Mary Adams Anthony Recognized with National Award

The 1772 Foundation is thrilled to announce that Mary Adams Anthony, longtime executive director and current program advisor for The 1772 Foundation, has been named the 2023 recipient of Preservation Action Foundation’s Nellie Longsworth Award for Outstanding Leadership in Historic Preservation Advocacy.

The Preservation Action Foundation, founded in 1998 as the Center for Preservation Initiatives, is the non-profit 501(c)(3) educational arm of Preservation Action 501(c)(4). The Preservation Action Foundation seeks to facilitate and promote understanding of federal preservation programs and policies, encourage scholarly discourse about preservation policy, and educate and inspire the next generation of preservation advocates. Nellie Longsworth was the founding president of Preservation Action and served in that role for 22 years. Nellie died on March 1, 2021 at the age of 87 and left an inspiring legacy for generations of preservation advocates.

As The 1772 Foundation’s inaugural executive director for over 20 years, Mary has demonstrated visionary leadership and commitment to preservation efforts across the United States.

Huy Pham, chair of PAF said, “Preservation Action is presenting Mary Adams Anthony with the Nellie Longsworth Award in recognition of her exemplary leadership and unwavering dedication to the cause of historic preservation. Her more than two-decade-long stewardship of The 1772 Foundation, overseeing the deployment of over $60 million in grants to support historic preservation initiatives, exemplifies the kind of visionary advocacy and commitment that this prestigious award seeks to honor.”

“We can think of no one more deserving of this prestigious award than Mary,” said Margaret Waldock, president of The 1772 Foundation's board of trustees. “Her pioneering work has made historic preservation more inclusive, innovative and impactful. We are profoundly grateful for her dedication and look forward to her continued involvement.”

Mary shared, “It is deeply humbling to be recognized by my peers with the Nellie Longsworth Award. I share this honor with my talented colleagues who have made The 1772 Foundation a leader in progressive preservation. There is still important work to be done, and I look forward to contributing as the organization enters an exciting new chapter.”