Whose History Are We Preserving?: Mapping the Gaps of the National Register of Historic Places from Racial and Ethnic Historical Perspectives

FAIN: PR-290105-23

University of Kentucky Research Foundation (Lexington, KY 40506-0004)
Yuha Jung (Project Director: May 2022 to present)
Daniel J. Vivian (Co Project Director: February 2023 to present)

A Tier I pilot project using Kentucky as a case study for addressing the underrepresentation of buildings and sites associated with minority racial and ethnic groups on the National Register of Historic Places.

The challenge of preservation and access addressed in this project is the underrepresentation of heritage sites associated with minority groups in listings on the National Register of Historic Places, official federal list of properties considered important in American history. This project—based on a pilot study and focused on Kentucky—will quantify the preservation gaps in various racial and ethnic groups against census data through keyword mining; investigate the reasons for such preservation gaps of minority heritage sites through interviews with community stakeholders and preservation experts; and develop a model to close the gaps. The project is significant in determining the extent of the preservation gaps and addressing them from community perspectives, mitigating barriers to listing on the Register. More inclusive Register means a more accurate record of America’s history, recognizing the contributions of all and increasing access to diverse histories for future generations.