With support from the University of Richmond

History News Network

History News Network puts current events into historical perspective. Subscribe to our newsletter for new perspectives on the ways history continues to resonate in the present. Explore our archive of thousands of original op-eds and curated stories from around the web. Join us to learn more about the past, now.

J. Paul Loether: National Register and Landmarks Chief Named

Connecticut’s deputy state historic preservation officer J. Paul Loether joins the National Park Service (NPS) in January as Chief of the National Register of Historic Places and National Historic Landmarks Division. The Register and Landmarks Division are part of the NPS Historical Documentation Programs, Cultural Resources. Mr. Loether begins his NPS service on Jan. 22, 2007.

“Mr. Loether brings a lifetime of historic preservation experience in Connecticut to benefit these national programs,” said Antoinette Lee, the NPS Assistant Associate Director for Historical Documentation Programs.

Lee said Mr. Loether is a proven manager and a recognized expert in the National Register of Historic Places nominations, historical and architectural surveys, and the use of this information in historic rehabilitation, city planning, and research. He holds a Master of Arts degree in public policy and a Bachelor of Arts degree in history, both from Trinity College (CT.)

Mr. Loether will be responsible for managing the Federal Government’s premier historical designation programs so that they reflect the best in scholarly documentation and public use of this information. The National Register of Historic Places is the nation’s official list of properties—districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects—that are significant at the national, state, and local levels. National Historic Landmarks are acknowledged as among the nation’s most significant places that possess exceptional value or quality in illustrating and interpreting the heritage of the United States. Both programs recognize and promote preservation efforts of private organizations, individuals, and government agencies.

Deputy state historic preservation officer is part of Mr. Loether’s current title. He is also Connecticut’s Director of Culture, both titles fall under the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism. He is responsible for directing the State Historic Preservation Office and the federal National Register Program in the state. Prior to this, he was National Register specialist with the Connecticut Historical Commission where he wrote, reviewed, and edited National Register and State Register nominations and increased participation in the state’s Certified Local Government Program.

Mr. Loether headed his own firm for two years, completing historical surveys, National Register nominations, and project applications for the Federal historic tax incentives program.

He also served as Director of Technical Services at the New Haven Preservation Trust, during which time he conducted the historic resource survey of the City of New Haven, covering more than 6,000 buildings, and served as historic preservation rehabilitation consultant for the New Haven Historic District Commission. Previous to this, Mr. Loether served as Assistant Director of the Greater Middletown Preservation Trust and directed historical and architectural surveys of the Connecticut towns of East Hampton, Portland, Cromwell, and Middlefield.
Read entire article at Press Release-- NPS