ST. LOUIS (March 31, 2003) -- The Landmarks Association of St. Louis was recently honored with the Osmund Overby Award for its newly developed St. Louis: Landmarks and Historic Districts book during the 2003 Preservation Honor Awards Ceremony. Written by Carolyn Hewes Toft, Executive Director of Landmarks Association, with Lynn Josse, and designed and produced by Paradowski Design, the book provides a guide to sites, buildings and districts officially designated by the City of St. Louis or the National Register of Historic Places.
New in 2003, the Overby Award from the Missouri Alliance for Historic Preservation was created to recognize written works that "contribute to the documentation and interpretation of Missouri's architectural history." The award was named in honor of Dr. Osmund Overby, Art History Professor Emeritus and former head of the historic preservation program at the University of Missouri - Columbia and a founding member of Missouri Preservation.
"Sharing in the accomplishments of preservationists across the state was the best part of receiving this prestigious award in Jefferson City," Toft explained.
Fourteen years after publishing the first version of St. Louis:Landmarks and Historic Districts, the association wanted to update, expand and redesign the new version as more of a 'coffee table' book. "The large, beautifully-illustrated book, which reflects more than 20 years of the survey work and historical research required for preparation of nominations to the National Register, serves to define the character and set high standards for the annual Osmund Overby Award" said Debbie Sheals, president of the Missouri Alliance for Historic Preservation.
The expanded, 288-page edition of St. Louis Landmarks & Historic Districts was released at Landmarks' annual meeting in June 2002.
"The project was a good fit for our firm in many ways. We're strong supporters of the City of St. Louis and its historic architecture. And, we really enjoyed working with the historic photos and creating the electronic archive for their permanent preservation," added Joy Marcus, senior designer, Paradowski Design.
St. Louis' Landmarks Association has a 40-year history of attempting to preserve the city's built past and educate the public about it. The association also serves as an unofficial architectural historian to the region. Landmarks Association was founded by concerned St. Louis citizens as the building of interstate highways threatened the existence of historic buildings and neighborhoods. Ironically, the typeface used in the book happens to be called 'Interstate,' selected for its contemporary look and readability.
Paradowski Graphic Design provides clients with a strategic approach to visual communications that culminates in results-oriented marketing tools, including corporate identity, brochures, web sites, annual reports and other publications. For more information about Paradowski Graphic Design and its services, call (314) 241-2150.