September 15, 2015

National Register Guide, Episode 12: Standard Reference Materials

As fantastic as it is, the National Register of Historic Places can get a little confusing -- even for a seasoned pro. But fear not, because the PreservationNation blog has teamed up with Jim Gabbert, a historian with the National Park Service, to create our National Register Guide.

Marcus Bookstores has a second branch in Oakland, California. The bookstores are named after Marcus Garvey, author of Philosophy and Opinions. Credit: Steve Rhodes, Flickr.

Episode 11 of our National Register of Historic Places Guide explored human resources that can help you assemble and organize the information you need to complete a National Register nomination. Episode 12 examines a number of printed and online reference materials that should help you develop a well-rounded submission.

This episode answers specific questions such as:

  • What are the most common resources you see cited in the bibliographies of successful National Register nominations?
  • What are some serviceable standard architectural reference guides?
  • Are there any official or legal documents available that would help me with my nomination?
  • Are clippings from my local library helpful forms of reference?
  • What are some reliable online reference materials?
  • Is Wikipedia a useful resource for tracking down more authoritative documents and reference materials?

We hope you enjoy the show.

Special thanks to the President Woodrow Wilson House for filming accommodations.

David Weible is a former content specialist at the National Trust, previously with Preservation and Outside magazines. His interest in historic preservation is inspired by the ‘20s-era architecture, streetcar neighborhoods, and bars of his hometown of Cleveland.

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