TICCIH and SIA
The International Committee for the Conservation of the Industrial Heritage, better known by the more manageable TICCIH (pronounced "ticky"), is the world organization for industrial heritage. Its goals are to promote international cooperation in preserving, conserving, investigating, documenting, researching, interpreting, and advancing education of the industrial heritage.
Although TICCIH members are both individuals and institutions, it is organized through national associations in those countries where there is a recognized national institution for industrial heritage. The SIA has been recognized as representing the United States in this forum.
TICClH is in turn recognized by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) as the designated consultant in all matters related to the study and preservation of industrial heritage. lCOMOS is the global non~governmental organization dedicated to conservation of the world's historic monuments and sites. In particular, ICOMOS' network of experts counsels UNESCO on properties to be added to the World Heritage List. Therefore, TICCIH recommends historically significant industrial sites for the World Heritage List.
So, a key role for the SIA is to raise global awareness of America's industrial heritage by actively participating in TICCIH activities. This includes recommending U.S. sites for inclusion on the World Heritage List and sending our representative to international meetings. SIA also acts at TICCIH's representative in the U.S.
In 2007, the SIA formalized its longstanding relationship with TICCIH in a written agreement. This called for SIA to create a National Committee of at least seven members to oversee SIA's responsibilities in this regard and to select the TICCIH representative. The SIA Board recently decided that the Board itself would serve as the National Committee and that we would continue to elect the TICCIH representative by a vote of the membership.
Mary Habstritt, SIA President
