Hello!
Well, I am back from a holiday in England. It was a great 30 days spent mostly with my daughter and her family. I have written a travelogue; you can get a copy (about 10 pages with photos) by writing me at: edudell@sbcglobal.net. If you only want to have installments sent to you daily until you have the last installment, tell me in your e-mail.
January is a great month for you to be thinking about how you can impact African American History Month. The Buffalo Soldiers National Museum is partnering with The Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC, and the U.S. Department of Reclamations to present "The Forgotten Faces of Ft. Craig" during February.
Ms. Amanda Danning, forensic sculptor, will use the precisely engineered cast produced by University of Houston Professor, Dr. Ali Kamrani to perform a live, progressive reconstruction of the face of U.S. Army Pvt. Thomas Smith, a Buffalo Soldier. Pvt. Smith was identified by coparing the details of his remains with the military enlistment records from the 1800s in New Mexico. This event will trace the story of grave robbers, forensic science, and that of the Buffalo Soldiers at Ft. Craig, New Mexico. This month-long activity will take place at 4816 Main Street (near Rosedale, next to the Museum of Contemporary Crafts). General single day admission is only $15 for each 1 1/4 hour session. If you wish to be involved for each session, contact me for that information. For further information and/or to become an underwriting sponsor, contact me by calling the museum at 713-942-8920. If I am out, ask for the museum founder, Captain Paul Matthews.
You can also leave your own legacy in stone by contributing to the "Soldiers Plaza," a memorial park to be built on the grounds of the historic Houston Light Guard Armory. The armory will also become the new national headquarters for the museum. The project is seeking sponsors who will have their name, the name of a veteran in their family, or to honor another person with a brick or a granite paver. You can contribute $10,000 or $1,000 or $500 or $100. For further information, contact me or Captain Matthews.
If you want to share in the honoring of "Women in the Military" museum gala, contact me for a ticket (or for group tickets) before all seats are taken. The event takes place February 26th at 6:30 p.m. at J.W. Marriott, 5150 Westheimer Road in Houston. Ticket donations are $65 each. You can also become a table sponsor for $650, a general event sponsor for $1,000 or $5,000. There are also event sponsorships available for $10,000 or $25,000 or $50,000. Contact me and I will give you more information.
For those of you who would like to really leave your name in history, you can underwrite a portion of the preservation and renovations of the historic armory. You can underwrite the costs for a room, an exhibit, the main exhibit hall, an office, the library, or any of the other 32 spaces. Your name, or the name of your company, club, church, etc., will be boldly listed above the entrance to the space. Contact me and I will send you a "Preservation Sponsorship" packet.
To find out more about the work we are doing with the museum, visit us online at:
www.buffalosoldiermuseum.com.
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Showing posts with label preservation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label preservation. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
The "Unveiling" In Nashville
Edward G. Udell, Sr., community consultant with the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum in Houston, Texas has been selected for the second year in a row as a Diversity Scholar with the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Ed will be attending the 2009 National Preservation Conference in Nashville, Tennessee October 12 - 16 where he will unveil the "Save The Armory" Project.
The web site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation tells their story: The National Trust for Historic Preservation provides leadership, education, advocacy, and resources to save America's diverse historic places and revitalize our communities. On his own, Ed Udell had been helping in several other cities with saving properties and doing community clean-up. His most recent project before working with the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum was helping with clean-up efforts resulting from Hurricane Rita and Hurricane Katrina. He spent almost 8 months away from Houston, actually living in a warehouse or sleeping in damaged hotels in order to help with those clean-up challenges.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a private, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to saving historic places and revitalizing America's communities. Recipient of the National Humanities Medal, the Trust was founded in 1949 and provides leadership, education, advocacy, and resources to protect the irreplaceable places that tell America's story. Staff at the Washington, DC, headquarters, six regional offices and 29 historic sites work with the Trust's 270,000 members and thousands of preservation groups in all 50 states.
The need for the National Trust for Historic Preservation has increased since its founding in 1949. When historic buildings and neighborhoods are torn down or allowed to deteriorate, a part of our past disappears forever. When that happens, we lose history that helps us know who we are, and we lose opportunities to live and work in the kinds of interesting and attractive surroundings that older buildings can provide. The historic Houston Light Guard Armory has rich history that must be shared. When restoration is completed, it will also provide needed space for the expansion of the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum's exhibits, and educational and community outreach programs.
Other information from the National Trust for Historic Preservation talks about the Diversity Scholarship Program: Since 1992, the Diversity Scholarship Program (DSP) has provided financial assistance (which can covers registration and shared lodging) to more than 1,100 individuals from diverse racial, ethnic, economic and cultural backgrounds. The goal of the Diversity Scholarship Program is to increase the diversity of participants at the annual National Preservation Conference and in the preservation movement. The Program provides financial assistance to approximately 60 community leaders from diverse social, economic, racial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds to attend the National Preservation Conference. Through interactive sessions, presentations, informal gatherings, and tours of the host city and surrounding areas, participants will learn the necessary tools to strengthen their commitment and effectiveness in preserving historic places and revitalizing communities.
