MARIE NELSON is a staff member of the State Historical Preservation Office in Sacramento. She specializes in the documentation and interpretation of cultural resources.

SUBJECT: Ms. Nelson discussed SHPO documentation and interpretation of cultural resources. Some of her suggestions for GLBT activists and organizations:

Develop context for GLBT history, events and places ahead of the reviewing agency. Think about patterns of events as well as important persons.

Tie GLBT history into a larger historical context that is more familiar to the agency gatekeepers.

Seek multiple property nominations for sites and historical events.

Establish a relationship with the agency gatekeepers beyond any single issue or nomination.

Recognize that the California Register permits more latitude than the National Register (CA Register not specifically bound by the 50 year rule).


GENE PETERSON is a licensed contractor in the State of California and has constructed new residences and restored numerous San Francisco Victorians.


CHRIS REED'S research is focused on the making of a gay commercial district in Chicago. Chris is an associate professor and chair of the Art Department at Lake Forest College, Illinois.


PAUL REYNOLDS is a homeowner in the Bernal Heights district of San Francisco.


JEFF SAMUDIO is a principal at Design Aid Architects, a firm involved in the rehabilitation and restoration of registered landmarks, planning for historic districts, and cultural resource management. Jeff is the producer and editor of the "Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Historic Sites Map." In addition to his duties as a State of California Historic Resources Commissioner, Jeff is also co-author of a new book on Los Angeles.

SUBJECT: Discussed the LA GLBT Historic Sites Map project. Some of his other points:

Local groups must act locally to collect and present history and catalogue important sites.

Use the local importance of sites and the larger context of the national GLBT movement as a springboard for national recognition of local sites.

Recognize that the preservation establishment has been slow to embrace and recognize GLBT sites and the ways in which existing landmarks have GLBT historic significance.


ELLEN SCHUMER is the most requested docent on the San Francisco City Hall tour program.

SUBJECT: Tour of City Hall with perspective on Harvey Milk

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