research and preservation work. Panelists will briefly introduce how they utilized their academic work into preservation action (e.g., nominations for local, state, and/or national registers, creating toolkits related to preservation, advocacy work, capacity building). Then panel discussion will then examine the importance of BIPOC preservation scholars and practitioners in centering traditionally marginalized voices in historic preservation. 

Speakers: Angelo Baca (Doctoral Student, Sociocultural Anthropology, New York University; Cultural Resources Coordinator, Utah Diné Bikéyah); Tejpaul Singh Bainiwal (Doctoral Candidate, Religious Studies, University of California, Riverside; Board member, Asian & Pacific Islander Americans in Historic Preservation); Sarah Zenaida Gould, PhD (Director, Museo del Westside; Co-Chair, Latinos in Heritage Conservation); Jeffrey Harris (Independent historian and historic preservation consultant); Kristen Hayashi, PhD (Director of Collections Management & Access and Curator, Japanese American National Museum; Board member, Asian & Pacific Islander Americans in Historic Preservation); Alison Rose Jefferson MHC, PhD (Historian and Heritage Conservation Consultant, Historian and More); Davianna Pomaika'i McGregor, PhD (Professor of Ethnic Studies and Director of Center for Oral History, University of Hawai'i, Manoa)

Moderator: Michelle G. Magalong, PhD (Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow, School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, University of Maryland; President, Asian & Pacific Islander Americans in Historic Preservation)

8 - 9:30 pm EST - Burning Down the House

Enjoy rapid fire 6-minute presentations that will introduce you to new concepts, strategies, and lesser known histories. Lightning talks will occur in the following order:

• Architecture is both the tool and the result of settler colonialism; Fernando Luiz Lara, Professor and Director of PhD program in Architecture at University of Texas at Austin

• Tell the Full Story: A Meditation on the Retelling of History; Kennedy Whiters AIA, Architect & Capital Projects Manager

• Historic Preservation and the Fight for Equity; Mary Lu Seidel, Director of Community Engagement for Preservation Chicago

• Beyond Buildings: Conserving Sites and Stories of Racial Violence in Los Angeles; Jackson Loop, Architectural Historian

• Latino's In Indiana - Lost barrios, voices and their 100 year old Hoosier History; Nicole Martinez -LeGrand, Multicultural Collections Coordinator for Indiana Historical Society

• The Systemic Racism of Preservation in Santa Fe; Shawn Evans AIA, Principal at Atkin Olshin Schade Architects

• Unlearning Academic Writing & Embracing Copywriting to Reach a Wider Audience; Terra Wheeler, Copywriter & Inclusive Preservationist

• Being a Decay Devil; Gregg Ott, Decay Devils organizer

• A Wall in the Wild: Erasing the Borderlands; Laiken Jordahl, Borderlands Campaigner with the Center for Biological Diversity

P.S. Since 2017, I’ve been happy to give out tiny conference scholarships to people with big dreams as a part of my Tiny Activist Project. The 2020 Tiny Activist Project scholarship funds are being diverted to provide speaker fees for the Dismantle Preservation Unconference. 

Call To Action: Labor Equity in Preservation

UPDATE: Click here to see Phase 2 of the Labor Equity Initiative

To promote the Historic Preservation field as a professional discipline and to increase our capacity to sustain our ability to support our communities, we must advocate for preservation professionals to receive equitable compensation.  There are two areas to address to promote salary equity: 

1. We can no longer support unpaid internships in our field

2. We can no longer allow organizations and job boards to impede salary transparency by omitting compensation in job descriptions.

Reach out to the following historic preservation job boards and challenge them to no longer share unpaid internships and that they require salary ranges for all job postings:

• Preservenet; UPDATE: As of October 2020, all positions listed must include compensation.

• Preservation Directory; UPDATE: Preservation Directory is in the process of updating their language for job board submissions.

• National Council on Public History; UPDATE: As of September 9, 2020 all positions listed must include a salary, salary range, hourly rate, salary code, or some other measure of compensation. 

