Implementing Preventive Architectural Conservation: Do Historic Property
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University of Pennsylvania ScholarlyCommons Theses (Historic Preservation) Graduate Program in Historic Preservation January 2008 Implementing Preventive Architectural Conservation: Do Historic Property Stewards in the United States Possess the Tools to Meet the Challenge? Alice Louise Finke University of Pennsylvania Follow this and additional works at: http://repository.upenn.edu/hp_theses Finke, Alice Louise, "Implementing Preventive Architectural Conservation: Do Historic Property Stewards in the United States Possess the Tools to Meet the Challenge?" (2008). Theses (Historic Preservation). 103. http://repository.upenn.edu/hp_theses/103 A thesis in Historic Preservation Presented to the Faculties of the University of Pennsylvania in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements of the Degree of Master of Science in Historic Preservation 2008. Advisor: Michael C. Henry This paper is posted at ScholarlyCommons. http://repository.upenn.edu/hp_theses/103 For more information, please contact [email protected]. Implementing Preventive Architectural Conservation: Do Historic Property Stewards in the United States Possess the Tools to Meet the Challenge? Abstract This study examines the role in the United States of a preventive approach—termed "preventive conservation" for the purposes of this thesis - towards the care for cultural heritage, specifically cultural heritage as represented by historic buildings interpreted as historic house museums. Sixty professionals, including executive directors, curators, and conservators from across the country, responded to a survey in which they were asked to consider conservation terminology, approaches, and implementation as applied to their organization's approach towards the care for its historic buildings. Through the analysis of these responses, the research questions that this thesis seeks to answer are: Do historic house museum stewards in the United States embrace and implement a preventive approach, and how might they be better equipped to do so? To enrich the study with a broader context for comparison, "best practices" of the international community in preventive conservation of historic buildings have been identified. Comments A thesis in Historic Preservation Presented to the Faculties of the University of Pennsylvania in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements of the Degree of Master of Science in Historic Preservation 2008. Advisor: Michael C. Henry This thesis or dissertation is available at ScholarlyCommons: http://repository.upenn.edu/hp_theses/103 IMPLEMENTING PREVENTIVE ARCHITECTURAL CONSERVATION: DO HISTORIC PROPERTY STEWARDS IN THE UNITED STATES POSSESS THE TOOLS TO MEET THE CHALLENGE? Alice Louise Finke A THESIS In Historic Preservation Presented to the Faculties of the University of Pennsylvania in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements of the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE IN HISTORIC PRESERVATION 2008 ____________________ ____________________ Advisor Program Chair Michael C. Henry, PE, AIA Frank G. Matero Adjunct Professor of Architecture Professor of Architecture Dedication To my parents, Bill and Claudette, for their unwavering support of all my pursuits. ii Acknowledgements The production of this thesis truly has been a collaborative process; without the assistance, insight, and support of dozens, it would not have been possible. I would like to thank first and foremost both my thesis advisor Michael C. Henry, PE, AIA, Adjunct Professor of Architecture, and my thesis reader Dr. Thomas H. Taylor, Jr., PhD, FAIC, FAPT, Director, Architectural Collections Management and Conservation, The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Michael Henry’s guidance has been invaluable throughout the thesis process. As an engineer, architect, and professor, his passion for ensuring the longevity of the historic built environment by exploring the underlying causes of apparent and anticipated effects, is contagious and truly an inspiration. I feel privileged to have worked with him, and look forward to our collaboration in future preservation pursuits. Dr. Thomas Taylor has patiently waded through various chapter drafts. His perspective as an architectural conservator (first with the National Park Service, and then with The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation), and as an active member of the American Institute of Conservation (AIC) and Association for Preservation Technology (APT), has provided depth to this thesis. International perspectives—from the Netherlands, Flanders, and Britain—have strengthened the chapter on existing models of preventive conservation programs. Franca van der Horst, Secretary of Monuments Watch Netherlands, graciously provided me with information on Monuments Watch; and Jane Girbes of