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54-488: Preservation Iowa sponsors two programs, Iowa's Most Endangered Properties and Preservation at its Best Awards. Currently, it is undertaking initiatives to document barns, country schools, and small-town movie theaters. Preservation Iowa and the National Trust for Historic Preservation are combining efforts to document and mitigate the effects of the 2008 Iowa floods on historic structures. Preservation Iowa publishes

108-713: A merger of the Council into the National Trust. The merger was effective the following year and was completed by 1956. The National Trust became a membership organization and assumed all other functions of the National Council. In its early years, the National Trust’s founders envisioned an organization whose primary purpose would be the acquisition and administration of historic sites, while encouraging public participation in their preservation. In 1957,

162-539: A National Portrait Gallery and went on to many accomplishments of his own. In August 1937, both Andrew Mellon and architect John Russell Pope died just as the National Gallery building was begun. It fell to David Finley to oversee the completion of the building and the opening of the Gallery in 1941. After being named director in 1938, Finley persuaded other major art collectors to add their collections to

216-655: A bill to Congress, H.R. 5170, introduced by Congressman J. Hardin Peterson of Florida and passed. The private, nonprofit National Trust for Historic Preservation was formally established by charter through the Act of Congress when President Harry S. Truman signed the legislation on October 26, 1949. The charter provided that the Trust should acquire and preserve historic sites and objects of national significance and provide annual reports to Congress on its activities. Finley served as

270-618: A core of iron and was brilliantly successful in persuading others for the public good. As J. Carter Brown , one of Finley's successors at the National Gallery of Art and the Commission of Fine Arts and himself an expert in the field, once put it, “If anyone ever knew how things get done in Washington, it was David Finley.” Finley was a gifted writer and from 1913 to 1930 kept a series of journals that expressed his views on

324-756: A family prominent in South Carolina before and during the American Civil War . He was graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1910 and took a law degree at George Washington University in 1913. He learned the workings of Washington working for his father's congressional committee from 1910 to 1915, and then practiced law in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. before and after the First World War , in which he served in

378-499: A powerful team for the promotion of good taste in monumental Washington and the White House and they became close personal friends. Andrew Mellon had acquired a major collection of American portraits that he hoped would form the nucleus of a future National Portrait Gallery , but died before he could take any concrete steps in that direction. David Finley took up the cause and in 1956 when the federal government planned to demolish

432-495: A wide range of personal matters and public affairs. These journals provide a wealth of insights into his early life and later career. Besides writing Taxation, the Peoples’ Business for Andrew Mellon in 1924, he wrote virtually all of Mellon's speeches, policy papers and official correspondence. Late in life, he wrote and published histories of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and of Andrew Mellon's founding of

486-626: Is periodically challenged through the transportation reauthorization process, most recently during the consideration of MAP-21. Due to work by preservationists, Section 4(f) remains intact. The National Trust advocates for the preservation of historic and cultural resources on federal public lands , partnering with the Bureau of Land Management , the Forest Service , and the National Park Service . The National Trust supported

540-770: The Green Mountain Lookout Heritage Protection Act , a bill that would prevent the United States Forest Service from removing a building from the Glacier Peak Wilderness Area in Washington State unless the agency determines that the structure is unsafe for visitors. The National Trust stating that it was "pleased that Congress has acted to protect this historically significant and locally cherished landmark. With this vote,

594-560: The Iowa Preservationist quarterly. The 2008 Preservation Iowa "Iowa's Most Endangered Properties" include: This Iowa -related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . National Trust for Historic Preservation The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a privately funded, nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C. , that works in the field of historic preservation in

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648-758: The National Gallery and his own years as its director. He received honorary degrees from Yale , the University of South Carolina , Georgetown University and George Washington University . He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal by the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Association in 1957 and the Smithsonian ’s Joseph Henry Medal in 1968. He just missed the Presidential Medal of Freedom when his nomination for that honor in 1973 died in

702-578: The National Gallery of Art could be favorably compared to the great art museums of London , Paris , Florence and elsewhere in Europe . In 1973, Finley published his memoir of the founding of the National Gallery, A Standard of Excellence, Andrew W. Mellon Founds the National Gallery of Art at Washington . That standard established by Mellon and Finley has been maintained under David Finley's successor directors, John Walker (1956–1968), J. Carter Brown (1968–1993) and Earl A. Powell III (since 1993). During

756-401: The National Gallery of Art to discuss the formation of such a national organization. This meeting was followed by a larger gathering on April 15, 1947, attended by representatives from a number of art, architectural, and historical societies , which culminated in the creation of the National Council for Historic Sites and Buildings. The meeting’s attendants became the first charter members of