• National Trust for Historic Preservation; UPDATE: The National Trust for Historic Preservation has modified their job board for available NTHP positions to include salary information. Their FORUM job board as of October 13, 2020 now requires “all listings to include at least a salary range (or a minimum salary)” and they “will no longer accept uncompensated internships for listing.”

• The Historic Preservation Professionals group on Facebook was not a part of the original list of job boards to be petitioned for change. As of December 2020, the group moderators voted to require compensation for part time or full time jobs and to no longer allow unpaid internships.

Why this matters - Sample Talking Points:

• Unpaid internships devalue all preservation professional positions.

• Unpaid internships limit professional development opportunities to the few instead of the many.

• Statistically women and people of color are less likely to negotiate salary. Not disclosing salary in a job listing puts these individuals at a disadvantage and perpetuates the wage gap.   

• If you are an organization looking to hire someone, you will be starting the relationship out with full honesty and transparency. You’ll also generate an applicant pool that will confidently be interested in accepting this position knowing that the compensation will provide a sustainable income.  

Sample Letter: 

Dear >Insert Organization Name<, 

Thank you for providing an accessible platform for preservation professionals to seek jobs.  If the cultural sector wants equality we can no longer support unpaid internships and we must elevate the standards for job listings. Please modify your job board to no longer allow unpaid internships/fellowships and to require the posting of salary ranges. 

For years the cultural sector has discussed the negative implications of unpaid internships and it is now time to stop this practice. Unpaid internships systematically devalue all preservation professionals’ work and ensure only a limited number individuals can pursue entry level positions in the field. If your organization believes, as it has said in the past, that the cultural sector should diversify who it hires; this is a fundamental step. 

Adding salary ranges is also integral to salary equity. Women and people of color are statistically less likely to negotiate, thus not sharing a salary rage furthers the wage gap. These standards not only benefit the job seeker, but they will also benefit the employer. Job seekers will not waste their time on job applications if they do not know if the job will provide an income needed to take care of themselves and/or their family. I was told recently by someone who has helped hire preservation positions for their workplace " I've seen this first hand with our job applicants- when we list a range- especially a competitive range- we get better quality applicants. Hands. Down."

Please amend your job board submission standards for the betterment of the cultural sector. For more information, please read the following articles >Insert Links for Additional Information<. 

Sincerely, 

>Insert Your Name<

Want to learn more about the importance of salary ranges? Click these links!

• You’re Not Serious About Equity If You Don’t Post Salaries

• When you don’t disclose salary range on a job posting, a unicorn loses its wings

• If Culture Sector Employees Want Equality, Post Salary and Benefits With Job Descriptions

• Salary Is Most Important Part of Job Ad

If you want to learn more strategies to better the preservation profession, please join me at the Dismantle Preservation Virtual Unconference on July 28, 2020.

This page will be updated when the respective job board policies have been modified.

Featured in Preservation Magazine

You can find my photo of the Durham Museum in Omaha, Nebraska, along with some thoughts on my winter road trip through America’s prairie lands in the Spring 2020 issue of Preservation Magazine .

It is a delight to be featured in this award winning magazine and to have the opportunity to showcase one of the midwest’s art deco treasures.

Never hesitate to reach out if you want travel tips for Nebraska and its border states.

Tiny Activist Project Party Hats! FREE DOWNLOAD

Utilizing the Shannon May designed patterns from Tiny I.M. and Tiny Jane’s outfits in a new way these party hats are the perfect accessory for an architecture/urbanism fan. Whether you are looking to celebrate I.M Pei’s birthday (April 26, 1917), Jane Jacobs’ birthday (May 4, 1916), or you want to have a jubilee for some other reason, these Tiny Activist Project party hats are an easy and fun DIY project for you. Please share your party pictures online using #tinyactivistproject and email me@sarahmarsom.com with any questions.

Click here to download Tiny Jane Party Hat for People

Click here to download Tiny I.M. Party Hat for People

Click here to download Party Hats for Tiny Activist Project Dolls

Published in The Columbus Anthology

The Columbus Anthology has officially been released into the wild and features a wide variety of perspectives on Columbus, Ohio! This book is the newest addition to Belt Publishing’s popular city anthology series. My essay “What Would Jane Say” delves into the lasting impact of urban renewal in Columbus. A big thanks to Amanda Page for encouraging me to submit a piece for inclusion.

