Skip to main content.
Historic Preservation Home > Syllabi > 200 Level Courses > HISP 205-03 Documentation and Fieldwork

 

UNIVERSITY OF MARY WASHINGTON
DEPARTMENT OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION
HISP205-03 DOCUMENTATION AND FIELDWORK
Fall Semester 2008

Mr. Stanton gstanton@umw.edu
T/R 8-9:15am
Combs Hall, 011

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 and computer, students will learn the fundamental procedures for documenting chronological changes in construction techniques, building materials and stylistic details.  Another component of the course is also devoted to documentary field research in public archives.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

(1) Learn the procedure for creating scaled documentation of building and landscape features using line art, including the representation of changes to the structures and landscapes through additions, repair, and removals.

(2) Learn the skill of creating 2D drawings using vector digital drawing programs, and plotting the drawings scaled to fit standard paper sizes and plotted to scale.

(2) Learn the techniques of photographic documentation of standing buildings using digital cameras.

(3) Foster an understanding of what constitutes professional field documentation, and the recognized standards for documentation at different levels of completeness.

(4) Learn to use deed and tax record investigation to track ownership of researched property over time.

CLASS REQUIREMENTS

TEXTS
The following books are required and will be available in the College Bookstore and on-line from many sources:
                        No Textbook is required for this course.
Suggested Readings:
Tom Carter and Betsy Cromley. Invitation to Vernacular Architecture. Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press, 2005.
Ching, Frank.  Architectural Graphics.  2nd Ed.  New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1985.
Chitham, Robert.  Measured Drawings for Architects.   London: Architectural Press, 1990.
Cullinane, John J.  Understanding Architectural Drawings: A Guide for Non-Architects.  Washington, D.C.: Preservation Press, 1993.
ICOMOS.  Guide to Recording Historic Buildings.  London: Butterworth Architecture, 1990.
Recording Historic Structures and Sites with HABS Measured Drawings. http://www.cr.nps.gov/habshaer/habs/guidelines/arch-index.htm
This course is specifically available on the web at: http://blackboard.umw.edu/

REQUIRED MATERIALS  AND EQUIPMENT:
            Each student will have access to Department equipment to complete the assigned projects.

Please note the policies for the use of Department equipment.

  • Each student must be “logged-in” to the DHP equipment computer in the Department Office by the Department Secretary, or, in his/her absence by an on-duty Student Aide, in order to check out and use departmental equipment.
  • No student may check out or return any equipment for any other student than him/her self for any reason whatsoever. 
  • No student is permitted to check out equipment and then loan it to another student and ask that student to check the equipment back in for them.
  • No equipment may be checked out for more than 24 hours, except for weekends.  Equipment checked out on Friday afternoon may be checked in again on Monday morning.  If equipment is need for more than a 24-hour period the student must check the equipment in at the end of the 24-hour period and check it out again for no more than an additional 24 hours.
  • All equipment must be checked in and returned directly to the Department Secretary, or, in his/her absence by an on-duty Student Aide, during normal working hours.  Should the Department Secretary or an on duty Student Aide not be available, checked in equipment may be given to a faculty member.
  • Any malfunctions or breakages must be reported to the Department Secretary or to on duty Student Aides at the time the equipment is checked in and returned.  No malfunctioning or broken equipment should be checked in without the problem being identified.
  • The Department Secretary regularly checks the equipment roster on the computer and notifies both the student and their instructor when equipment has not been returned on a timely basis by the appropriate student. 

Note: A student's participation grade is reduced if the policies are not respected.

MEASURED DRAWINGS
            The Department will supply you with drafting supplies. However, you may wish to purchase a architect’s scale, as a part of your professional equipment. You may also will to obtain a gridded notebook to record measurements of the building or site for your field notes, or to collect narrative observations about features that are not easily rendered in line art.
            Measuring tapes, line levels, molding combs, and other equipment needed to take measurements for drawing field notes may be checked out from the Department.

TESTS:
There will be one test on Tuesday, September 30 and a final exam on Monday, December 9th.

FIELDWORK PROJECTS:

Each student will work individually and in small teams to carry out fieldwork.

1. Each student will prepare a photo-documentation schedule for his or her photographs of the building selected for photographic documentation.  Each student will take twelve views of the building selected for photographic documentation: all four elevations, four oblique views, two general views showing the building in its setting, a selected exterior detail and a selected interior detail.  The student will select for presentation the best example of each different view taken.  The student will create photo pages with 4”x 6” each with two images printed in black-and-white on a laser printer. The photographs must have appropriate captions giving each photo a separate number and a short description identifying the subject of the photo (including the f-stop and shutter speed).

2. Each student will undertake historical research on an assigned historic property in Fredericksburg using records in the Clerk's Office and City Hall.  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 précis of the Chain of Title.

3. Each student will complete a set of field notes and measured drawings in pencil of the building selected for measured drawing documentation.  This will include:  one plan, one section, one site plan. Each student will prepare his or her own drawings.  Drafting work will be evaluated and graded based upon accuracy, neatness, composition and completeness.

4. Each student will also prepare a digital plan and section corresponding to the hard line drawings. The digital drawings will be plotted at scale with line weights assigned by a color table.

