Graduate
Introduction to Historic Preservation

History 6942

Fall Semester 2002

Dr. Donna M. DeBlasio

TTh 5:10-6:25 pm

Moser Hall 2355

Office Hours: MWF 8:30-10:30

MF 1:00-2:00

TTh 10:00-12:00

and by appointment

Phone: 330-941-3158 or 330-941-3457

e-mail: dmdeblasio@ysu.edu

Required Readings:

Norman Tyler, Historic Preservation:An Introduction to Its History, Principles and Practice

Stephen C. Gordon, How to Complete the Ohio Historic Inventory

Thomas R. King, Cultural Resource Laws and Practice

Readings on closed reserve at Maag Library indicated in syllabus by two asterisks (**)

Course Description

In this course, students will gain a broad understanding of the field of historic preservation.The course provides historical context for the discipline as well as a basic grounding in the concepts and opportunities of the field. Throughout the term, we will examine the history and theory of the American historic preservation movement, preservation law, the government and preservation, strategies for conserving historic resources, local initiatives, and preservation in the new millennium.The course includes guest lecturers, field trips and in class presentation.


 

Course Goals:


 

*Gain an understanding of the range of historic preservation activities

*Discuss social and ethical issues relating to historic preservation

*Gain an understanding of preservation “tools,” including inventories, preservation law, the National Register of Historic Places, and the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Rehabilitation of Historic Structures

*Become familiar with private organizations and public agencies that assist in preservation 

*Complete an Ohio Historic Inventory form

*Develop specialized skills of research and analysis in historic preservation

*Develop general analytical, writing, and verbal skills

Lectures, Readings, Papers and Projects

Ohio Historic Inventory Form:Each student will be required to complete one Ohio Historic Inventory form.The instructor will give you the address of the building for which the OHI is to be completed.One class period will be devoted to working on completing the OHIs.The OHIs, of which there are over 80,000 for the entire state, are a vast resource for Ohio preservationists, government agencies, and researchers.

Quizzes:Three quizzes will be given during the term to confirm your knowledge of the preservation field.Preservationists must be familiar with basic preservation conceptssuch as Section 106 review, the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards, and the historic preservation movement itself, to name a few.

Midterm Exam:Graduate students will take a midterm exam which will be based on Thomas King’s Cultural Resource Laws and Practice.

Research Paper: To foster a deeper understanding and engagement with theoretical and factual issues, each student is required to prepare a research paper exploring a particular aspect of historic preservation.Appropriate topics include, but a re not limited to, heritage tourism, rural preservation, industrial preservation, Main Street programs, affordable housing, historic site interpretation, gentrification and preserving the recent past.

Students will select a topic in consultation with the instructor during the first two weeks of class.Papers must be between 10 and 15 pages typed in length, with proper endnote or footnote citations based on either the Chicago Manual of Style of Kate Turabian’s A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations.Students are encouraged to meet with the instructor during the term to discuss sources, findings, etc. and are required to submit a draft for review, due on November 19.Final papers are due on Thursday, December 12, no later than 4:00 pm.

Attendance

Class meetings will consist of my presentations, guest lecturers, field trips and discussions based upon your readings and experiences.Assigned readings in the texts are included throughout this syllabus and will also include handouts and reserve readings assigned throughout the term.Class attendance is important in order to get the full value of the course.

Field Trips

Several field trips are scheduled throughout the term.Field trips are a necessary part of the course work, especially in historic preservation.They are mandatory.The field trip to the Mahoning County Courthouse will have to take place during the day time and will take place several different times during the week of October 9.You can sign up for the time that best fits your schedule.The other three field trips are to Maag Library on October 3, the Arms Museum on October 15 and Blackburn plat (a.k.a. Campbell Worker housing) on October 22.These will occur during class time.

Grades

This courses uses the standard 100 point grade scale where A=90%, B=80%, C=70% and D=60%.Course grades will be computed as follows:

Ohio Historic Inventory20%

3 Quizzes (10% ea.)30%

Midterm Exam20%

Research paper30%

____

100%

Meeting due dates and deadlines is an important part of real-life historic preservation work.Learn and adopt this habit now.Late drafts, papers, and assignments will lose one letter grade.

YSU Policy on Incompletes

Any incomplete not finished within one year (or upon graduation, if that is earlier) automatically will become and “F” on your permanent transcript.

Academic Honesty in Assignments

Your papers must NEVER use another writer’s words without giving proper credit.Quoted words should be in quotation marks, and a citation given indicating the source.Failure to give proper credit is PLAGIARISM.Plagiarism constitutes theft and it will not be tolerated.The punishment for plagiarism is either an “F” on the paper and/or an “F” in the course.If you have questions, please see me or consult the YSU student code.

