Colonial Architecture: Real, Revival, Survival

The 14th Annual Salve Regina University Conference on Cultural and
Historic Preservation in Collaboration with The Providence Preservation
Society

October 20-23, 2010

Since the founding of our nation, Colonial architecture has been used to
connote American values. Its revival has been a constant theme in
American architectural production and although dismissed by modernists,
it continues to be a major force today. In its day, Colonial
architecture functioned as the center for social and economic practices,
expressing race and gender relationships, gentility, and mercantile
standing through its forms. In later periods, it played a role in
restating, rebalancing, or even revising such practices, particularly as
seen in the present-day Postmodern movement. As such, the flexibility
of Colonial architecture seems to capture the best—and worst—of American
society.

Salve Regina University's 14th Annual Conference on Cultural and
Historic Preservation in collaboration with The Providence Preservation
Society will explore the history of Colonial architecture and all its
versions from the founding era to the present day. Proposals for papers
or panels may examine such subjects as: Colonial Architecture in Rhode
Island or New England; early preservation efforts in New England;
Colonial or Colonial Revival construction methods, iconography,
decorative arts, and landscape; social, racial, and gender relationships
in Colonial architecture, Colonial Revival (1876 to present)
interpretations of the Colonial era, preservation challenges in Colonial
or Colonial Revival structures, etc.

This conference will be a unique collaboration between Salve Regina
University’s Department of Cultural and Historic Preservation and
Providence’s leading preservation advocacy organization. Salve Regina
University, steward to many significant 19th century buildings in
Newport, RI, is actively engaged in preserving the splendor of its
Gilded Age properties, while also adapting them for educational use.
The Providence Preservation Society, a non-profit membership
organization, was formed in 1956 to respond to the proposed demolition
of a number of 18th- and early 19th-century houses on College Hill. Now
celebrating its 54th year, PPS has grown from that small neighborhood
group to a multi-faceted, city-wide preservation organization whose
mission is to improve the quality of life in the city of Providence
through historic preservation and enhancement of the built environment.

We welcome submissions from practitioners, preservationists, and
scholars of all academic disciplines, as well as from younger scholars
and graduate students. Proposals should include 250-word abstracts and
CVs. Please send proposals by June 15, 2010, to:

Catherine Zipf
Salve Regina University
100 Ochre Point Ave.
Newport, RI 02840
Catherine.Zipfsalve.edu.