Thread by @AircraftArchaeo

“‘Honor to the soldier and sailor everywhere, who bravely bears his country’s cause:’ Study results of a legislative and administrative history of battlefield preservation in the United States Federal Government” Dr Terence Christian, Temple University [Conf Paper] #PMAC20 (1/20)

The US Federal Government (USFG) generally, @Interior & @NatlParkService specifically, have been at the vanguard of battlefield preservation since the field’s earliest conception. This paper reports a new study project on battlefield preservation in the USFG. #PMAC20 (2/20)

The paper presents the earliest battlefield memorialization/preservation initiatives; 19th & 20th century theme studies; current @NatlParkService preservation programming; and remit, goals, & products of the ‘Honor to the soldier and sailor everywhere...’ study. #PMAC20 (3/20)

The earliest US battlefield preservation initiatives were undertaken at Breed’s Hill (1794) & Lexington Green (1799). Though not designed to conserve topography, the memorials demonstrate early nat’l focus on preserving *physical places* of military significance. #PMAC20 (4/20)

Before the last quarter of the 19th C, preservation remained at the state/local level. Limited change to rural landscapes meant broad reshaping of battlefield topography presented minimal threat; preservation meant memorialization rather than physical conservation. #PMAC20 (5/20)

Most early battlefield preservation studies identify only general histories/data. The exhaustive cataloging in Carrington’s “Battles of the American Revolution” (1876) & Dyre’s “A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion” (1908) are emblematic of this early trend. #PMAC20 (6/20)

The USFG began programs of battlefield preservation both as a result of the American Revolution centennial and, later, as part of growing public demand to preserve important #CivilWar battlefields. #PMAC20 (7/20)

Between 1876-86, Congress began debating Federal battle preservation actions incl Federally funded monuments; 50% matching grants; comprehensive study, condition evaluation, & ranking of all #AmRev battlefields; and creation of a nat’l preservation guidance org. #PMAC20 (8/20)

The first nat’l survey on physical battlefield preservation came in 1884 via a House Committee on the Library study. B.J. Lossing identified 58 nat’l battles (w/ ~15 not yet memorialized or preserved incl Princeton!) and an addt’l 31 minor engagements. #PMAC20 (9/20)

Lossing’s survey & the assoc. bill (H.R.2435) were never enacted. Dedicated battlefield parks, preserving both topography & history, would wait until 1890-99: Chickamauga & Chattanooga (1890), Shiloh (1894), Gettysburg (1895), Vicksburg (1899), & Antietam (1890). #PMAC20 (10/20)

Preservation was not w/o controversy. Arguments over mechanics of creating Gettysburg NMP went to #SCOTUS. Unanimously decided in favor of the USFG, “US v. Gettysburg Electric Railway Company” established battlefield preservation as a legitimate purpose of gov’t. #PMAC20 (11/20)

Lossing’s survey & resulting creation of a nascent nat’l park system ushered in a series of disconnected battlefield preservation studies over the next century (notably H.R.11613’s 1925-1930s recurrent studies, Lee’s 1973 NMP history report, & 1993 CWSAC study). #PMAC20 (11/20)

Permanent battlefield preservation study/guidance was established following CWSAC. 100+ years since H.R.2435 proposed a nat’l guidance committee, @Interior created @ABPPNPS in 1991 w/ Congressional authorization by “American Battlefield Protection Act” in 1996. #PMAC20 (13/20)

.@ABPPNPS studies, preserves, and raises awareness of America’s battlefields through theme studies, grant programs, & technical assistance. Recent retirement of longtime ABPP leadership risks losing decades of institutional knowledge gained over the past 20 years. #PMAC20 (14/20)

The present ‘Honor to the soldier and sailor everywhere...’ project seeks to capture & distil this institutional knowledge, along w/ older activities/lessons, through an administrative & legislative history of battlefield preservation in the USFG. #PMAC20 (15/20)

The project began in December 2019 and is guided by ten objectives. Presently completing the data collection phase, the resulting work will encompass three core deliverables: a project report presenting captured historic and recent institutional knowledge;... #PMAC20 (16/20)

... an archived GIS product presenting critical battlefield preservation data & case studies; and a Technical Volume providing preservation histories for 50+ Federal and non-federal battlefields. Completion of review drafts is expected in late 2020. #PMAC20 (17/20)

The developed history and the identified preservation successes, shortcomings, and lessons learned will assist in furthering inter-government, inter-agency, and public-private collaborations; in maximizing human and financial resource investments; and in...#PMAC20 (18/20)

...creating new, innovative preservation models. The derived recommendations on future preservation initiatives and research strands will see the USFG and its preservation partners continue to lead battlefield preservation well into the 21st century. #PMAC20 (19/20)

Thanks to @ABPPNPS for project funding & to my colleagues at @TempleUniv Center for Public History. Questions/comments may be directed to: Terence.Christian [at] Temple.edu. Thanks to @HilaryOrange for chairing this session & to @SPMA for organizing #PMAC20. (20/20)

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