Scott F. Anfinson wrote Practical Heritage Management: Preserving a Tangible Past for advanced college and university students. Divided into 14 chapters, the volume is designed to be used in a heritage management course, but it would benefit anyone working in the field. Anfinson is highly qualified to write such a book given his background in heritage management, including experience working in the Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office, teaching at the University of Minnesota, and serving for 10 years as Minnesota State Archaeologist. Given this background, much of the book centers on Minnesota examples. I do not consider this a problem, because these examples and his viewpoints are all drawn from his extensive personal experience. However, as he notes, international heritage management is outside the scope of the volume. Although the focus is on archaeology and preservation, Anfinson includes both history and architecture in relation to cultural heritage management. Readers will find this book to be a comprehensive guide to heritage management laws and the practice of heritage management in the United States, concentrating on what most practitioners do on a daily basis.
Chapters include an overview of the history of heritage management in the United States; early legislation related to cultural resources and heritage in this country; and the significance of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), the National Register of Historic Places, and Section 106 of NHPA, as well as legislation that has not been as widely discussed. Even the “brief” overviews of the National Environmental Protection Act, the Department of Transportation Act, and the American Historic Preservation Act are thorough. Although any heritage management text will outline legislation, Anfinson's contribution contains several unique aspects that make the volume particularly valuable to any practitioner of heritage management, including both students and professionals. Chapter 1 begins with the question all practitioners should be able to answer: why do heritage management? Anfinson's thoughtful explanation falls into three categories: ideational considerations, resource conservation, and economic benefits. This approach is an interesting take on the topic. The discussion that follows details how Anfinson defines key terms, such as “heritage,” “management,” and “reasonable and good faith effort.” Many of these terms are given little discussion in other volumes, hence their value here. I found the chapter on the history of heritage management in the United States (Chapter 2) to be especially interesting. Although other heritage books include historical background, the degree to which it is covered here is unusual, including the early years of the National Park Service in the United States and the development of federal preservation legislation. Anfinson discusses why studying the history of heritage management is important, which relates back to why we do it. The history of heritage management archaeology (Chapter 11) again relates to Anfinson's emphasis on the need to understand the historical context. A discussion of the “major federal players” (p. 243)—who they are, how much land they manage, and a brief history of each agency—provides additional context (Chapter 9). The author acknowledges the uniqueness of Chapter 10, which outlines “state, local, and private aspects of heritage preservation” (p. 287). Although the federal government is the primary heritage preservation entity in the United States, state and local legislation come into play regularly and are key to preservation. Finally, Chapter 13 outlines “tribal matters” as related to cultural heritage management. The chapter not only outlines laws specific to Indigenous communities and nations but also includes—among other topics—consultation, tribal monitoring, and a discussion of traditional cultural properties.
Overall, the volume is a great contribution. I have a few minor comments, however. There is a good deal of repetition throughout the book. Although Anfinson acknowledges why he does this (reminders and providing context throughout), and it is probably necessary when used as a textbook, it seems redundant when reading through the volume from start to finish. The level of detail is also a plus and a minus. At times it seems as though we are seeing the trees and not the forest. Students may get bogged down in the minutiae that are difficult to follow for people without heritage management experience and for those who are not currently practicing in the field. Finally, although each chapter contains review questions that highlight important points to remember, I would like to have seen discussion questions. A few of the “Sidebars” at the end of each chapter may inspire discussion, but that is not their main purpose; most are deeper looks into particular aspects of heritage management.
The main takeaway from Practical Heritage Management is the “practical” aspect of tangible heritage management (“places and things” [p. 11]). Anfinson's purpose is to teach how to make a “reasonable and good faith effort,” “addressing what the intent and letter of the law require and carrying out your heritage management obligations in a responsible, efficient, effective, and ethical manner” (p. 2). These efforts together comprise his “practical” approach. Two valuable points he makes are that not everything can be saved, and that there is more than one right way to practice heritage management.
