News Summary
Los Angeles is improving recognition of women’s contributions in historic monuments through the L.A. Women’s Landmarks Project. This initiative aims to amend historical records and recognize women who played vital roles in architecture but have been overlooked. The project will also identify new sites for recognition, demonstrating a commitment to inclusivity in acknowledging historical contributions. With the support of various organizations and research, more than 200 potential sites showcasing women’s contributions have already been identified.
Los Angeles is taking significant strides towards recognizing women’s contributions in its Historic-Cultural Monuments, an area where less than 2% of designations currently highlight the achievements of women. This alarming statistic underscores the systematic erasure of women’s roles in American preservation. The L.A. Women’s Landmarks Project, launched as a collaboration between the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Where Women Made History initiative and the Los Angeles Conservancy, aims to amend this oversight.
The goal of the project is to correct decades of incomplete historical records and to establish a national model for gender equity in preservation. Key elements of the initiative include amending existing landmark designations to incorporate overlooked women’s histories, as well as identifying new sites for opportunities of recognition. The Los Angeles City Council is in the process of creating an official pathway to facilitate these amendments, demonstrating a commitment to inclusivity in acknowledging historical contributions.
Research has revealed that many iconic sites throughout Los Angeles are closely linked to the contributions of women who have largely been written out of history. For example, Joyce Miller, a pioneering architect licensed in the 1960s, designed the Hollywood Premiere Motel, a representation of the Googie architectural style. Despite her significant contributions, she was largely forgotten until recent efforts revived her legacy. Miller’s recognition marks her as only the third woman architect to receive acknowledgment through the city’s Landmark Program.
Efforts have been bolstered by research conducted by students from the University of Southern California’s Heritage Conservation program, who have uncovered numerous significant sites that celebrate women’s contributions which were previously unnoticed. Structures such as the Hollyhock House, Union Station, and the Bradbury Building are all linked to women who played vital roles in their histories, showcasing the need for a reassessment of legacy and recognition in landmark designations.
Organizers of the project highlight that the historical exclusion of women from property ownership and formal record-keeping has led to a significant oversight in recognizing their contributions, fueling the project’s initiative to legitimize oral histories and community knowledge as valid sources for landmark recognition.
Over 70 individuals representing 40 different organizations across the city are now engaged in the important work of documenting these overlooked histories in architecture. This collaborative effort reflects a growing recognition of the need to reevaluate the significance of buildings to include the narratives of the people who contributed to their creation, particularly women.
As part of a broader educational initiative, the L.A. Women’s Landmarks Project plans to implement public education programs to disseminate the stories of these women and encourage community involvement. Research has already identified over 200 potential sites that will undergo further investigation concerning women’s contributions, which may lead to increased recognition and honor for those who have historically been excluded.
The L.A. Women’s Landmarks Project serves as a vital step in addressing the gap where women’s accomplishments remain unacknowledged in the context of Los Angeles’ history. By highlighting these crucial contributions, the city seeks not only to correct the historical record but also to promote a more equitable and inclusive approach to cultural heritage preservation.
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Additional Resources
- LAist: Uncovering Women’s Roles in LA Historical Landmarks
- Wikipedia: Women in History
- Larchmont Buzz: Telling Women’s History in LA’s Landmark Buildings
- Google Search: Women’s Roles in Historic Preservation
- Santa Monica Daily Press: Compass Rose Designated as Historical Landmark
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Historical Landmark
- LA Times: Dolores Madrigal Dies
- Google News: Dolores Madrigal
Author: STAFF HERE HOLLYWOOD
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