PHOTOGRAPHIC
DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS
The following outline is intended to provide guidance to people who are documenting historic buildings and structures with photographs prior to demolition. Photography is one method of preserving important information about a building, after the building itself is gone. The photographs will generally be the only evidence of the building that remains after the demolition and it is therefore important that they fully convey the significant features and context of the building. It is also important that the photographs are archivally processed and are placed in a publicly accessible repository that can maintain them in archival conditions so that they will be a permanent record of the building. The federal Historic American Building Survey (HABS) and Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) programs offer excellent guidance on documenting historic buildings and structures. There are instances, however, when the level of detail and cost required to meet HABS or HAER guidelines is not feasible. These guidelines are based on HABS/HAER guidelines, but are modified to offer a cost effective alternative for projects in Vermont that may need documentation under 22 VSA 14, the Vermont Historic Preservation Act, Act 250, or other jurisdictions.
It is recommended that documentation be undertaken by architectural historians with substantial experience in photographing historic buildings and structures. The architectural historian should research the history of the building prior to the photo-documentation, in order to better understand the significance of the building.
1. Types of photographs to include:
2. Type of
film to use:
3. Type of Camera
4. Filters
a. Use of filters that reduce glare and sharpen contrast are encouraged.
5. Photographic prints
anticipated use of the prints and the budget available for the documentation
project.
satin finish.
6. Photographic coverage
Photographs should be taken of the overall property and the exterior and interior (if historically important) of each building on the property, including old and new outbuildings. The number of interior and detail views will depend on the significance of those aspects of the building(s). The following photographs should be taken to document the property:
a. Setting
1. Views of the overall setting of the historic building(s), e.g. fields and forest
surrounding a farm complex, a streetscape of buildings in a village, etc.
2. Views of the building in its immediate surroundings, showing the relationship of
the building to neighboring buildings.
3. Aerial views when easily obtainable (often an adjacent hill or tall building can
provide an aerial vantage point).
4. Views of significant landscape features, e.g. tree-lined approaches, stone walls,
formal gardens, etc.
b. Exterior views
1. Views of all sides of the building
2. Views of important details, e.g. cupolas, steeples, porches, doors, decorative
brickwork etc.
c. Interior views
1. Overall views of important interior rooms, e.g. courtrooms, formal parlors, historic
kitchens, etc.
2. Views of important interior features, e.g. staircases, fireplaces, ceiling medallions,
exposed structural framing, etc.
3. View of significant interior details, e.g. door hardware, light fixtures, industrial
machinery, hand grained trim, etc.
4. Views of the building in use, i.e. views that show people using the building.
7. Labels on photographs
a. Each photograph should be labeled on the reverse, either handwritten in pencil or
typed on an affixed label, with the following information:
1. Name of property
2. Street, Town, State
3. Description of view
4. Direction of view (the compass direction the photographer was facing)
5. Date of photograph (month and year)
6. Name of photographer
b. Each photograph should be numbered in a sequence that follows the rough order of general to detailed views outlined in 6 above and that corresponds to the Photograph Index noted below.
8. Documentation package
a. The documentary photographs should be packaged with the following informational material in a logical order:
1. Cover page with title, date, etc.
2. Brief (1-3 paragraph) written summary of the project that led to the documentation, including information on why the building was proposed for demolition.
3. Brief (2-4 paragraph) summary of the architecture and historic significance of each building.
4. Location map, preferably a copy of the appropriate Town Highway map or USGS topographic map.
5. Sketch map of the layout of multi-building properties, showing each structure (keyed by number to photographs of the buildings) and significant landscape features.
6. Index of the photographs
7. Information on the location of original historic photographs copied for the documentation project.
8. Information on the repository of the original documentation package, including the location of the photographic negatives.
9. Resources for further information about the building.
b. The package should be deposited in an archival storage facility that can maintain the photographic prints and negatives in archival conditions. A facility near the location of the resource is generally the most desirable. The facility may be a library, historical society, educational facility, etc.
c. Copies of the documentation package should be provided to the Division for Historic Preservation and local libraries, historical societies, and other organizations as appropriate, so that the information is available to those who may want to use it in the future.
These guidelines were adopted by the Vermont
Division for Historic Preservation
4/98.