Heritage Newsletter
February 2015
Monthly news update from the Office of History and Archaeology
State of Alaska, Department of Natural Resources
IN THIS ISSUE
Federal legislation and funding for historic preservation programs
Grants available for 150th anniversary of Alaska Purchase projects
Alaska Historical Commission notes
Office of History and Archaeology workshop scheduled for April 21
Anchorage's Government Hill Federal Housing Historic District added to National Register
Alaska Association for Historic Preservation identifying endangered properties
Council on Geographic Names (COGNA) to meet in Anchorage
The National Historic Preservation Act moved in U.S. Code
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation webinars
AASLH seeks Leadership in History Award nominations
Historic Preservation Education Foundation seeks preservation technology training proposals
Public project alerts
Heritage subscription information
Preservation calendar
Federal legislation and funding for historic preservation programs
The “CRomnibus” budget bill for FY 15 (October 1, 2014-September 30, 2015) passed by Congress and signed by the President in mid-December appropriated funding the same as FY 14 for Historic Preservation Fund programs. State programs received $46.9 million, tribal programs received $9.0 million, and a fund for projects that address underserved communities received $500,000, for a total of $56.4 million. The appropriation for Heritage Areas, funded under the Recreation and Preservation Account, is $20.0 million, a slight increase because of additional Heritage Areas authorized the past few years.
Grants available for 150th anniversary of Alaska Purchase projects
The Alaska Historical Commission has $125,000 available for matching grants to plan for the 150th anniversary of the Alaska Purchase in 2017. The grants are for projects that will contribute to understanding the history and significance of the event and the times—the Russian era before and the first years of U.S. administration of the newly acquired territory. Projects are encouraged for historic research and publications, restoration of significant historic properties, and heritage tourism development and information services. A grant request may not exceed $15,000 and must be matched. Projects are to be done between April 1, 2015 and September 30, 2016. Applications must be postmarked, e-mailed, or delivered by 4:30 p.m., Monday, February 23, 2015. Additional information and the application are available at dnr.alaska.gov/parks/oha/index.htm, or by contacting Jo Antonson, 907.269.8714 / jo.antonson@alaska.gov or Jean Ayers, 907.269.8694 / jean.ayers@alaska.gov.
Alaska Historical Commission notes
There is a seat open on the Alaska Historical Commission, the nine-member board that serves as the state review board for Historic Preservation Fund programs, for geographic name proposals, and advises the Governor and Legislature on matters of concern regarding Alaska archaeology, history, and historic preservation. The seat is for the historian, and the individual appointed must have a degree in history or closely related field, several years experience working as a historian, and a familiarity with Alaska history. The appointment will be through June 30, 2015, to complete the term of Patricia Roppel who died in January. If you are interested in applying, send a letter and brief resume to Governor Bill Walker, Attention: Boards and Commissions, 550 West 7th Ave., Suite 1700, Anchorage Alaska 99501, fax 907.269.7461, email boards@alaska.gov. More information is at http://gov.alaska.gov/Walker/services/boards-commissions.html.
Southeast Alaska historian Patricia Roppel, living in Wrangell at the time of her death on January 6, was first appointed to the Alaska Historical Commission in 1975 and she served until 1983. She was appointed again in 2003 and was member when she died. From 2006-08 Roppel was Vice-Chair of the commission and ably conducted meetings.
Anchorage architect Edwin Crittenden, who served for many years on the Historic Sites Advisory Committee, a board that became part of the Alaska Historical Commission in 1993, also died in January. The family suggested donations in his memory be made to the Oscar Anderson House, an Anchorage historic house museum. For information on how to donate, please contact the Alaska Association for Historic Preservation, Allegra Hamer, 907.929.9870 / akpreservation@gmail.com.
