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Please consider contributing to This Place Matters, National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Boulder, Colorado. Above: 25th annversary of Pearl Street pedestrian mall. Below: Nearby Crossroads Mall, on the same day.
New development, Tucker and Allen Roads, Dartmouth, Massachusetts.
Eastern Montana.
Double-bank building, Williams Street, New Bedford, Massachusetts.
Northwest Kentucky.

Assignment 1 — Insight on Site

19 July 2011

Dear HP 150 (Introduction to Historic Preservation) Students,

You are receiving this letter as you have enrolled in HP 150 Introduction to Historic Preservation this fall.

For those who are new: Welcome to Roger Williams and the Historic Preservation Program.

This is your first assignment, which invites you to consider your community (or wherever you may be during the summer) and see how it 'works'—with preservation in mind.

I suspect that at least some of the reasons you are interested in preservation have to do with the people and places in your lives. The purpose of the assignment is to provide a means to solicit your own personal understanding and appreciation of your/our heritage—and its stewardship.

Your collective contributions to a presentation and discussion will help our class broaden its understanding of the subject and your interest in it. You will present your work to fellow students in late September so there will be time on campus to ask questions and develop your essay and presentation.

Should you not be able to assess a site this summer, you may choose one in the Bristol area. But it would be better to address/assess your community now.

As a preable Wayne Franklin observes,

"Although the particular places we inhabit may seem resilient, unique, as far from each other in character is they are in space, we all recognize that the great majority of them repeat themes found all over the place. Like language, the human environment in fact is built from a few disarmingly simple elements. The variations on those elements produce difference without destroying intelligibility."

(Franklin's foreword in Richard V. Francaviglia's Main Street Revisited, 1997. Amazon, GoogleBooks.)

And, so, here is a first assignment. Spend what time you can on it. To do this assignment you should not consider it doing your “homework," but making your “home work." Home may be your 'home town', the community in which you are living, or another familiar community.

Rely on your experience, and those you share with family, friends, neighbors, other citizens and professionals (yes, touch base with people in the field if you have time) in you community.

Consider written references and resources as you wish. You do not have to rely on detailed research and investigation, either of your community or of the preservation issues.

Investigate some of the following:

  • What are the places (sites,buildings and other features) that contribute to the significance and sense of place of your community? (Do not focus on a lot of individual buildings.)
  • What are the critical issues that face the future of preservation, growth, and management of your community? (Read local newspapers, talk to people.)
  • What preservation initiatives have been developed in your community?
  • What are some of the organizations involved? Nonprofit organizations, local government.

Develop for September:

  • Photographs (details for presentation will be discussed in class)
    • Take digital photographs to obtain at least 1024x768 pixel images, sharp/fine (highest quality).
      • When in doubt, read your camera manual!
      • Identify each image with site/building and location/address (for posting on Panoramio, below).
      • Work on lighting, composition and content of images.
    • Select ten photographs to present in class.
      • 'Tweak' photographs if possible for contrast, definition, highlight, shadow, sharpen, etc.
      • If photographs are over 1024x768 pixel, resize to this size.
    • Set up a Panoramio account (if you do not have one).
      • Upload at least ten of your own images (these may be more than those you use in your presentation.)
      • For example: Philip's account.
  • Graphics
    • Consider including graphics: maps, plans, or other images.
    • Cite sources for all images.
    • Include photgraphs and graphics in a Powerpoint or Keynote (Mac) presentation.
    • Upload files to RWU 'Bridges' account (more on this in September).
  • Paper
    • Develop a four-page (approximate), typed (1.5 spacing) essay on your investigation and thoughts.
    • Reference all sources.
    • Upload files to RWU 'Bridges' account (more on this in September).

Your presentation will serve as a fitting introduction to your perceptions, feelings, interests, and concerns about your community . . . and preservation. As Franklin suggests, it is likely we will find common bonds that unite our collective commitment to preservation.

If you have any questions at all, feel free to e-mail or call/text (508.951.8562) me any time. I look forward to joining you in class.

Take care,

Philip

Philip Marshall