SouthTalks Lecture: “Historic Preservation in Mississippi from an Advocacy and Local Government Perspective”

Kate Kenwright, Lolly Rash, and Jodi Skipper:
“Historic Preservation in Mississippi from an Advocacy and Local Government Perspective”

Ever wonder what makes a building historic? Who tells the story of the place? What role do governments and neighborhood groups play in preservation? Jodi Skipper, associate professor of anthropology and Southern Studies, will moderate a discussion between Kate Kenwright, historic preservationist for the City of Oxford, and Lolly Rash, executive director for the Mississippi Heritage Trust, on what it takes to become an effective advocate for Mississippi’s architectural legacy at a local and state level.

Kate Kenwright provides technical expertise and support to the City Preservation Commissions as well as the Burns Belfry, the L. Q. C. Lamar House, and Cedar Oaks. Kenwright has a BA in Southern Studies and is a graduate of the Tulane Master of Preservation Studies program. Lolly Rash has been fighting for Mississippi’s historic places for twenty-five years. She has served as historical administrator for the City of Biloxi, vice president of White House Properties, and as a consultant for the Land Trust for the Mississippi Coastal Plain, the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, and the Mississippi Main Street Association.

SouthTalks is a series of events (including lectures, performances, film screenings, and panel discussions) exploring the interdisciplinary nature of Southern Studies. This series takes place in the Tupelo Room of Barnard Observatory unless otherwise noted, and is free and open to the public.