The National Trust seeks culturally diverse applicants whose attendance at the Conference will benefit their communities and whose commitment to historic preservation will be reinforced by their participation. Recipients will have an opportunity to express their perspectives during the Conference and to take advantage of National Trust programs after the Conference. The balance to cover Mr. Udell's participation in the Conference will come from those who donate to the general operating expenses of the museum. Ed is trusting that several will step forward and help the museum with this opportunity by contacting the museum before he leaves the morning of October 12th.
Melissa Thibodeaux, professional actress and storyteller with the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum, encouraged Mr. Udell to apply for a diversity scholarship in 2008. He applied and was selected. While attending the conference in Tulsa, Oklahoma, birthplace of his mother, he attended several workshops and made several field trips to learn more about preserving America's heritage. Ed made some friends and began to share with them the need to save the historic Houston Light Guard Armory in Houston. Over the years, transients have occupied the armory, and the elements, including Hurricane Ike, have wrecked havoc on the building. Prior to the sale of the building to the city by the State of Texas, Houston Community College used the site for storage.
The Houston Light Guard Armory, built in 1925, is one of the oldest National Guard companies in the state of Texas, and was chartered in April 21, 1873---San Jacinto Day. In 1938, The Houston Light Guard's Veterans Association relinquished the property to the state. At one time, the militia attached to the armory had the top drilling militia unit in the nation. This history must be preserved and shared with future generations. Thanks to the Albert and Ethel Herzstein Charitable Foundation, Houston Endowment, The Brown Foundation, Chevron Oil Company, Shell Oil Company, Marathon Oil Company, the "Preservation Fund" of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and other local businesses, the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum was able to purchase the armory, hire engineering and architectural teams, complete artistic renderings, submit architectural plans for approval, and cover some preliminary research and staffing.
Before the economic downturn, members of the Greater Houston Partnership, Houston's local chamber of commerce, and several groups had voiced their support of the project. The museum was looking forward to receiving the $4.1 million necessary to do the major renovations of the armory. After the downturn, early supporters had to put the armory on hold. However, Houston Community College had already signed on to lease space from the museum to offer some special classes in "Global Studies," beginning in 2010---the renovations had to be started soon.
The founder of the museum, Captain Paul J. Matthews, was not deterred by the economic downturn; he developed Plan B. This plan would be carried out by the museum's first paid executive director, Mrs. Cherrie Washington. It entails 8,000 bricks being made available as memorial bricks for the outdoor Soldiers Plaza to honor all veterans. This paver program has bricks that are standard and crimson, and pavers made of granite. The plan involves getting people to invest in the bricks and pavers as a way to honor veterans and others. When many of the bricks and pavers have been sponsored, the contractor will begin the renovations, with the knowledge funding will continue. Also, a private source is considering putting up some funds so the project does not lose momentum in the midst of current economic challenges.
When Mr. Udell unveils the "Save The Armory Project" in Nashville in October, he is hoping to connect with new funders, as well as encourage many to at least invest in a brick or a paver. Between now and November 1, 2010 his challenge is to raise $1 million to ensure the project stays on track. This means 1,000 donors can invest in a $1,000 granite paver; several companies can give $100,000 or more each; and two or three foundations can step forward with a $250,000 or $500,000 grant.
Anyone interested in participating in the "Save The Armory Project," can contact Ed by calling the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum office at 713-942-8920.
The web site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation tells their story: The National Trust for Historic Preservation provides leadership, education, advocacy, and resources to save America's diverse historic places and revitalize our communities. On his own, Ed Udell had been helping in several other cities with saving properties and doing community clean-up. His most recent project before working with the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum was helping with clean-up efforts resulting from Hurricane Rita and Hurricane Katrina. He spent almost 8 months away from Houston, actually living in a warehouse or sleeping in damaged hotels in order to help with those clean-up challenges.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a private, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to saving historic places and revitalizing America's communities. Recipient of the National Humanities Medal, the Trust was founded in 1949 and provides leadership, education, advocacy, and resources to protect the irreplaceable places that tell America's story. Staff at the Washington, DC, headquarters, six regional offices and 29 historic sites work with the Trust's 270,000 members and thousands of preservation groups in all 50 states.
The need for the National Trust for Historic Preservation has increased since its founding in 1949. When historic buildings and neighborhoods are torn down or allowed to deteriorate, a part of our past disappears forever. When that happens, we lose history that helps us know who we are, and we lose opportunities to live and work in the kinds of interesting and attractive surroundings that older buildings can provide. The historic Houston Light Guard Armory has rich history that must be shared. When restoration is completed, it will also provide needed space for the expansion of the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum's exhibits, and educational and community outreach programs.
