Va. HRC Presents: Preservation Through Documentation

An Introduction to the Heritage Documentation Programs (HABS/HAER/HALS), the Federal Government’s Oldest Preservation Program

Heritage Documentation Programs administers the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS), the Federal Government’s oldest preservation program, and its companion programs: the Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) and Historic American Landscapes Survey (HALS). Documentation consisting of measured drawings, large format photography and historical reports produced through the programs constitutes the nation’s largest archive of historical architectural, engineering, and landscape documentation. The HABS/HAER/HALS Collection is housed at the Library of Congress where it is made available to a world-wide audience.

Learning Objectives

  • Learn the history of the HABS, HAER, and HALS programs.
  • Explain the three interconnected components of HABS/HAER/HALS documentation used to record historic sites.
  • Describe the relationship of the Heritage Documentation Programs and The Library of Congress.
  • Learn how HDP measured drawing documentation methodology has changed over time.
  • Discover HABS/HAER/HALS competitions open to students and professionals, and employment opportunities for students and recent graduates.
  • Appreciate Heritage Documentation Programs resources available to guide and assist students and professionals in recording historic structures and sites for HABS/HAER/HALS Collection in The Library of Congress.

Earn 1.0 AIA LU | Elective

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