Disability Statement:In accordance with University procedures, if you have a documented disability and require accommodations to obtain equal access in this course please contact me privately to discuss your specific needs.You must be registered with Disability Services located in Beeghly Hall, Rm. 3310 and provide a letter of accommodation to verify your eligibility.You can contact Disability Services at 330-941-1372.

Introduction to Historic Preservation Course Schedule

NB:A single asterisk (*) after the date denotes that the graduate and undergraduate Introduction to Historic Preservation classes will meet together in the graduate room, unless otherwise indicated.Both classes will also take field trips together.

Also note that while we have scheduled dates in the syllabus for guest lecturers, those dates are subject to change, depending on the schedule of the lecturer.We will do our best to stick to the syllabus schedule, but some changes are unavoidable.All changes will be related to the class.

Aug. 26Welcome and Introduction to Historic Preservation

Required reading:Tyler, Chapter 1

Aug. 28History of the Historic Preservation Field, Part I

Required Reading: Tyler, Chapter 2

Sept. 3History of the Historic Preservation Field, Part II

Required Reading: Tyler, Chapter 2

Sept. 10Government and Historic Preservation

Required Reading: Tyler, Chapter 2

Sept. 12Introduction to the Ohio Historic Inventory

Required Reading: Gordon, Section 1, 2, 7 & 8

Sept. 17Identifying Historic Sites

*Sept. 19Using the National Register Criteria (tentative)

Guest Lecture by Barbara Powers, Ohio Historic Preservation Office

Required Reading:Tyler, Chapter 5

Sept. 24History of American Architecture, Part I

Required Reading:Tyler, Chapter 6; Gordon, Sections 3, 4

Sept. 26History of American Architecture, Part II

Required Reading: Tyler, Chapter 6; Gordon, Section 5

Oct. 1Research Methods

Required Reading:Tyler, Chapter 5

Quiz #1

Oct. 3Field trip to Maag Library

Oct. 8Historic Houses and Districts

Outdoor Museums

Required Reading:Tyler, Chapter 3

Oct. 10 Field trip to Arms Museum/Mahoning Valley Historical Society 

Oct. 15 Midterm exam on King book

*Oct. 17Tax Credits and Revolving Loans/Affordable Housing and Historic Properties

Guest Lecture, Jim Converse, Common Wealth and CHOICE

Required Reading:Tyler, Chapter 10

**Karen Ceraso, “Eyesore to Community Asset:Historic Preservation Creates Affordable Housing and Livable Neighborhoods,” Shelterforce

*Oct. 22Field Trip to Blackburn Plat; meet in DeBartolo lot; we will carpool to 

Campbell

*Oct. 24 Section 106 Review

Both classes meet together for my lecture

Oct. 29In class OHI workshop

Quiz #2

*Oct. 31Heritage Tourism

Guest Lecture, Dr. Tom Leary, YSU Historic Preservation program

Required Reading:Tyler, Chapter 10 

**T. Allan Comp, “Regional Heritage Areas:

Approaches to Sustainable Development”

*Nov. 5Preservation Law and Certified Local Governments

Guest Lecture, Norma Stefanic, architect, YSU Urban Affairs

Required Reading: Tyler, Chapter 4

**”Preserving Your Community’s Heritage”

*Nov. 7Working with Private Groups

Guest Lecture, Holly Burnett, Downtown Partners, Inc.

Required Reading:Tyler, Chapter 9

*Nov. 12Historic Interiors and Furnishings

Guest Lecture, Virginia Draa, YSU, Dept. of Human Ecology

*Nov. 14Archeology and Historic Preservation

Guest Lecture, Dr. John White, Chair, YSU Dept. of Sociology and 

Anthropology

*Nov. 19HABS/HAER

Guest Lecture, Dr. Tom Leary

Required Reading: Gordon, Section 6

**Eric DeLony, “HAER and the Recording of Technological 

Heritage: Reflections on 30 Years’ Work,” IA: Journal of the 

Society for Industrial Archeology, 25/1 (1999): 5-28

**National Park Service, “Guide to Written Reports for the

Historic American Engineering Record,” 1993

First draft of research paper due

Nov. 21Preservation Technology and the Secretary of Interior’s Standards

Required Reading:Tyler, Chapters 7, 8

Nov. 26Preserving the Recent Past

Required Reading:Tyler, Chapter 11

Nov. 28No Class; Thanksgiving

Dec.3Preservation for a New Millennium

Dec. 5Course wrap up

Quiz #3

Dec. 12Final draft of research paper due in my office, no later than 4:00 pm