8/20/11
Certificate in Historic Preservation
Historic Preservation Methods and Documentation, HPR 5300, Fall 2009
2 Pillsbury Street, Concord, NH
Elizabeth Muzzey, Graduate Adjunct Faculty
elizabeth.muzzey@dcr.nh.gov, (603) 271-8850
Course Description: This course is intended to instill basic skills in researching and
understanding historical properties, especially buildings and bridges, and to provide an
introduction to various methods of documenting historical resources according to
professional standards. It will provide instruction in assessing the construction and
evolution of built resources and in recording them by written, graphic, and photographic
methods. Guest speakers and field visits will augment the course’s seminar format.
Required Readings
Light, Sally. House Histories: A Guide to Tracing the Genealogy of Your Home.
Spencertown, NY: Golden Hill Press, 1989.
McAlester, Virginia and Lee. A Field Guide to American Houses. New York: Alfred A.
Knopf, Inc., 1984.
McVarish, Douglas C. American Industrial Archaeology: A Field Guide. Walnut Creek,
CA: Left Coast Press, 2008.
New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources New Hampshire's Five Year
Preservation Plan. Concord, NH, 2010: (available online at
http://www.nh.gov/nhdhr/programs/plan.htm ).
Other assigned readings throughout the course are available online as noted below, or,
by request, in print, from the professor.
Suggested Readings and Resources for Future Reference
Brand, Stewart. How Buildings Learn: What Happens After They’re Built. New York:
Viking, 1994.
Carter, Thomas, and Elizabeth Collins Cromley. Invitation to Vernacular Architecture:
A Guide to the Study of Ordinary Buildings and Landscapes. Knoxville:
University of Tennessee Press, 2005.
Garvin, James L. A Building History of Northern New England. Hanover, NH:
University Press of New England, 2001.
Jackson, Donald C. Great American Bridges and Dams. Washington, DC: The
Preservation Press, 1988.
McAlester, Virginia, and Lee McAlester. A Field Guide to American Houses. New
York: Knopf, 1984.
Phillips, Steven J. Old House Dictionary. Washington, DC: The Preservation Press. 1992.
Tolles, Bryant F., Jr., and Carolyn K. Tolles. New Hampshire Architecture: An Illustrated Guide.
Hanover, NH: University Press of New England, 1979.
Visser, Thomas Durant. Field Guild to New England Barns and Farm Buildings. Hanover, NH:
University Press of New England, 1997.
Class Requirements and Grading: Requirements include class attendance (more than three
unexcused absences may result in an automatic failing grade), participation in discussions and
timely completion of readings, assignments, oral presentations and writing.
1. Class participation and assignments
35%
2. Midterm
25%
3. Presentation and research project
40%
Class participation and assignments: Assignments will usually take the form of preparing for and
leading discussions and reviewing web sites, readings or handouts on weekly topics throughout the
course.
Midterm exam: Scheduled as an open book, take-home exam after the field trip, one week to
complete.
Research project: Working individually or in pairs, students will complete an NHDHR individual
inventory form for a historical resource, according to guidance published by the State Historic
Preservation Office. A final class presentation will discuss not only the resource and its history, but
the challenges and solutions uncovered while completing research and documentation. The final
presentation must include visual materials (e.g., slides, photos, PowerPoint, or handouts). Please
keep this in mind during research.
Students must choose the property for their research project topic by the third class; subsequent
assignments will use this property as subject material. This property will be the destination for the
self-directed field trip; in order to complete assignments, students will need to complete the field
trip prior to the fourth class.
Course Expectations: Students are expected to attend all classes, including the field trip (more
than three unexcused absences may result in an automatic failing grade). Cell phones should be
turned off during all classes. Students are expected to complete all readings prior to class and to
arrive prepared to discuss questions and concepts. Written assignments should be submitted at the
beginning of class. Late work will be penalized, unless arrangements are made in advance. It is
expected that students will write in a professional manner and proofread all work. Handwritten
assignments will not be accepted. In order to avoid plagiarism, the work of others should be always
attributed. Please refer to the Chicago Manual of Style for formatting questions. Students will need
to regularly access the web in order to complete coursework.
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Course Outline
Class
1. 9/7
Topic_________________________________________________
Introductions. Class Organization. Overview of Historic Preservation.
Review: National Register of Historic Places,
http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/ and
http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/publications/index.htm.
New Hampshire's Five Year Preservation Plan,
http://www.nh.gov/nhdhr/programs/plan.htm.
2. 9/14
Research Methods for Tracing the History of a Historical Property. Final Research
Project Overview. Guest Speaker.
Read: McAlester (1984, ix-xv, 2-61).
Light (1989, 109-161).
National Register Bulletin 29: Researching a Historic Property,
http://www.nps.gov/nr/publications/bulletins/nrb39/.
How to Complete the NH Individual Inventory Form,
http://www.nh.gov/nhdhr/review/ArchitecturalHistoryFormsandManuals.htm
.
3. 9/21
Field Investigations: identifying and recording visual elements, inventory forms,
photography.
Read: McAlester (1984, 62-101).
Light (1989, 11-108).
National Register Bulletin: How to Improve the Quality of Photographs for
National Register Nominations,
http://www.nps.gov/nr/publications/bulletins/photobul/.
