New Solutions for House Museums: Ensuring the Long-Term Preservation of America's Historic Houses is a new book by Donna Ann Harris, Heritage Consulting, Inc. (Chicago). Ms. Harris is a featured speaker at Oklahoma's 19th Annual Statewide Preservation Conference to be held June 6-8 in historic downtown Guthrie. She will discuss the topic of her new book as Preservation Oklahoma, Inc.'s special guest speaker for the organization's annual meeting and luncheon, a conference special event on Thursday, June 7.

A generational shift is occurring at historic house museums as board members and volunteers retire while few young people step forward to take their place. These landmarks are also plagued with serious deferred maintenance, and many have no endowment funds. What will happen to these sites in the next ten years, and what can be done to assure their continued preservation for generations to come? Harris examines possible options and provides a decision-making methodology as well as a dozen case studies of house museums that have made a successful transition to a new owner or user.

Donna Ann Harris has served in executive and project manager capacities in the historic preservation field for more than twenty years. In 2004, she founded the nationwide consulting firm Heritage Consulting Inc., which provides training and consultation services in historic preservation, commercial district revitalization and nonprofit organizational development. She speaks and writes widely on historic preservation issues.

Following POK's luncheon, Ms. Harris will conduct a special half-day session entitled Making Community History the Focus of Main Street: A Workshop for Downtown Revitalization Managers (pre-registration required). The workshop will be a highly entertaining and informative experience for those who attend.

For more information about Preservation is a Capitol Idea: Oklahoma's 19th Annual Statewide Preservation Conference, visit the State Historic Preservation Office's Web site or contact Melvena Heisch at 405.522.4484 or mheisch@okhistory.org.