The Ladies’ Village Improvement Society 33rd Annual Landmarks Luncheon
“The Good Fight: Why We Preserve Our Heritage”
Speaker: Michael Devonshire
From East Hampton to Washington, D.C., to Shanghai, preserving heritage sites—grand and small—is vital to understanding our culture and ourselves.
For decades, the Ladies’ Village Improvement Society has led historic preservation efforts to safeguard our community. The Landmarks Luncheon annually highlights notable preservation initiatives and the individuals who champion them.
This year, noted architectural conservator, preservationist, and former New York City Landmarks Preservation Commissioner Michael Devonshire will explore the cultural, environmental, economic, and anthropological advantages of historic preservation, sharing insights that apply both locally and globally to inspire and engage us in the ongoing fight for preservation.
Speaker BIO
Michael Devonshire, Principal and Director of Conservation at Jan Hird Pokorny, Inc., has 45 years’ experience in preserving public buildings, churches, and private homes and estates throughout the tristate area and around the globe. His projects include the United States Capitol Dome in Washington, D.C., the Guilin Building in Shanghai, the Pelletreau Silversmith Shop in Southampton, and Sylvester Manor on Shelter Island. Recipient of numerous awards, Devonshire has served on the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. An adjunct professor and lecturer at Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation, he is also co-director of the Preservation Program at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
