“SAH Online Roundtable Discussions”!

“Minority Scholars Workshop: Navigating the Challenges in Publication”, SAH online roundtable discussion

I am really thankful to “Lynne Horiuchi, Itohan Osayimwese and Masako Ikeda”, Executive Editor at the University of Hawaii Press (three inspiring "women"!) for the organization of “Minority Scholars Workshop: Navigating the Challenges in Publication” as a “SAH roundtable discussion”, their talks with their valuable knowledge and experience in their own fields, and discussions on 5/28. (https://www.sah.org/2020-virtual-conference/roundtables, last accessed on 5.29.2020).

This has been one of the best and most fruitful roundtable discussions (in architecture) I have joined so far: Focusing on a very significant and “well-defined topic/issue” in the field, it was “well-structured” (with its “well-defined problems”, “essential discussion questions” and time management), very informative -for me- and moderators/speaker were very well-prepared; thanks so much and congrats!. One of the great points was to invite an editor from the field (Masako Ikeda) and to listen to her practice-based knowledge, experiences and some suggestions how to work on a book proposal for “minority scholars” in architecture.

As an Istanbul-born scholar studying on “Turkish/Turkish women architects in postwar US”, I really need such discussion platforms in order to get to know scholarly (book) publication context; and I hope moderators continue these (online) roundtable discussions to exchange more helpful information on publishing, academic presses and their editorial process; in particular, to know if “new normal time period” affects scholarly book publishing in architecture (history), which issues would be more critical for minority scholars and their book proposals, etc.

Without ignoring the importance of publication by minority scholars, I think that it would be also great to discuss a.“method(s) of historical documentation practice” on minority communities/individuals, b. its “current” challenges, potentials and c. “digitization” by bringing together “archivists and architecture scholars” in the field….In order to be able to work on a book proposal, first of all, “we need first-hand visual and textual materials” on minority and underrepresented communities in architecture; and I think that “digitization” of historical materials have become more important due to “new normal time period” and its health issues.

Finally, I have greatly appreciated “this first virtual SAH Conference” and “online roundtable discussions”; It is very rewarding to have access to so many (and diverse) -recorded- scholarly presentations/brilliant and inspiring research studies. In 2018, I remember very well that I could not listen to some speakers/presentations at “SAH” Conference because some sessions were in the same time periods and there was no opportunity to reach out to their recorded versions after the conference. Another great thing was to organize those “online” roundtable discussions after conference presentations so that we had opportunity to join (most of) them while “staying at our homes”. I really wish that “SAH” would continue to record conference presentations -with speakers’ permission- and provide access to them for everyone by registiration.  I think that this format might have a significant potential to stimulate new, “more diverse” and “global” scholarly connections, exchange and discuss new idea/findings/knowledge in the field.

Thanks to “everyone” who has spent their valuable time and energy to compile such a great line up of speakers with diverse and rich research focus, and to manage (the first virtual) SAH conference in an excellent way. It would be great if it could be possible to learn how this first virtual SAH conference/roundtable discussions have affected “diversity” of its attendees.

As always (and with my respect), I would like to repeat Kenneth Frampton’s sentences:
“…in trying to expand modern architectural critical history, the big issue is, what you include, and what you exclude, what is the criteria for judgment…”

Kenneth Frampton conversation at the Harvard University, GSD, ChinaGSD Distinguished Lecture: Professor Kenneth Frampton, “Chinese Architecture”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8asbjkin-W0&t=3756s, (1:01:06), last accessed on 5.1.2020.





“SAH Heritage Conservation Committee Online Roundtable”
Thanks for “SAH Heritage Conservation Committee Online Roundtable”. I have really learned more on "current" issues, challenges, struggles and potentials of conservation (in the US architecture), inspiring and brilliant backgrounds & experiences of SAH committee members in the field.

In particular, thanks to Jeffrey Cody to underline "being more inclusive" in the field.

I hope "SAH" goes on this "online" roundtable discussions for more inclusive, diverse and equal scholarship in architecture history and all relevant sub-fields in the next years.

Looking forward to the next SAH online roundtable disccusion!

I have thought that I could take a photo. of this roundtable (and post it) because it was open to “everyone” who registered to this event. (I always respect privacy of people in online conversation/meeting).


 “SAH Chapter Delegates Online Meeting”

It has been another great opportunity to join “SAH Chapter Delegates Online Meeting”, and listen to introduction of their chapters and discussions together. As an Istanbul-born scholar, I am so glad to learn much more about brilliant delegates/people behind this organization, their missions and endeavour. With those “online” roundtable discussions, “SAH” has begun to be more “visible” for me.

I am also so glad to listen to Liz Rochefort, “woman president” of New England Chapter of SAH. (https://nesah.wordpress.com/board-of-directors/), and really would like to establish a productive dialogue with her and New England/SAH Chapter to share my recent research project and to discuss what we can do together to make progress in more “inclusive and multicultural” architecture history and historiography. In addition, it was also so good to see/listen to Lynne Horiuchi after receiving her and Itohan’s kind e-mail for “SAH Minority Scholars Affiliate Group” a few days ago; and meeting her in-person at “the 71st SAH Annual and International Conference” in St. Paul. (2018).

I hope those “online” roundtable discussions create productive connections and collaborations among local, national and international architecture historians; and looking forward to “the SAH Data Project Presents a Data-Driven Conversation about the Potential Future of Architectural History Research and Publishing”.

According to my current research project and its early findings on archives and collections at some pioneering schools of architecture (such as MIT, Harvard, Princeton, Yale, etc.), we also need “data” on their content in order to clarify how “diverse and inclusive” their historical documentation practice, methods and strategies have been so far…*

“…we need data not anecdote….” **
Elizabeth Chu Richter, 2015 AIA President.


**http://content.aia.org/sites/default/files/2016-05/Diversity-DiversityinArchitecture.pdf, last accessed on 5.21.2020


Please see for updated information on the SAH first virtual annual and international conference (2020):

For all video records:
https://www.sah.org/2020-virtual-conference/roundtables?_zs=Q7khX&_zl=mjV72, last accessed on 6.2.2020.

For SAH 2020 Virtual Conference Recap Part One:
https://www.sah.org/about-sah/news/sah-news/news-detail/2020/05/14/sah-2020-virtual-conference-recap-part-one, last accessed on 6.2.2020.

For SAH 2020 Virtual Conference Recap Part Two by Victoria Young:
https://www.sah.org/about-sah/news/sah-news/news-detail/2020/06/01/sah-2020-virtual-conference-recap-part-two?_zs=Q7khX&_zl=pjV72, last accessed on 6.2.2020.

"Virtual Conference Stats:

-1,001 registered attendees
-45 countries represented
-201 session chairs and speakers participated live
-269 – Highest number of unique attendees in a session 
(PS06 Architectural History Education Now)
-1,034 views of recorded presentations (as of May 14, 2020)
-2,486 views of keynote talks (as of May 14, 2020)"


Ref: https://www.sah.org/about-sah/news/sah-news/news-detail/2020/05/14/sah-2020-virtual-conference-recap-part-one, last accessed on 6.2.2020.