Dear Cindy,
I read your two recent questions and it seems you have a lot on your plate.
An Historic Structures Report is a pretty specific thing.  All of the ones
I have read were compiled by architects who specialize in historic
renovation.  A recent one I am familiar with cost $10K, but it was
necessary before the institution could proceed on a renovation project.
the report was also was paid out of that funding, so if you can raise the
renovation funds, sometimes you can cover the initial report that way.
Regarding your question on exhibition design.  I agree with David H. that
the functions of curator (responsible for historic research) and designer
(who may organize and present that research) are usually separate.   You
don't often find people with skills necessary for both tasks...but as David
pointed out, many of us have done both!
I would imagine that the curator at your museum would be the person most
familiar with the collection.  If not, you might want to work with a local
historian from a nearby university or a curatoror from your state museum.
I would think you'd want the script in hand and a list of objects before
calling in a designer.
Often state humanties councils can support the research.
Anna Fariello



From: Cindy Olsen [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, November 06, 2001 5:51 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Historic Structures Reports


Good Afternoon,

I am the Curator of a small historic site in Baltimore that includes a
house that was built in 1793. We are planning a major restoration and
repair work on the building in 2003. It was suggested by a CAP assesor that
came to our site that we have a Historic Structures Report done on the
historic house. I know that HABS keeps these kind of records in an archive,
but I'm kind of confused about how to get one started. I get the impression
that they are expensive, but also very valuable to a historic structure.

How do I find firms or Universities who do these reports?
How long do they take? What should I expect from a HSR?
How do I get the ball rolling on having a HSR done on the house?

I'm trying to convince the board that it would be very beneficial for the
historic house. I would appreciate any comments or suggestions from museums
that have done an HSR or anyone who has experience with HSRs.

Thanks,
Cindy Olsen
Curator and Grants Manager
Star-Spangled Banner Flag House and War of 1812 Museum
[log in to unmask]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Anna Fariello, Curatorial InSight, Box 505, Christiansburg VA 24068
www.curatorialinsight.com;  540-382-3946;  [log in to unmask]
Center for Interdisciplinary Studies, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg VA 24061-0227
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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