What Other Resources are Available?

In addition to the resources listed on the first page, there are several other sources of information available for historic building owners:

A number of John Wiley & Sons, Preservation Press books are now available from the National Trust.  Titles include The New Old House Starter Kit, Fabrics for Historic Buildings, Floor Coverings for Historic Buildings, Lighting for Historic Buildings, Old-House Dictionary, Paint in America, and Repairing Old and Historic Windows.  For information on Wiley publications, or to place an order, call 202-588-6296. To see a list of Wiley publications on-line, visit www.preservationbooks.org. 

The American Appraisal Institute is an international independent membership association of professional real estate appraisers.  It directs residential and commercial real estate appraisal education, research, publishing and professional membership designation programs.  Their website, http://www.appraisalinstitute.org includes educational links and ways locate a local appraiser. Among their publications is the useful, Appraising Historic Properties written by Judith Reynolds, which can be ordered through their website

Heritage Preservation Services (a division of the National Park Service) provides services, advice, and publications on historic preservation, restoration, and rehabilitation technology. Their publications include Preservation Briefs covering such topics as masonry, mortar, conserving energy in historic buildings, cleaning and caring for historic buildings, and aluminum and vinyl siding.  All briefs are available online at http://www.cr.nps.gov/hps/tps/briefs/presbhom.htm.  For more information about their publications, call 202-513-7270.  Their website, http://www.cr.nps.gov/hps/tps/index.htm, includes information on researching a historic building, applying the Secretary of the Interiors' Standards for Rehabilitation, technical information, and other resources for restoration projects.  HPS has also created an online tutorial on the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation called Electronic Rehab at http://www.cr.nps.gov/hps/tps/e-rehab/index.htm.  The program is designed for historic building owners, new members of design review and historic preservation commissions, architects, contractors, developers, maintenance personnel, and students.  The site also has a test where you make critical decisions about the appropriateness of rehabilitation work on two buildings and get immediate feedback.  For more information, visit http://www.cr.nps.gov/hps/tps/online_ed.htm.

Working on the Past with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.(Video) Provides a clear explanation of the philosophical differences between the treatments Preservation, Rehabilitation, Restoration, and Reconstruction through interviews, graphics, and examination of four historic properties. Intended to assist owners, managers, and design professionals in selecting and applying the most appropriate treatment. 40 minutes. VHS. Developed by the National Park Service, Technical Preservation Services. Sold by the Historic Preservation Education Foundation. $15 includes the video, postage and handling and a copy of the treatment Standards. Write: HPEF, P.O. Box 77160, Washington, D.C. 20013. Fax orders or inquiries to HPEF at 410-435-5535.

APT Bulletin is published quarterly by the Association for Preservation Technology International.  It features articles on all aspects of building and preservation technology, including historical research, scientific papers and project case studies.  To order, write to the Association for Preservation Technology International, 4513 Lincoln Ave., Suite 213, Lisle, IL 60532-1290, call 630-968-6400 or visit their website at http://www.apti.org/.

Traditional Building Exhibition and Conference includes seminars and workshops in preservation technology.  The conference website contains valuable information as well as a directory of preservation technology contractors.  For more information about upcoming conferences, call 800-982-6247 or 202-339-0744 or visit their website at http://www.traditionalbuildingshow.com/index.shtml

Traditional Building is a bi-monthly magazine that serves as an "authoritative where-to-buy-it resource for historical products."  To order, write to Traditional Building, 69A Seventh Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11217 or call 718-636-0788, or visit their website at http://www.traditional-building.com/.  This website includes an online directory of product suppliers, a product database, online articles and product reports from current and previous issues of the magazine.

Heritage Preservation is a non-profit organization that helps citizens and communities identify, evaluate, and preserve historic buildings, landscapes, landmarks, archeological sites, battlefields, and tribal communities.  Its diverse partners include state historic preservation officers, local governments, tribes, federal agencies, colleges and universities, and non-profit organizations.  For more information, visit www.heritagepreservation.org/Index.html.

The American Association for State and Local History has technical reports and technical leaflets covering a number of restoration and preservation topics.  To obtain a catalog which lists the books, reports, leaflets, and video tapes available, write to AASLH, 1717 Church Street, Nashville, TN 37203, call 615-320-3203, email membership@aaslh.org or visit their website at www.aaslh.org.

A Comprehensive Guide for Listing a Building in the National Register of Historic Places by Gail Greenberg takes readers through the process of successfully nominating a historic building to the National Register.  The book includes a discussion of eligibility criteria, suggestions for research procedures, an explanation of information needed to complete each item on the application, and a sample completed application.  To order, call 1-800-222-0737. 