Office of History and Archaeology workshop scheduled for April 21
This is early notice of the date for the annual Alaska Office of History and Archaeology workshop for agency cultural resources staff and consultants. It will be a one day workshop this year, Tuesday, April 21, 2015 at the BP Energy Center in Anchorage. If there are topics you would like to be addressed please let coordinator Shina duVall know. Her contact information is 907.269.8720 / shina.duvall@alaska.gov. To register for the workshop contact Sylvia Elliott, 907.269.8724 / sylvia.elliott2@alaska.gov.
Anchorage’s Government Hill Federal Housing Historic District added to National Register
On January 14, 2015, the Government Hill Federal Housing Historic District, north of downtown Anchorage and the Alaska Railroad yards, was listed in the National Register of Historic Places. It is a distinct group of houses and duplexes built by the federal government between 1915 and 1950 to meet the needs for housing employees, first in the new town and again when the military established a major base in Anchorage during World War II. The Alaska Engineering Commission, constructing the railroad, erected twelve cottages on the bluff in 1915. In 1940, after the military chose Anchorage for an airfield, army base, and construction headquarters for the territory, the railroad allowed the Army to build two houses at the western end of the bluff for Army Corps of Engineers senior personnel. The railroad built ten duplexes, followed by four pre-fabricated houses and several one-story buildings in 1944 for its increased number of employees. In 1949 the railroad leased land to the Alaska Road Commission to build several duplexes. The neighborhood stood geographically apart from other residential neighborhoods in Anchorage, remaining isolated until the early 1950s. Today it has a unique cohesion and the buildings tell of the initial, continuing and ongoing presence of the federal government in the Municipality of Anchorage.
Alaska Association for Historic Preservation identifying endangered properties
Nominations for the Alaska Association for Historic Preservation’s 2015 Ten Most Endangered Historic Properties in Alaska are being accepted until March 31, 2015. The group has been issuing its annual list since 1991. The list is announced in May during National Historic Preservation Week. It calls attention to significant historic properties in Alaska and advocates for their rehabilitation. The nomination form is at http://aahp-online.net/10-most-endangered.html. More information is available from Allegra Hamer, 907.929.9870 / akpreservation@gmail.com.
Council on Geographic Names (COGNA) to meet in Anchorage
The Council on Geographic Names will meet in Anchorage April 29-May 2, 2015. Sessions will explore toponymic topics and federal and state naming principles, policies, and procedures. The tentative schedule includes a workshop on Alaska Native names, presentations by members of the Yukon Geographic Names Board, and papers on a range of topics related to naming geographic features. The U.S. Board on Geographic Names is expected to hold a meeting, as well as the Alaska Historical Commission. The call for papers, tentative program, registration form, and accommodations information are on the website at http://www.cogna50usa.org. .
The National Historic Preservation Act moved in U.S. Code
The National Historic Preservation Act has been moved in the U.S. Code, the official compilation of federal statutes. It is now in title 54, starting at section 300101 (formerly in title 16). The recodification is part of a large effort to better organize the National Park Service statutes. Obsolete provisions have been removed, some sections have been moved, and technical errors corrected, but none of the changes is substantive. Questions about changes should be sent to Javier Marques, Associate General Counsel, jmarques@achp.gov.
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation webinars
The Advisory Council is offering a series of webinars to help agencies meet their historic preservation responsibilities. Course offerings include managing confidential information, archaeological sites, property disposal and program alternatives. A complete list of course dates, program descriptions, and registration instructions is available at www.achp.gov/sec106webinar.html.
AASLH seeks Leadership in History Award nominations
The American Association for State and Local History annually recognizes individuals, groups, and projects for excellent or innovative work with their Leadership in History Awards. Awards are made in the areas of collection, preservation, and interpretation of state and local history to make the past more meaningful to Americans. Additional information is at www.AASLH.org or one can contact Bethany Hawkins, 615.320.3203 / Hawkins@aaslh.org.
