Today and tomorrow Preservation Virginia is holding its annual conference on campus — sponsored jointly by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, headed by Sweet Briar alum Kathleen Kilpatrick, and the Tusculum Institute. (This is a picture of me and Kathleen at the opening session; Kathleen is on the left.) 
In greeting the group, I outlined what I think is distinctive and important about preservation as practiced at Sweet Briar. It’s a lot more than preserving buildings or displaying the decorative arts of bygone eras — although it certainly requires both of those. In the context of the liberal arts, preservation needs to be about creating sophisticated interpretations that connect preserved sites and objects to topics of interdisciplinary interest and current importance — topics like economic and environmental sustainability, race relations both under and after slavery, and women’s history.
The potential of digital technology to assist in preservation initiatives is another topic of significant interest. Whether in creating 3-D models of structures at various historical moments, or in compiling datasets that help make the case for investing in preservation, or in using GIS to explore alternative siting options, technology can support the work of preservationists.
Interdisciplinary and technologically sophisticated preservation initiatives provide wonderful opportunities for critical inquiry. Experts from across Virginia (and from several other states) have come to Sweet Briar to learn about “greening” preservation and to discuss how to approach preservation in the most environmentally and economically responsible manner possible. They are, in short, enjoying a day or two of professional development in the spirit of the liberal arts, in a beautifully preserved environment.
