Historic Preservation and Conservation Commons^™

Arts-Based Sustainability: From New York To Malawi, Martha B. Lerski

Publications and Research

Recognizing that libraries serve multiple constituencies and subject areas, this chapter documents and advocates for development of transdisciplinary arts-based research (ABR) and culture-related projects linked to environmental challenges. Libraries contribute collections and spaces, as well as the research of library and information scientists. Libraries are currently among invisible contributors to sustainability planning and services. The chapter will link this invisibility to the value of what visual arts refer to as negative space elements in subjects ranging from traditional ecological knowledge to environmental science. Library collections, projects, and research contribute to education for sustainable development (ESD) as required to achieve the …

Ethnomathematics Projects For Projective Geometry In Distance Learning, Wen-Haw Chen, Ja'faruddin Arsyad Ide

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

This article reports on an ethnomathematics project we developed and implemented in an online learning environment to connect with students’ cultural backgrounds and to highlight the links between their environment, culture, and mathematics. The project is based on Simple House Theory, a framework that involves the application of projective geometry in the design of traditional houses and building numbers. Our results show that this approach fostered active participation and engagement despite the standard constraints and challenges of distance learning.

Navigating Preservation And Memorialization In Contested Spaces: A Case Study Of The Richmond Community Hospital And The Legacy Of Sarah Garland Boyd Jones, Rebecca M. Skatoff

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

This plan develops a strategic framework to address the complexity of navigating preservation and memorialization in contested spaces, using the Richmond Community Hospital as a case study. Rooted in the legacy of Sarah Garland Boyd Jones, the first African American woman certified to practice medicine in Virginia, this plan examines the intersection of racial equity, cultural heritage, and land-use planning. The Richmond Community Hospital case study raises broader questions about how African American cultural heritage sites are preserved to confront erasure, ensure an accurate historical record, and promote historical literacy for current and future generations. Conducted with reflective practice, this …

African Women Custodians: Teaching, Toponymy And Tacit Reverie In Heritage Education, Tokie Laotan-Brown

Wagadu: A Journal of Transnational Women's & Gender Studies

This paper investigates the critical role of women in African cultures as guardians of cultural heritage. It explores their central function in transmitting traditional ecological knowledge and practices across generations through established pedagogical methods, toponymic knowledge systems (place-names within cultural landscapes), and the cultivation of tacit knowledge. The paper emphasizes the significance of women's contributions to environmental education, often overlooked or undervalued within Western scientific paradigms. This marginalization restricts access to resources and participation in decision-making processes. It argues for the integration of traditional knowledge systems, informed by women's expertise, into formal education and pedagogy. This inclusion serves to validate …

Unheard Voices: The Dynamics Of Local Non-Participation In Homestay Tourism In Jammu And Kashmir, Dr Danish Iqbal Raina, Sajad Ahmad Bhat, Ajaz Ahmad Dar, Dr Basith Nabi Wani

Journal of Tourism Insights

Background: Homestay tourism offers a unique opportunity for tourists to experience local cultures and for communities to gain economic benefits. However, in Jammu and Kashmir, local community participation in homestay tourism remains low. Understanding the factors contributing to this non-participation is crucial for promoting sustainable tourism and ensuring that local communities can benefit from this industry.

Objective: This study aims to explore the reasons behind local community non-participation in homestay tourism in Jammu and Kashmir, identify the barriers and challenges faced by these communities, and suggest strategies for enhancing local participation in homestay tourism.

Methodology: A qualitative research design was …

Ai Integration In Cultural Heritage Conservation – Ethical Considerations And The Human Imperative, Kholoud Ghaith

International Journal of Emerging and Disruptive Innovation in Education : VISIONARIUM

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into the conservation of cultural heritage marks a significant transformation in preservation methodologies, heralding both innovative solutions and complex ethical dilemmas. This article undertakes a comprehensive examination of the multifaceted role AI plays in the conservation and restoration of cultural artifacts, buildings, and sites, underscoring the irreplaceable value of human skills and ethical judgment in this domain. Through an analysis of current research, case studies, and insights from professionals in the field, the paper elucidates how AI technologies—encompassing machine learning algorithms, digital twinning, and predictive maintenance—can enhance the accuracy and efficiency of conservation efforts. …

A Peer Review Benchmark Portfolio For Architectural Design Studio: Situate, Matthew Miller

