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Preservation Roundtable History, December 2010
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203744312
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Preservation Roundtable History, December 2010
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History
dinner at which was served such delicacies as "The Bonhome Richard
(salmon dish, with sauce Howlandaise, discovered on a remarkable
The Preservation Roundtable is an informal gathering of historic
Smithsonian voyage),' "Murtagh's Pearls of the Maine Soil (boiled
preservation professionals and advocates, founded in February 1969
potatoes of National Register quality),' and "The Importance of
by Frederick Gutheim, an urban affairs consultant and well-known
Being Ernest (ICOMOS green salad laced with a Feissty dressing)."
author of The Potomac and Worthy of a Nation. Original members were
Ernest Connally, Carl Feiss, John H. Hill, Richard H. Howland, Dorn
The Roundtable has no elected officers, but the position of President
C. McGrath, Jr., William J. Murtagh, Constance Werner Ramirez,
pro tem has been handed down from Frederick Gutheim to Richard
Joseph Watterson, and Russell B. Wright. Within the first ten years,
H. Howland, and from Constance Werner Ramirez to C. Dudley
membership grew to 35, including Charles H. Atherton, Gretchen
Brown. To meet at The Arts Club of Washington, the Roundtable
Gayle, George Karas, Russell Keune, Francis D. Lethbridge, James C.
must be sponsored by a member of the Club. Sponsors have included
Massey, Hugh Miller, M. Hamilton Morton, Terry B. Morton, Donald
Frederick Gutheim, Richard H. Howland, M. Hamilton Morton, and
Myer, John Poppeliers, Robert Rettig, Theodore Sande, Nancy Dixon
C. Dudley Brown.
Schultz, Ralph Schwarz, Ann Webster Smith, Margaret Sweeney, and
Wynant D. Vanderpool, Jr.
The administrative details of the Roundtable have been provided
over the years by a number of nonprofit organizations, including
The Roundtable encourages a broad and vigorous discussion of
the Smithsonian Institution, the U.S. National Committee of the
topics important to historic preservation. As Gutheim wrote in 1979,
International Council on Monuments and Sites (US/ICOMOS),
"In their specialized capacities and official positions those who
the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers,
compose this Round Table have little periodic opportunity informally
The Accokeek Foundation, the Preservation Action Foundation
and in a relaxed atmosphere to exchange experiences and views
(previously the Center for Preservation Initiatives), and the National
with their peers, and thus contribute to the larger understanding
Preservation Institute.
of their professional lives. Without this opportunity each of us
would be poorer. It is a continual reminder of what we owe to each
Today the regular, dues-paying membership is about 80 and
other. Over the years it has provided the social adhesion that has
attendance at lunches is about 25 each month, including several
allowed the Round Table to continue." Noted in Keeping Time by
guests. As Gutheim said in his remarks in 1979, and it is still true
Roundtable cofounder William J. Murtagh, the monthly luncheon is
today, "Once a month we have found a moment to put aside other
now a preservation institution in itself. Besides libations, lunch, and
cares and relax in the atmosphere of fellowship, to share common
opportunities to meet fellow professionals, the Roundtable provides
interests, to exchange views, to open our minds, and to grow a little.
an opportunity to introduce guests and make announcements about
What more can we ask?"
historic preservation activities. Guests have included Ada Louise
History compiled by Constance Werner Ramirez
Huxtable, Barclay G. Jones, and Sir Nikolas Pevsner.
revised December 2010
The Roundtable has always met at The Arts Club of Washington to
provide support for the preservation of this architectural survivor
of decades of building activity west of the White House. The
charge for lunch in 1969 was $2 and in 1975 the members agreed
to an assessment of $7 annually to cover administrative costs. In
1979, it adopted the official name of The Round Table for Historic
Preservation and celebrated its tenth anniversary with a black tie