Monuments of Diverse Heritage in Early America: Placemaking and Preservation by Black, Indigenous, and Jewish Peoples explores a more inclusive history of preserving public historic sites. At a time when some Americans have embraced white nationalism in response to unfolding demographic changes and others celebrate individual identities over all else, an inclusive, tolerant, and unifying historical vision is sorely needed. While past preservation efforts sometimes resulted in exclusionary forms of historical inspiration, that need not be the case in the future. Bringing greater attention to the diverse heritage of the United States will not only help dismantle the lingering remnants of exclusionary and elitist narratives but also celebrate a pluralistic and diverse past and present. An inclusive, empowering history can provide social cohesion while allowing room for individual groups to have authority over their pasts and representation in public, side-by-side with one another.
Introduction, Part 1: Black Diaspora,
Chapter 1: Blacks Shaping the
Built Environment in the Age of Revolution, 1775-1830,
Chapter 2: The Early
Preservation of Places by Black People, 1830-1950,
Chapter 3: The Struggle
for Civil Rights and Historic Preservation for Black People, After 1950, Part
2: Indigenous Peoples,
Chapter 4: Indigenous Peoples Shaping Built Landscapes
After American Independence, 1775-1830,
Chapter 5: Indigenous Peoples
Confronting Wetikoism in Historic Preservation, 1830-1950,
Chapter 6: Native
American-based Historic Preservation, After 1950, Part 3: Jews Near and Far,
Chapter 7: Transformations of Jewish Places due to the American Revolution,
1775-1830,
Chapter 8: Jews Demonstrating American Filiality Through
Preserving the Memory of Place, 1830-1950,
Chapter 9: Jewish Participation in
Populist Historic Preservation, After 1950 Intra-sections and Intersections
on Living with History
Barry L. Stiefel, Ph.D. is Professor of Historic Preservation & Community Planning in the Department of Art & Architectural History at the College of Charleston. He has completed numerous publications that address sustainability, cultural-ethnic architectural history, historic transportation mobility, human-centered preservation, community-building through historic places, and preservation education.
