Black heritage in the national register: The Williams Avenue YWCA in Portland, Oregon
By: Redaelli, Eleonora Arroyo, John and Carson, Alexandra May
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Material type: 
BookPublisher: Urban Affairs Review Description: 60(5), Sep, 2024: p.1476-1506.Subject(s): History, Black Heritage, National Register, Williams Avenue YWCA, Portland, Oregon, Cultural Heritage, Preservation, African American Community, Identity, Architecture , Block heritage, Portland, oregano, National register, Multilevel governance
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Urban Affairs ReviewSummary: This article highlights the significance of the Williams Avenue YWCA in Portland, Oregon, as a site of Black heritage recognized in the National Register of Historic Places. It explores the YWCA’s role as a community hub for African American women and families, providing social, educational, and cultural support during periods of segregation and systemic exclusion. The study underscores how the building embodies both architectural value and historical memory, serving as a testament to resilience and community organization. By situating the YWCA within broader narratives of Black heritage preservation, the paper emphasizes the importance of safeguarding such sites to honor cultural identity and ensure inclusive historical representation. Published in the context of heritage studies, the article contributes to ongoing debates about recognition, preservation, and the politics of memory in the United States. The paper examines the nomination of the Williams Avenue YWCA in Portland, Oregon, in the National Register of Historic Places as a crucial event in recognizing and preserving Black heritage within American national history. Our analytical framework combines Black geography and multilevel governance theory (MLG) to examine documents used for the nomination process. We unpack the historic significance of the Williams, illustrating its multifaceted role in Portland's African American community and emphasizing the role of various private and public actors in the nomination process. This analysis reveals that cities play a crucial role in protecting local history and highlights the importance of nurturing connections between cities and other levels of government. Moreover, it illustrates how the documents used for the nomination process are a tool for racial equity and it shows how historic preservation contributes to a more inclusive understanding of cities by celebrating their local, diverse, and pluralistic pasts.- Reproduced
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/10780874241226679
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Articles
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Indian Institute of Public Administration | 60(5), Sep, 2024: p.1476-1506 | Available | AR133930 |
This article highlights the significance of the Williams Avenue YWCA in Portland, Oregon, as a site of Black heritage recognized in the National Register of Historic Places. It explores the YWCA’s role as a community hub for African American women and families, providing social, educational, and cultural support during periods of segregation and systemic exclusion. The study underscores how the building embodies both architectural value and historical memory, serving as a testament to resilience and community organization. By situating the YWCA within broader narratives of Black heritage preservation, the paper emphasizes the importance of safeguarding such sites to honor cultural identity and ensure inclusive historical representation. Published in the context of heritage studies, the article contributes to ongoing debates about recognition, preservation, and the politics of memory in the United States. The paper examines the nomination of the Williams Avenue YWCA in Portland, Oregon, in the National Register of Historic Places as a crucial event in recognizing and preserving Black heritage within American national history. Our analytical framework combines Black geography and multilevel governance theory (MLG) to examine documents used for the nomination process. We unpack the historic significance of the Williams, illustrating its multifaceted role in Portland's African American community and emphasizing the role of various private and public actors in the nomination process. This analysis reveals that cities play a crucial role in protecting local history and highlights the importance of nurturing connections between cities and other levels of government. Moreover, it illustrates how the documents used for the nomination process are a tool for racial equity and it shows how historic preservation contributes to a more inclusive understanding of cities by celebrating their local, diverse, and pluralistic pasts.- Reproduced
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/10780874241226679
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