Elaine has more than a decade of experience working as an architectural historian, historic preservation planner, and preservation advocate. Her professional work includes planning and survey projects for federal, state, and local clients from the rural reaches of northern Maine to the streets of San Francisco. Most recently, Elaine worked for the National Trust for Historic Preservation as a program officer, where she covered the Pacific Northwest territory of Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. She also staffed the TrustModern program, a national advocacy campaign to increase awareness and protection for historic resources associated with the Modern movement. She continues to be professionally active in historic preservation and public history practice as an independent consultant.

Preservation Publications

Selected Independent Projects

Castro Street, the heart of Eureka Valley (Photo courtesy TorbakHopper, Flickr.com)

Castro Street, the heart of Eureka Valley (Photo courtesy TorbakHopper, Flickr.com)

From Eureka Valley to the Castro: The Historical Development of an Iconic San Francisco Neighborhood

In partnership with the Eureka Valley Neighborhood Association and the Historic Preservation Fund Committee (San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development), Elaine is authoring a historic context statement for the Eureka Valley - now Castro - neighborhood of San Francisco. The statement provides an evaluative framework for resources ranging from some of the earliest surviving housing stock in San Francisco to the LGBTQ heritage of the past forty years.

Father Eugene Boyle, Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, marching with Lettuce Boycott Demonstrators, 1970 (Photo courtesy of the  archives of the Archdiocese of San Francisco)

Father Eugene Boyle, Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, marching with Lettuce Boycott Demonstrators, 1970 (Photo courtesy of the  archives of the Archdiocese of San Francisco)

Catholicism and Social Justice in San Francisco: The Story of Sacred Heart Parish

In partnership with the Historic Preservation Fund Committee (San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development), Elaine authored a San Francisco Landmark Designation Report and National Register of Historic Places nomination for the Sacred Heart Parish Complex, a Catholic parish in the heart of San Francisco's Western Addition. The complex was the site of important religious social justice work under the leadership of Father Eugene Boyle in the late 1960s and early 1970s, playing host to the Black Panther's Breakfast Program, anti-Vietnam war activities, and labor activism.

4456 First Street, Pleasanton, a typical late 19th century side gable vernacular housing form 

4456 First Street, Pleasanton, a typical late 19th century side gable vernacular housing form 

Ranch Service Town Vernacular: Pleasanton, California

The once rural ranching and farming community of Pleasanton, California is now one of the fastest growing exurbs of the San Francisco Bay Area. In 2012 Elaine worked with Architectural Resources Group to author a historic context statement for the community's historic residential and commercial core. A survey of historic housing stock in the downtown area in partnership with Katherine Petrin Preservation Consulting followed in 2015.