Dear Latrobe Chapter Members,
Happy New Year! It is a pleasure to introduce myself to you as the incoming president of the chapter. Many of you know me by my curious obsession with concrete - the topic of my PhD dissertation at the George Washington University. Others might recognize my strange Lithuanian name, which is no doubt challenging to pronounce (fyi, it’s vee-ta bass-uh-leece). I joined the SAH Latrobe Board of Directors in 2019, chairing the planning committee for the 2020 symposium on race, ethnicity, and architecture in the nation’s capital. Starting in 2020, I will also serve on the national boards of the Society of Architectural Historians and the Vernacular Architecture Forum. I am confident that my exposure to conversations about architectural history as a field on the national and international scales will help me lead our local chapter in new and exciting directions.
Before highlighting plans for the new year, I would like to take the time to recognize our outgoing president, Lauren Oswalt McHale, who has led the organization with great creativity, enthusiasm, and grace. She has been principal for organizing and coordinating the many wonderful events we experienced this year, ranging from lectures on TIKI architecture and warehouses to a tour of Mount Vernon. I can only hope to match her (very tall) stature. Likewise, it is critical to highlight the continuous commitment of many of our board members who have taken time out of their busy schedules to keep the fire burning. And last but not least, thanks to our members who have been enthusiastically attending our events. We are excited and grateful to receive your continued support.
Get ready, because 2020 will be a year replete with exciting activities! Just to note a few upcoming lectures and events:
January 28th, Charles Duff, “Washington and Her Sisters: The World’s Great Row House Cities”
February 25th, Prof. Sun-Young Park of George Mason University will deliver the lecture “Architecture of the Senses: Disability and Education in Nineteenth-Century Paris”
Three updates are especially notable: for 2020, we have revamped our conference travel fellowship to be more inclusive and focused on the theme of politics and architecture; in April, we will be running our biennial symposium “Race, Ethnicity, and Architecture in the Nation’s Capital,” which will include engaging lectures and tours - make sure to register here; last but not least, we are moving to donate our archival materials to the DC Historical Society, which maintains a special collection on the chapter’s activities.
As you can see, we have continued to make Washington, DC a central hub for activities related to architectural history. Show your support by becoming a member today or renewing your membership! And you can accomplish this more effortlessly than ever with our new online renewal system. Hope to see you at our next event and happy New Year!
Vyta Baselice