January 12, 2026
Linda Blaser
Rebecca Graff invited to speak at Stanford University on January 21
The Stanford Archaeology Center will host Associate Professor of Anthropology and Chair of Museum Studies Rebecca Graff as a presenter at its prestigious Lunch Club Series on January 21.
In her talk, Graff will examine how archaeological methods are reshaping interpretations of Chicago’s architectural past in her talk, “The Trowel in the White City: An Archaeology of Architecture and Disposability in Chicago.”
The Lunch Club provides affiliates of the Stanford Archaeology Center with a community-oriented forum for engagement with current issues in archaeology.
Presentation abstract
Chicago’s cultural heritage landscape has long emphasized iconic buildings and renowned architects such as Daniel Burnham, Louis Sullivan, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. Graff’s research, conducted in collaboration with architects and architectural historians, demonstrates how archaeology can illuminate the social histories of these structures, including those that no longer stand.
Central to the talk is the concept of “conspicuous disposal,” describing the deliberate discarding of building materials—often accelerated by urban renewal—alongside the selective preservation of architectural fragments. Drawing on archaeological work at the former site of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition and buildings designed by Sullivan, Wright, and Mies van der Rohe, the presentation considers how fragments and absences together shape dominant narratives of architectural heritage.
Attend in-person or live-stream
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Noon–1 p.m. PT | 2–3 p.m. CST
In-person location:
Stanford University
488 Escondido Mall
Building 500
Stanford, CA 94305
Phone: 650-723-5731