810-432: The National Gallery of Art , and founded a private non-profit group that Congress chartered as the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1949. As chairman of its trustees, Finley led the National Trust through its critical early years, when the concept of the preservation of old buildings was considered a novel and radical departure from prevailing views. His matchless contacts enabled him to enlist national leaders in

864-506: The National Park Service , State Historic Preservation Offices , and local preservation groups. The National Trust is headquartered in Washington, D.C. , with field operations located throughout the country. The organization is governed by a board of trustees and led by president & CEO, Carol Quillen. As of November 2023, the National Trust reports that it has over 1 million actively engaged visitors, followers, supporters, and advocates. In addition to leading campaigns and advocacy,

918-1007: The Old Patent Office Building , one of Washington's oldest and most beautiful, for a parking garage, Finley as chairman of both the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Fine Arts Commission , appealed to President Dwight D. Eisenhower , who saved it for the National Portrait Gallery. It took until 1968 before the building could house the Portrait Gallery and also the Smithsonian American Art Museum . Finley served on its Commission until his death, recommended its first director and with his wife gave it some of its first gifts of portraits and furniture. When Jacqueline Kennedy began to restore

972-527: The U.S. Army Air Service and with the War Department afterwards in soldier reemployment. As the eldest of eight siblings, Finley provided financial and moral support to an extended family in South Carolina and elsewhere after his father died in 1917 and throughout his own life. In 1931, he married Margaret Morton Eustis (1903–1977), a Washington heiress, sculptor and architect, at her family's country home at Oatlands , near Leesburg, Virginia , where

1026-736: The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts , a prime mover in the founding of the National Portrait Gallery , and founding chairman of the White House Historical Association . During the Second World War , Finley led the Roberts Commission , which led the rescue of much of the threatened artworks of Europe. Finley was born at York , South Carolina , the son of Congressman David E. Finley (1862–1917) and Elizabeth Lewis Gist, of

1080-622: The United States . The member-supported organization was founded in 1949 by congressional charter to support the preservation of America’s diverse historic buildings, neighborhoods, and heritage through its programs, resources, and advocacy. The National Trust for Historic Preservation aims to empower local preservationists by providing leadership to save and revitalize America's historic places, and by working on both national policies as well as local preservation campaigns through its network of field offices and preservation partners, including

1134-578: The 1920s Mellon had become a major collector of paintings, principally Dutch, British and American and traveled regularly to England and the Continent, where he became familiar with the great public and private art collections and was a particular admirer of the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery in London. In 1927, he decided to found the National Gallery of Art in Washington, and made Finley his special assistant in that enterprise. Finley

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1188-632: The Commission took a leading advisory role in many projects in monumental Washington, such as saving of the Old Patent Office Building in 1956, preserving Lafayette Square in 1962 and heading off many ill-advised projects such as the original “tombstone” design of the FDR memorial in 1963. Finley's dual roles as chairman of the Fine Arts Commission and the National Trust for Historic Preservation gave him access to Presidents Truman, Eisenhower and Kennedy. Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy and Finley formed

1242-788: The District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. To be included in the program, hotels must be at least 50 years old; designated by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior as a National Historic Landmark or listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places ; and recognized as having historic significance. Initiated in 2011, the National Treasures program identified historically significant landmarks that face imminent threat. With

1296-604: The Finleys later established their own country residence. Their Washington home was in Georgetown , at 3318 O Street, NW, where they led an active social life with political and social leaders. During World War II , and for many years afterwards, Margaret Finley was a full-time volunteer for the American Red Cross . The Finleys had no natural children, but in 1935 they took into their home Renee and Joan Beauregard,

1350-555: The House joins the Senate in affirming that the preservation of this historic resource is compatible with wilderness protection." David E. Finley Jr. David Edward Finley Jr. (September 1, 1890 – February 1, 1977) was an American cultural leader during the middle third of the 20th century. He was the first director of the National Gallery of Art , the founding chairman of the National Trust for Historic Preservation , chairman of

1404-474: The National Gallery – notably the Samuel Kress Rush Kress, Joseph E. Widener , Chester Dale and Lessing Rosenwald collections. Mellon had the wisdom to insist that it be called the National Gallery and not bear his name, but it was Finley's inimitable powers of persuasion that brought so many other great collections to the Gallery in so short a time. Upon his retirement as director in 1956,

1458-617: The National Trust officially acquired its first property, Woodlawn Plantation in northern Virginia . Since then, the National Trust portfolio of historic properties and contracted affiliates has expanded to include twenty-seven historic sites, ranging from the 18th-century Drayton Hall in South Carolina to the Modernist Glass House in Connecticut . Over the next decade, the National Trust grew to become

