|
|
Past ARLIS/NE Programs - Notes:
SPNEA Meeting
Friday, November 22, 1996
Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities
ARLIS/NE's final program for 1996 was held at the Harrison Gray Otis House, headquarters of the Society
for the Preservation of New England Antiquities, and provided an excellent opportunity to explore several
architectural collections and preservation organizations in New England.
After the morning's welcoming coffee, the business meeting and orientation for the day commenced.
Highlights from the recent ARLIS/NA Executive Board meeting in California were shared with the group
by Betsy Peck Learned, NE Regional Representative. Sarah Dickinson announced the results from the
recent annual election: Jennifer Hegarty, Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect, and Stephen Nonack,
Secretary/Membership Officer. Caron Carnahan gave a brief Treasurer's report. Members were reminded by
Ann Whiteside that it is time for membership renewals and Linda Zieper, editor for the newsletter, Focus,
encouraged submission of articles for the upcoming issue by the December 5 deadline. Hugh Wilburn reviewed
the generous scope of the Wolfgang Freitag Professional Development Award and encouraged members to apply.
Jane Nylander, President of SPNEA, greeted the assembly and presented a brief history and overview of
the founding and pioneering work of SPNEA offering a sampling of some of the many outstanding New England
house museums and significant preservation efforts. The morning was rounded out with an engaging tour of
the house given by SPNEA guides and Curator Lorna Condon's enlightening introduction to the Library
and Archives.
Participants then disbanded to lunch in nearby downtown and Charles Street restaurants and re-convened
for the afternoon session, a joint program with MassCOPAR, Massachusetts Committee for the Preservation
of Architectural Records.
Earle G. Shettleworth, Jr, Director of the Maine Historic Preservation Commission, presented a slide
show on "Collecting, Researching, and Interpreting Maine's Architectural History", focusing on the
collection documenting the career of Portland area architect, John Calvin Stevens. Kathryn Hammond
Baker, Asst. Archivist, Massachusetts State Archives gave an overview of the "Architectural Plans at
the State Archives." Janice Chadbourne, Curator of Fine Arts at the Boston Public Library offered
"Boston Public Library Architectural Collections: an Introduction and Status Report." Nancy Schrock
and Anne Hartmere, both of MassCOPAR, provided an inside look at this preservation organization.
Nancy spoke of "The Formative Years" while Anne spoke of the "Current and Future Plans." Several of
the speakers brought publications and hand-outs to supplement their presentations.
A lovely reception brought this informative and well-attended day-long program to a close.
Katherine Poole, 12/2/96
|
