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HISTORIC AMERICAN BUILDINGS SURVEY
The Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) is the nation's first federal preservation program, begun in 1933 to document America's architectural heritage. Creation of the program was motivated primarily by the perceived need to mitigate the negative effects upon our history and culture of rapidly vanishing architectural resources. At the same time, important early preservation initiatives were just getting underway, such as restoration of the colonial capital at Williamsburg and the development within the National Park Service (NPS) of historical parks and National Historic Sites. Architects interested in the colonial era had previously produced drawings and photographs of historic architecture, but only on a limited, local, or regional basis. A source was needed to assist with the documentation of our architectural heritage, as well as with design and interpretation of historic resources, that was national in scope. As it was stated in the tripartite agreement between the American Institute of Architects, the Library of Congress, and the NPS that formed HABS, "A comprehensive and continuous national survey is the logical concern of the Federal Government." As a national survey, the HABS collection is intended to represent "a complete resume of the builder's art." Thus, the building selection ranges in type and style from the monumental and architect-designed to the utilitarian and vernacular, including a sampling of our nation's vast array of regionally and ethnically derived building traditions.
The Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) is the nation's first federal preservation program, begun in 1933 to document America's architectural heritage. Creation of the program was motivated primarily by the perceived need to mitigate the negative effects upon our history and culture of rapidly vanishing architectural resources. At the same time, important early preservation initiatives were just getting underway, such as restoration of the colonial capital at Williamsburg and the development within the National Park Service (NPS) of historical parks and National Historic Sites. Architects interested in the colonial era had previously produced drawings and photographs of historic architecture, but only on a limited, local, or regional basis. A source was needed to assist with the documentation of our architectural heritage, as well as with design and interpretation of historic resources, that was national in scope. As it was stated in the tripartite agreement between the American Institute of Architects, the Library of Congress, and the NPS that formed HABS, "A comprehensive and continuous national survey is the logical concern of the Federal Government." As a national survey, the HABS collection is intended to represent "a complete resume of the builder's art." Thus, the building selection ranges in type and style from the monumental and architect-designed to the utilitarian and vernacular, including a sampling of our nation's vast array of regionally and ethnically derived building traditions.
(source:National Park Service)
The photographs that I make for the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) reside in the Library of Congress. Below are two examples of the work I have there.
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The Allen Park Veterans Administration Hospital was located in Dearborn, Michigan, the My client was the URS Corporation. The project consists of 130 large format archival photographs take
with a 4"x5" view camera and I documented 20 different buildings for the project.
The Allen Park Veterans Administration (VA) Hospital, now known as the Allen Park Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, served as a hospital for U.S. veterans from its opening in 1939 to the present. The hospital reflects the influence of the Georgian Revival style on hospital architecture, and VA hospitals in particular, in the early to mid-twentieth century. The hospital was formally recognized for its historic and architectural significance in 1980 when it was listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Survey number: HABS MI-427
I made 86 The project consisted of 86 large fromat archival photographs made with a 4"x5" view camera, and I documented 13 different structures
Following WWII, the U.S. participated in a series of military and political events known as the Cold War. As part of its response, the U.S. government formed the Strategic Air Command (SAC) in 1946. In 1948 SAC moved to Offutt Air Force Base (OAFB), occupying a WWII complex built for the Martin Bomber Company and designed by the firm of Albert Kahn. In 1954 SAC built a new headquarters, including a hardened underground facility. From the headquarters, the Commander directed an international military force of long-range bombers and missiles, supported by more than 200,000 personnel. The Air Force made significant additions to the original buildings in 1959, 1962, and 1970. In 1987 a new underground command post was constructed. In 1992, as the Cold War ended, the SAC became the Strategic Command (STRATCOM), a unified command, including the Navy, charged with the deterrence of a military attack on the U.S. and its allies, and the employment of armed forces to achieve national objectives. The complex consists of several buildings, including the primary headquarters (OAFB Facility 501), an above ground office structure. The command center (OAFB Facility 501) is an underground building built in 1956 and 1987. The traffic check house (OAFB Facility 506) is a simple brick and metal structure used for security control. HAER No. NE-9 (A-M)