The association announced that John Dichtl has been selected to be president and chief executive officer of the organization. For the past nine years Dichtl has been executive director of the National Council on Public History and taught history at Indiana University. Bob Beattty, who has been on the AASLH staff since 2007, will be the Chief Operating Officer. AASLH, with a membership of over 6,000, is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.
Historic Preservation Education Foundation seeks preservation technology training proposals
The Partners in Training initiative of the Historic Preservation Education Foundation is accepting proposals to help provide training on technical topics associated with preservation technology. Education institutions and nonprofit organizations can apply for grants ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 to help with administrative tasks including event planning, registration, and online publication of materials. The deadline to apply is April 1, 2015. Additional information is at www.hpef.us or e-mail submissions@hpef.us.
Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities / West Susitna Surface Access Reconnaissance Study
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission / Alaska Energy Authority, Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project
U.S. Forest Service / Chugach National Forest Plan
Comments: chugachplanrevision@fs.fed.us
U.S. Forest Service / Tongass National Forest Sustainable Cabin Management Project
Contact: Victoria Houser, 907.826.1614 / vhouser@fs.fed.us
Heritage Subscription Information
Heritage is produced by the Office of History and Archaeology, Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation, Alaska Department of Natural Resources. Please send your comments, suggestions, and information via e-mail to jo.antonson@alaska.gov, mail to 550 West 7th Ave., Suite 1310, Anchorage, Alaska 99501-3565, or telephone 907.276.8721.
All issues are posted to our web site at dnr.alaska.gov/parks/oha and distributed to subscribers by e-mail. A paper copy can be sent to individuals and organizations that specifically request it.
To be added to the subscription list, please send an e-mail to oha@alaska.net with “Heritage, subscribe” in the subject line.
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FEBRUARY
• February 12 - Society for American Archaeology: Introduction to Archaeological Digital Data Management online seminar (Maureen Malloy, 202.789.8200 ext. 106 / onlineseminars@saa.org)
• February 19 - Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, Preservation Compliance and Property Disposal webinar (webinar@achp.gov)
• February 23 - Alaska Historical Commission, 150th anniversary of Alaska Purchase grant application deadline (Jo Antonson, 907.269.8714 / jo.antonson@alaska.gov)
MARCH
• March 1 - American Association for State and Local History: Leadership in History Awards nomination deadline (Bethany Hawkins, 615.330.3203 / Hawkins@aaslh.org)
• March 2-4 - National Historic Preservation Advocacy Week, Washington, DC (http://www.preservationaction.org/)
• March 2-4 - National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers advocacy day and annual meeting, Washington, DC (Elizabeth Hebron, 202.624.5465 / hebron@ncshpo.org)
• March 3 - Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, Preservation Compliance and Property Disposal webinar (webinar@achp.gov)
• March 4-7 - Alaska Anthropological Association annual meeting, Anchorage (aaaconference@uaa.alaska.edu)
• March 6 -Office of History and Archaeology, Certified Local Governments FY 15 second round grant deadline (Jean Ayers, 907.269.8694 / jean.ayers@alaska.gov)
• March 18-21 - Alliance for Historic Landscape Preservation annual meeting 2015: Continuity and Vitality, Savannah, GA (www.ahlp.org)
• March 19 - Alaska Historical Commission meeting, Anchorage (Jo Antonson, 907.269.8714 / jo.antonson@alaska.gov)
• March 24-28 - Society for Applied Anthropology: Continuity and Change, Pittsburgh, PA (www.sfaa.net/annualmeeting)
