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Historic Preservation Home > Syllabi > 200 Level Courses > HISP 205-01 Documentation and Fieldwork

UNIVERSITY OF MARY WASHINGTON

Department of Historic Preservation

Spring Semester, 2008

Professor W. Brown Morton III

Combs Hall 011

Section 1, Wednesday, 2:00 - 4:45 p.m.

    HISP 205: Documentation and Fieldwork

This course introduces students to basic field methods of documentation and analysis of historic sites and structures through measured drawings, photographs and historical research.  Through lectures, fieldwork, time with the camera and at the drawing board, students will learn the fundamental procedures for documenting chronological changes in construction techniques, building materials and stylistic details.  A major component of the course is also devoted to documentary field research in public archives.

CLASS REQUIREMENTS

TEXT
         Burns, John A., ed.  Recording Historic Structures.  2d. ed.  Washington DC: National Park Service, 2004. 

ON-LINE TEXT:
            All students will be responsible for utilizing the National Park Service, Historic American Buildings Survey guidelines: Recording Historic Structures and Sites with HABS Measured Drawings.  These HABS Guidelines are available on the Internet at the following address:            http://www.nps.gov/history/hdp/standards 
Then click on Guidelines and then on HABS Guidelines

The Department of Historic Preservation has a web page:
            http://www.umw.edu/historicpreservation/                      

This course is specifically available on the web at:
            http://blackboard.umw.edu

Please note that any subsequent modifications or changes to this syllabus will be incorporated into the syllabus available to you on Blackboard.

REQUIRED MATERIALS:

PHOTOGRAPHY:
            To complete the photography part of this class, each student will require access to a 35mm. film camera or a digital camera that has manual controls for shutter speed and diaphragm.  Automatic “point-and-shoot” cameras are not acceptable.  Students who do not have access to an appropriate 35-mm.film camera or digital camera may sign-out and use a Department of Historic Preservation (DHP) camera on a 24-hour basis.  To do so, each student must be “logged-in” to the DHP equipment computer.  [See  DHP Secretary or DHP student aide if you need help to log-in.]
            If using a film camera a student must purchase the 35mm. film necessary for the assignment and to pay for the processing and printing of their own film.  Students using a digital camera must  have all photos printed on photographic paper in a 4” x 6” format at their own expense..

MEASURED DRAWINGS
            To complete the measured drawings part of this class, each student should purchase the following paper:
3 sheets of UMW 18" x 24" bordered paper: [This is available ONLY at the UMW Bookstore]
3 sheets of 17" x 22" graph paper with a 1/8” grid within 1” squares
1 sheet of 18" x 24" Mylar for ink drawing
1 spiral-ring, lined paper notebook
            To complete the measured drawings part of this class, each student should purchase the following equipment:
1 Drafting Kit which should contain most of the following:
      1 30-60 degree triangle
      1 45 degree triangle
      1 small French curve
      1 roll masking tape
      1 drafting pencil (drafting lead holder type)
      1 two-lead pack of "F" or “2H” drafting leads  
      1 lead pointer or sandpaper 
      1 Eraser for ink on Mylar 
      1 Eraser for pencil
      1 Drafting brush
      1 Erasing shield  
      1 Architect's scale in feet and inches [Not Metric]
1 set of disposable ink drafting pens with at least five different line weights. [See Prof. Morton]        

[Note:  All the graph paper and a drafting kit with most of the items listed above are available for purchase at the UMW bookstore.  Materials, other than the UMW bordered paper, are also available at Drafting & Survey Supply Co., 1311 Jefferson Davis Highway, Fredericksburg.  Telephone 373-5800.  Each student should also obtain a lined spiral ring binder notebook for rough fieldwork measurements and class lecture notes.

TEST AND EXAM:
There will be one test on Wednesday, February 20 and a final examination on Wednesday, April 30.

FIELD PROJECTS:  Each student will work individually and sometimes-in small teams to carry out several field projects.

Measured Drawings

Working both at the assigned fieldwork site and in the drafting studio, Combs 0011, each student will complete a set of field note drawings with complete measurements and including sketches of selected details.  Virtually complete field notes to be completed by beginning of class March 19 for review.

From the field note drawings and measurements each student will complete a set of finished measured drawings in pencil, including plan, elevation(s), and assigned section.  Students will form small teams to take field measurements for their field notes. Each student will prepare his or her own field notes sheets and measured drawings.  Work will be evaluated for factors of accuracy, neatness, composition and completeness.  Due at end of class April 23.

Each student will prepare a measured drawing in ink on Mylar, taken from one of his/her best sheet of pencil drawings. Work will be evaluated for factors of accuracy, neatness, composition and completeness.  Due at end of class April 23.

