Historic preservation champion Elizabeth F. “Penny” Jones has died
Preservationists lost a prominent trailblazer and devoted champion when Elizabeth F. “Penny” Jones died on February 8. Her distinguished career and volunteer service were a testament to her lifelong dedication to historic preservation on a national, regional, and local scale, particularly in Louisville when the city was challenged with urban renewal, contentious preservation battles, and a new Landmarks Commission and nonprofits Preservation Alliance and Louisville Historical League formed to address those challenges.
Penny was born in Louisville and moved to Cincinnati at a young age, growing up in a 19th century home. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Education from the University of Cincinnati and a Master of Arts degree in Art and Architectural History from the University of Louisville.
She recalled in a 1988 Courier-Journal article with reporter Martha Elson that her interest in preservation piqued while writing her master’s thesis on 19th century Louisville architect Henry Whitestone when one of his designs, the 1874 Second-Empire style Bashford Manor—an historic horse farm that produced three Kentucky Derby winners—was threatened with demolition.
“That was the house that got me interested in historic preservation,” she told Elson.
Penny’s career in Louisville’s preservation movement was extensive:
1974 – Director of Research for newly formed Historic Landmarks and Preservation Districts Commission.
1974 – President of Louisville Historical League
1978 – Appointed Director of newly formed Jefferson County Office of Historic Preservation, a department created by Co. Judge/Executive Mitch McConnell
1979 – Founding Member and President of Commonwealth Preservation Council
1980 – Appointed Administrator, Jefferson County Office of Historic Preservation and Archives when the two offices merged.
1982 – Oversaw the restoration of Jefferson County’s 1835 Courthouse, which received a commendation from the National Trust for Historic Preservation in a Washington DC ceremony presided over by First Lady Nancy Reagan.
1982 – Appointed Special Assistant to County Judge/Executive; served as liaison to agencies, boards, commissions, including Louisville Zoo, Museum of History and Science, Louisville Free Public Library.
1983 – Added Press Secretary to her county role.
1983 – Founding Member of Blackacre Foundation.
While living in Kentucky, Penny restored her historic home, the 1830-1876 Alfred G. Herr House on Magnolia Stock Farm, which was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. She volunteered with numerous organizations, including Preservation Alliance, Louisville Historical League, Louisville Art Gallery, Louisville Heritage Weekend and Junior League of Louisville. She also taught preservation courses at the University of Louisville and served on the Board of Advisors for the National Trust and was Vice-Chair of the Trust’s Southern Region Board of Advisors.
Penny moved to Washington, D.C. in 1985 to be a Legislative Assistant for Senator Mitch McConnell. In 1987, she was appointed as the Director for the Center for Historic Houses at the National Trust. In this role, Penny traveled around the country planning and assisting workshops and seminars, and she created and contributed to a new column, “Homefront,” that focused on renovation topics for private homeowners in the Trust’s Preservation News publication.
She returned to Louisville in 1988 as the keynote speaker for Preservation Alliance’s annual Preservation Week Celebration at a Seelbach Hotel luncheon.
In 1997, Penny became the Executive Director of the American Institute for the Conservation of Historic Artistic Works (AIC) in Washington, D.C. Her volunteer service during this time included the Historic Alexandria Foundation, DC Preservation League, National Preservation Institute, Preservation Action, and Friends of Historic Huntley in Alexandria, Virginia. She also taught preservation courses for Goucher College and was a volunteer tour guide at the National Building Museum.
Penny authored many articles on preservation and architectural history, and gave lectures for a variety of organizations, including the Smithsonian Institute, The Victorian Society, Sotherby’s, Society of Architectural Historians, and Elderhostel.
Penny’s contributions to the field of historic preservation were vast and national, but it is her lasting impact in Kentucky during some critical years that endeared her to us the most. Her preservation ethos was unmatched, and she will be remembered as one of the Commonwealth’s most important and influential preservation leaders. She was a true crusader, activist, advocate, mentor, colleague, and friend, who literally walked the talk.
It was important to Penny that our rich heritage was preserved for future generations, and she was a fervent believer that this charge was a public trust to be taken seriously. She will be deeply missed by people throughout the country and leaves behind a legacy for which Kentuckians will forever be grateful.
A memorial service and reception will be held for Penny on Sunday, May 4, from 2-4pm ET, at Twin Towers in Cincinnati, where Penny lived.