How to sew a Tiny Activist Doll

Whether you are stitching a Tiny Jane Jacobs or Tiny I.M. Pei this tutorial will help you successfully sew your own Tiny Activist Doll! Buy a Sew Your Own Kit HERE.

🧵 Step 1: Cut ✂️the pattern slightly outside the dashed lines. Do not cut between the legs. Keeping the legs “attached” at this stage makes sewing a bit easier. 

🧵 Step 2: Match up the fabric, so that the printed side facing inward. Do your best to overlap the body - if you cut ✂️closely around the dashed edges you can use the lines as a guide for a perfect overlay. Once you have your sides match, you can pin 📍them together to prevent any wiggles while stitching. ⭐️I recommend starting your stitching on the doll’s torso -a bit above its hips and stopping stitching a bit below the armpit on that same side (this will make flipping easier). If you choose to hand stitch your doll, please do your tiniest neatest stitches possible to avoid any future stuffing blow-outs. 😬

🧵 Step 3: Okay, now this is the hardest part - flipping your Tiny Activist right side out! First you need to snip into the corners (armpits, neck, outside/inside thighs) and trim around the curves (refer to photo). Next you need to pull out your chop sticks (no chopsticks? no worries - grab a couple of pens). You will insert the base of a chopstick down an arm or leg and using the “pointier” side of the chopstick, you will push up into the body. Once you get it started you’ll be able to roll the limbs into the torso. Do this for both of the arms and legs. Now that the limbs are all inside your doll’s torso, you will reach into the approx.1-inch hole you left on the side and pull out the legs, the arms, and then finally the head.

🧵 Step 4: After flipping the doll to be right side out, use your chopstick🥢 (or pen🖊) to fully push out Tiny Pei’s ears, Tiny Jane’s dress, and both of their heads, hands, and feet. Now you are ready to stuff! Each sew-your-own kit comes with poly-fil, but you could use rice, beans, or a combination of things to stuff your doll. I like to start by stuffing the doll’s head, because it is quick gratification. Next stuff the arms and legs. Pinch off small pieces of stuff and put them at the joint where the limb starts. Your chopstick will help push the stuffing into the limbs. Once you are done with those, fill the doll’s stomach.

🧵 Step 5: The final step!!! Get a thread that matches your Tiny Activist’s attire and seal your doll however you prefer. You can do a slip/ladder stitch, basic stitch, something decorative, or something else that tickles your fancy. Choose your preferred stitch, seal the hole, and then take your Tiny Activist on an adventure! Make sure to tag your adventure photos with #tinyjanejacobsor #tinyimpei. 

What People Are Saying (about my work)

I strive to push historic preservation forward through speaking engagements, facilitated workshops, interpretive/strategic planning, and more traditional practices (ex: historic designations). In order to continually improve my work, I have been seeking feedback from clients and attendees to ensure I am providing a valuable service. 

Here is what they are saying: 

• “Your enthusiasm and youth - breathe new life into what many consider an old topic.”

• “I absolutely loved it! It was welcoming, engaging, and supportive.” 

• "I loved it! The theme and targeted activity was great. I saw lots of engagement. The person who was leading the banner making process [Sarah Marsom] was awesome, even when I had to leave and come back or was off by myself they took time to make sure I felt included and helped me complete the banner.”

• “…dynamic and lots of practical advice and ideas!” 

• “ Someone just told me today how much they enjoyed your presentation in Dodge City last fall. They are still inspired by your ideas. Thank you for all the great work you do.”

My work as a heritage resource consultant - (historic preservation / public history) focusses on making history and our built environment relevant to people today for the benefit of our communities in the future. It is imperative we find different ways to preserve and tell stories of the past. I want to help make your engagement meaningful and dynamic. Reach out via me@sarahmarsom.com and let’s schedule a time to chat. 

