The Oral History Collection documents the experiences and perspectives of New York City preservationists.
By collecting eyewitness accounts and personal impressions of moments in preservation history, the Archive Project aims to create a verifiable record of the movement and ensure that the work of preservationists is not forgotten. These oral histories document those who were directly involved in much of the groundbreaking legislation and grassroots activism of the 20th and 21st centuries. Whenever possible, transcripts, audio recordings, video recordings, photographs, and other supporting documentation of the resulting interviews are made available on this website. If not uploaded on the website, these materials may be available upon request.
If you are interested in becoming involved with our oral history program by sharing your own preservation experiences, acting as an interviewer, or suggesting a potential figure to interview, please contact us.
The views expressed by contributors to this oral history collection do not necessarily reflect the views of the New York Preservation Archive Project.
Use of Materials: All oral histories made available in this online collection are licensed under Creative Commons, Attribution-NonCommercial-
This oral history project centers preservation stories previously underrepresented in New York City. Participants are leading members of historic preservation campaigns to save sites significant to minority populations, including sites outside of Manhattan.
In 1965, the New York City Landmarks Law was enacted to protect historic sites. Over fifty years later, many challenges to the law have been overcome thanks, in part, to the lawyers interviewed in this project.
These oral histories with past Chairs of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission paint a nuanced portrait of the field. Their unique perspectives offer an inside look on the first 50 years of the City's Landmarks Law.
Preservationists in this oral history collection led the charge to recognize and preserve sites significant to LGBTQ history.
This oral history project, Inspired by Grassroots Stories: Community Architectural Advocacy, led by Kelly Carroll, a preservation consultant and historic preservation instructor at NYU, focuses on those behind community preservation efforts. Discussions focus on victories, losses, and how they rallied their communities.
The Peggy N and Roger G Gerry Charitable Trust Oral History Intensive project is the culmination of work since 2020 to shed light on the preservation process and the unique perspectives of those who work to preserve a range of settings including Black heritage sites, locations associated with 9/11, historic vessels, and waterfront locations through the city.
The Oral History Collection
Jeremy Woodoff
Jeremy Woodoff worked at the Landmarks Preservation Commission and the Department of Design and Construction, where he made notable contributions impacting the city’s parks and streetscapes. As a member of Save America’s Clocks, he advocates for the preservation of public timepieces.
March 20, 2023
Sean Sweeney
Sean Sweeney is the Executive Director of the SoHo Alliance and a long-time resident advocate in SoHo.
October 31, 2023
Joan Geismar
Joan Geismar is an urban archaeologist and multi-time president of PANYC, Professional Archaeologists of New York City.
March 15, 2023
Michael Devonshire
Michael Devonshire is an architectural conservator and materials expert in the field of historic preservation. He is the Director of Conservation at Jan Hird Pokorny Associates and was a New York City Landmarks Preservation Commissioner.
October 6, 2023
George Calderaro
George Calderaro is the founding director of the Tin Pan Alley American Popular Music Project. He is a long-time communications professional and advocate for historic preservation.
October 6, 2023
Shanna Sabio
Shanna Sabio is the co-founding director of GrowHouse Community Design and Development Group and a co-trustee of the Flatbush African Burial Ground Coalition. Her work supports building inclusive communities through cooperative economics, public education, and reparative land ownership and stewardship.
October 9, 2023
Peter Pennoyer
Peter Pennoyer is the principal and founder of Peter Pennoyer Architects, a preservation architecture firm that designed the Art Deco-inspired clock in Moynihan Train Hall.
October 25, 2023
Simeon Bankoff
Simeon Bankoff directed the Historic Districts Council for two decades, greatly expanding its reach in all five boroughs and leading campaigns to protect hundreds of individual buildings and historic districts.
August 26, 2022
Carol Clark
Carol Clark is a preservationist and expert in preservation planning as a result of working, researching, and teaching in the historic preservation field for nearly fifty years.
July 21, 2022
Alex Herrera
Herrera is a long-time preservationist who has directed preservation at both the Landmarks Preservation Commission and the Landmarks Conservancy. He has stewarded preservation and restoration work at small-scale residential sites as well as landmarked locations and historic districts across his long career.
July 21, 2022.