Jeremy Wells

From 1849 to the early 1980s, the development of US historic preservation policy was shaped by fewer than one hundred elite White men from Europe and America. This orthodox preservation doctrine has too long silenced the vibrant, experiential relationships between everyday people and their heritage. Managing the Magic of Old Places: Crafting Public Policies for People-Centered Historic Preservation offers a radical rethinking of how historic preservation is approached in the United States. Author Jeremy C. Wells argues for a revolutionary shift in federal preservation policy—one that embraces community-based participatory practice and draws from environmental psychology to tap into the intangible, emotional connections people have with old places. Wells highlights the experiential values that laypeople often ascribe to historic environments, which are frequently dismissed by expert-driven policies. He contends that if historic preservation policy continues to ignore these aspects, the field will lose relevance as the gap between professionals and the public widens. Drawing from interdisciplinary research in the social sciences, particularly phenomenology and environmental psychology, Wells’s vision of public preservation policy centers the lived experiences of communities, reinvigorating the field and ensuring that the preservation of historic places resonates with a wider, more inclusive audience. Wells positions his work within the growing field of critical heritage studies, yet his focus on the psychological and emotional aspects of preservation distinguishes it as a unique contribution. By placing the needs and experiences of the public at the heart of preservation efforts, Wells critiques the historical foundations of US preservation policy while offering a bold agenda for reform.

Crafting Public Policies for People-Centered Historic Preservation

Managing the Magic of Old Places

Emily Wells

What would you do to bring hope to your dying son or daughter afflicted with leukemia? Would you permit your son or daughter to experience life while facing their expected death? Emily was twelve when diagnosed with leukemia. She met seventeen year old Jeremy who would become her anchor to give her strength when she was weak; to give her hope when she felt all was lost; and to give her unqualified love and support to hold onto when she was lost, frightened or simply unable to do for herself. Emily wanted to experience life before she faced her own death. Emilys mother reluctantly allowed her to secretly marry Jeremy before God and in her presence since underage marriage was forbidden by society. Emilys story was told in the book titled Emily. Emily brought hope to young cancer patients who simply want to experience life before facing their probable death. This book chronicles Emily and Jeremys fight to change the rules and allow qualifying sick children to marry and experience life before facing death. Emily states, Is that really so much to ask? Child Welfare says, Yes it is. Underage girls can marry if they are pregnant, but underage sick and dying children should never be permitted to marry unless the cancer patient gets pregnant. See who prevails in this battle to bring life and dignity to young cancer patients who just want to live, even if living is but a moment in time.

Changing the Rules

Emily 2

Emily is a love story about a twelve year old girl that was dying from leukemia when she met Jeremy, a seventeen year old that would become her life anchor. This story is about how Emily decided that she wanted to experience life while facing the uncertainty of death. This story shares how Emilys mother had to challenge her personal beliefs about child abuse and permit Emily to secretly marry Jeremy before God and in her presence in a desperate attempt to save her daughters life when all other medical options seemed to fail. Emilys and Jeremys love, strength of will, marital bond and love of God kept Emily strong as she faced her impending death. Emily is a story of a blue heart and a pink heart connected by two golden wedding rings.

A Young Girl's Desire to Experience Life While Facing the Uncertainty of Death

Emily

Argues that many Southern writers in the U.S.--including William Faulkner, Henry W. Grady, Thomas Dixon, Thomas Nelson Page and more--viewed the Southern plantation not as a black mark, but instead as a symbol of Southerners adeptly taking on so-called "white man's burden."

Jeremy Wells

About

Books

Join the club