Photograph Policy Fact Sheet, National Register of Historic Places,
http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/publications/bulletins/photopolicy/index.htm.
DHR Digital Photograph Policy for Survey,
http://www.nh.gov/nhdhr/review/documents/appendixe_photopolicy.pdf.
Review: National Register Bulletin 24: Guidelines for Local Surveys,
http://www.nps.gov/nr/publications/bulletins/nrb24/.
4. 9/28
Field Investigations: mapping, historic maps, sketch plans, floor plans, photo keys,
measured drawings.
Assignment: Students should photograph an older property and present the photos
to the class to illustrate the property’s major components. Students must also present
their topics for the final research project.
Read: McAlester (1984, 102-175).
Light (1989, 173-203).
Review: National Register Bulletin: 28: Using the URM Grid System o Record
Historic Sites, http://www.nps.gov/nr/publications/bulletins/nrb28/.
NH GRANIT, http://www.granit.unh.edu/, particularly the NH GRANIT
Data Mapper page.
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Cultural Resources Geographical Information System Facility
(CRGIS),http://www.nps.gov/history/hdp/crgis/index.htm.
National Register Bulletin: 28: Using the URM Grid System o Record
Historic Sites, http://www.nps.gov/nr/publications/bulletins/nrb28/.
Library of Congress Panoramic Maps, 1847-1929,
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/pmhtml/panhome.html.
5. 10/5
Understanding Historical and Physical Context. Historic Districts. Multiple
Property Documentation.
Assignment: Using the property photographed last week, or your research project
property, create a location map and a property map to present, following directions in
the NHDHR individual inventory form manual.
Read: McAlester (1984, 176-237).
National Register Bulletin 16A: How to Complete the National Register
Nomination Form,
http://www.nps.gov/history/NR/publications/bulletins/nrb16a/.
How to Complete the NH Division of Historical Resources Area Form,
http://www.nh.gov/nhdhr/review/architectural_history_forms.htm.
Review: National Register Bulletin: How to Complete the National Register
Multiple Documentation Form,
http://www.nps.gov/nr/publications/bulletins/nrb16b/index.htm
National Historic Landmarks, Theme Studies,
http://www.nps.gov/history/nhl/themes/themes.htm.
6. 10/8
Field Trip: examining and documenting a building and its pathology.
Read: Preservation Brief 17: Architectural Character—Identifying the Visual
Aspects of Historic Buildings as an Aid to Preserving their Character,
http://www.cr.nps.gov/hps/tps/briefs/brief17.htm
Preservation Brief 18: Rehabilitating Interiors in Historic Buildings—
Identifying Character-Defining Elements,
http://www.cr.nps.gov/hps/tps/briefs/brief18.htm.
Preservation Brief 35: Understanding Old Buildings: The Process of
Architectural Investigation, http://www.cr.nps.gov/hps/tps/briefs/brief35.htm
7. 10/12
Archeological Site Forms. Engineering Structures. Guest speaker.
Assignment: Using your research project property, complete “The Architectural
Character Checklist/Questionnaire” found in Preservation Brief #17 and present
what you learned for the class.
Read: McAlester (1984, 238-317).
McVarish (2008, 11-112).
Review: NHDHR Archaeology: Forms and Manuals,
http://www.nh.gov/nhdhr/review/archaeology.htm.
8. 10/19
Writing about Historical Resources: language, building descriptions, historical
narratives, statements of significance, bibliographies.
Read: McAlester (1984, 318-473).
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Light (1989, 207-229 and 276-279).
National Register Bulletin: How to Apply the National Register Criteria for
Evaluation, http://www.nps.gov/history/NR/publications/bulletins/nrb15/.
Review: McVarish (2008, 113-236).
National Register of Historic Places Program: Sample Nominations,
http://www.nps.gov/history/NR/sample_nominations.htm.
National Register Bulletin 35: Examples of National Register Registration
Documentation, http://www.nps.gov/nr/publications/bulletins/nrb35/.
National Register Bulletin: Defining Boundaries for National Register
Properties,
http://www.nps.gov/history/NR/publications/bulletins/boundaries/.
NPS Heritage Documentation Programs, Sample Projects,
http://www.nps.gov/history/hdp/samples/index.htm.
9. 10/26
Other Types of Documentation: National Register of Historic Places, Historic
Structure Reports, HABS/HAER/HALS, and baseline reports.
Assignment: Summarize for the class one of the engineering types described in the
McVarish chapters, pages 113-373.
Read: McAlester (1984, 474-499).
Preservation Brief 43: The Preparation and Use of Historic Structure
Reports, http://www.cr.nps.gov/hps/tps/briefs/brief43.htm.
LCHIP Baseline Documentation Form, Historic Property Assessment with
Preservation Guidelines & Historic Structures Reports, and Baseline
Documentation Example for Historic Resources Projects,
http://www.lchip.org/historic-cultural-resource-pages/lchip-publications-anddocuments.asp.
Review: NPS Heritage Documentation Programs: http://www.nps.gov/history/hdp/
and http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/habs_haer/.
NHDHR Publications: Research Topics,
http://www.nh.gov/nhdhr/publications/research.htm.
10. 11/16
Presentations.
11. 11/21
Final research papers due.
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