1512-551: The National Trust opened its first field office in San Francisco. As the organization grew, the National Trust expanded its work, consisting of programs, educational resources, and advocacy. In 1980, the National Trust initiated the National Main Street Center , specializing in revitalizing historic business districts, which has since transitioned into a subsidiary. In 2010, Stephanie Meeks became

1566-685: The National Trust provides a growing educational resource through the Preservation Leadership Forum, which offers articles, journals, case studies, and conferences and training. The National Trust issues the quarterly Preservation magazine as well as online stories. The National Trust’s current work focuses on building sustainable communities through the adaptive reuse of historic spaces; preserving and empowering cultural diversity through protecting sites of cultural significance; advocating for greater stewardship of historic places on public land ; and leading innovation in

1620-413: The National Trust's first chairman of the board, remaining in the position for 12 years. Archaeologist Richard Hubbard Howland became the nonprofit's first president in 1956. The National Trust and the National Council existed side by side for several years until the need to merge resources compelled the executive committee to integrate the two entities. In 1952, the boards of both organizations approved

1674-406: The Preservation Leadership Forum, a network of preservation professionals. The National Trust for Historic Preservation created Historic Hotels of America in 1989, with 32 charter members. Historic Hotels of America identifies hotels that have maintained their authenticity, sense of place, and architectural integrity. As of June 5, 2015, the program includes over 260 members in 44 states, including

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1728-635: The Second World War, Finley led a group of American art scholars and administrators who pressed the federal government to take steps to protect the priceless art works and monuments of Europe from destruction. Finley's skills in dealing with the government had been honed by thirty years in Washington and he got chief Justice Harlan Fiske Stone and President Franklin D. Roosevelt to champion their cause. Although wartime Washington had greater priorities than cultural protection in Europe, Finley persuaded

1782-459: The White House in 1961, she enlisted David Finley in her cause. Together, they created the White House Historical Association which in 1962 published The White House, An Historic Guide , an immediate best-seller and has been republished ever since and has raised millions of dollars for the White House . David and Margaret Finley presented one of the first pieces of fine antique furniture to

1836-588: The White House, an example soon followed by many other prominent Americans. When Finley resigned as chairman on the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts in 1963, Mrs. Kennedy made him promise never to resign from the Association, which he led as chairman until his death in 1977. In over 60 years in official Washington, David Finley mastered the Capital's twin arts of the political process and social life. Quiet and soft-spoken with old fashioned Southern courtesy, he had

1890-722: The administration to appoint, in August 1943, the American Commission for the Protection and Salvage of Artistic and Historic Monuments in War Areas , a blue ribbon panel of distinguished civilians led by Associate Justice Owen J. Roberts as chairman. Finley was named vice-chairman and actually ran what became known as the Roberts Commission for the rest of the war from the National Gallery. He cut through

1944-678: The aftermath of the Watergate affair. A devout Episcopalian , Finley served on the chapter of the Washington National Cathedral and as a vestryman at St. John's Episcopal Church, Lafayette Square , and the Church of Our Saviour, Oatlands , which he attended while residing at his country home. Finley died on February 1, 1977, at his home in Georgetown . He is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Georgetown. In

1998-553: The cause and to raise critically needed funds from Paul Mellon and Ailsa Mellon Bruce. By the time he retired as chairman in 1962, the foundations of the historic preservation movement in the United States had been firmly established. David Finley was appointed to the United States Commission of Fine Arts by President Roosevelt in 1943 and served as its chairman from 1950 to 1963. Under his leadership,

2052-482: The council. The organization’s first headquarters was in the offices of Ford’s Theatre (Lincoln Museum) in downtown Washington, D.C. The Council pursued the formation of a National Trust for Historic Preservation, somewhat modeled on the British National Trust , which would be tasked with the acquisition and maintenance of historic properties. The creation of the National Trust was proposed as

2106-694: The first National Park , Yellowstone . In 1906, the Antiquities Act enabled the President to declare landmarks or objects as a national monument . Then in 1935, during the Great Depression, Congress passed the Historic Sites Act , which outlined programs for research and inventory of historic sites. Meanwhile, historic preservation initiatives existed on local and state levels. In 1931, Charleston, South Carolina created

2160-458: The first historic district for protection. However, efforts to save and maintain historic sites were still largely limited to private citizens or local groups. In the late 1940s, leaders in American historic preservation saw the need for a national organization to support local preservation efforts. In 1946, David E. Finley Jr. , George McAneny , Christopher Crittenden, and Ronald Lee met at

2214-524: The leading national organization in historic preservation. They began working with citizens and city planning officials on legislative matters, including federal, state, and municipal ordinances for historic preservation. National Trust staff also traveled to parts of the country to advise local communities on preservation projects. In 1966, Congress passed the National Historic Preservation Act , significant legislation for

