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Historic Preservation Home > Syllabi > 400 Level Courses > HISP 461 Laboratory in Architectural Conservation

UNIVERSITY OF MARY WASHINGTON
Department of Historic Preservation

HISP 461: Laboratory in Architectural Conservation

Professor W. Brown Morton III
Fall Semester, 2006, Wednesday, 1:00-3:45 p.m.
Combs Hall, Room 009, Conservation/Museum Laboratory

In this course, basic principles of architectural conservation are introduced. Students are taught how to think critically about the cumulative effects of time, gravity, humidity, light and temperature on cultural resources. Technical and scientific equipment is used in the laboratory and in the field to identify and analyze the material condition and causes of deterioration of materials found in historic buildings

CLASS REQUIREMENTS

            TEXTS:

            Weaver, Martin E.  Conserving Historic Buildings: A Manual of techniques and Materials.  Revised Edition.  New York: Preservation Press, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1997. [UMW Bookstore]

U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Preservation Assistance Division, Preservation Briefs, No. 1-42.  http://www2.cr.nps.gov/tps/Briefss/presbhom.htm

Note: The Web Page versions of the Preservation Briefs may have modified text and different illustrations than the corresponding hard-copy originals.  The originals are available on the reserve shelf in the Conservation Laboratory. When citing a Preservation Briefs, always identify the version you have cited.

Note: Each student is asked to review the Preservation Briefs, which correspond to the class material being learned each week, and to be familiar with the contents of each relevant Briefs prior to the meeting of each class.

            Additional publications related to architectural conservation will be on reserve for HISP 461 students in the Conservation Lab.  Please use these resources only there.

WEB RESOURCES
The Department of Historic Preservation has a web page:
http://www.umw.edu/cas_UMW/historicpreservation/default.php

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.

            TEST AND EXAM
            There will be a test: Wednesday, October 11 and a final examination on Wednesday, December 13, 12 noon-2:30 p.m.

            PRESERVATION BRIEFS REVIEW PAPER
Each student will select a National Park Service Preservation Briefs, directly related to a conservation problem encountered in the course of the examination of deterioration of historic building materials.  The student will compose a two-page, double-spaced written review of the Preservation Briefs of their choice.  The paper will reflect the student’s evaluation of the contents, organization, reliability and usefulness of the Briefs, including comments on the extent to which the Preservation Briefs identifies addition readings.  This review is due at the beginning of class, October 26.

[Please note that correct title of each of the Preservation Briefs series is Preservation Briefs [number] [title].  Briefs is always in the plural.]

MORTAR SAMPLE ANALYSIS
Each student will prepare a mortar sample analysis of a historic mortar provided by Professor Morton...  Students may work in small teams in doing some of the analysis, but each student will prepare and hand-in his or her own report.  This report is due November 8

PRELIMINARY PAINT LAYER EXAMINATION REPORT
Each student will prepare a preliminary paint layer examination report on a historic paint sample provided by Professor Morton.  Each student will use abrasive paper and scalpels to reveal the paint layer chronology of a small test sample. Using the Conservation Museum Laboratory microscope, the student will document the chronology of the paint layers.  Using the Munsell Book of Color, the student will identify, as closely as possible, the color of the revealed layer as it presently appears in the sample. This report is due November 29.

FIELDWORK PROJECT: DETERIORATION REPORT & ORAL PRESENTATION
Each student will prepare a deterioration report for a specific conservation issue at a location assigned by Professor Morton. The report will include text, photographs, slides, and [if relevant] measured drawings, to be determined during the research phase of the project.  The report will also include an annotated bibliography related to the report’s subject matter as well as a brief description and history of the resource.  The report is due at the end of class December 3rd.  Each student will present an oral “abstract” of their deterioration report, illustrated with color slides, [limited to no more than five minutes], to Professor Morton and the other HISP 461 students in the class on December 6.

FINAL GRADE
            Your final grade will be based on: Test = 20%, Review of a National Park Service Preservation Briefs review = 15%, Mortar Sample Analysis = 10%, Paint Sample Preliminary Analysis = 5%, Deterioration Report and Oral Presentation 25%, Final Examination 25%.  No passing grade will be given unless the test and final exam have been taken; and all class assignments have been completed and turned-in.