Other information from the National Trust for Historic Preservation talks about the Diversity Scholarship Program: Since 1992, the Diversity Scholarship Program (DSP) has provided financial assistance (which can covers registration and shared lodging) to more than 1,100 individuals from diverse racial, ethnic, economic and cultural backgrounds. The goal of the Diversity Scholarship Program is to increase the diversity of participants at the annual National Preservation Conference and in the preservation movement. The Program provides financial assistance to approximately 60 community leaders from diverse social, economic, racial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds to attend the National Preservation Conference. Through interactive sessions, presentations, informal gatherings, and tours of the host city and surrounding areas, participants will learn the necessary tools to strengthen their commitment and effectiveness in preserving historic places and revitalizing communities.
The National Trust seeks culturally diverse applicants whose attendance at the Conference will benefit their communities and whose commitment to historic preservation will be reinforced by their participation. Recipients will have an opportunity to express their perspectives during the Conference and to take advantage of National Trust programs after the Conference. The balance to cover Mr. Udell's participation in the Conference will come from those who donate to the general operating expenses of the museum. Ed is trusting that several will step forward and help the museum with this opportunity by contacting the museum before he leaves the morning of October 12th.
Melissa Thibodeaux, professional actress and storyteller with the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum, encouraged Mr. Udell to apply for a diversity scholarship in 2008. He applied and was selected. While attending the conference in Tulsa, Oklahoma, birthplace of his mother, he attended several workshops and made several field trips to learn more about preserving America's heritage. Ed made some friends and began to share with them the need to save the historic Houston Light Guard Armory in Houston. Over the years, transients have occupied the armory, and the elements, including Hurricane Ike, have wrecked havoc on the building. Prior to the sale of the building to the city by the State of Texas, Houston Community College used the site for storage.
The Houston Light Guard Armory, built in 1925, is one of the oldest National Guard companies in the state of Texas, and was chartered in April 21, 1873---San Jacinto Day. In 1938, The Houston Light Guard's Veterans Association relinquished the property to the state. At one time, the militia attached to the armory had the top drilling militia unit in the nation. This history must be preserved and shared with future generations. Thanks to the Albert and Ethel Herzstein Charitable Foundation, Houston Endowment, The Brown Foundation, Chevron Oil Company, Shell Oil Company, Marathon Oil Company, the "Preservation Fund" of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and other local businesses, the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum was able to purchase the armory, hire engineering and architectural teams, complete artistic renderings, submit architectural plans for approval, and cover some preliminary research and staffing.
Before the economic downturn, members of the Greater Houston Partnership, Houston's local chamber of commerce, and several groups had voiced their support of the project. The museum was looking forward to receiving the $4.1 million necessary to do the major renovations of the armory. After the downturn, early supporters had to put the armory on hold. However, Houston Community College had already signed on to lease space from the museum to offer some special classes in "Global Studies," beginning in 2010---the renovations had to be started soon.
The founder of the museum, Captain Paul J. Matthews, was not deterred by the economic downturn; he developed Plan B. This plan would be carried out by the museum's first paid executive director, Mrs. Cherrie Washington. It entails 8,000 bricks being made available as memorial bricks for the outdoor Soldiers Plaza to honor all veterans. This paver program has bricks that are standard and crimson, and pavers made of granite. The plan involves getting people to invest in the bricks and pavers as a way to honor veterans and others. When many of the bricks and pavers have been sponsored, the contractor will begin the renovations, with the knowledge funding will continue. Also, a private source is considering putting up some funds so the project does not lose momentum in the midst of current economic challenges.
When Mr. Udell unveils the "Save The Armory Project" in Nashville in October, he is hoping to connect with new funders, as well as encourage many to at least invest in a brick or a paver. Between now and November 1, 2010 his challenge is to raise $1 million to ensure the project stays on track. This means 1,000 donors can invest in a $1,000 granite paver; several companies can give $100,000 or more each; and two or three foundations can step forward with a $250,000 or $500,000 grant.
Anyone interested in participating in the "Save The Armory Project," can contact Ed by calling the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum office at 713-942-8920.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Making National News
From the National Trust for Historic Preservation "Diversity Scholarship Program Alumni Newsletter, September, 2009:
An ambitious capital campaign attempts to save one of Houston’s finest architectural structures from decades of abandonment and neglect
Old Armory
The architectural majesty of the Houston Light Guard Armory, designed in 1925, is marked by its interior and exterior facade and its decorated past. After serving 13 years as home of the Houston National Guard, the property was deeded to the State of Texas. For nearly half a century, the “old armory” endured harsh Gulf Coast weather conditions, vandalism, and ill-fated acquisition attempts. In 2008 the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum successfully purchased the property to serve as home of the only nationally recognized museum solely dedicated to preserving the legacy of the African American soldier. With green building restoration plans underway, this longtime “community eyesore” may reclaim its architectural and historic grandeur - entrusting a rich preservation legacy to its new owners.