• March 25-29 - American Association of Physical Anthropologists, St. Louis, MO (www.physanth.org)
• March 30-April 2 - National Trust for Historic Preservation: National Main Streets Conference, TEAM Main Street, Atlanta, GA (312.939.5547 / mainstreet@savingplaces.org)
• March 31 - Alaska Association for Historic Preservation, Ten Most Endangered Historic Properties in Alaska nominations due (Allegra Hamer, 907.929.9870 / akpreservation@gmail.com)
APRIL
• April 1 - Historic Preservation Education Foundation: Partners in Training grant deadline (www.hpef.us / submissions@hpef.us)
• April 13-16 - Mid-Century Modern Structures' Materials and Preservation 2015 Symposium, St. Louis, MO (Mary F. Striegel, 318.356.7444 ex 224 / mary_striegel@nps.gov )
• April 15-19 - Society of American Archaeology, San Francisco, CA (www.saa.org)
• April 21 - Alaska Office of History and Archaeology workshop for agency cultural resources staff and consultants, Anchorage (Shina duVall, 907.269.8720 / shina.duvall@alaska.gov)
• April 23-25 - National Council for Preservation Education: Learning from the Reservation; Using the Traditional Cultural Place Perspective for Better Decision Making in a Diverse Cultural Landscape conference, Dover, DE (Robin Krawitz, 302.857.7139 / rkrawitz@desu.edu)
• April 23-25 - Alaska Trails Statewide Trails 2015 Conference, Wasilla (Steve Cleary, 907.334.8049 / steve.cleary@alaska-trails.org)
• April 28-May 2 - Council of Geographic Names Authorities annual meeting, Anchorage (Wayne Furr, twfurr@cogna50usa.org)
• April 28-29 - National Preservation Institute: Landscape Preservation: An Introduction, Sitka (Jere Gibber, 703.765.0100 / info@npi.org)
• April 30 - National Preservation Institute: Landscape Preservation: Advanced Tools for Managing Change, Sitka (Jere Gibber, 703.765.0100 / info@npi.org)
MAY
• May 1 -Alaska Historical Society: Trade Routes and Crossroads in the North Pacific paper and panel proposals due (Chris Allan, sprucetip105@gmail.com)
• May 12-13 - National Preservation Institute: The Recent Past: Identification and Evaluation of Mid-20th Century Resources, Anchorage (Jere Gibber, 703.765.0100 / info@npi.org)
• May 14 - National Preservation Institute: Preservation Planning and Policy Development for Historic Roads, Anchorage (Jere Gibber, 703.765.0100 / info@npi.org)
• May 25-29 - National Park Service, Current Archeological Prospection Advances for Non-Destructive Investigations in the 21s Century, Lyons/Rice County, KS (Steven L. DeVore, 402.437.5392 / http://www.nps.gov/mwac)
JUNE
• June 18-20 - Cook Inlet Historical Society: Imagining Anchorage—Symposium of the Centennial of Anchorage (www.cookinlethistory.org)
SEPTEMBER
• September 10-12 - Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, & Museums, 2015 International Conference of Indigenous Archives, Libraries, and Museums, Washington, DC (ATALM, www.atalm.org)
• September 16-20 - American Association for State and Local History, annual meeting: The Power of Possibility, Louisville, KY (Bob Beatty, 635.320.3203 / beatty@aaslh.org)
• September 30 - October 3 - Alaska Historical Society / Museums Alaska annual meetings, Cordova (www.alaskahistoricalsociety.org)
NOVEMBER
• November 2-5 - Urban Archaeology of Vienna: 20th International Conference on Cultural Heritage and New Technologies, Vienna, Austria (Wolfgang Borner, 43.01.4000.81176 / wolfgang.boerner@stadarchaeologie.at )
• November 3-6 - National Trust for Historic Preservation: PastForward 2015, Washington, DC (NTHP, 202-588.6100 / conference@savingplaces.org)
2016
MARCH
• March 16 - National Council on Public History annual meeting: On the Edge of 2016: Commemorating the Past and Shaping the Future of Federal Preservation Activities, Baltimore, MD (Barbara Little, barbara_little@nps.gov or http://ncph.org/cms/conferences/working-groups/)
JUNE
• June - National Alliance of Preservation Commissions Forum, Mobile, AL (NAPC, 706.369.5881 / napc@uga.edu)
