Heritage, Volume 8, Number 1, Winter 1990 Page: 17
39 p. : ill. ; 28 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Texas architecture under the leadership of
Dr. Charles Moore, now at Austin, and
Peter Zweig, whose own interest in early
Texas architecture began during his time
on the faculty at Texas A&M University.
Preservation studies in architecture continue
at the University of Houston under
the direction of architect Barry Moore and
Nia Becnel, who has a special interest in
vernacular buildings from the pioneer days
in the state.
At Texas A&M University formal
coursework in historic preservation did not
begin until 1977, with the offering of the
first Historic American Buildings Survey
Recording Historic Structures course, although
the teaching of history was always
an integral part of the program, and faculty
and students had been involved in HABS
work since the mid-60s. The intent behind
this small beginning was to ensure that
students in the professional program would
develop an appreciation of construction
technology through a hands-on experience,
as well as acquire the skill to measure and
draw an existing structure. While this course
continues to attract students and expands
the recorded heritage of Texas in the Library
of Congress, it became apparent that
the whole area of professional preparation
in historic preservation needed a re-evaluation,
and that the particular characteristics
of the College of Architecture at A&M
provided a special opportunity for just such
an education.
Since the majority of the professional
degrees offered in the college are at the
graduate level these programs were studied
to establish the major points of convergence.
It was readily apparent that most
graduate degree programs are characterized
by a core of courses that may be required as
part of a research or accredited degree
program; a final demonstration of competence
in the field, usually termed a thesis or
final study; and an elective group of courses
that will support the final study and establish
some specific focus within the broader
field of study.
In a college that had a long history of
encouraging interdisciplinary activity, it
seemed that the diversity of skills and talents
found in the practice of historic preservation
provided a natural opportunity to
bring the disciplines together, as well as to
create links with other departments in the
university. In the academic programs, this
enables students to bring their knowledge
and skills into a team setting, engendering_B2E
in7,I 1
confidence and encouraging an atmosphere
of mutual support that will extend into
professional life. As a parallel outcome the
university established a Center for Historic
Resources in 1986 encouraging research
activity and interaction at faculty and
professional levels.
As far back as 1981 the National Council
on Preservation Education (NCPE)
established guidelines for curricula to meet
the minimum standards for graduate education
in Historic Preservation. In addition
to the basic requirements of a university
degree, a director, at least three qualified
faculty, and the inclusion of at least
two courses in the history of the designed
environment, NCPE requires that at least
three of the following subjects be covered;
economics of preservation, documentation
techniques, preservation administration,
preservation design, preservation law, preservation
planning, preservation surveys,
preservation technology, and the theory of
preservation. Each sub-topic is to constitute
at least half of a formal course of
instruction.
By using existing courses within the
College of Architecture, and identifying
qualified faculty resources for teaching and
advising, a natural grouping of courses in
Historic Preservation emerged, together
with an effective delivery system that
crossed disciplinary boundaries. Architecture
contributed the initial course in Recording
Historic Structures, and a lecture
course on the theory, philosophy, and practice
of preservation, which had already
been established as a university-wide introduction
to the field. The department also
began an experimental course in preservaBRlCK HOOD MOLD
CAST IRON HOOD MOLD
Measured drawings of the Hammond House under
construction from 1875 to 1879. Calvert,
Robertson County.
HERITAGE * WINTER 1990 17Y I Y
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Texas Historical Foundation. Heritage, Volume 8, Number 1, Winter 1990, periodical, Winter 1990; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth45426/m1/17/: accessed March 29, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas Historical Foundation.