Edward “Ed” Udell serves as the Donor Development director for the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum and played a critical role in helping the museum founder, Captain Paul Matthews, raise the funds to purchase the “old armory” in April 2008. With an extensive background in fundraising and nearly 30 years of preservation experience, Udell is well suited to take on some of the financial challenges with restoring the Houston landmark. Unfazed by the downward spiraling economy, Udell, Matthews, museum board members, and friends of the museum are now helping to raise $4.1 million to renovate and preserve the historic site. Many key people, including Mayor Bill White and Tracye McDaniel of the Greater Houston Partnership are also helping with this effort.
To date, the museum has received cash and pledges from major foundations and corporations such as The Albert and Ethel Herzstein Charitable Foundation, Houston Endowment, Marathon Oil, Chevron Oil, Wells Fargo Bank, CenterPoint Energy, and The Brown Foundation. It has also received in-kind contributions from Comcast, Continental Airlines, and members of the African American Press in Greater Houston. The National Trust for Historic Preservation provided funding to help with the initial design work. Udell is also involved in the “Leave A Legacy…Buy A Brick” paver program to raise at least $2 million. He intends to work closely with the museum founder to develop additional programming to raise another $2 million to meet the funding goal for full renovation.
Udell performs much of his museum development and fundraising work for the armory on a volunteer basis.
It was his combined passions for preservation and community activism that landed him slots as a 2008 and a 2009 Diversity Scholar. His goal in attending the Tulsa National Preservation Conference in 2008 was to work alongside the National Trust “to help connect to the resources of people and financial resources to make the effort with the armory a stronger reality.” Udell will represent the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum and exhibit a poster presentation that features the old armory at the 2009 National Preservation Conference in Nashville, Tenn.
For more information about the restoration of the Houston Light Guard Armory and the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum, visit http://offcite.org/2009/03/26/houston-light-guard-armory-buffalo-soldiers or www.buffalosoldiermuseum.com.
_______________________
An ambitious capital campaign attempts to save one of Houston’s finest architectural structures from decades of abandonment and neglect
Old Armory
The architectural majesty of the Houston Light Guard Armory, designed in 1925, is marked by its interior and exterior facade and its decorated past. After serving 13 years as home of the Houston National Guard, the property was deeded to the State of Texas. For nearly half a century, the “old armory” endured harsh Gulf Coast weather conditions, vandalism, and ill-fated acquisition attempts. In 2008 the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum successfully purchased the property to serve as home of the only nationally recognized museum solely dedicated to preserving the legacy of the African American soldier. With green building restoration plans underway, this longtime “community eyesore” may reclaim its architectural and historic grandeur - entrusting a rich preservation legacy to its new owners.
Edward “Ed” Udell serves as the Donor Development director for the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum and played a critical role in helping the museum founder, Captain Paul Matthews, raise the funds to purchase the “old armory” in April 2008. With an extensive background in fundraising and nearly 30 years of preservation experience, Udell is well suited to take on some of the financial challenges with restoring the Houston landmark. Unfazed by the downward spiraling economy, Udell, Matthews, museum board members, and friends of the museum are now helping to raise $4.1 million to renovate and preserve the historic site. Many key people, including Mayor Bill White and Tracye McDaniel of the Greater Houston Partnership are also helping with this effort.
To date, the museum has received cash and pledges from major foundations and corporations such as The Albert and Ethel Herzstein Charitable Foundation, Houston Endowment, Marathon Oil, Chevron Oil, Wells Fargo Bank, CenterPoint Energy, and The Brown Foundation. It has also received in-kind contributions from Comcast, Continental Airlines, and members of the African American Press in Greater Houston. The National Trust for Historic Preservation provided funding to help with the initial design work. Udell is also involved in the “Leave A Legacy…Buy A Brick” paver program to raise at least $2 million. He intends to work closely with the museum founder to develop additional programming to raise another $2 million to meet the funding goal for full renovation.
Udell performs much of his museum development and fundraising work for the armory on a volunteer basis.
It was his combined passions for preservation and community activism that landed him slots as a 2008 and a 2009 Diversity Scholar. His goal in attending the Tulsa National Preservation Conference in 2008 was to work alongside the National Trust “to help connect to the resources of people and financial resources to make the effort with the armory a stronger reality.” Udell will represent the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum and exhibit a poster presentation that features the old armory at the 2009 National Preservation Conference in Nashville, Tenn.
For more information about the restoration of the Houston Light Guard Armory and the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum, visit http://offcite.org/2009/03/26/houston-light-guard-armory-buffalo-soldiers or www.buffalosoldiermuseum.com.
_______________________
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