Marcella Sherfy Walter recognized for service on Historic Preservation Review Board

Marcella Sherfy Walter began her Historic Preservation Review Board career in October of 2016, finishing her second four-year term with the September 2024 meeting. Marcella served as a History Professional in the field of architectural history. Born in McPherson, Kansas, Marcella embarked on her higher-education career at Church of Brethren College the received her graduate degree in United States History and Historiography at the University of Oregon.

Marcella’s love of history dominates her entire life. From 1971 to 1974, she served as a park technician at Gettysburg National Military Park, a position that evolved into a 10-year stretch working for the National Park Service. During this time, Marcella held the position of Historian with three different Park Service divisions including the National Register program, where she co-authored National Register Bulletin 22, “Guidelines for Evaluating and Nominating Properties that have Achieved Significance Within the Past Fifty Years,” the National Register bible for guidance on how to list modern properties.

In 1980, Marcella moved to Helena to accept a position of Deputy Montana State Historic Preservation Officer. Within four years, she assumed the position of Montana State Historic Preservation Officer and Program Manager. She served as leader of our program for more a decade, with grace, intelligence, and inspiring tenacity.

By 1995, Marcella shifted gears and began her role as the Education Officer and Volunteer Coordinator at the Montana Historical Society. Since that time, she’s served as the Visitor Service Bureau Chief for Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, Chief of Heritage Operations and the Education Director at the at the Montana Historical Society, and from 2006 to 2014, as the Older Adult Services Provider and Community Outreach Coordinator for the Rocky Mountain Development Council. Since her retirement in 2015, Marcella’s passion for writing consumes much of her time, to the great benefit of those who know her.

Anyone familiar with Marcella understands the breadth of knowledge she brought to the review board. Her broad understanding of cultural resources always provides insight to a property’s layers of significance and adds to our understanding and embrace of historic places. These traits along with her boundless positive energy leaves a large void to fill on the Board. To every conversation, Marcella brings positivity, a bright outlook, and profound good will to others.

Please join me in thanking Marcella for her time served on the board, and her life-long passion for historic preservation.

The Montana State Preservation Review Board is a nine-member board appointed by the Governor. Their duties include the review and approval of National Register documentation, the review of appeals to National Register nominations, providing written opinions on the significance of properties, the review of completed State historic preservation plans, and providing general advice and professional recommendations to state agencies and the State Historic Preservation Office on the stewardship of heritage properties.