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Cintron Awarded Franklin Research Grant

Leslie Cintron, W&L assistant professor of sociology, has been awarded a Franklin Research Grant from the American Philosophical Society to conduct archival research in England for her book “From Open Spaces to Popular Culture: The National Trust and the Transformation of British Heritage, 1895-2008,” which looks into the genesis of Britain’s national heritage preservation movement.

The Franklin grants are both competitive and prestigious, and Cintron is grateful for the generous support of her research. “It’s a wonderful boost for my work, and will enable me to travel to the United Kingdom to conduct research in several key archives in and around London. The significance of consulting these archival materials is in identifying how the work of the fledgling National Trust–particularly their work acquiring open-spaces–was constructed, presented to and discussed with supporters and potential donors. The findings will enable me to complete a chapter of my book manuscript.”

The Franklin grant research will comprise part of a chapter examining the genesis of the national preservation movement, focusing on the particular role a Victorian-era network of social theorists, social workers, poverty researchers and religious leaders had on the early mission and work of this non-profit heritage preservation organization.”