Society of Architectural Historians. Marion Dean Ross/Pacific Northwest Chapter

The Society of Architectural Historians was founded on the East Coast, at Harvard University, in 1940 to promote the study of worldwide architecture. In 1954, a West Coast chapter named the Pacific Section was formed at the call of Elliot A. P. Evans, curator of the California Society of Pioneers. It was the sixth local or regional chapter of the Society to be organized. Its early meetings typically were held in the San Francisco Bay region. In 1962, the spread-out Pacific Coast constituency was subdivided with the organization of a Southern California Chapter. The balance of the jurisdiction, ranging from San Francisco Bay north to encompass the Pacific Northwest, adopted the name Northern Pacific Coast Chapter in 1965. The northern group reorganized once more, separating from California altogether in 1995 and adopting the name of its late leader, Marion Dean Ross, professor at the University of Oregon School of Architecture and Allied Arts from 1947 to 1978. From its origin the Marion Dean Ross/Pacific Northwest Chapter of the Society of Architectural Historians has focused on promoting awareness of architectural resources on the West Coast.

From the description of Marion Dean Ross Chapter of the Society of Architectural Historians records, 1969- (University of Oregon Libraries). WorldCat record id: 443638445

The Society of Architectural Historians was founded on the East Coast, at Harvard University, in 1940 to promote the study of worldwide architecture. Fourteen years later, in 1954, a West Coast chapter named the Pacific Section was formed at the call of Elliot A. P. Evans in San Francisco, where Professor Evans was curator of the California Society of Pioneers. It was the sixth local or regional chapter of the learned society to be organized. Its early meetings typically were held in the San Francisco Bay region. In 1962, the spread-out Pacific Coast constituency was subdivided with the organization of a Southern California Chapter. The balance of the jurisdiction, ranging from San Francisco Bay north to encompass the Pacific Northwest, adopted the name Northern Pacific Coast Chapter in 1965. The northern group reorganized once more. It separated from California altogether in 1995 and adopted the name of its late leader, Marion Dean Ross. In the following year, a Northern California Chapter centering on the Bay Area was formed as the final subdivision of the original Pacific Section. Today, the Marion Dean Ross/Pacific Northwest Chapter jurisdiction embraces three states and a Canadian province, namely, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and British Columbia.

The Society of Architectural Historians has sought to fulfill its mission by engaging scholars, architects, preservationists, planners, professionals in allied design fields, and the general public in the study and discussion of the world’s heritage in architecture. From the time of its origin, the regional chapter promoted awareness of architectural resources on the West Coast. By their participation in tours and sessions of scholarly papers at conference venues ranging from San Francisco Bay to British Columbia, faculty of the various schools of architecture and staff of historical and preservation agencies enhanced their knowledge and, in turn, shared that knowledge with students and the public. Individual members have published books and articles on the region’s resources. From time to time, Chapter members have acted as expert advocates by writing or testifying in defense of threatened landmarks.

The Chapter’s first publication was a Festschrift in observance of the sixty-fifth birthday of Professor Marion Ross, whose teaching career at the University of Oregon School of Architecture and Allied Arts spanned the years 1947 to 1978, Professor Ross long maintained his post-retirement connection to the School as a part-time and special lecturer. To mark its fiftieth anniversary, the Chapter produced a history entitled Scholars and Sightseers: The Society of Architectural Historians in Northern California and the Pacific Northwest 1954-2004 . The history reviewed the founding of the national organization and its West Coast affiliate. It identified the scholars who presented papers over the years; it listed the Chapter officers and, among other details, showed the pattern that emerged for rotating conferences throughout the Society’s large geographic subdivision.

Membership in the organization is open to all, regardless of profession or expertise, who are interested in the study, interpretation, and protection of historically significant buildings, sites, and cities. The organization counts more than three thousand individuals and institutions worldwide.

From the guide to the Marion Dean Ross Chapter of the Society of Architectural Historians records, 1969-, (Special Collections and University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries)