New Mexico Historic Preservation Division Hosts Virtual Heritage Preservation Awards on May 21

May 13th, 2021

SANTA FE – Presented by the Cultural Properties Review Committee, the New Mexico Historic Preservation Division (HPD) will host the Heritage Preservation Awards during an online ceremony at 1 p.m. MDT on Friday, May 21, 2021. The Heritage Preservation Awards is an annual event that recognizes outstanding projects, individuals, and organizations whose contributions demonstrate significant achievements in preserving the heritage of New Mexico. 

First presented by the Cultural Properties Review Committee in 1973, the Heritage Preservation Awards coincide with Historic Preservation Month, held annually in May. Just like in previous years, HPD has issued a poster in celebration of Historic Preservation Month, designed by staff architect Harvey Kaplan with photographs of New Mexicans during the past year taken by photographer Don Usner. 

For more information about the Heritage Preservation Awards, including instructions on how to watch the event, visit http://nmhistoricpreservation.org/programs/preservation-month.html 

This year’s Heritage Preservation Awards will be presented to seven projects listed below. 

Heritage Publication Award  Dr. Jamie Lara Bronstein, Department of History, New Mexico State University and Dr. Durwood Ball, New Mexico Historical Review. Presented by Dr. Matthew Bandy, this award recognizes Dr. Bronstein’s 2018 article, "‘Ladies, have you heard?’ The Strange Career of New Mexico’s Equal Rights Amendments," which appeared in the New Mexico Historical Review.  

Heritage Publication Award  Dr. Enrique R. Lamadrid and Moises Gonzales, of the University of New Mexico Press. Presented by Robert Martinez, This award recognizes the book “Nación Genízara: Ethnogenesis, Place, and Identity in New Mexico,” which examines the history, cultural evolution, and survival of the Genizaro people. Edited by Lamadrid and Gonzales, and published by the University of New Mexico Press. 

Heritage Community Award  The community of Duran, Gary Sanchez, Joseph Hindi, and Katie Dix. Presented by Dr. Audra Bellmore, this award recognizes the support of the community of Duran, including Joseph Hindi, Gary Sanchez, and consultant Katie Dix for the listing of the Duran Historic District in the National Register of Historic Places. 

Architectural Heritage Award  Santa Fe County Administration Building Restoration. Presented by Francisco Uviña, this award recognizes the restoration of the Santa Fe County Courthouse building designed by John Gaw Meem. Rehabilitation included removal of a 1970s addition and restoration of the historic courtyard as well as interior updates to ensure ADA accessibility and restoration of fixtures including tin chandeliers and courthouse pews. This award goes to representatives from Santa Fe County and contractors Jaynes Corporation and Studio Southwest Architects.  

Archaeological Heritage Award  Natural Resources Conservation Service, New Mexico Office. Presented by Dr. Hannah Mattson, this award recognizes the completion of an agreement to streamline and professionalize how compliance review is completed for the hundreds of projects Natural Resources Conservation Service completes each year. This award goes to Xavier Montoya, Steve Kadas, and William Volf of the New Mexico Office.  

Lifetime Achievement Award  Edgar Boles. Presented by Dr. Kelly Jenks, this award recognizes Boles for a life dedicated to historic preservation. After moving to Albuquerque from Kansas in 1981, he taught at the University of New Mexico, attained his architectural registration, and helped launch the MainStreet program. In 1991, Boles joined HPD and provided local and tribal assistance and compliance review, among other duties. Hired as a preservation planner in Albuquerque, he coordinated the work of the city’s preservation program. He retired in 2013.  

Lifetime Achievement Award  Christopher Wilson, University of New Mexico. Presented by Ronald Toya, the award recognizes Wilson for a life dedicated to historic preservation. Beginning in 1982, Chris worked for the Las Vegas Citizen’s Committee for Historic Preservation, HPD, and the City of Albuquerque, resulting in several publications. In the mid-1990s, Chris developed the six-course Graduate Certificate in Historic Preservation and Regionalism at the UNM School of Architecture and Planning.