About HPGO

The Historic Preservation Graduate Organization (HPGO) was established by students in UK's Graduate Program in Historic Preservation in the fall of 2001. HPGO was founded to foster community outreach and involvement between the academic classroom setting and real world experience. HPGO encourages students to engage in voluntary activities -- archival research, advocacy, building documentation, education, hands-on outreach, and volunteering -- within the local, regional, statewide, and national field of preservation.

Partnerships and Outreach

Many students find Research Assistantships with the Center for HIstoric Architecture and Preservation (CHAP), with the Kentucky Heritage Council (the SHPO's office), or with other agencies around the central Kentucky area.

HPGO assists Preservation Kentucky, the state’s non-profit preservation advocacy group, to complete research and document design for Preservation Kentucky’s list of Most Endangered Historic Places. HPGO Chairs serve as ex-officio board members of Preservation Kentucky.

In addition to our work with Preservation Kentucky, HPGO helps organize the Graduate Program’s orientation activities for incoming preservation students. In September 2003, we sponsored a trip to Maysville and Old Washington to view restoration efforts of a historic theater, Maysville’s Masonic Hall, a rural church, and the Basil Duke House. We also met at Keeneland for the races’ opening day.

HPGO will continue to facilitate fieldtrips and promote departmental discussions related to community preservation issues. HPGO will also encourage increased student involvement with the Blue Grass Trust for Historic Preservation, where we have been invited to serve as ex-officio board members, and Preservation Action.

Membership

Membership is automatic if you are a graduate student in the HP program at UK. There are no dues or fees. Please see our Activities page to see how you can be involved!