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2268-660: The local, state, and federal level. Current advocacy priorities are: The Historic Tax Credit (HTC) is the federal tax credit program that incentivizes the rehabilitation of historic buildings. The HTC, which has rehabilitated more than 38,700 buildings and leveraged about $ 106 billion in private investment nationwide, is in danger of being eliminated in current budget-balancing discussions in Congress. The federal Department of Transportation Act of 1966 included Section 4(f), which stipulates that planners must develop projects that protect or avoid historic resources. However, Section 4(f)

2322-474: The management of historic properties. Toward the end of the 19th century, in response to increased immigration and the broad effort of rebuilding after the Civil War , the country was developing a renewed sense of national identity and history. The government began to enact legislation for the preservation of sites and objects deemed significant to the nation’s history. In 1872, an Act of Congress established

2376-491: The military and civilian bureaucracy to elevate the protection of monuments and artworks to a high priority, subject only to military necessity. Acting in close concert with the War Department , which placed over two hundred Monuments and Fine Art Officers in the field, and similar Allied groups, the Roberts Commission oversaw the rescue of most of the threatened artworks of war-torn Europe. In 1947, Finley convened 45 national leaders in historic and architectural protection at

2430-413: The nation as the nucleus of the National Gallery, together with the gallery building and a large endowment. The total gift was valued at $ 80 million, which would translate to perhaps $ 10 billion in current dollars – the richest gift ever from an individual to a government. After Mellon's death in 1937, Finley spent the next thirty years realizing Mellon's plans for the National Gallery of Art and his dream of

2484-631: The organization’s president, replacing Richard Moe , who had led the organization for 17 years. In 2013, the National Trust headquarters moved from the Andrew Mellon Building on 1785 Massachusetts Avenue, NW in Washington D.C.’s Dupont Circle to the historic Watergate office complex . Meeks said in a statement about the move, "The selection of the Watergate demonstrates our ongoing commitment to recognizing and protecting important places from every era in American history, including

2538-668: The preservation movement. The Act also provided federal funding in support of the National Trust’s work. The funding later ceased in 1996, at which point the National Trust became entirely privately funded. Following the adoption of the National Historic Preservation Act, the National Trust broadened in its mission beyond administering historic sites. In 1969, the National Trust created the Preservation Services Fund to provide financial assistance to local preservation projects. In 1971,

2592-648: The public and eventually selected based on a range of factors, including its significance, whether there is a local group engaged in its preservation, the urgency of the threat, and potential solutions to that threat. In 2017, the Trust launched an initiative called the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund to identify underrepresented Black cultural sites in need of funding for restoration and preservation. The program has been directed by historian Brent Leggs . The National Trust for Historic Preservation organizes

2646-594: The recent past." In 2022, the National Trust headquarters moved from the Watergate to a shared coworking space (located in a former Garfinckel's department store ) in downtown D.C. The National Trust’s programs include publication of the annual list of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places , first issued in 1988, which highlights endangered sites across the country. Meeks stepped down as president in December 2018. Former general counsel and chief legal officer Paul Edmondson then served as president and CEO until

2700-479: The spring of 2023. Beginning in January of 2024, Carol Quillen , former president of Davidson College , began serving as president and CEO. First published in 1988, the National Trust’s list of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places is an annual list that highlights endangered historic sites across the United States. The list serves to raise national awareness of these sites. The sites are nominated by

2754-451: The support of local preservationists, the National Trust led direct action to save these sites through fundraising, coalition building, and legal advocacy. The sites were selected based on criteria including: integrity, contribution to America’s diverse history, and preservation strategies that can be applied to other sites. The portfolio of National Treasures included, for example: The National Trust’s advocacy arm works to effect policy at

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2808-708: The two orphaned daughters of friends, whom they raised as their wards. In 1921 Finley joined the legal staff of the United States Treasury Department where he came to the attention of Secretary Andrew W. Mellon . In 1924, Finley wrote Taxation, the People’s Business , published in Mellon's name, which articulated Mellon's taxation and fiscal policies. By 1927, Finley was writing most of Mellon's speeches, policy papers and correspondence and had begun to assist Mellon in his art collection. By

2862-413: Was forced to spend most of the next three years defending himself, against politically motivated charges of tax fraud brought by the Roosevelt administration, while Finley continued to work on planning the National Gallery. In late 1936 Finley selected twenty-four Italian Renaissance paintings and eighteen sculptures from Lord Joseph Duveen , which Mellon bought to complete his collection. He offered it to

2916-418: Was particularly influential in Mellon's selection of art from the Italian Renaissance, which he began collecting in 1928 with a view to creating a collection worthy to be the nucleus of a great national gallery. When Mellon went to London as ambassador in 1932–1933, Finley went with him on Mellon's private payroll and continued to work on the planning for the National Gallery. Upon their return in 1933, Mellon

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