To locate resources about protecting historic buildings from fires, repairing historic buildings after a fire, fire protection options, and many other issues surrounding historic buildings, fire damage, and fire prevention, contact the Historic Annapolis Foundation at 800-603-4020.  Additionally, Fire Safe Building Rehabilitation, written by a fire protection engineer and a preservation architect, is the industry's first complete guide on how to bring older buildings up to code while respecting their original features.  Approx. 400 pages, $77.90 including S&H, order no. FSBR03.  Order from the National Fire Protection Association at www.nfpa.org/catalog (search for "Rehabilitation") or call 800-344-3555.

Check the American Institute of Architects' web site to find an architect and contractor, help decide if you should renovate or not, read tips on managing the construction process, and find out information on architect's fees. The site also has information on your local AIA chapter. Their website is www.aia.org

The Arts and Crafts Society's online marketplace is a virtual home for the Arts and Crafts movement.  The site contains information on architecture, design, antiques, restoration products and services, wallpaper, furniture, metalwork, lighting, and textiles.  Their website is http://arts-crafts.com

The Victorian Society in America is a national non-profit organization committed to the preservation and protection of nineteenth-century heritage and historic buildings.  The site offers information about publications, resources, summer schools, symposia, and architectural study tours devoted to fostering education and appreciation of Victorian heritage.  You may access the site using this link:   http://www.victoriansociety.org/about.htm for further details.

PreservationWeb, http://www.preservationweb.com/, is an online guide to preservation services and products including architects, engineers, planners, contractors, artisans and conservators, with listings divided by region.  The site also includes a portfolio of profiles of preservation projects from around the country, as well as message boards to connect with others in the preservation community on various topics.

The Society for Commercial Archeology is devoted to the buildings, artifacts, structures, signs and symbols of the 20th century commercial landscape.  Their website, http://www.sca-roadside.org/, includes a listserve, a calendar of events, and links to other resources that focus on topics such as diners, movie theaters, drive-ins, supermarkets, roadside attractions and other commercial structures.

The Recent Past Preservation Network promotes the preservation of buildings, structures and landscapes of the recent past (within the past 50 years).  Their website, http://recentpast.org/, includes a listserve, a calendar of events, and a listing of resources, as well as numerous examples of preserved, endangered and demolished structures of the recent past.

The National New Deal Preservation Association's website http://www.newdeallegacy.org, includes information about CCC construction projects, WPA murals and other New Deal creations, as well as links to resources that focus on the history and preservation of those creations.

The Society for the Preservation of Old Mills (SPOOM) is an international organization that seeks to "promote interest in old mills and other Americana now quickly passing from the present scene."  SPOOM maintains files and a library on mills and acts as a clearinghouse on milling information.  Its members include mill owners, old mill buffs, museum curators, conservators, teachers, photographers, equipment supply firms and libraries.  Please use this link to their website: http://www.spoom.org/

The Historic Bridge Foundation, http://www.historicbridgefoundation.com/, was organized "to advocate for the preservation of our cultural and engineering landmarks—monuments to the people and communities that built them."  The Foundation serves as a clearinghouse for information on preserving endangered bridges and provides assistance for listing bridges on the National Register, applying for grants for preservation projects, and consulting with public officials to devise reasonable alternatives to the demolition of historic bridges.

The League of Historic American Theatres is "dedicated to the restoration and operation of historic theatres in North America."  For information and resources to help with historic theater restoration projects, including financial and technical assistance, please visit their website: http://www.lhat.org/

The Society for Industrial Archeology, http://www.sia-web.org/, seeks to preserve, interpret and document our industrial heritage, including historically significant industrial sites, structures, artifacts and technology.  "The Society also seeks to raise awareness among communities, public agencies, and property owners about the advantages of preserving the landscapes, structures, and equipment of significance in the history of technology, engineering, and industry, through continued or adaptive re-use." 

The website for the Public Broadcasting System's "History Detectives" show, http://www.pbs.org/opb/historydetectives/diy/building.html, includes a guide to investigating the history of a building, with a checklist, case studies, and additional resources.

Cyndi's List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet is a good source for resources that can help you in researching the history of a building.  The House and Building Histories section of this website provides links to websites for libraries, archives and museums; professional and volunteer researchers; publications, software and supplies; and locality specific resources.  Please use the following link to this site: http://www.cyndislist.com/houses.htm

The Timber Framers Guild, http://www.tfguild.org/, is a non-profit educational membership association dedicated to the craft of timber framing.  They serve as a center of timber frame information and design for professionals as well as the general public.  Their website has a wealth of resources and publications, along with information on training programs, workshops and conferences.  It also includes an "Ask the Experts" Forum, and information that specifically focuses on historic barns.

The website of the Marble Institute of America contains information on the care and cleaning of natural stone and ceramic tile as well as a list of publications on such topics as the history of ceramic tile in America and the names and quarry locations of the world's marbles. Please use this link to their website: www.marble-institute.com