The Cincinnati Preservation Association Modernist Committee has defined two projects and created the following survey to define the scope of the projects and recruit Volunteers. Oral histories of the regional Frank Lloyd Wright buildings is one of them. Please contact Co-Chair Chuck Lohre if you would like to help 513-260-9025, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Greetings Modernism Committee Member,

Want to make a difference and learn valuable skills?  Interested in protecting modern architecture for future generations? Does being a part of historic preservation sound exciting?  If so, you are a great candidate for helping Cincinnati Preservation Association’s (CPA) Modernism Committee.

The Cincinnati Preservation Association is the only local nonprofit organization serving the Greater Cincinnati community as the recognized resource and catalyst for the preservation of historic cultural resources through education, advocacy and technical support.

Modernism, also known as the Modern Movement, marked a conscious break with the past and has been one of the dominant expressions of design practice, production, and theory in the 20th century and is generally characterized visually by the use of modern materials such as tubular steel and glass, the manipulation of abstract forms, space and light, and a restrained palette, dominated by white, off-white, grey, and black.

Some of Cincinnati’s most notable Modern structures include the Terrace Hotel (Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, 1946-1948), Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County (Woody Garber, 1955) and the Boulter House (Frank Lloyd Wright, 1954-1956).

The Modernism Committee is unique in that it has specific projects that the CPA Board would like the Committee to achieve. This email will help outline the challenges and opportunities the Committee faces and help focus talent and resources to achieve the goals.

What is the Modernism Committee about?

The Committee will focus on two specific projects. As modern architecture has aged, it has become necessary to pay more attention to its documentation and preservation.

1. The Committee will record oral histories of clients, architects, contractors and others who participated in the making of modern buildings.  

2. The Committee will conduct an architectural survey, which will result in an inventory of modern structures using the Ohio Historic Inventory (OHI) form to document the buildings.  All OHIs will be given to the Ohio State Historic Preservation Office and the City of Cincinnati’s Historic Conservation Office.

What commitment is expected of Members?

* The Modernism Committee meets on the second Tuesday of every other month (next meeting February 9th) at the CPA office.  Meetings start promptly at 5:30 p.m. and conclude at 6:30 p.m.  The project teams will meet monthly, date and time to be determined.

* In the first few months new members are familiarized with the CPA and the Modernism Committee. Time commitments vary, but generally ranges from 2-6 hrs/mo.

* No out of pocket expenses are expected.

* Project teams (oral history or survey) meet as required

What benefits are available?

* Feel pride from supporting an organization that is changing how modern buildings are understood and preserved.

* Meet passionate people, each of whom is a potential friend, colleague and/or client.

* Be a conduit for delivering resources that will help preserve and assist preservationists.

* Get exposure to regional, national and international preservation groups.

* Advance your professional career by networking with people in your community who share your passion for architectural preservation.

Your commitment will assist in this effort and we will be in touch with a schedule of goals and schedule dateline.

We would like to thank you for your interest in helping to preserve modern architecture in Cincinnati.

Bobbie McTurner
Executive Director of Cincinnati Preservation Association
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Chuck Lohre
Modernism Co-chair
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Shawn Tubb
Modernism Co-chair
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Committee Member Expectations

As a Cincinnati Preservation Association Modernism Committee Member, we ask you to commit to the following basic responsibilities:

* Attend meetings as required, missing them only when absolutely unavoidable,

* Follow through with action steps in a timely manner,

* Manage resources effectively,

* Communicate with my chair and other members in a open and productive manner,

* Ensure legal and ethical integrity and maintain accountability,

* Recruit and orient new Committee members,

* Remain a CPA member in good standing if a co-chair,

* Enhance the organization's public standing, and

* Abide by the CPA Conflict of Interest policy.

Please note that all materials produced through the Committee are property of CPA.

Thank you for so generously committing yourself to work on behalf of CPA to achieve its mission to preserve Cincinnati's architectural heritage.

Volunteer _______ hours per month.

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Volunteer Assignment Descriptions

Please let us know what duties you would be interested in. Please indicate all you would consider.

1. Chair: Works with the Executive Director to define projects, leads volunteers and facilitates meetings

2. Co-Chair: Works with the Executive Director to define projects, leads volunteers and facilitates meetings

3. Secretary: records project meetings, posts meeting minutes on the Modernism Committee GoogleGroup Page and sends out meeting reminders several days before the upcoming meeting

Oral History Project

* Manager: assembles the volunteers and equipment resources; manages project with Executive Director oversight
* Secretary: records project meetings and sends out meeting and recording event notices
* Producer: schedules the required volunteers and equipment
* Director: directs videotaping
* Camera person: responsible for recording video
* Sound person: responsible for recording audio
* Gaffer: transports, sets up and takes down equipment
* Digital video editor: responsible for editing and creating DVD archives
* Interviewer: either on camera or off, creates questions
* Researcher: researches videos (has an oral history been performed regarding the building in question, etc.), interviews, history of structure, relevant historical events and personal information of interviewee
* Final project reporter: assembles archives, backup archives, and report.  Submits all documentation to the Executive Director of CPA

Are you interested in taking Media Bridges classes to learn how to operate the necessary equipment?

Inventory Project

* Manager: works with co-chairs and Executive Director to define scope of survey; manages project with Executive Director oversight
* Secretary: records project meetings and sends out meeting and canvas activity notices
* Historian: researches past inventories (corresponds with the Ohio State Historic Preservation Office) and assembles resources for additional inventory (maps, forms, etc.)
* Research: assists historian and manager
* Surveyor: visits the structure, completes Ohio Historic Inventory form, photographs the structure, enters data into Ohio Historic Inventory form
* Final project reporter: assembles archives, backup archives, and report.  Submits all documentation to the Executive Director of CPA.

Thank you for your commitment. Please let us know if there is a role you would like to perform which isn't listed here.