UNL Faculty Course Portfolios

This portfolio examines a third-year architectural design studio that emphasizes the development of designs that consider site and context. As part of a four-year sequence to gaining a Bachelor of Science in Design, this studio takes on a critical discourse of the impact designs may have on the environments they inhabit, the community of people that they interact with, and the cultures and practices followed within a region. This research examined how different modes of teaching could help with building narratives and identifying the measurable impact a design would have on its environment, community, and culture through repetition of verbal …

From Pasture To Pavement: Urban Expansion And Its Environmental Consequences In Perth, Anastasia Charelishvili

Student Theses 2015-Present

This thesis addresses the pressing issue of ecological problems of urban sprawl and its intricate impacts on urban health, with a particular focus on vulnerable communities in Perth, Australia. Chapter 1 presents the city's historical background and emphasizes the depletion of ecosystem services, underscoring the need for environmental justice. It also introduces the causes and effects of the sprawl in Perth and draws upon a diverse range of environmental problems created by suburbia, such as air pollution, biodiversity loss, water pollution, and runoff. As these threats translate into urban health declines, such as respiratory problems and increased healthcare issues, Chapter …

Aguaaaa!!!, Cory Villegas

Theses and Dissertations

“AGUA” is a call for new models of learning and sharing, celebrating the diasporic as a place of global revolution. Salsa, rooted in Latin American and Afro-Caribbean histories, is choreographer Cory Villegas’s expression of cultural legacy. As an Afro-diasporic dance, Salsa carries the wealth and variety of African and Indigenous roots. Villegas contextualizes her thesis event “Las Leyendas: An Afro Cuban Suite,” presenting herself and her troupe Soul Dance Co. as evidence that contradicts the erasure of Latin & Caribbean Culture in US dance history. The paper uses English and Spanish, written, visual, and oral materials with an accompanying webpage.

Ua12/2/1 College Heights Herald: Inventing Yourself On The Hill, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

Magazine edition of the College Heights Herald for the period January 29 - March 3, 2024.

• Anderson, Alexandria. Letter from the Editor
• Costellow, Ali. Passions Provide Outlets for Self-Expression – Nathan Neal, Chase Winemiller, Gracie Silvia, Nico Silverthorn
• Reed, Bailey. Chinese Music Club Brings New Sound to the Hill
• Historic Building Makes for Unique Apartments – Columns, Bowling Green High School
• Parks, Adin. Inside the Bowling Green Warming Centers – Homeless
• Murray, Debra. Kentucky Museum Exhibits Curator Details Research on Women’s Culture – Tiffany Isselhardt
• Anderson, Alexandria. Who Owns WKU’s Dorms – Student Life Foundation, Hilltopper Hall
• Coppinger, Carrington. Forensics …

Digitizing Delphi: Educating Audiences Through Virtual Reconstruction, Kate Koury

The Journal of Purdue Undergraduate Research

Implementing a 3D model into a virtual space allows the general public to engage critically with archaeological processes. There are many unseen decisions that go into reconstructing an ancient temple. Analysis of available materials and techniques, predictions of how objects were used, decisions of what sources to reference, puzzle piecing broken remains together, and even educated guesses used to fill gaps in information often go unobserved by the public. This work will educate users about those choices by allowing the side-by-side comparison of conflicting theories on the reconstruction of the Tholos at Delphi, which is an ideal site because of …

Water Ways, Naoufal Enhari

Capstones

Water Ways is a web series about New Yorkers and their connection to the more than 500 miles of waterfront surrounding the New York City area.

Link to Project: https://medium.com/@naoufal.enhari04/water-ways-40079ccf0cf4

Physical Accessibility And Historic Preservation In Historic House Museums Of The Southeast, Abby Milonas

All Theses

Museums are a public good, as they provide educational recreation and preserve cultural history, and so it is crucial that they are physically accessible to as many visitors as possible. The aim of this study was to understand what architectural features of historic house museums are the least accessible and what has been done to ameliorate these challenges. The survey used in the study was developed using the guidelines for making historic buildings accessible as described in the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards. It was distributed by email to representatives of 220 historic sites, of …

Architectural And Heritage Experience Through Playful Learning (An Interdisciplinary And Exploratory Action Research Focused On The Egyptian Context), Atheer Ahmed Salama

