Imagine, if you will, the United States without a strong reverence to the past.  Imagine for a moment, your own life without any recognition of, or interest in, your ancestors.  What meaning would your life hold, if you knew your descendants would ignore your efforts and your sacrifices for their benefit?  Is the past….just the past…and who cares?   Did the truly important events of this world begin only recently with the invention of the internet and reality TV?Sounds ridiculous to ignore the events of history, but its a never ending battle.  This current generation is perhaps always the worst so far.  Many US citizens in their 40′s or younger did not have to risk their very lives fighting in a war.  Most of us experienced our life’s toughest battles just passing our college classes…not exactly life threatening!  And so we tend to believe that any possible importance of history fades with each new technological invention, or each advancement of social networking.

In my roles as architectural historian and preservationist for The American History Guild (www.theamericanhistoryguild.com) – we believe history is the key to a successful future.  We uphold and retell the lessons and stories of our predecessors…in fact, our motto is “Where the Past is Always Present“.   The venerable Winston Churchill once said that, “We shape our Buildings; thereafter they shape us.”  This is most certainly true.   Architecture like the written word, speaks to the past, the present and the yet unborn. As the hands of the bricklayer and carpenter fall lifeless, the buildings they built remind us that they and the ones they loved ever lived.  Their buildings transcend a mere need of shelter, they call out to us, they voice the hope and longing of those who tread the ground before us.  They speak to us  – if only we’ll listen.

Similarly, the members of the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art (www.classicist.org) believe the achievements of the past must be recognized and celebrated….and even kept alive in the midst of new projects in the classical traditions of architecture, urbanism and their allied arts.  It does so though education, publication, and advocacy. The Institute offers a wide array of programs that include continuing education classes; travel programs; lectures; salons; and conferences. The organization is a valued educational resource for students of art, planning, and architecture, design professionals, and the general public, assisted today by the growing network of regional and local chapters.

The Southeast Chapter of the ICAA currently includes several states and is based in Atlanta, Georgia.  But as the national organization grows, additional local chapters are encouraged.  To that end, Tracy Ward has recently been named Mississippi Committee Chairman (Danny Gonzales co-chair), to oversee the organizational process to eventually branch out as an independent chapter of the ICAA.  Non-architect members and partners are encouraged to join the ICAA to help bring the traditional design skills sustained and disseminated by the Institute to bear in diverse communities across America.

The Institute of Classical Architecture & Art (ICAA) is the leading national nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the practice and appreciation of the classical tradition in architecture and the allied arts. ICAA fulfills its mission through four program areas: education, publications, awards, and advocacy.
Education
ICAA provides a forum and comprehensive educational resource for students, design and building professionals, and the general public, both in the United States and in Europe.  Continuing education courses; study and drawing tours; seminars; intensive winter and summer programs for professionals; and academic partnerships extending a unique curriculum.  Includes lectures, exhibits, walking and travel tours, and conferences on classical architecture and the allied arts.
Publications
ICAA publishes an annual journal, The Classicist, and new and reprinted books on classical design through “The Classical America Series in Art and Architecture”. The Forum, a newsletter for members, is published twice per a year, complemented by a lively array of email updates from across the country throughout the year and an online blog at blog.classicist.org.
Awards
Through the annual Arthur Ross Awards ceremony, ICAA recognizes excellence by honoring the achievements and contributions of architects, painters, sculptors, artisans, landscape designers, patrons, and others in preserving and advancing the classical tradition. The Rieger-Graham Prize and the Alma Schapiro Prize provide opportunities for designers, architects and fine artists to study abroad as affiliated fellows of the American Academy in Rome.
Advocacy
ICAA maintains a strong voice in the public domain, championing the continuation of the classical tradition as a vital cultural resource.

Mr. D. Tracy Ward
CEO, Registered Architect – Benchmark Design, PC
Architectural Historian & Preservationist – The American History Guild
Chairman (MS Chapter) – Institute of Classical Architecture & Art