Advocacy

The Society of Architectural Historians issues position statements on topics related to higher education and issues of concern to our community, and the Heritage Conservation Committee leads preservation advocacy efforts on behalf of SAH. In addition, the Society is invited at times to be a signatory on letters or statements written by constituent members of the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS), of which SAH is a member.

Preservation Advocacy

Preserving important structures, landscapes and other aspects of the built environment is a key tenet of the Society's mission. As a matter of policy, the Society only becomes involved in preservation issues of national or international significance. The Heritage Conservation Committee is charged with leading preservation advocacy efforts and regularly issues letters of support/concern as well as position statements and proclamations.

Visit Preservation Advocacy to learn more.

SAH Position Statements

SAH's Commitment to Racial Justice (2020)

A Statement of Solidarity for Racial Justice at SAH (2020) 

Society of Architectural Historians Letter in Opposition to Proposed Executive Order "Making Federal Buildings Beautiful Again" (2019)

SAH Personal Conduct Policy (2019)

Joint Position Statement with Docomomo US on the Preservation of the Abrams House in Pittsburgh (2018)

Position Statement on the Reconstruction of Lost Buildings and the Construction of Unbuilt Designs (2018)

Statement in Support of NEH (2017)

SAH Statement on US Immigration Ban (2017)
 
SAH Core Values Statement (2016)
 
SAH Guidelines for the Promotion and Tenure of Architectural Historians (2012)
 

Letters on which SAH is a Signatory

 

ACLS Statement Condemning Anti-Asian Violence (2021)

ACLS Letter to Iowa Lawmakers Opposing Legislation to End Tenure at Public Universities (2021)

SAH Signs ACLS Statement on COVID-19 and the Key Role of the Humanities and Social Sciences in the U.S. (2020)

SAH Signs AHA Statement on Historical Research during COVID-19 (2020)

SAH Signs AAS Statement on the 2020 Hong Kong National Security Law (2020)

Letter to Immigration and Customs Enforcement Concerning Its Decision to End Visa Exemptions for International Students (2020)

SAH Signs ASA Letter for Additional CARES Act Relief Funds for Higher Education (2020)

SAH Signs MLA Statement on COVID-19 and Academic Labor (2020)

SAH Signs ASA Statement Regarding Faculty Review and Reappointment Processes During the COVID-19 Crisis (2020)

Joint Statement on Department of Education Office for Civil Rights Investigations into NYU and UCLA (2019)

Statement in Opposition of the Targeting of Cultural Heritage Sites (2020)

MESA Letter Expressing Concern about the Department of Education’s Interpretation of Title VI (2019)

Joint Letter to Israel Authorities about Restrictions on International Academics Working in Palestinian Universities (2019)

ASA Statement on Student Evaluations of Teaching (2019)

Collective Letter to Turkish Constitutional Courts in Support of Peace Petition Scholars (2019)

APA & ASA Open Letter on Brazil’s Plans to Cut Philosophy & Sociology Programs in Brazil (2019)

ACLA Letter to Stanford University in Support of Stanford University Press (2019)

Statement to Alaskan Officials on Proposed Budget Cuts (2019)

Multi-Society Statement on Proposed Cuts at the University of Tulsa (2019)

Opposition to Drastic Budget Cuts to Higher Education in Alaska (2019)
 
Statement of Concern about Potential Impact of Plan S on the Humanities (2019)

Statement Opposing US Proposal to Tax Tuition Waivers (2017)

Concern over the Apparent Moves to Dismantle the Structure of Turkish Higher Education (2016)

Letter of Support Requesting US Department of State Restore Funding to the Title VIII Program (2013)

Response to Office of Science and Technology Policy about Public Access to Scholarly Publications (2012)