Suffrage Banner Workshop at the makeHERspace event at Miami University.

makeHERspace: Suffrage Banner Workshop at Miami University

For months I’ve been wondering what people would create at my suffragist banner inspired workshops. I was blown away by the creativity shown at my first event in 2020. I launched my 19th amendment celebrations at Miami University’s King Library thanks to their invitation to be a part of their annual “makeHERspace” event. From 10am-5pm on March 3, I helped students and university staff create banners inspired by the suffrage movement. 

An in progress banner that says “ We are not ovary-acting.”

Periodic presentations discussed the history of the women’s equality movement and the visuals associated with the suffrage movement. Workshop participants were encouraged to create banners that paid homage to the past, while reflecting what matters to them today. 

Workshop participants using stencils to begin their banner making.

People created banners of empowering messages, humorous statements, advocating for specific causes, and more. More than 50-people attended the makeHERspace event. It was a wonderful event highlighting both the history of activism and women, with a specific focus on suffrage banners. I look forward to doing more banner workshops throughout 2020 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment. 

It was wonderful seeing the workshop participan't’s creativity and what they are thinking about today.

Visit my events page to learn about upcoming suffrage banner workshops, other events, and upcoming speaking engagements. To view more banners from this workshop and others, follow my instagram. Celebrating the 19th amendment is a great launching off point to expand your organization’s storytelling to include women. Reach out today to discuss your storytelling goals.

Guest Blog and Video for Spoonflower

Watch me make this banner on the blog!

“In honor of the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment, we sat down with Sarah Marsom, an Ohio-based heritage resource consultant and Spoonflower maker, to learn more about the history of women’s right to vote and the suffrage banners that helped spread their message. As craftivism becomes more prevalent in today’s culture, Sarah shares how the women of the past used their craft to share their voice and how you can continue to carry on the legacy they left behind.” Click here to read the full blog and watch the short video.

Making Archives Accessible

Archives are for more than research; they are repositories for stories of value to the community. These stories may be told through images, audio/visual recordings, or text documents. Unfortunately, archives are associated with red tape and restriction, which can deter the every day community member from exploring the resources. 

Century Hotel in Miami. Archival Image Source: Library of Congress

Backside of Century Hotel ornament.

Make archives accessible with a bit of creativity. This hands-on workshop will highlight archival images that tell compelling community stories, teach basic copyright law and how to access archive resources, in addition to sparking ideas on how to use archives to create meaningful items. Workshop participants will create a holiday ornament, a scented sachet, or a door hanging! 

Portrait of Ida B. Wells from 1891. Archival Image Source: Library of Congress

Brünnhilde the cat! Archival Image Source: Library of Congress

Prior to the event, I’ll work with you to determine what stories you want to tell in this archival accessibility workshop, and together we will select 3-5 images to be highlighted in the hands-on craft component of the event. These images can tell stories of: specific people/places, bigger themes in your community, stories that have faded with time, or celebrate a specific event (ex: 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment). 

Let’s show off your resources, connect people to the past, and highlight new storytelling methods! Reach out to me@sarahmarsom.com to learn more. 

Continuing to Grow Thanks to Conferences (& other pursuits)

As I continue to grow personally and professionally, I gain a greater understanding of what I need for both continuing education and my consulting business. For 2020, I am looking forward to attending the conferences listed below - keep reading and find out why I selected these events.

Reach out (me@sarahmarsom.com) if you would like me to be a part of your 2020 program schedule (conference or special events).

Midwest Craft Con

When: February 28- March 1

Where: Columbus, Ohio

Why: A conference that teaches small business strategies and offers hands-on craft workshops… can you get better than that? I have yet to find a preservation conference that teaches practical strategies for small businesses owners- taxes, marketing, goal planning etc.. While a crafty business is not exactly the same as preservation consulting, there are great tidbits for a business owner of any kind who runs a niche business. 

The defunct Attamaha Apiaries is a couple hours east of Atlanta.

Annual Meeting of the National Council on Public History

When: March 18- 21

Where: Atlanta, Georgia 

Why: The National Council on Public History’s conference has been recommended to me by a variety of preservationists. When Brian Whetstone invited me to participate in a session he was creating for NCPH, I happily accepted. I will be a panelist at the conference’s “ Rethinking Our Preservation Toolkit: Envisioning an Inclusive Future for Historic Preservation” discussion alongside Eddie Torrez, Jinny Turman, Brian Whetstone, and William Stoutamire. 