Theses and Dissertations

“The lack of awareness of the value of heritage and the lack of opportunities to engage in preserving and safeguarding heritage in the public sphere not only puts the heritage in risk of being irremediably lost. It also impoverishes the younger generation’s sense of identity and belonging within its respective socio-cultural continuum, and thus limits its ability to engage and contribute meaningfully to society at large” (UNESCO, 2021). With conducting this research, the researcher believes that heritage-themed analog games may carve the younger generation’s memory of heritage, allowing them to boost their sense of identity and belonging; thus, widening their …

Liquid Border, Yingfan Jia

Masters Theses

A River is a mighty and constantly-evolving force, leaving behind an intricately designed and constantly changing system. Not just a river, the Rio Grande stretches all the way from Colorado before intersecting with the US-Mexico Border in southern Texas - a point where the powerful forces of nature now merge with a clearly-defined political boundary. The outcome of this is a unique ecological niche, which may often go unnoticed despite its distinctiveness.

Texas is famous for its farms and ranches, and the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas was once an agricultural hub. However, urbanization and the depletion of water …

Intro To Primary Sources, Katie Strand, Jen Kirk, Dan Davis, Lara Petersen

All E-Learning Resources

Attention: As of 2026 updated versions of this item will no longer be available on Digital Commons. Please contact [email protected] for more information.

The Identifying Primary Sources tutorial teaches students how they find, evaluate, and use primary sources in their own research. Along the way, they'll learn about some great places to start researching when looking for primary sources.

The Impact Of Plastering On The Hygrothermal Behaviour Of Historical Sandstone Located In The Coastal Region Of Lebanon, Hoda Zeayter, Ibtihal Y. El-Bastawissi, Hiba Mohsen

Architecture and Planning Journal (APJ)

In an unusual trend in the conservation practice of built heritage in Lebanon, the external plaster layer, which protects the sandstone from weathering factors, is being removed for aesthetic reasons. These buildings are in a coastal region, hot humid climate in the summer and moderate cold weather in the winter. This paper discusses the importance of external and internal plastering of the historical sandstone bearing wall, by the mean of a computational tool that underlines the role of the plastering in the hygrothermal behaviour of the historical stone, in the aim to validate the practice of the ancestors in covering …

Honor Thyself, Alonzo O. Williams

Dance (MFA) Theses

The black male experience and identity in America are filled with complexity. We struggle to know ourselves. We work to see the way of love and the peace of an unviolated free spirit. We want to engage with ourselves with the highest degree of freedom and comfort, not to continue to question our identity in a life-threatening white patriarchal masculinity ideal. Honoring oneself from the lenses of the Reconstruction era of the United States is essential. Reconceptualizing this history explores the significance of emphasizing Reconstruction in my life as a black male to go through a process of self-discovery and …

The Bluff River Trail: A Community Land Ethic, Kelly F. Davis

Language, Literacy, and Sociocultural Studies ETDs

The Bluff River Trail (BRT) is a future 10+ mile trail along the San Juan River corridor in the 4-Corners region of the Southwestern United States. By asking, what is the land ethic of the Bluff Community? this qualitative study identifies behaviors and beliefs, or land ethics, between seven Bluff residents and the San Juan River corridor. A land ethic contributes to the social re/production of space; therefore, third space theory contextualizes intersecting and contradicting spatialities evidenced in data. Data collection consisted of semi-structured interviews, questionnaires and focus groups. I used a qualitative content analysis pulling from grounded theory to …

Playing At The Crossroads Of Religion And Law: Historical Milieu, Context And Curriculum Hooks In Lost & Found, Owen Gottlieb

Articles

This chapter presents the use of Lost & Found – a purpose-built tabletop to mobile game series – to teach medieval religious legal systems. The series aims to broaden the discourse around religious legal systems and to counter popular depiction of these systems which often promote prejudice and misnomers. A central element is the importance of contextualizing religion in period and locale. The Lost & Found series uses period accurate depictions of material culture to set the stage for play around relevant topics – specifically how the law promoted collaboration and sustainable governance practices in Fustat (Old Cairo) in twelfth-century …

A Shift In The Articulation Of Urban Society’S Working Space, Ardianti Permata Ayu, Danny Eko Sulistyo

International Review of Humanities Studies

Swift technological development has caused shifting habits and changing behavioral pattern or lifestye in all respects, notably among urban society, including in terms of work and self-identity production. Members of society now have elevated flexibility to have their own working spaces. Work now can be carried out independently by a mere piece of gadget anywhere within the virtual room. It is co-working space which facilitates independent workers with a flexible, open-space, relaxed, cozy, entertaining, eye-catching, and now even instagrammable space organizing system. Now that plenty of co-working spaces have been produced, the spatial design of co-working space is gaining much …

