ADVERTISEMENT
- Rozovsky wins prestigious NSF Early Career Award
- UD students meet alumni, experience 'closing bell' at NYSE
- Newark Police seek assistance in identifying suspects in robbery
- Rivlin says bipartisan budget action, stronger budget rules key to reversing debt
- Stink bugs shouldn't pose problem until late summer
- Gao to honor Placido Domingo in Washington performance
- Adopt-A-Highway project keeps Lewes road clean
- WVUD's Radiothon fundraiser runs April 1-10
- W.D. Snodgrass Symposium to honor Pulitzer winner
- New guide helps cancer patients manage symptoms
- UD in the News, March 25, 2011
- For the Record, March 25, 2011
- Public opinion expert discusses world views of U.S. in Global Agenda series
- Congressional delegation, dean laud Center for Community Research and Service program
- Center for Political Communication sets symposium on politics, entertainment
- Students work to raise funds, awareness of domestic violence
- Equestrian team wins regional championship in Western riding
- Markell, Harker stress importance of agriculture to Delaware's economy
- Carol A. Ammon MBA Case Competition winners announced
- Prof presents blood-clotting studies at Gordon Research Conference
- Sexual Assault Awareness Month events, programs announced
- Stay connected with Sea Grant, CEOE e-newsletter
- A message to UD regarding the tragedy in Japan
- More News >>
- March 31-May 14: REP stages Neil Simon's 'The Good Doctor'
- April 2: Newark plans annual 'wine and dine'
- April 5: Expert perspective on U.S. health care
- April 5: Comedian Ace Guillen to visit Scrounge
- April 6, May 4: School of Nursing sponsors research lecture series
- April 6-May 4: Confucius Institute presents Chinese Film Series on Wednesdays
- April 6: IPCC's Pachauri to discuss sustainable development in DENIN Dialogue Series
- April 7: 'WVUDstock' radiothon concert announced
- April 8: English Language Institute presents 'Arts in Translation'
- April 9: Green and Healthy Living Expo planned at The Bob
- April 9: Center for Political Communication to host Onion editor
- April 10: Alumni Easter Egg-stravaganza planned
- April 11: CDS session to focus on visual assistive technologies
- April 12: T.J. Stiles to speak at UDLA annual dinner
- April 15, 16: Annual UD push lawnmower tune-up scheduled
- April 15, 16: Master Players series presents iMusic 4, China Magpie
- April 15, 16: Delaware Symphony, UD chorus to perform Mahler work
- April 18: Former NFL Coach Bill Cowher featured in UD Speaks
- April 21-24: Sesame Street Live brings Elmo and friends to The Bob
- April 30: Save the date for Ag Day 2011 at UD
- April 30: Symposium to consider 'Frontiers at the Chemistry-Biology Interface'
- April 30-May 1: Relay for Life set at Delaware Field House
- May 4: Delaware Membrane Protein Symposium announced
- May 5: Northwestern University's Leon Keer to deliver Kerr lecture
- May 7: Women's volleyball team to host second annual Spring Fling
- Through May 3: SPPA announces speakers for 10th annual lecture series
- Through May 4: Global Agenda sees U.S. through others' eyes; World Bank president to speak
- Through May 4: 'Research on Race, Ethnicity, Culture' topic of series
- Through May 9: Black American Studies announces lecture series
- Through May 11: 'Challenges in Jewish Culture' lecture series announced
- Through May 11: Area Studies research featured in speaker series
- Through June 5: 'Andy Warhol: Behind the Camera' on view in Old College Gallery
- Through July 15: 'Bodyscapes' on view at Mechanical Hall Gallery
- More What's Happening >>
- UD calendar >>
- Middle States evaluation team on campus April 5
- Phipps named HR Liaison of the Quarter
- Senior wins iPad for participating in assessment study
- April 19: Procurement Services schedules information sessions
- UD Bookstore announces spring break hours
- HealthyU Wellness Program encourages employees to 'Step into Spring'
- April 8-29: Faculty roundtable series considers student engagement
- GRE is changing; learn more at April 15 info session
- April 30: UD Evening with Blue Rocks set for employees
- Morris Library to be open 24/7 during final exams
- More Campus FYI >>
12:59 p.m., Jan. 19, 2010----Students in an introductory preservation graduate course at the University of Delaware recently traveled to Washington, D.C., for a presentation to the Historical American Buildings Survey (HABS) and the Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) in the U.S. Department of the Interior about how they have used its database of drawings and photographs to conduct research on historic architecture.
The class of 10 first-year graduate students used the HABS/HAER collections to research four styles of architecture and identify what they thought were the best examples of the particular styles. Then they presented and defended their choices in class.
Students then presented their findings about the architectural styles, their experiences using the collection and recommendations on how the database can be enhanced to the HABS/HAER staff during a meeting in Washington in December.
The class was taught by David Ames, professor and director of the UD Center for Historical Architecture and Design, and Chandra Reedy, professor in the School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy in the College of Education and Public Policy.
The HABS/HAER database has been a valuable resource for his students, Ames said, during a time in which the Internet is frequently being used to conduct distance learning. The collection, which was started in 1933, features photographs, detailed measurements and written history for over 35,000 structures, ranging from Pre-Columbian times to the 20th century.
“The problem with historical architecture is that you are limited to buildings around you that still exist,” Ames said. “The HABS/HAER database lets you access thousands of buildings around the country from the past and present, and that is very beneficial for students.”
Ames said the trip and the assignment were designed to help network students with the HABS/HAER staff and get them acquainted with their services, as the HABS/HAER database is frequently used in professional training.
The four styles of architecture the students researched were Greek Revival, which was used from 1825-1860 and draws on ancient Greek and Roman architectural features such as columns; Gothic Revival, used from 1840-1880 and based on gothic churches; Italianate, used from 1840-1885 and drawing on the Italian renaissance, featuring a low pitched roof and arched windows; and Second Empire, seen from 1855-1885 and featuring mansard roofs, similar to the roofs of some buildings on Newark's Main Street.
Ames and his students agree that the HABS/HAER collection is valuable because of its extensive details in the documentation of buildings. The information in the database, for some buildings, serves as the only record that the structures existed.
“The collection has very interesting information on the environment and architecture of everyday buildings,” graduate student Riley Hollenbaugh said. “The buildings have a lot of culture and value in our society.”
“Using the collection in our research is like being able to visit the building and take a virtual tour,” graduate student Jim Gosney added. “The database is important because with it, we are able to determine who occupied it, when the building was built and its architectural significance.”
Carolyn Barry, another graduate student, said an advantage of using HABS/HAER is that it can be used to research buildings that no longer exist.
“It is interesting to see what America has had in the past,” she said.
Article by Jon Bleiweis