Keeping Time: The History and Theory of Preservation in America (Preservation Press)

Praise for the First Edition . . ."A single volume offering a synopsis of the history of the preservation movement, an analysis of the relevant data, and a discussion of the key issues facing preservationists . . . informative and well written." —The Public Historian.William Murtagh, the first Keeper of the National Register of Historic Places, presents an effective portrait of the preservation movement by looking into the values underlying the efforts to safeguard America's architectural heritage, including the development of legislation and court action. A section on the National Trust for Historic Preservation explains how this private, non-profit organization created in the 1940s has expanded its services and goals parallel with changes in the national preservation movement.Three useful appendices give a sampling of the pertinent federal legislation, the National Register's criteria for evaluation, and the Secretary of the Interior's standards and guidelines. A chronology of important dates in the history of preservation from the eighteenth century through the present encapsulates the movement's achievements.75 black-and-white photographs depict the beautiful and intriguing architecture of buildings all across the country, as Keeping Time investigates every aspect of the national picture, including historic house museums, outdoor museums, historic districts, rural and landscape preservation, rehabilitation, and adaptive use. William Murtagh, The First Keeper Of The National Register Of Historic Places, Presents An Effective Portrait Of The Preservation Movement By Looking Into The Values Underlying The Efforts To Safeguard America's Architectural Heritage, Including The Development Of Legislation And Court Action. A Section On The National Trust For Historic Preservation Explains How This Private, Non-profit Organization Created In The 1940s Has Expanded Its Services And Goals Parallel With Changes In The National Preservation Movement. -- Back Cover. Preface -- Introduction -- The Language Of Preservation -- The Preservation Movement And The Private Citizen Before World War Ii -- The Preservation Movement And The National Trust For Historic Preservation -- Government And The Preservation Movement -- Government And Preservation Since World War Ii -- The Historic Room And House Museum -- Outdoor Museums -- Historic Districts -- Rehabilitation And Adaptive Use -- Landscape Preservation -- Rural And Small Town Preservation -- Archaeology -- Preservation In Practice -- Epilogue: And What Of The Future? -- Appendix A: Selected Federal Legislation -- Appendix B: The National Register's Criteria For Evaluation -- Appendix C: The Secretary Of The Interiors' Standards For Rehabilitation And Guidelines For Rehabilitating Historic Buildings -- Chronology -- Glossary -- Bibliography -- Illustration Credits -- Index. William J. Murtagh. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. A thorough yet succinct look at American community preservation -- its history, practice and legal framework. This book discusses the roles of the private citizen and government, as well as the practice of house museums, historic districts, building rehabilitation, landscape preservation, rural preservation and archaeology.The author is a fixture in American preservation -- he was the first Keeper of the National Register for Historic Places and a former vice president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.-- Appendices summarize relevant federal legislation, the National Register criteria for evaluating historic sites, and the Secretary of the Interior's standards for rehabilitation.-- A chronology of preservation history, from 1749 to the present, encapsulates pivotal developments in community preservation in the US.