New York Statewide Preservation Conference

When: March 26-28

Where: Syracuse, New York 

Why: Syracuse is home to the Everson Museum, the first museum designed by I.M. Pei. The New York Preservation Conference has partnered with the Everson Museum to celebrate the state’s modern architecture. I will be facilitating the workshop- “Crafing a Future for Modernism.” Workshop participants will have the opportunity to sew their own Tiny I.M. Pei, while discussing strategies to preserve modern design. This event is free for Everson Museum members and NY Preservation Conference attendees. 

The MHPN conference in Holland (2019), was shortly after the community’s annual tulip festival!

Michigan Historic Preservation Network Conference

When: May 14-16

Where: Kalamazoo, Michigan 

Why: Ever since attending graduate school at Eastern Michigan University, I have made a concerted effort to go back to Michigan as frequently as possible for friends, work, and relaxation. It’s always a pleasure to attend MHPN’s annual conference and I am looking forward to being a part of the “Breaking Barriers on the Frontline: Annual Opening Plenary Session.”

Missouri Preservation Conference

When: June 3-5

Where: Jefferson City, Missouri 

Why: It is truly an honor to be invited to keynote a preservation conference. My Missouri keynote will focus on resiliency, learning how to fail, and pushing preservation forward. Statewide conferences offer intimate networking opportunities, a wealth of knowledge on the area’s history, and offer opportunities to visit unexpected places. I look forward to seeing what Jefferson City has to offer!

Is there anything better than getting a sweet treat from a small business housed in an old building with your conference buds?

FORUM, the National Alliance for Preservation Commissions’s biannual conference

When: July 22-26

Where: Tacoma, Washington 

Why: Conferences are an opportunity to expand a practitioners toolkit and to encourage them to try new strategies. Having attended previously (Des Moines - 2018), I know that this conference has a strong focus on practical strategies. I’m looking forward to being a part of FORUM by speaking on strategies to make a presentation inclusive at the NAPC’s “Train the Trainer” session for CAMP trainers and to be a part of the on-site assistance team.

ImpactInvest: The Real Estate Investing Conference

When: August 14-15

Where: Columbus, Ohio

Why: The Housing JV team is thoughtfully empowering others to be developers with their online courses and annual event ImpactInvest. I love being an advisor to this development company and am very excited to attend ImpactInvest for the first time! While I’ve worked with developers, I have been trepidatious to determine if I want to become one myself. I’m hoping this conference helps me determine if incremental development is the right investment strategy for me. 

Heritage Ohio Annual Preservation and Revitalization Conference

When: September 1-2

Where: Springfield, Ohio

Why: As a Heritage Ohio board member it is always a pleasure to attend an annual conference and meet the organization’s members, learn what is happening around the state, and explore a community alongside my peers. With a Frank Lloyd Wright home, a visionary art space, and a downtown renaissance happening, I think Springfield will have a wide variety of preservation inspiration. 

A teahouse at Vizcaya Museum and Gardens in Miami.

PastForward, the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s annual conference

When: October 28-30

Where: Miami, Florida

Why: When I was invited to join PastForward’s conference planning committee, I knew I’d want to go to Miami to see what the team creates in person (+ who doesn’t want to enjoy a few days in Miami).  

Want a few strategies to help you decide on what conferences are right for you? Click this link to learn a few ways to determine your continuing education goals.

Suffrage Banner Workshops

Adding decorative stitching to a beautiful design by Spoonflower maker Vincent Desjardins.

Sewing is a traditional women’s skill, which allowed women to make not only an income for themselves but to create a voice for themselves. Fabric banners were integral to the women’s rights movement in the 1800/1900s around the world. 

Learn about the iconography of the suffrage movement in America and create a banner as an homage to the women of the past and advocate for the women of today at a Suffrage Banner Workshop.