Note: 
Students will work in small teams to take and record field measurements.  This work must be done with all team members participating.  It is not acceptable for any student to use measurements as his/her own when those measurements have been taken entirely by other students.

Successful completion of the measured drawings assignment requires significant out of class fieldwork and time spent in the drafting studio.  Students are urged to plan for this from the very beginning of the semester and not to fall behind in the measured drawings assignment.  Each week’s class builds on the work completed since the previous class.

Each student’s field notes and final drawings will be entirely their own work.  It is considered an honor offense to use any other student’s graph paper, drafting paper, and Mylar or appropriate another student’s drafting instruments and supplies without their express prior permission, or to trace or copy any other student’s work at any stage of the assignment.

Photography

Each student will prepare a photo-documentation schedule for his or her photographs of the assigned photographic documentation fieldwork site. 
            Half-completed draft photo-documentation schedule due for review at beginning of class January 30.

 Each student will take twelve photographs of the fieldwork site: all four elevations, four oblique views, two general views, one exterior detail and one interior detail. 

If using a digital camera, the camera must have manual controls, so that the student can “bracket” each of the twelve views.

If using a 35 mm. film camera, each student can "bracket" twelve views on a roll of 36 exposures.  The Department of Historic Preservation will make a 35 mm camera available to you if you do not have access to one. Each student will provide one roll of black and white or color 35mm film.  Either one is acceptable.

The student also will pay for any processing and printing.  The student will select the best exposure of each of the twelve subjects. 

The student will mount the 4”x 6” prints with double-stick tape on 22" x 28" poster board.   Each photograph will be numbered from 1 to 12 and will have a caption identifying the view.  The mounted photos will be brought to class for evaluation. Evaluation will be based on criteria for composition, clarity, contrast and function.  Please tape your photo-documentation schedule to the back of your photo board.  Due at beginning of class March 12.

Historical Research

Each student will undertake historical research on an assigned historic property in Fredericksburg using records in the Fredericksburg City Hall and in the Clerk's Office.  Each student will research a chain of title for the property, and examine wills and inventories for a specific period for the property.  The student will prepare a concise report of their findings including a partial Chain of Title.  Student’s work will be his or her own.   Due at beginning of class April 16.

GRADING
Throughout the semester, students will report in class to Professor Morton on their individual and team progress.  Participation factors related to regularity of fieldwork and class attendance, cooperative teamwork, and keeping up with all phases of the fieldwork and measured drawing assignments will be evaluated.

Please review the honor violations that relate to classroom work and graded assignments.  I will respond to any observed or reported violation of its provisions.  I will be explicit about any assignment in which collaboration is encouraged.  All assignments are expected to be your own work, even when several students have the same topic or have done fieldwork examination in teams.  Please review the Honor System Guidebook explanations of plagiarism.  If you have any questions please see me.

Letter grade descriptions in quotations below are taken from the Academic Catalog.  This and the Dictionary of Academic Regulations should be consulted for further explanation of these and all other grading details and other academic regulations.  When numerical grades are used in computation, I use the following equivalents:

below 60: F 0.00 quality points
60-66   D 1.00 quality points
67-69 D+  1.30 quality points
70-72 C- 1.70 quality points
73-76 C 2.00 quality points  
77-79 C+ 2.30 quality points
80-82 B- 2.70 quality points
83-86 B 3.00 quality points
87-89 B+ 3.30 quality points
90-93 A- 3.70 quality points
94-100 A 4.00 quality points

FINAL GRADE:  Your final grade will be based on:

Test 1: 10%
Field notes 20%
Measured drawings in pencil:  20%
Measured drawing in ink on Mylar 5%
Photo-documentation schedule and  
Photographs: 20%
Documentary research report: 10%
Class participation 5%
Final examination: 10%

Any part of the fieldwork will be marked down by as much as a letter grade (10 points) if handed in late.

OFFICE HOURS:
Monday          11:00 - 12:00
Tuesday          9:30 - 11:00
Wednesday     9:30 – 10:30
Thursday         9:30 - 11:00
And by appointment.  X1310, Combs Hall 129

HISP 205:  DOCUMENTATION & FIELDWORK, SPRING, 2008

CLASS SCHEDULE:  All students will be expected to make regular use of the HABS measured drawings instructions as available on the link in the Blackboard HISP 205 syllabus to keep current with the class.  Any schedule changes [weather related, etc.] will be announced on Blackboard.

1.  Wednesday, January 16
            Class meets in Combs 0011
            a) Class organization and table assignment for this new section of HISP 205
            b) Review of the syllabus, course content and materials.
            c) Register for DHP equipment check out.
            d) General introduction to documentation and fieldwork. 
Required Reading: Burns: VI to XIII, 1- 26   
Note:  Purchase ALL drafting equipment paper and fieldwork supplies BEFORE next class period.

