Christina Butler’s enthusiasm for preservation began in childhood the moment she watched her first episode of This Old House. She’s followed that love ever since—first as a carpenter, then as a preservationist, and now as a professor.
Her journey started with a determination to work on old buildings. She attended a trade high school focused on construction and carpentry, then went on to work as a carpenter. At the time, she had no idea preservation was something you could study.
That changed during a vacation to Charleston, S.C., home to the largest historic district in the country. After spotting a flyer for the College of Charleston’s historic preservation and community planning degree, she knew it was the right fit.
“As early as I can remember, I wanted to do this kind of work,” she recounts. “It just took me a minute to find the path to it.” That path included the undergraduate degree in preservation, followed by a master’s degree in history.
Christina went on to launch her own company, Butler Preservation, specializing in historic property research, consulting, and small-scale restorations. Much of her work comes from homeowners eager to understand more about their historic homes. Through her research, Christina discovers when a building was constructed and how it was used over time. She also assesses the methods and materials used to build it, which reveal clues about its history.
“As early as I can remember, I wanted to do this kind of work. It just took me a minute to find the path to it.”
– Christina Butler, Preservationist and Professor
Christina’s professional work soon dovetailed with teaching. What began as an adjunct position teaching building research at the College of Charleston led to more classroom opportunities. Eventually she was invited to teach at the American College of the Building Arts (ACBA), a four-year college for the trades.
“I knew right away that this was where I wanted to be,” she says. What began as one class has grown into a full teaching load. She’s also taken on the role of provost, helping to shape the college’s academic curriculum. While her duties have required her to scale back her restoration work, she sees it as a fair trade.
“I’m not nearly as good a carpenter as the carpentry professors at ACBA,” she admits. “So my work is better served teaching the next generation not to just be amazing carpenters, but great preservationists and historians too.”
— Jennifer Morris; editorial assistant. Photo by Chrisman Studios.
Keep Craft Alive is our campaign celebrating those who have chosen to passionately pursue a career in design, building, and remodeling. Find out more and show your support by visiting KeepCraftAlive.org, and use #KeepCraftAlive to share your passion for the cause.
|
RELATED STORIES
