American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society
{{Short description|Organization (1895–1979)}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society
| image =
| formation = {{Start date and age|1895}}
| dissolved = {{End date and age|1979}}
| type = Nonprofit, member-supported
| status = Dissolved
| headquarters = New York City, US
| website = {{URL|http://www.nypap.org/content/american-scenic-and-historic-preservation-society}}
}}
The American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society was created in 1895 as New York's first organized preservation lobby. The Society operated as a national organization to protect the natural scenery and the preservation of historic landmarks; to preserve landmarks and records of the past or present; to erect memorials and promote appreciation of the scenic beauty of America."Scenic and Historic America: Bulletin of the American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society." ASHPS 2.1 (March 1930):3.
There is no information about when the Society dissolved but there are no records of their activities after 1979.
Projects
The Society's primary purpose was to protect historic and/or scenic sites. In many cases, it acted as custodian for these properties, purchasing them, providing maintenance, and keeping them open to the public. Examples[http://archives.nypl.org/mss/91 NYPL Archives - Collection Overview] include:
- Battle Island Park
- Fort Brewerton{{cite news|title=Fort Brewerton will be restored by Historic Society|work=New York Times|issue=11|date=November 23, 1927}}
- Hamilton Grange{{cite news|title=Hamilton Grange becomes memorial|work=New York Times|issue=p. 12, column 1|date=November 18, 1924}}
- John Boyd Thacher Park
- John William Draper Memorial Park, Hastings-on-Hudson
- Letchworth Park
- Philipse Manor Hall
- Stony Point Battlefield Reservation
- Watkins Glen
Awards
The Society had responsibility for selecting the recipients of a number of Awards, the most prestigious being the Pugsley Medal, created by Cornelius Amory Pugsley in 1928. The award honors champions of parks and conservation. After the dissolution of the Society, the Pugsley Medal was awarded by the National Park Foundation. In recent years, the Award has been presented by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration.
Officers
- 1895–1904 Andrew Haswell Green
- 1905–1906 Walter Seth Logan
- 1907–1926 George Frederick Kunz[http://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/000520257 Annual Report of the ASHPS] from the [http://www.hathitrust.org Hathi Trust]{{cite news|title=For Washington Site Presented to Historic Society|work=New York Herald Tribune|issue=p. 9|date=July 4, 1926}}
- 1934–1940 LeRoy Elwood Kimball{{cite news|title=3 to get medals of scenic society|work=New York Times|issue=section II, page 1, column 3|date=Oct 28, 1934}}{{cite news|title=Moses to get prize from scenic societyy|work=New York Times|issue=page 23, column 4|date=January 26, 1937}}{{cite news|title=Dr. Kimball Announces Pugsley Medal Awards|work=New York Herald Tribune|issue=21|date=January 16, 1940}}
- 1941 Alexander Hamilton{{cite news|title=McAneny Heads Scenic Society|work=New York Times|issue=p.9|date=October 20, 1942}}
- 1942–1950 George McAneny{{cite news|title=McAneny Heads Scenic Society|work=New York Times|issue=p.9|date=October 20, 1942}}{{cite news|title=George M'Aneny at 80|work=New York Times|issue=14|date=December 24, 1949}}{{cite news|title=Saved for Posterity: Historic Buildings at St. John's Saved from the Navy|work=New York Herald Tribune|issue=12|date=July 12, 1946}}
- 1951–1965 Alexander Hamilton{{cite news|title=Udall gets medal for conservation|work=New York Times|issue=p. 52, column 6|date=February 6, 1965}}{{cite news|title=U.S. Grant 3d wins history unit medal|work=New York Times|issue=20|date=November 21, 1951}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commonscatinline}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society}}
Category:1895 establishments in New York City
Category:1979 disestablishments in New York (state)
Category:Organizations established in 1895
Category:Organizations disestablished in 1979
Category:Historic preservation organizations in the United States