Call for Nominations
2020 Preservation Awards

Since 2003, the District of Columbia Awards for Excellence in Historic Preservation has honored more than 100 outstanding preservation projects and dozens of individuals and organizations for their exceptional contributions in support of historic preservation in Washington, DC.

Nominate a project or person who you believe exemplifies excellence in historic preservation!

Projects must have been completed after January 1, 2016.

The ONLINE APPLICATION  is due by 5:00 pm on November 22, 2019.

The next awards program will take place in May 2020 at DAR Constitution Hall.

Past Awards Programs

African American Civil Rights in the 20th Century in Washington, DC

The DC Preservation League (DCPL) is pleased to announce that we have been awarded a grant from the National Park Service’s (NPS) African American Civil Rights Grants Program* and a grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Dorthea DeSchweinitz Preservation Fund for DC.**  The grants will underwrite the production of a National Register Multiple Property Document (MPD)—an official document that provides context for and identifies resources related to a specific theme—focused on the African American Civil Rights Movement of the 20th Century in Washington, DC. This project will catalyze local nominations to both the DC Inventory of Historic Sites and the National Register of Historic Places.

To assist in the completion of this document, DCPL has contracted with Prologue DC—a Washington-based, woman-owned firm specializing in DC neighborhood history, which will work in consultation with preservation architect Nakita Reed, AIA; scholar Chris Myers Asch of Colby College and co-author of Chocolate City: A History of Race and Democracy in the Nation’s Capital (2017); and architectural historian Amber Wiley, Ph.D, of Rutgers University—to document historic resources, identify themes, and develop a historic context narrative outlining criteria for their inclusion.  As specified by NPS, Prologue will use the 2008 NPS report Civil Rights in America, A Framework for Identifying Significant Sites as a reference for identifying properties to be included.

Image result for 12th street ymcaA first draft of the site list will be completed and shared with the public this fall and an open-invitation community meeting will follow on Tuesday, November 5th at 6:30 pm at the Thurgood Marshall Center, 1816 12th Street, NW. Please save the date! Click here to view the working list of sites that will be discussed at the November 5th presentation.

Once the MPD is finalized, DCPL will submit it to the DC Historic Preservation Office for adoption by the DC Historic Preservation Review Board. It will then be forwarded to the National Register of Historic Places.

To receive email updates on the project and a special invitation to the Community Forum, please register here.

*Partially funded by the African American Civil Rights program of  the Historic Preservation Fund administered by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.

**This project has been funded in part by a grant from the Dorothea DeSchweinitz Fund for DC of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Photos:
1963 March on Washington, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Collection
12th Street YMCA, 1816 12th Street, NW, Thurgood Marshall Center

Donald Beekman Myer (1937-2019)

DCPL Trustee Donald Beekman Myer, FAIA passed away unexpectedly on August 8th. Don called the City of Washington home since 1963 when there was ample opportunity to combine his architectural training with an emerging historic preservation movement. Early restoration work for the National Park Service was combined with HABS study of Washington’s architecture. Later, serving as Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, Don incorporated historic preservation experience with design review, including serving with the original Joint Committee on Landmarks and administering the Old Georgetown Board. He served on the faculties of the Smithsonian Associates and Catholic University teaching Washington architectural history and urban conservation. He also served as the Clerk of the Works for the Washington National Cathedral. Volunteer activities have included leadership roles with the American Institute of Architects and the Adams Memorial Foundation.

Don’s trusteeship with the DC Preservation League focused on its Project Review Committee, Don served on the committee from 2008-2019, serving as the from 2010 -2014. His leadership and participation have fundamentally shaped the character of Washington, DC through review of major development projects affecting historic landmarks and within historic districts.

Don was also a recognized Botanical Artist. His work is in several collections, been shown in a number of galleries and exhibited at the Corcoran Gallery and the Delaware Art Museum.

DCPL’s Trustees and Staff will very much miss his wisdom and guidance.

The Washington Post Obituary – August 14, 2019
Learn more about Don’s time with the Commission of Fine Arts

What Don’s colleagues had to say about him: 

“He was a unique and wonderful man and I am very glad I was able to get to know him and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of his company.  He will be sorely missed.”  – Rob McLennan, Chair, DCPL Project Review Committee

“Don was such a generous, kind man, and I so admired his ability to acknowledge the good work of our presenters, while also letting them know we had concerns about their work…he was a master at that. We both attended the University of Illinois, and I always enjoyed sharing that with him.” – Elizabeth Milnarik, Project Review Committee Member

“I am so grateful I was able to serve with Don and will miss his graciousness, enthusiasm, and depth of knowledge. He was truly a wonderful man.” – Dana Litowitz, Project Review Committee Member

“I’ve known Don for many years and always treasured his friendship. He was a consummate professional – thoughtful, constructive, and fair, and a talented watercolorist, as well as a wonderful, warm person with a mischievous sense of humor and a twinkle in his eye. He will be greatly missed…” – Darwina Neal, FASLA, Project Review Committee Member

“I knew Don for many years and had the greatest respect for him. I always learned so much from him. He was a big reason why I joined the DCPL board. Such a pleasure to always see him. He will be missed. ” – Amy Ballard, DCPL Board of Trustees

“Big loss for us and our community.  His contribution and style will surely be missed by all.” – Gerard Heiber, DCPL Board of Trustees