Zonta International: Unveiling 100 Years Of History & Membership, Jessica E. Nantka

Museum Studies Projects

The purpose of this master’s thesis project is to examine the formidable globalized service organization, Zonta International (ZI), which has impacted women around the world for 100 years. I utilized essential practices in the Museum Studies Master of Arts program at SUNY Buffalo State to create this project in association with an exhibit, Zonta International: Unveiling 100 Years of History & Membership, presented at the Karpeles Manuscript Museum from November 5 – November 23, 2019. The use of digitized images, documents, and artifacts within the Howard D. Beach Photography Studio Collection owned by The Buffalo History Museum, have been …

Book Review: Our Towns: A 100,000 Mile Journey Into The Heart Of America, Keith Morton

eJournal of Public Affairs

Book review of James and Deborah Fallows, Our towns: a 100,000 mile journey into the heart of America

Cultural Heritage Preservation In The Context Of Climate Change Adaptation Or Relocation: Barbuda As A Case Study, Martha B. Lerski

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This case study introduces an arts camp methodology of engaging communities in identifying their key cultural heritage features, thus serving as a meta study. It presents original research based on field studies on the climate-vulnerable Caribbean island of Barbuda during 2017 and 2018. Its Valued Cultural Elements survey, enabling precise identification of key tangible and intangible art forms and biocultural practices, may serve as a basis for further studies. Such approaches may facilitate future research or planning as climate-vulnerable communities harness Local or Indigenous Knowledge for purposes of biocultural heritage preservation, or towards adaptation or relocation. I report on findings …

Tyrie, Betsy And Colin Stephen, Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1245. A collection of materials relating to research on the Felts Log House undertaken by Betsy Tyrie and Colin Stephen. The documentation seeks to interpret the social aspects of the log house as well as architectural changes made to the structure over the course of nearly 150 years. The report also provides insight into the house’s history, its construction, and its eventual relocation to WKU’s campus in the late 1970s. Recorded audio interviews, black and white and color photographs, newspaper articles, and a brief personal essay are also included in the collection.

Ua1b4 University Wide Committees / Events - Awards, Wku Archives

WKU Archives Collection Inventories

Awards presented to Western Kentucky University.

Bertram, Kay (Fa 1238), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1238. Student paper titled “Taylor County’s One Room Schools” in which Kay Bertram details the history, the construction, and the eventual consolidation of public schools in the county. Bertram describes how funds were raised in order to build the schoolhouses, teachers’ annual incomes, and a “typical day” in the life of a student. The paper also contains color photographs of each one-room school and a brief description of the location.

Greenwell, Doris (Fa 1237), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1237. Student paper titled “The One-Room Schoolhouse in America’s Past” in which Doris Greenwell details the significance of two schoolhouses in New Haven, Kentucky. Greenwell gathered information from two teachers, both of whom taught in one-room schools for an extended period of time. The author describes each schoolhouse as well as common characteristics of how the schools operated on a daily basis. The paper includes pictures of the Hagan School and the former New Haven School.

Mckinley, Sue (Fa 1236), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1236. Student paper titled “The Early Schools of Taylor County” in which Sue McKinley charts the rise and fall of traditional one-room school houses throughout Taylor County, Kentucky. McKinley examines the lasting influence the schoolhouses had on the community, as well as factors that contributed to the success of educational programs throughout the county. The author also describes the structure of a typical school day, the consolidation of rural schools and districts, and the importance of properly trained teachers. The paper includes black and white photographs of multiple one-room schoolhouses with a brief …

From Establishment To Final Independence: A Study Of The National Archives Of The United States Of America From 1934–1985, Daniel M. Frett

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This thesis is a study of the National Archives of the United States from the institution’s establishment in 1934 under the presidency of Franklin Roosevelt to becoming the National Archives and Record Administration in 1985. The Archives during the 1930’s and 1940’s functioned as an independent agency, until the Archives lost their independence under the Hoover Commission. In 1949 the Archives became part of the newly formed General Services Administration. During the 1950’s and 1960’s National Archives helped change the archival profession. Furthermore, we see how the two independence movements in the 1960’s and 1980’s that were ultimately successful in …