Suffrage Banner Workshop participants will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment (women’s right to vote) and learn about the history of women’s rights and activism. Not all women were granted the right to vote in 1920, women of color could not vote until the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Workshop participants will be able to use patterned fabric provided by Spoonflower to create bold banners inspired by the past.

Delving into the history of women’s rights from before the suffrage movement to today, workshop participants will learn about people, places, and the iconography tied to to the banners. All attendees will be guided through the creation of  small (14x20) banners that can pay homage to a woman of the past, reinterpret a historic banner, or advocate for women’s rights today. Workshop materials are partially sponsored by Spoonflower. 

The banner to the left is my spin on a suffrage banner that is a part of the Minnesota Historical Society's collection, which says “MOTHER IS THE BEST EVER BUT NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO VOTE.” This banner was used by the Saint Paul Political Equality Club and I was drawn to this very tongue in cheek way to argue for women’s right to vote.

Reach  out to me@sarahmarsom.com to schedule a workshop. 

Featured in 6sqft's 2019 Holiday Gift Guide

A big thanks to 6sft for including the Tiny Activist Project in their 2019 Holiday Gift Guide. Do you know someone who loves New York or lives in New York? If you answered “yes,” this gift guide is for you!

Click here to view the full list.

Featured In Archinect's 2019 Holiday Gift Guide

Are you looking for a holiday gift for an architecture enthusiast? Check out Archinect’s comprehensive gift guide. I appreciate them including the Tiny Activist Project! The list has me wondering if I’m too old for a dollhouse….

Gift Guide for Tiny Pei Fans of All Ages

Are you not sure what to get the modern design enthusiast in your life? Maybe an architect who has it all? Or are you wanting to foster an appreciation for design in your best friend’s kid? Whether you are shopping for a baby shower, the holidays, or a birthday gift, you’ll find something for the modernist in your life.

Shhh… don’t tell my friend, but I bought this for her as a baby shower gift!

Baby’s First Eames, All Ages

It is never too early to teach a child the alphabet or famous designers. This board book is an ideal introduction to architecture concepts. With its bright colors both adults and babies will be captivated.

Columbus, 13y/o+ (there is brief backside nudity)

Pop some popcorn! A movie night is a great gift and Columbus, the movie, is the best way to visit Columbus, Indiana, without actually having to be there! The movie thoughtfully weaves a fictional narrative throughout the town’s iconic modern architecture. Don’t just take my word, Columbus is Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. Columbus is currently available for streaming on Hulu and Kanopy if you prefer digital.

Iggy Peck Architect, 5 y/o+

I love every book that is a part of the The Questioneers series. Iggy Peck Architect is full of whimsy and encourages creating from anything/everything. The text not only inspires, it educates on different types of architecture - both vernacular and iconic. To further foster creativity, pair with Iggy Peck’s Big Project Book for Amazing Architects (best for ages 5-7).

Tiny I.M. Pei, All Ages (supervise with children under 5, it is a handmade doll after all)

Are you looking for a new urban exploring buddy? An office direction to bring a smile to your face? A fun character to help out during story time? Whether you want treat yo’ self to a Tiny I.M. Pei or give one as a gift, this doll will delight. + 15% of every doll contributes to the Tiny Activist Project scholarship program.

I.M. Pei: Mandarin of Modernism, 16 y/o+

Go beyond Pei’s architecture and learn about where he came from, what brought him to America, his studies, and so much more! By gaining a greater appreciation of an architect, you will gain a greater appreciation for their architecture. There is no better time than now, to learn more about I.M. Pei.

Which Conference is For You? v.2.0

With every conference I attend, I find myself better understanding my professional wants and needs. Last year I gave mini reviews of four national preservation conferences (click here to read), but this year I wanted to delve into some strategies to help you decide on what conferences could benefit your professional growth. 

Ask yourself “What are my goals?” 

• Are you a professional happy with your current job, but looking to further your knowledge on a specific topic?

• Have you recently finished a project you are proud of and that you think could benefit others (the process, the end result, etc.)?

• Are you an emerging professional looking to make that leap from student to a full-time employee?

• Maybe you are the only practitioner of your specialty at your work place and you are looking to network worth with others who share your interests?

