Recommended Reading Round Up - October 2018

 Every Friday, the Tiny Activist Project recommends a book on our social media accounts. Enjoy our monthly roundup of the recommendations! Check the book out from your local library (request it if they do not have a copy as a part of their collection) or buy a personal copy to read and share with friends. 

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1. Why Old Places Matter by Thompson Mayes is a brand new release that should not be missed. Mayes’ format makes it an easy read. The chapters can be read as stand alone essays and are full of lovely color images of historic places. Why Old Places Matter delves into individual identity, sustainability, ancestors, and more. This is not your typical book about saving places... it is more about the heart of places, written from Tom’s thoughtful perspective. 
We highly recommend checking out this book! 

 

2. If you want a book for a baby urbanist, Tiny Town by Suzy Ultman is the perfect choice! This board book will have next generation of tiny activists flipping through different shops that make a Tiny Town a healthy walkable community for all.

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3. We have been Alexandra Lange fans for years. Would even go as far as to say she is this generation’s Ada Louise Huxtable. Lange’s architecture/design/urbanism criticism pieces are thoughtful and we were very excited when her book The Design of Childhood was released earlier this year.

Cities and structures should be welcoming to people of all ages. Lange’s book delves into the history of design for youth and you will conclude with a strong understanding of what urbanists (planners/architects/community leaders) should be striving for. 

 

4. Create an urbanist by showing off a bit of Main Street Magic.Use this book to help connect children to historic downtowns! Main Street Magic by Ingela P. Arrhenius will brighten up story-time. Every page takes you on an adventure to discover the hidden stories of local shops. Lift the cleverly designed flaps and you never know what you will find! Our personal favorite pages are about a museum! You will be shocked to find what is hiding inside an Egyptian sarcophagus. 

Recommended Reading Round Up- September 2018

 Every Friday, the Tiny Activist Project recommends a book on our social media accounts. We will do a roundup of the recommendations on the blog each month. Check the book out from your local library (request it if they do not have a copy as a part of their collection) or buy a personal copy to read and share with friends. 

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 1.    Susan B. Anthony Slept Here: A Guide to American Women’s Landmarks by Lynn Sheer is a 500+ page book that tells mini stories of historic sites, statues, paintings, and more tied to important women of the past. Chapters are split up by state, so it can also serve as a handy travel guide 

You will love learning about women you have never heard about before. Whether it is finding out about Agnus Freeman’s life as a pioneer mother in Nebraska or Hawaii’s High Chieftess Kapiolani’s hike up a volcano and descent into the crater to defy the wrath of Pele (goddess of fire), you will find out stories that encompass a broad spectrum of the United States of America’s female history. 

 2.    We all know Jane Jacobs loved to ride her bike. You & A Bike & A Road by Eleanor Davis delves into the physical and emotional adventure one goes on while cycling across America. If you are interested in learning more about road issues for cyclists, how to plan a long distance bikepacking trip, or you like lovely illustrations this graphic novel is for you.

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 3.    I was a contributor to the recently released 3rd edition of Historic Preservation: An Introduction to Its History, Principles, and Practice by Ilene Tyler, Norm Tyler, and Ted Ligibel. Are you looking for a better understanding of what types of historic preservation exist, the legalities behind it all, technology, historic districts, funding, and more? This book is the perfect intro guide for someone interested in historic preservation! This edition received a thorough rewrite with new case studies, chapters, and more! 

 4.    Activity books count ... right? Are you looking for a city your Tiny Jane can rule over or your Tiny Activist can design? Check out Make It By Hans Papercraft: Paper Town. You get to colour, cut out, and construct20 buildings! This is a perfect book to help encourage a future urbanist or provide fun decorations for your office. 

Break The Echo Chamber

With all of the historic preservation conferences offered, how does one determine what conference will most benefit his/her historic preservation career? Every year I look at the growing list of historic preservation specialized conferences and try to determine, which can fit into my budget and will benefit my continuing education. With the different specializations in historic preservation (surveying, trades, advocacy, etc.,) it would make sense to go to the conference with a focus that pairs with one’s specialty, but I propose that it may be hindrance to professional growth.

