Nellie Longsworth

Nellie Leber Longsworth (March 29, 1933 – March 1, 2021) was an American historian and advocate of historic preservation. She was a founder and president of the nonprofit Preservation Action for twenty-two years. She worked to preserve historic structures by working and lobbying to pass legislation in United States Congress.

Education Longsworth attended Smith College interested in American history, architecture, and culture. She graduated in 1955 with a Bachelor's of Arts in American studies.

Career Longsworth worked in different areas of politics and professions. In 1966, she headed the campaign office for Robert Griffin's Senate race in Michigan. Longsworth was interviewed and selected for the position by Tersh Boasberg despite not having a background in historic preservation. The advocates were successful and the structure was preserved and adapted to be the area of the library that holds collections of women's history and literature. Longsworth also secured government funding and resources for historic preservation efforts. Longsworth also lobbied landowners, did grassroots campaigning, mentored interns in the field, among other actions in her position. Longsworth and other women in the historic preservation field created a list of women candidates to be considered for the president position but none of them were considered for the role.

In 1988, Longsworth started teaching at Columbia University's Graduate School of Architecture and Planning.

Written works

Dunning, D., Longsworth, N. L., Chintz, A., Segal, R., & Boston University. (1983). Another revolution in New England: Preservation and development join forces : a study of use of the tax incentives for historic rehabilitation. Washington, D.C.: Preservation Action. OCLC 14193837