Valuing the Preservationist
Volunteers participating in a heart bombing to raise awareness for historic buildings
The foundations of historic preservation are rooted in volunteerism and community activism. The formal profession evolved centuries after the first attempt to save a home, that to the women with extra time to spare felt was a key symbol of our young nation. After those beginnings we moved into a period of organized activism on the part of high society members who had the time and money to pick and choose what was important to save in each community. These small circles of the most elite resulted in great protections for worthy buildings, but it also resulted in a small segment of the population having access to the field even to the present day. Over time the small elite grew to include working class individuals with a passion for saving history and more formalized jobs sprang up to support continued efforts. Landmark legislation like the Historic Preservation Act of 1966 codified preservation and created massive amounts of jobs to support the program which created state historic preservation offices, allowed localities to become certified local governments, and set up the National Register among other activities. This meant communities needed historic preservation planners, historians, and architects to designate and protect, survey, and support historic preservation commissions that sprang up across the U.S.
Despite this massive growth in preservation as a formal profession, it is still somehow a niche field. Preservation is still regulated to the lowest level of priorities for communities, often overridden for the new apartment building that will give added density over the affordable and appropriately scaled townhomes or four-unit buildings that stand in the way. This low priority status for the field is reflected in the workforce as well. Salaries for preservation planners, state historic preservation office staff (tax credit, National Register, or CLG coordinators for example), and similar government positions are low compared to other similar roles. The lack of funding dedicated to this position means many roles sit vacant for months if not disappearing altogether. Rather than hire a separate preservation planner, many local governments often add one line to the job description of their development review planners who lack the knowledge or capacity to do little more than manage applications for certificates going to monthly historic preservation commission meetings.
In some communities there is more activism around preservation which is reflected in better paying salaries, separate positions devoted specifically to historic preservation, and government leaders who respect the recommendations from their historic preservation commissions on development proposals. Many communities are not so fortunate and suffer from the elitist beginnings of the field which many residents still believe is the case today. For many it rings true as their ancestors were intentionally left out and their history not represented. For others they fail to see the value in keeping our old buildings standing despite the evidence that clearly indicates preservation goes hand in hand with affordable housing, climate adaptation, and economic development.
We have relied for decades on the commitment and passion for preservation that emerging and experienced preservationists have, assuming a low paying job will suffice in exchange for the opportunity to follow that passion. The current and future generations are not accepting this however, having left college with high rates of debt to get the degree needed to enter the professional preservation field. That degree seems to be little more than a ticket to entry though and does not lead to a higher starting salary. We need to attract young, talented individuals who are passionate about historic preservation and cannot afford to compromise with the low paying salaries offered today. We are never going to diversify the field, a major push from organizations like the National Trust, or be able to tell diverse stories with the current approach to valuing the preservationist.