• Do you run a business and you are interested in acquiring new clients?

Whatever your reason for attending a conference is, your goals likely boil down to one or more of these categories: education, procuring work, or networking. For each goal, I’m going to offer a few strategies for identifying what conference is right for you and providing preservation conference suggestions. 

I enjoyed a bike tour during FORUM in Des Moines (2018); I highly recommend signing up for tours and hands-on experiences during conferences. Experiential education can spark some of the best ideas.

Education

• While conference content changes annually, you can get the general gist of things by looking at past conference agendas. These can frequently be found online.

• Ask your peers! I highly recommend joining the Historic Preservation Professionals Facebook group and asking the network of almost 4,000 members if they have suggestions on where to further learn about x-topic and if there are any specific conference recommendations. Peer feedback is invaluable when selecting what conference to attend.

Recommendation: If you are looking to further your understanding about historic district commissions, architecture review guidelines, and preservation ordinances, I recommend attending the National Alliance for Preservation Commissions conference, FORUM, which is every other year. FORUM will be hosted in Tacoma July 22-26, 2020.

The Place Shapers Retreat in Detroit had hand painted motivational banners hanging in the session rooms, creating a warm environment.

Procuring Work

Whether you are looking for full time employment or are seeking clients for your business, conferences can be a great place for you to be.

• Select a conference based on where it is located. Ex: If you want to work in Michigan, go to the Michigan Historic Preservation Network’s annual conference.

• Select a conference based on its content. If you are looking for nonprofit advocacy work, consider going to the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s PastForward.

• Look for a job board or ways to identify yourself as someone hiring and/or seeking a job. IDEAL ’19 had a job board on site and attendees could add stickers to their name badges that indicated if their organization was hiring or if they were seeking a job.

• Stay on top of conference session submission deadlines. The best way to pitch your work is to show it off. Your presentation should show off your work, illuminate others on your expertise, and give away a few helpful tidbits that attendees use to benefit their work right now. Your session may help an organization hire you OR be a way to encourage people to reach out to you as a topic expert (not everyone who presents is looking for a new job, but being a topical expert is badass).  

Recommendation: It takes a bit of time to figure out the best way to pitch yourself. Be willing to try new conferences. In 2020, I will be attending the National Council for Public History conference for the first time. I’m attending NCPH based on my peers saying it has valuable educational content and because I want to see if their attendees (museum professionals, historic site managers, and other cultural institution employees) may be prospective clients or creative partners. This conference checks all three of my conference goals for 2020 - education, pitching, and networking. 

Networking

Tyrell Anderson of the Decay Devils and I got a chance to catch up at PastForward in Denver this year. We have built our friendship to extend beyond conferences and in 2020, we will be partnering on a Rust Belt Takeover in Gary, Indiana.

• Networking is not just about finding a job, it is about making friends! Smaller conferences are easier for cultivating meaningful relationships, because you are more likely to repeatedly see someone throughout the day, sit in the same sessions, and potentially eat a meal together.

• Pick out sessions, tours, or special events that directly align with your special interests. The people who are in those spaces have shared interests, so if for example you are in a session on radical women - chances are you have a great conversation starting off point! Ask why they selected x- session and find out if their attendance connect to a work project or something else.

Recommendation: Ticco’s Place Shapers retreats restrict attendance; I enjoyed attending the Place Shapers retreat in Detroit. With a capacity of 50-attendees the retreat presented a variety of intimate settings for conversations including a large group dinner at a retro style diner.

Once you hone in on your goals it is time to create a conference budget. Check out my blog Buying Down Conference Costs for a few tips on planning ahead and saving some cash.

The Boston Preservation Alliance Gift Guide

I am pleased as punch to have my Tiny Activist Projects dolls included in the Boston Preservation Alliance’s Gift Guide. “Is there a preservationist in your life? Or maybe you love architecture, history, and unique Boston stories as much as we do. If either of these is the case, then this is THE gift guide for you. (No worries, we won't judge if you buy a few of these items for yourself.)” Click this link to see what other gifts they think a preservationist would love this holiday season.