Monuments Watch Utrecht kindly supplied a sample Monuments Watch Utrecht inspection report. I am also grateful to Anouk Stulens, Director, Monuments Watch Flanders, and Professor Dr. Annemarie Draye, Universiteit Hasselt, iii Belgium, who both shared the Belgian perspective, and Dr. Mario E. Santana Quintero, Faculty of Engineering, Katholieke Universiteit, Raymond Lemaire International Center for Conservation, Leuven, Belgium, who put me in contact with them. Belgian stewardship was kindly illuminated for me by Jozef Braeken, Director of the Renaat Braem House, and Ingrid Desnouck, Curator of the Horta Museum, with whom I had the pleasure to correspond thanks to the recommendations of Dr. Koenraad Van Balen, Faculty of Engineering, Katholieke Universiteit, Raymond Lemaire International Center for Conservation, Leuven, Belgium, and Neza Cebron Lipovec, Raymond Lemaire International Center for Conservation, Leuven, Belgium. Thanks are also in order to Sarah Staniforth, Historic Properties Director, The National Trust (UK) for her insight into that organization’s management. Too, I would like to acknowledge Dr. Linda Watson, School of Architecture and Design, University of Plymouth, for her informative talk on historic preservation in Britain during the University of Pennsylvania European Conservation Summer School, 2007. Additionally, Kate Clark, Former Deputy Director of Policy and Research, Heritage Lottery Fund, provided further insight into historic preservation in Britain during her lecture titled “Ten Things I’ve Learned,” given at the University of Pennsylvania in March 2008. I must also recognize the comprehensive nature of the reports published by Maintain Our Heritage, making personal interviews discussing the efforts to establish a Monuments Watch in the UK unnecessary. While I am unable to cite the 60 individuals by name as a result of confidentiality agreements, I most graciously thank all of the American survey respondents. Without their willingness to share their insights on the role of preventive conservation / maintenance iv within the management of their respective institutions, I would not have had a thesis. Further, I would not have had a sufficient sampling of institutions without the permission of the American Association of Museum’s Historic House Museum Professional Interest Committee to utilize their on-line directory. Their webmaster Robert was most helpful throughout the process. Too, Walter Henry, Conservation DistListCoOL, ensured that the survey was distributed to a wide audience on the Conservation On-line (CoOL) list-serve; Museum L also graciously circulated the survey. My Penn preservation friends with whom I have shared many long hours at the library have made the thesis process bearable. Alex Bevk, Caroline Cheong, Nicole Collum, Catherine Wood Keller, Betsy Kleinfelder, Paula Kulpa, Sara McLaughlin, Suzanne Segur, and Emily Wolf have made me smile. Fellow Michael Henry advisees Jenna Cellini and Anita Franchetti have provided encouragement. Marco Federico’s antics and humor, especially during the final days of formatting, have been a welcome distraction. Maureen McDougall kindly proof-read the thesis document for spelling errors, incorrect verb tenses, and inappropriate punctuation. Sipping Wawa shakes with John Nelson in the Sansom Place East living room was the perfect reward after a long day and night working. Further, I would be amiss if I did not thank Frank Furness for designing the inspirational study space that is the Anne and Jerome Fisher Fine Arts Library at the University of Pennsylvania. Time in the window-less studio space in Meyerson Hall and my humble efficiency in Sansom Place East have allowed me to appreciate Furness’ fine architecture all the more. Finally, heartfelt thanks to: Frank Matero, Professor of Architecture and Chair, Graduate Program in Historic Preservation; Michael Henry; and Dr. Mario Santana Quintero for v supporting my participation in the Seminar on PREventive COnservation and Monitoring of the Architectural Heritage (SPRECOMAH) in Val de Loire, France where I will present my thesis findings 25-30 May 2008; and to the SPRECOMAH committee, including Dr. Koenraad Van Balen and Neza Cebron Lipovec, for inviting me to contribute to the conference. I am most fortunate. Alice L. Finke Philadelphia, PA 3 May 2008 vi Table of Contents Dedication .............................................................................................................................................ii Acknowledgements.............................................................................................................................iii Table of Contents...............................................................................................................................vii List of Figures......................................................................................................................................xi