2.  Wednesday, January 23
Bring your camera to class if you have one.  If you do not have one, please check a DHP 35mm.or digital camera out from the Department.
a)    Introduction to architectural photography.
b)   Forming photo teams. 
c)   Photo Documentation Planning
d)   Practice session at the photography fieldwork location [weather dependent].
Required Reading: Burns: 52-87
FROM THIS CLASS ON YOU ARE RERQUIRED TO COMPLETE YOUR OWN FIELD PHOTOGRAPHY OUTSIDE OF SCEHDULED CLASS TIME. 

3. Wednesday, January 30
Class meets in Combs 0011

  • Introduction to architectural measured drawing
  • Begin learning how to draft.
    Required Reading: Burns: 88-139
    Note: Bring all drafting equipment and paper with you to class, without fail!

4.  Wednesday, February 6
      Class meets in Combs 0011
            then proceeds to fieldwork location
            a) Photo-documentation half-completed draft due at beginning of class for review.
            b)   Introduction to field measuring and field notes.
c) Team begins measuring plan.
d) Each student begins fieldwork sheet for plan between now and next class.
            Note: Each team must check out one short tape, one long tape and at least one large clipboard BEFORE class starts.  Remember to bring your own ring-binder notebook.

5. Wednesday, February 13
            Class meets in Combs 0011
            then proceeds to fieldwork location
            a)   Team begins measuring elevation and continues plan measurements.
b)Each student begins fieldwork sheet for elevation between now and next class.
            Note: Each team must check out one short tape, one long tape and at least one large clipboard BEFORE class starts.  Remember to bring your own ring-binder notebook.

6. Wednesday, February 20
            Class meets in Combs 0011
            Test 1
            then proceeds to fieldwork location

  • Team begins measuring section and continues measuring elevation and plan details.
  • Each student begins section fieldwork sheet and continues to develop plan and elevation fieldwork sheet between now and next class.
    Note: Each team must check out one short tape, one long tape and at least one large clipboard BEFORE class starts.  Remember to bring your own ring-binder notebook.

7. Wednesday, February 27
            Class meets in Combs 0011.
            then proceeds to fieldwork location

  • Team continues measuring section and plan and elevation details.
    Each student continues development of fieldwork sheet for section, plan and elevation between now and next class.
    Note: Each team must check out one short tape, one long tape and at least one large clipboard BEFORE class starts.  Remember to bring your own ring-binder notebook.

SPRING BREAK: No Class March 5, 2008

8. Wednesday, March 12
            Class meets in Combs 0011
            Photographic Documentation assignment and photo-documentation schedule due at the beginning of class.

            a) Review of Photographic Documentation
            b)  Professor Morton will review each student’s progress on fieldwork drawings
            then proceeds to fieldwork location
c)Teams complete ALL field measurements. 
Note: ALL FIELD NOTE DRAWINGS MUST BE FULLY COMPLETED BY THE BEGINNING OF NEXT CLASS PERIOD.

9. Wednesday, March 19
            Class meets in Combs 0011
Professor Morton will record all completed field note drawings.
Developing your final pencil drawings from your field notes. 
[Remember that your final drawings are built from the information in your field note drawings, but are NOT tracings of your field note images.]
Note: You must have completed the image of at least one of your final pencil drawings by next class to use as the drawing from which you will take your ink drawing.

 10. Wednesday, March 26
            Class meets in Combs 0011  
a) Learning to draft in ink on Mylar.
Note: Without fail, bring your Mylar sheet and your ink pen set to class as well as the pencil drawing image you are planning to copy.   

11. Wednesday, April 2
            Class meets in Combs 0011
            a) Introduction to historical research fieldwork: using the records at City Hall and the Fredericksburg Clerk’s Office. [Individual assignments will be given out at this time.
b) Class will proceed to the Fredericksburg City Hall, Princess Anne St. at Hanover St. and then to the Clerk's Office of the Circuit Court at the Court House on Princess Anne St. between George and Hanover Streets to begin chain-of-title assignment. 
Required Reading: Burns: 26-51           

12. Wednesday, April 9 
Class meets in Combs 0011
Working on your final drawings

13. Wednesday, April 16
            Completed historical research project due at beginning of class.
            Working on your final drawings.

14. Wednesday, April 23
            Class will meet in Combs 0011
a) Review for final exam
b) Last minute corrections to all drawings
Note: ALL FIELD NOTE DRAWINGS, FINAL PENCIL DRAWINGS AND THE INK DRAWING ARE DUE AT THE END OF CLASS.

FINAL EXAM:  Wednesday, April 30, 3:30-6:00 p.m.