National Council on Public History (NCPH; @publichistorian) Instagram Takeover, Day 3 of 5. Beyond Integrity in (X), Part II.
While we wait for our connecting train, shall I continue with the narrative about Beyond Integrity in (X)? Yes? OK!
To recap: A lack of architectural integrity, as reported to the Commissioners in the redacted facts of context statements, written by the architect or historic preservation consultant, led to the rulings to not nominate for landmark status.
Since its founding in 2015, in part because of research and auditing by Beyond Integrity in King County’s (@kc4culture) interns of past landmark nomination forms that exposed bias and omissions of significant cultural heritage in the context statements in the nomination forms, the Seattle Landmarks Commission has made strides to reconcile for past errors in judgment on landmark designation. And, the Commissioners have received nomination forms that tell fuller stories about the cultural significance as well like the nomination form for the Cayton-Revels House.
In this period of my career in 2015 and beyond, I observed first hand how we, architects, historians, and historic preservationists can craft a narrative in support of or against the landmark nomination of a building or site with the data we observe about it.
This decision, perhaps one of ethics, affects us all. It has the potential to affect our mental health through the loss of places that matter to us. It is, as Mindy T. Fullilove, MD stated, “root shock” or traumatic to lose sites and places. Thus, it is important to care for ourselves as we care for our careers. How do you care for your mental health?
In 2021, I established a national presence for Beyond Integrity adding an “(X)” where “X” equals any town, county, city, state, or the United States. The premiere event was a national, virtual conference where people across the country shared how they are working on a state and local level to look beyond architectural integrity in the historic landmarking process.
And, I developed an online database called “unLandmarkables”. Visit @beyond.integrity for the link to www.beyondintegrityinx.com to add to the “unLandmarkables” database.
- k. kennedy Whiters, AIA (@wrkSHapkilowatt . @beyond.integrity . @blackinhistpres . @unredacthefacts)
Credits:
1 - Beyond Integrity in (X) Conference Posters, 2021. Photo credit: @beyond.integrity
2 - Website recording, 2021. Photo credit: @beyond.integrity
3 - Other photos and subway recording. Photo credit: @iamkennedyw