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Historic Preservation Research Guide

This guide lists key resources for researching historic preservation. The Architecture and Allied Arts Library (Eugene) is the primary service points for collections and services in this area. For assistance, contact subject specialist  Ed Teague <ehteague@uoregon.edu>, (541) 346-1954.

Dictionaries, encyclopedias

  • Encyclopedia of Vernagular Architecture of the World.  Cambridge, 1997. v.1-3. AAA REF NA208 .E53 1997.
  • Illustrated Dictionary of Architectural Preservation: Restoration, Renovation, Rehabilitation, Reuse.  McGraw-Hill, 2004.  AAA REF NA105 .B87 2004.
  • Oxford Reference Online: Art & Architecture provides full-text of Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, Dictionary of Modern Design, Oxford Companion to Art, Oxford Companion to Western Art & more.
  • Oxford Art Online, accesses Grove Art Online --the most extensive scholarly art and architecture encyclopedia and other encyclopedias.
  • What Style Is It?: A Guide to American Architecture. Preservation Press, 1983.  AAA REF NA705 .P6 1983.

Books

The database listing library holdings (predominately books) is usually called a catalog.  The UO Library catalog comes in two flavors.
  • UO Local Catalog accesses books and other cataloged materials owned by the UO Libraries
  • UO WorldCat. This database includes library holdings from around the world.  Note: The UO WorldCat database also includes articles and other kinds of materials. Searches can be restricted to type of material, date, scope, etc.  Can also narrow by UO Library, Summit Libraries, or Worldwide Libraries.
  • Google Books is a useful source for finding information buried in books, some full-text online
  • New additions to the UO Libraries.  A monthly list of new titles organized by broad subjects.

Articles

There are many databases for articles in journals and trade magazines that are useful for architectural research.  Clicking on the   FindText which appears with citations helps you locate an item in the library, online, or elsewhere.  Multi-database searching is a feature that can be employed to expand searches beyond one database.

  • AATA Online ; Abstracts of International Conservation Literature, is a comprehensive database of more than 100,000 abstracts of literature related to the preservation and conservation of material cultural heritage.
  • Avery Index to Architecture Periodicals.  The principal architecture database indexes 2,000 periodicals published worldwide on architecture, landscape architecture, planning, interior design, and preservation. Coverage is from the 1930s (with selective coverage dating back to the 1860s) to the present.
  • Academic Search Premier. Contains indexing for more than 8,000 publications, with full text for approximately 4,600 of these titles. ASP focuses on academic, social sciences, humanities, general science, education and multi-cultural journals.  
  • UO WorldCat. - In addition to library  holdings, millions of article citations populate this database.
  • Web of Science The most comprehensive coverage of science, humanities, and social science articles, 1965-present. In addition to keyword, author, and source searching, uses cited sources as discovery and analysis tools.  
  • Newspaper indexes are good for local, regional information.  There are several online Oregon newspaper indexes.
  • An Index and Summary of Oregon Building Information in the Portland Daily Abstract (1906-1910). Compiled by Michael Shellenbarger, UO Historic Preservation Program.
  • Historic Oregon Newspapers includes digitized historical Oregon newspapers dating from the 1850s to the 1920s.

Images & plans

Some sources for plans, images, descriptive information of architecture:

  • ARTstor, over 200,000 architectural images including Quick Time panoramas (QTVR) are included in this database of over 1,000,000 images.
  • AAI:  Art & Architecture Images Database, created by the UO Visual Resources Collection, provides access to thousands of images.

News about architecture

  • ArchitectureWeek provides architectural news, information about competitions, conferences, links to images, product info, and a searchable index to architectural firms.  Integrated with Great Buildings Collection and Archiplanet.
  • Portland Architecture. Blog about design in Portland.

Preservation agencies, associations, organizations


Local, State, Regional National
  • Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, promotes the preservation, enhancement, and productive use of America's historic resources, and advises the President and Congress on national historic preservation policy. Excellent list of related web links.
  • Alliance for Historic Landscape Preservation, Dedicated to the preservation and conservation of historic landscapes in all their variety, from formal gardens and public parks to rural expanses. Excellent list of related web links.
  • Association for Preservation Technology, promotes the best technology for conserving historic structures and their settings. The APT Bulletin is accessible online via JSTOR.
  • Directory of State Historic Preservation Officers When beginning research or a project related to preserving historic structures or resources, your first stop should be to your SHPO to inquire about the programs and services offered in your State
  • HABS/HAER, Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Record, federal program documents important architectural, engineering and industrial sites throughout the United States and its territories.
  • HALS, Historic American Landscapes Survey,U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Like HABS and HAER, HALS is a federal program charged with recording historic landscapes in the United States and its territories. Homepage has excellent information and links.
  • National Council for Preservation Education,  excellent source for training, employment, and other links, including international.
  • National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service. Nation's official list of cultural resources worthy of preservation. Coordinates and supports public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect our historic and archeological resources. Properties listed in the Register include districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects that are significant in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering, and culture. Excellent links to resources, procedures.
  • National Trust for Historic Preservation, private nonprofit organization provides leadership, education, advocacy, and resources to save America's diverse historic places and revitalize our communities.
  • Preservation Directory, over 1,300 online preservation organizations, programs and historical societies in North America. Click on the map of your state for organizations in that location.
  • Preserve America, Directs Federal agencies to improve their management of historic properties and to foster heritage tourism in partnership with local communities
  • Recent Past Preservation Network, promotes preservation education and advocacy to encourage contextual understanding of our modern built environment.
  • Save Outdoor Sculpture!  SOS! is a joint project of the Smithsonian American Art Museum and Heritage Preservation.
International

Building codes & standards

  • Oregon: Oregon Building Codes. Links to PDF versions of The Oregon Structural Specialty Code, Oregon Mechanical Specialty Code, and the Oregon Residential Specialty Code.
  • Oregon cities: Eugene City Code, Portland City Code
  • LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design)resources: Follow this link to retriev LEED publications in the UO Libraries.
Maintained by: Edward H. Teague, ehteague@uoregon.edu
Last Modified: 12/29/2010