Thomas Townsend Memorial Preservation Lecture: Preservation Is Political

Historian, journalist, and scholar Dorothy Clark will discuss the preservation of historic structures in Boston as well as how preservation-minded people can engage the broadest scope of audiences. How do we determine who saves buildings, and which ones are saved? What systems need to be changed so that all of Boston’s neighborhoods, including Roxbury and Dorchester, benefit from the preservation of their buildings and local character? Perhaps most relevant, how should we address the argument that preserving historic buildings comes at the cost of affordable housing? Dorothy will discuss these questions and more.

The lecture will be followed by a Q&A, as well as a reception with refreshments.

Tickets are $25 per person. Contact Rachel at [email protected] with questions.

About our Speaker:

Dorothy Clark works for the Boston Landmarks Commission (BLC) as Assistant Survey Director. In this capacity, she helps to identify cultural and historical resources for designation as Boston landmarks and serves as the city’s Certified Local Government coordinator, a partnership with state and federal governments that promotes local-level historic preservation efforts. Before joining the BLC, Dorothy was editorial services manager at Historic New England and editor of the organization’s quarterly magazine. A former full-time journalist, Dorothy has worked for The Boston Globe, Boston Herald and is currently copy editor for the weekly Bay State Banner. She holds a master's in Design Studies/Historic Preservation from the Boston Architectural College, a master’s in American history from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and a bachelor's in English/journalism, also from UMass Amherst. Dorothy is also an independent researcher and historian. An adjunct faculty member at the Boston Architectural College, she teaches Thesis Research and Development for master’s degree students and an undergraduate world history survey course. Dorothy grew up in Boston and is a longtime resident of Jamaica Plain. She is co-president of the Loring Greenough House in Jamaica Plain and a member of the board of directors of the League of Women for Community Service, founded in 1918 during the Black Women’s Club Movement, in the South End.

About the Thomas Townsend Memorial Preservation Lecture:

Thomas Townsend was a longtime supporter of the Shirley-Eustis House Association as well as many other historic sites in the Boston area. He served as SEHA's Board President in 2010 & 2013, and continued to attend the annual Holiday Party until 2024. When Tom passed away in November of 2025, the Association sought to honor his memory by beginning an annual lecture series on a topic close to his heart: preservation. The Thomas Townsend Memorial Preservation Lecture will be held every May, which is "Preservation Month," to bring attention to the continued need for historic preservation at our site and throughout Boston.

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