Basic fieldwork to examine and record the measurements for the project will be accomplished working in small teams.  However, all field note drawings and measurements and final pencil and digital drawings must be entirely the work of each student. Tracing or copying the fieldnote drawings and final pencil and digital drawings from another teammate or student is not permitted.

Note:  Consult your class schedule for all due dates.

GRADING
In an effort to be open about the scoring of writing projects so that we are all clear about how a grade is achieved the following comments are provided: Grades have two parts, (1) an evaluation of the completeness of the content and the accuracy of a student project, and (2) the presentation values (clarity, layout, readability).  A project receiving an outstanding grade must show the intellectual effort of its creation (more than just a cut-and-paste presentation), the skillful integration of the material, and evidence of having reviewed and edited for the final product.
      Letter grade descriptions and quality point conversions 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.
The Office of Disability Services has been designated by the University as the primary office to guide, counsel, and assist students with disabilities.  If you receive services through that office and require accommodations for this class, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible to discuss your approved accommodation needs.  Bring your accommodation letter with you to the appointment. I will hold any information you share with me in the strictest confidence unless you give me permission to do otherwise. If you need accommodations, (note taking assistance, extended time for tests, etc.), I would be happy to refer you to the Office of Disability Services. They will require appropriate documentation of a disability.  Their phone number is 540-654-1266.

FINAL GRADE
Please note: No passing grade can be achieved in this course without completion of all examinations and out-of-class graded assignments.  Your final grade will be based on the following scores: midterm 10%, photo documentation, 20%; field notes 15%; scaled pencil drawings, 10%; plotted digital drawing 15%; research report (including chain-of-title), 10%; class participation 10%; final examination, 10%.

MY OFFICE HOURS
Monday thru Friday 2 p.m.

OFFICE
Combs 128, Phone: 654-1313

I will be in my office for set office hours (that is, I'll be there and you can drop in whether you have an appointment or not) every weekday, as noted above.  If I must attend a meeting with a faculty committee during one of those periods, I will announce this in class. I am happy to make an appointment to see you at some specific time that suits your needs.

SCHEDULE OF CLASS MEETINGS, TOPICS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Tuesday 26 August 2008
Review of the syllabus, course content and materials.

Thursday 28 August 2008
            What are field-based research and documentation?

Tuesday 2 September 2008
      Introduction to architectural photography and photo-documentation planning.
      Required Reading: David Ames, “A Primer on Architectural Photography and the Photo Documentation of Historic Structures.” http://departments.umw.edu/hipr/www/305/archphot.htm.

Thursday 4 September 2008
      Documentary Photography on-site
            Note: Bring your camera equipment to class.

Tuesday 9 September 2008
      Documentary Photography on-site

Thursday 11 September 2008
      Making a digital image a print image. Converting color to black and white.

Tuesday 16 September 2008
      Class meets in Drafting Studio, Combs 0011 to begin learning how to sketch and draft by hand.
      Note: Your photo documentation schedule and print pages are due at the beginning of class.

Thursday 18 September 2008
      Photograph critique

Tuesday 23 September 2008
      Introduction to field measuring and field notes.

Thursday 25 September 2008
      Class meets in Drafting Studio, Combs 0011 and may go to the site.
      Fieldwork - Measuring and field notes.

Tuesday 30 September 2008
      Midterm

Thursday 2 October 2008
      Class meets in Drafting Studio, Combs 0011 and may go to the site.
      Fieldwork - Measuring and field notes.

Tuesday 7 October 2008
      Class meets in Drafting Studio, Combs 0011 and may go to the site.
      Fieldwork - Measuring and field notes.

Thursday 9 October 2008
      Class meets in Drafting Studio, Combs 0011 and may go to the site.
      Fieldwork - Measuring and field notes.

MID-SEMESTER BREAK

Thursday 16 October 2008
      Class meets in Drafting Studio, Combs 0011 and may go to the site.
      Fieldwork - Measuring and field notes.

Tuesday 21 October 2008
      How to digitally draw a box: Learning to use CAD

Thursday 23 October 2008
      Setting Up the drawing: Assigning layers
      Working on your drawings

Tuesday 28 October 2008
      Assigning line weight
      Working on your drawings

Thursday 30 October 2008
      Adding hatching to show materials or sequence of construction

Tuesday 4 November 2008
      Plotting scaled drawings, and scaling drawings to fit
      Working on your drawings

Thursday 6 November 2008
      Introduction to historical research.

Tuesday 11 November 2008
      Historical research fieldwork: using the records at City Hall and the Fredericksburg Clerk’s Office.

Thursday 13 November 2008
      Historical research fieldwork: using the records at City Hall and the Fredericksburg Clerk’s Office.

Tuesday 18 November 2008
      Historical research fieldwork: using the records at City Hall and the Fredericksburg Clerk’s Office.

Thursday 20 November 2008
      Prepariing a site plan
      Fieldwork - Measuring and field notes.

Tuesday 25 November 2008
      Creating a site plan in hard line and CAD format
      Note: Historical Research Project due at the beginning of class.

Thursday 27 November 2008
      No Class Traditional American Festive Event     

Tuesday 2 December 2008
      Documentation for presentation
      Drawings, both digital and hard line are due at the beginning of class.

Thursday 5 December 2008
      Course Review     

Tuesday 9 December 2008
      8:30am—11am  final exam HISP 205-03