Academic Historian

Dr. Turkiya L. Lowe serves as National Park Service (NPS) Supervisory Historian and Deputy Federal Preservation Officer, managing the NPS Park History Program in Washington, D.C.  She holds a doctorate and master’s degree in 20th century U.S. and African American history from the University of Washington as well as a Bachelor’s degree in history from Howard University.

National preservation programs under her administration include: the African American Civil Rights Network, the American World War II Heritage Cities program, the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act program, and the Maritime Heritage Grant program as well as the NPS’s administrative and oral history programs.

Dr. Lowe served as NPS Southeast Regional (SER) Historian and manager for the SER Cultural Resource Research and Science Branch, and also had the privilege to serve as Acting Superintendent of Cane River Creole National Historical Park. She also worked in the Region’s Office of Interpretation and Education, where she was the Regional Program Manager for the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom program assisting communities and stewards to tell the stories of Black resistance to enslavement through escape and flight.

Dr. Lowe also has worked as national Program Manager for the Cultural Resources Diversity Internship Program and a staff reviewer for the National Register of Historic Places and National Historic Landmarks programs. One of her favorite projects was analyzing and assisting with increased nomination and designation of historic sites associated with the histories of people of color and other underrepresented communities through the 2006 Preserve America Summit.

Dr. Lowe consulted as a Principal Investigator on historic preservation projects in collaboration with the NPS Seattle Support Office, investigating the history of civil rights in the Pacific Northwest and identifying historic properties for potential preservation and interpretation efforts.

George Putnam Riley (1833-1905)

George Putnam Riley, a native of Boston, Massachusetts, was an important figure in the Pacific Northwest during the nineteenth century. Riley’s grandfather fought in the Revolutionary War under General Israel Putnam, and his middle name probably refers to his grandfather’s commander. His father, William Riley, was a clothing … Read MoreGeorge Putnam Riley (1833-1905)

Washington State Federation of Colored Women (1917- )

Founded on Aug. 9, 1917 in Spokane, Washington, the Washington State Federation of Colored Women (WSFCW) confederated several social and civic clubs organized by African American women during the early 1900s. The African American women’s club movement in Washington State began in 1908 with the … Read MoreWashington State Federation of Colored Women (1917- )

Silver Bluff Baptist Church, Silver Bluff, South Carolina (1773- )

The first black Baptist congregation in South Carolina was formed in 1773 on the Galphin Plantation near Silver Bluff, 14 miles northwest of  Savannah, Georgia.  The church was founded jointly by Rev. Wait Palmer, a white Connecticut minister, and African American pastor, George Liele.  The … Read MoreSilver Bluff Baptist Church, Silver Bluff, South Carolina (1773- )

Andrew Bryan (1737-1812)

First named First Colored Baptist Church and located in Savannah, Georgia, First African Baptist Church traces its roots to December 1777, and is officially designated the oldest African American church in the United States.  George Liele, the Church’s founder, continued to evangelize and baptize both … Read MoreAndrew Bryan (1737-1812)