GRADING:
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 - Failure
60-66               D         1.00 quality points - Marginal
67-69               D+       1.30 quality points
70-72               C-        1.70 quality points
73-76               C         2.00 quality points - Acceptable
77-79               C+       2.30 quality points
80-82               B-        2.70 quality points
83-86               B          3.00 quality points - Commendable
87-89               B+       3.30 quality points
90-93               A-        3.70 quality points
94-100             A         4.00 quality points – Excellent

OFFICE HOURS:
Office: Room 0129
Combs Hall
Office Telephone: (540) 654-1310.
Thursday and Thursday 9:00 to 10:30
Wednesday  10:00 to 12:00
I will be in my office for office hours on the days and at the times listed above. You may make a specific appointment to see me during those office hours or just “drop by” to see if I am free to see you.  You may also request an appointment outside of formal office hours.

OFFICE OF DISABILITY SERVICES
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.

HISP 461: Laboratory in Architectural Conservation
SCHEDULE OF CLASS MEETINGS AND ASSIGNMENTS

[The class will meet each Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. in Combs Hall, Room 0009, Conservation/Museum Laboratory]

1. Wednesday, August 30
                       Review of the syllabus.
                       Introduction to architectural conservation:
The relationship between: Time, Gravity, Humidity, Light and Temperature.
Climatic causes of decay.

2. Wednesday, September 6
                       Climatic causes of decay, continued
                        Weaver: Investigating Old Buildings
                        Required Reading: Weaver, Chapters 1-3, pages 1-13
                        Fieldwork Site Visit #1. Project Orientation

3. Wednesday, September 13
                        Humidity, Light, and Temperature: Part I

4. Wednesday, September 20
                        Humidity, Light and Temperature: Part II
                        Fieldwork Site Visit # 2  

5. Wednesday, September 27
                        Wood Conservation
                        Required Reading:Weaver, Chapter 4, pages 13-57                         

6. Wednesday, October 4
                        Stone Conservation
                        Foundation and Footing Conservation
                        Required Reading: Weaver, Chapter 5, pages 58-98
                        Fieldwork Site Visit #3. 

7. Wednesday, October 11
                        TEST
                        Brick and Terracotta Conservation
                        Required Reading: Weaver, Chapter 6 pages 99-132   

 FALL BREAK

8. Wednesday, October 18
                       Mortar Conservation
                        Required Reading: Weaver, Chapter 7, pages 133-141
                        Fieldwork Site Visit # 4  

9. Wednesday, October 25
                        Analysis of Historic Mortar Sample: Part 1
                        Preservation Briefs review due.

10. Wednesday, November 1
                        [Professor Morton is giving a paper in Venice]

Please use this class period, working in teams to advance your conservation examination recording at the field work site.                       

11. Wednesday, November 8
                        Analysis of Historic Mortar Sample: Part 2
                        Concrete and Plaster Conservation
                        Required Reading: Weaver, Chapter 8, pages 141- 161
                        Cleaning Masonry
                        Required Reading: Weaver, Chapter 8, pages 161- 174                       

12. Wednesday, November 15
                        Metal Conservation
                        Required Reading: Weaver, Chapter 9, pages 174-215
                        Paint Conservation
                        Required Reading: Weaver, Chapter 10, pages 216-231
Examination of Laboratory Study Specimens.
                        Mortar sample analysis report due.

                        Thanksgiving

13. Wednesday, November 30
                        REVIEW OF CONSERVATION REPORT PROGRESS
                        Architectural Glass Conservation
                        Required Reading: Weaver, Chapter 11, pages 232-238
                        Wallpaper Conservation
                        Required Reading: Weaver, Chapter 12, pages 260-264
                        Preliminary paint sample examination due.

14. Wednesday, December 6
            Oral/slide presentations of reports.  Final reports due at the close of class.

            Final Examination: Monday, December 12, 12-2:30 p.m.