Historic American Buildings Survey

Historic American Buildings Survey
Name	Historic American Buildings Survey
Formation	1933
Founder	Charles E. Peterson
Type	Heritage documentation
Headquarters	Washington, D.C.
Parent organization	National Park Service
Affiliations	Library of Congress, American Institute of Architects

Historic American Buildings Survey. Established in 1933 during the depths of the Great Depression, this program was created as a make-work project for architects, draftsmen, and photographers. It represents one of the earliest and most enduring federal commitments to the systematic preservation of the nation's architectural heritage. The program's core mission is to create a comprehensive, permanent archive of measured drawings, large-format photographs, and written histories for significant structures across the United States.

History and establishment

The program was conceived in November 1933 by Charles E. Peterson, a young landscape architect with the National Park Service. His proposal was swiftly approved by Harold L. Ickes, the Secretary of the Interior Department, as part of the broader New Deal initiatives under the Civil Works Administration. The initial field work began in December 1933, with teams deployed to Colonial Williamsburg and other sites in the Southeastern United States. Early leadership and standards were heavily influenced by professionals from the American Institute of Architects and the Society of Architectural Historians. Throughout its history, it has operated under various federal agencies, including the Works Progress Administration and the Tennessee Valley Authority, before being permanently housed within the Heritage Documentation Programs division of the National Park Service.

Purpose and scope

The primary purpose is to create a permanent archival record of America's built environment before it is lost to decay, development, or disaster. Its scope is exceptionally broad, encompassing everything from iconic Greek Revival mansions and Gothic Revival churches to utilitarian Pennsylvania Dutch barns, Pueblo dwellings, and Art Deco commercial structures. Documentation focuses not only on high-style architecture but also on vernacular buildings, industrial sites, and cultural landscapes that tell the story of everyday American life. The archive serves as an irreplaceable resource for scholars, preservationists, architects, and historians studying the evolution of design, technology, and society in the United States.

Methodology and documentation

The methodology follows rigorous standards to ensure scientific accuracy and archival permanence. Teams typically produce three complementary types of documentation: measured drawings, archival photographs, and written historical reports. The measured drawings are precise, hand-drafted or computer-generated plans, elevations, and details created using tools like theodolites and laser scanners. The photographic record consists of large-format, black-and-white images taken with view cameras, following guidelines established by the National Park Service. The written data pages include detailed information on construction history, architectural style, and association with significant events or individuals, compiled through research in sources like Sanborn maps and local archives.

Notable projects and examples

The archive contains documentation for tens of thousands of structures, including many National Historic Landmarks and properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Notable early projects included the meticulous recording of Independence Hall in Philadelphia and missions in San Antonio. The program has documented iconic works by architects like Frank Lloyd Wright, including Fallingwater and the Robie House, and significant sites like Monticello, the Empire State Building, and the USS Constitution. It has also preserved records of now-lost treasures, such as the original Pennsylvania Station and numerous buildings demolished during urban renewal projects.

Impact and legacy

The impact on the fields of historic preservation and architectural history in America is profound. Its collections, housed in the Prints and Photographs Division of the Library of Congress, are publicly accessible and have been used to guide the restoration of countless landmarks, from Mount Vernon to San Juan National Historic Site. The program established the model for subsequent companion programs, notably the Historic American Engineering Record and the Historic American Landscapes Survey. Its legacy includes training generations of preservation professionals and creating a democratized record that values vernacular and indigenous structures alongside monumental architecture, fundamentally shaping the American preservation ethos.

Administration and organization

Administratively, it is a program within the Heritage Documentation Programs office of the National Park Service, based in Washington, D.C.. Field projects are often conducted through partnerships with universities, state historic preservation offices, and professional firms, funded by a mix of federal appropriations and matching grants. The program works in close collaboration with the Library of Congress, which curates and provides public access to the physical collections, and maintains advisory ties with organizations like the American Institute of Architects and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Its staff includes architectural historians, architects, and photographers who set national documentation standards.

Category:National Park Service Category:Architecture in the United States Category:Historic preservation in the United States