For the Record: Reclaiming Women’s History

Of the more than 1,300 local landmarks in the City of Los Angeles, less than three percent—that’s right, three—reference the history or contributions of women. In the Season 5 finale, we hear from some of the people working to change that by amending nominations for existing landmarks (known in L.A. as Historic-Cultural Monuments, or HCMs).

Students Mel James, Leslie Madrigal, and Evan McAvenia discuss their research for an advanced documentation class, in which ten students uncovered women’s connections to designated HCMs. Doctoral student Arabella Delgado shares how she laid the groundwork for the class (taught by alumna Sian Winship) in an internship with the Los Angeles Conservancy. And Chris Morris of the National Trust for Historic Preservation talks about the role of the class in the ongoing Los Angeles Women’s Landmarks Project—a collaboration between the Trust, the Conservancy, and the City’s Office of Historic Resources that seeks to make Los Angeles a model of more equitable landmarking practice.

See episode page for photos, resources, and transcript.

Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn!