Mary Wingfield Scott: A Rebel with a Rubble Cause

• Main Author: Peninger, Kay
• Format: Others
• Published: VCU Scholars Compass 2011
• Subjects: Mary Wingfiled Scott; historic preservation; Richmond; Virginia; adaptive reuse; architectural historian; Arts and Humanities; History
• Online Access: http://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/2612; http://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3611&context=etd

Mary Wingfield Scott (1895-1983) was a leading figure in the historic preservation movement in Richmond, Virginia. Scott demonstrated a preservation philosophy that transitioned from the sentimental, patriotic focus of early preservation efforts to a modern, academic approach that valued the built environment for its relationship to the city and its history. Scott educated persons on the value of preserving houses that were architecturally significant or connected to the city’s heritage. She documented the antebellum housing of Richmond in two books, founded the William Byrd Branch of the APVA, conducted walking tours throughout the city, wrote a newsletter for the William Byrd Branch, and purchased houses to prevent their demolition. Scott was a strong advocate of adaptive reuse, which she applied to the Greek Revival houses known as Linden Row. Scott’s approach to preservation is mirrored in the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) enacted in 1966 and Richmond’s 2009 Downtown Plan.