The Society of Architectural Historians (SAH) is an international not-for-profit organization that promotes the study and preservation of the built environment worldwide. Based in

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

in the United States, the Society's 3,500 members include

architectural historians An architectural historian is a person who studies and writes about the history of architecture, and is regarded as an authority on it. Professional requirements As many architectural historians are employed at universities and other facilities ...

architect An architect is a person who plans, designs and oversees the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to provide services in connection with the design of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings that h ...

landscape architects A landscape architect is a person who is educated in the field of landscape architecture. The practice of landscape architecture includes: site analysis, site inventory, site planning, land planning, planting design, grading, storm water manage ...

preservationists Preservationist is generally understood to mean ''historic preservationist'': one who advocates to preserve architecturally or historically significant buildings, structures, objects, or sites from demolition or degradation. Historic preservation us ...

, students, professionals in allied fields and the interested public.

History

The Society, originally named the ''Society of American Architectural Historians'' was founded on July 31, 1940, inspired by the work of Harvard University historian

Kenneth John Conant Kenneth John Conant (June 28, 1894 – March 3, 1984) was an American architectural historian and educator, who specialized in medieval architecture. Conant is known for his studies of Cluny Abbey. Career Born in Neenah, Conant received a Bac ...

. Twenty-five chartering members elected

Turpin Bannister Turpin Chambers Bannister (1 October 1904 – 15 March 1982) was one of the leading American architectural historians of his generation. A long-time professor at the University of Illinois and the University of Florida, he is best known for his w ...

the first President, and directed him to edit the ''Journal of the American Society of Architectural Historians''. The name was shortened to its current form a decade later. From 1964 to 1966,

Robert Branner Robert Branner (January 13, 1927 – November 26, 1973) was an American art historian, archaeologist, and educator. A scholar of medieval art, specializing in Gothic architecture and illuminated manuscripts, Branner was Professor of Art History a ...

served as president. SAH is currently the largest academic organization in the field of architectural history in the US.

Publications and events

As part of its mission to "advance knowledge and understanding of the history of architecture, design, landscape, and urbanism worldwide", the Society publishes several works, most noticeably the '' Buildings of the United States'' series, as well as a newsletter and the ''

Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians The ''Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians'' () is a quarterly peer-reviewed academic journal published by the University of California Press on behalf of the Society of Architectural Historians. It was established in 1941 as the '' ...

'' (). In addition, in association with the

University of Virginia The University of Virginia (UVA) is a Public university#United States, public research university in Charlottesville, Virginia. Founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson, the university is ranked among the top academic institutions in the United S ...

, the Society is developing an online encyclopedia of architecture called ''SAH Archipedia''. At present, ''SAH Archipedia'' allows free access to entries on 100 of the most important buildings in each state it covers, and is being expanded; SAH members have access to the full version, which includes over 19,000 building histories.

Awards

SAH Publication Awards Every year, the Society presents five awards honoring the most distinguished publications in architectural history, urban history, landscape history, preservation, and architectural exhibition catalogues. SAH also presents the Founders' Award for an outstanding JSAH article written by an emerging scholar in the previous two years. The ''Alice Davis Hitchcock Book Award'', established in 1949, goes to a North American scholar for the most distinguished work in architectural history. The ''Philip Johnson Exhibition Catalogue Award'' awards the best scholarship in the production of materials on an architectural exhibition. The ''Antoinette Forrester Downing Award'' goes to a publication's outstanding contributions to the field of architectural preservation. The ''Elisabeth Blair MacDougall Book Award'' is for scholarship related to landscape architecture. The ''Spiro Kostof Book Award'' recognizes outstanding work on urban design and development history. Finally, the ''Founders Award'' is given to the best architectural history article published in the Society journal. SAH Award for Film and Video The SAH Award for Film and Video was established in 2013 to recognize annually the most distinguished work of film or video on the history of the built environment. The most important criterion is the work's contribution to the understanding of the built environment, defined either as deepening that understanding or as bringing that understanding to new audiences. A second criterion is a high standard of research and analysis, whether the production was for a scholarly audience, a general audience, or both. A third criterion is excellence in design and production.

Related organizations

Similar and historically related organizations are found in Great Britain, Canada, and Australia/New Zealand: the

Society of Architectural Historians of Great Britain The Society of Architectural Historians of Great Britain (SAHGB) is a United Kingdom learned society for people interested in the history of architecture. Purpose The Society exists to encourage interest in the history of architecture, to enab ...

; the

Society for the Study of Architecture in Canada The Society for the Study of Architecture in Canada (SSAC) is a learned society devoted to the examination of the role of the built environment in Canadian society. Its membership includes structural and landscape architects, architectural histor ...

(SSAC); and the Society of Architectural Historians, Australia and New Zealand.

Notes

SAH's mission statement

References

External links

*
SAH Marion Dean Ross/Pacific Northwest ChapterSAH Archipedia
{{DEFAULTSORT:Society Of Architectural Historians Architecture organizations based in the United States Professional associations based in the United States Organizations established in 1940 1940 establishments in Massachusetts Organizations based in Chicago History organizations based in the United States