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Meet The 2017 Tiny Jane Scholarship Recipients

The Young Ohio Preservationists are committed to broadening the awareness of historic preservation and supporting emerging professionals in the field. In 2017, YOP partnered with the Tiny Jane Project (my passion project) and members of the Rust Belt Coalition of Young Preservationists to launch the first Tiny Jane Scholarship.

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SEW YOUR OWN TINY JANE

 

Are you a crafty preservationist? We wanted to teach you how to sew your own Tiny Jane Jacobs!*  You should able to sew Tiny Jane in an afternoon.  Have fun creating your own Tiny Jane and do not forget to share her adventures on social media with #tinyjanejacobs.

Step 1- Cut and pin the pattern.  

Cut your Tiny Jane doll along the dotted line. Once you have cut the pattern, pin the front and back of Tiny Jane together. Make sure to have the printed side facing inward. You can pin in the center of the doll or along the edges, depending on your preference.

Step 2- Start sewing!

Sew by hand or with a machine, in a well lit area to see the printed image through the fabric. Sew along Jane’s perimeter or just inside to avoid white showing once you turn her right-side-out. Make sure to leave a gap along her side that is at least 1.5 inches for flipping

Step 3- Flip her inside out!

Before you flip Tiny Jane, cut at the base of her neck, armpits, to either side of her legs and around her curved elements (head, hands, feet). These “notches” will help with flipping, and help her retain curves.

Flipping Tiny Jane right-side-out requires patience and chopsticks, so order some take out. We recommend doing a variation of this youtube tutorial. Put one chopstick inside of Tiny Jane’s appendage, and use the second chopstick to flip the fabric.

Step 4- Fill her with stuffing!

Each sew your own kit comes with stuffing, but you can get creative!  Fill Tiny Jane with beans if you want added weight. Fill her with dried lavender if you want a smell good Tiny Jane. If you want her to be bendy, you could create a wire skeleton.  Stuff her as much or as little as you would like.

Step 5- Finish sewing Tiny Jane.

You can quickly sew her shut with a blue thread that matches her dress using an exterior stitch or you can use the hidden stitch to hide your work. We think both options look great!  Once you are done sewing, take your Tiny Jane on an adventure.

 

If you have any questions about sewing your Tiny Jane, email me@sarahmarsom.com.

*Tiny Jane Jacobs was illustrated by Shannon May.

LOCAL DESIGNATION: MCCLURE-NESBITT MOTOR COMPANY

The growth of the car industry was reflected in the city of Columbus’s growth.Following World War I, the city boomed and new automobile-dependent areas of the city were built in Clintonville, Old Beechwold, Linden, and Westgate, while the suburban communities of Grandview, Upper Arlington and Bexley also thrived.  The Ohio State University saw growth in enrollment, and constructed a large football stadium; the Ohio Theater became a downtown cultural institution; and the Leveque Tower was constructed and became the fifth tallest building in the world at that time. The expanding footprint of the metropolitan area and new car-dependent suburbs led to the formation of car dealerships downtown and along the city’s neighborhood commercial corridors. 

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CORPORATE STORYTELLING: VF CORPORATION

Since its founding in 1899, as the Reading Glove and Mitten Manufacturing Company, VF Corporation has created garments. Today VF Corporation is known for Lee and Wrangler jeans, The North Face, and Nautica (to name a few of their brands), but one of their original factories produced hosiery.

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HISTORIC PRESERVATION: AN INTRODUCTION TO ITS HISTORY, PRINCIPLES, AND PRACTICE

America celebrated the 50th anniversaryof the National Historic PreservationAct in 2016The National Historic Preservation Act shaped much of what we know about historic preservation today, it created the National Register of Historic Places, State Historic Preservation Offices, Section 106 Review Process, and more. These tools have allowed us to protect historic structures and landscapes from destruction, develop financial incentives, and protect the past to enhance the future.

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