Historic Preservation and Conservation Commons^™

Understanding Architectural Iron Conservation: Corrosion Studies At Fort Sumter National Monument, Amy Elizabeth Uebel

All Theses

Iron is one of the most overlooked materials in architectural conservation. Its status as a functional construction material, rather than a decorative element, often makes iron the least understood material by architectural conservators. As historic metal becomes increasingly significant in the built environment, new approaches must be developed in order to better predict and understand the corrosion process. The behavior of corrosion has been extensively studied in the engineering and conservation communities, but the two fields have developed different approaches to iron conservation. Typically, engineers classify corrosion on a macroscopic scale, while conservators approach iron on a microscopic level. Both …

Quarters A At The Old Charleston Navy Yard: A Historic Interior Furnishing And Interpretive Plan, Wendy Madill, Charlotte Causey, Amy Elizabeth Uebel, Mary Margaret Schley, Julia Tew

Graduate Research and Discovery Symposium (GRADS)

Charleston's Naval Yard resembles a ghost town today, but it was once the city’s most active industrial district. It employed thousands of South Carolina workers who built warships and Navy infrastructure throughout the 1900s. When the Admiral presided over this bustling base, he lived at Quarters A. This social epicenter hosted military ceremonies, weddings, and PR visits from celebrities. Charles Lindbergh, Helen Keller, and FDR are some of the notables who walked these halls—halls that are now silent. Since the 1996 decommissioning of the base, Quarters A faces deterioration. Although exterior condition is poor, the interior is well-preserved. The purpose …

The Making Of A Legacy: Three Generations Of Drayton Family Women And Their Influences On The Landscape Of The Lowcountry And Eighteenth And Nineteenth Century Charleston, Brittany V. Lavelle

All Theses

For eight generations, the Drayton family of South Carolina and their properties have played significant roles in the history and development of the city of Charleston. As scholars have extensively explored the successes of the Drayton patriarchs of the colonial era, this thesis will showcase the accomplishments of the three generations of eighteenth and nineteenth century Drayton family women in property management and estate development, revealing their influences on the establishment and expansion of one of Charleston's most recognized family legacies in property wealth and architectural grandeur. This study intends to prove through property and genealogical research that the legendary …

The Evolving Philosophy Of Climate Control For Historic House Museums In Subtropical Climates: Recommendations For The Aiken-Rhett House, Charleston, South Carolina, Mariah C. Schwartz

All Theses

This study was designed to determine the most appropriate type of climate control system for the Aiken-Rhett House (1820-22), a historic house museum located in Charleston, South Carolina. The Aiken-Rhett property is unique in that it has never been restored and the current stewards of the museum have taken a conservation philosophy to the interpretation of the house. This house museum is rare because it is one of the few remaining unrestored antebellum structures in the South. Although grand mansions were never intended to exist in a state of decline, as the Aiken-Rhett does now, the preserved layers of time …

Ties That Bind: The Emergence Of Iron Tie Rod Reinforcement In Load Bearing Masonry Buildings Of Charleston, S.C., Jamie Lynn Wiedman

All Theses

Comprehensive studies of structural tie rods in Charleston's load bearing masonry buildings are scarce. While the presence of these anchors on building facades fascinates passersby and is appreciated throughout the city, a general knowledge of their history and emergence as a technology is lacking. Often associated with the earthquake of 1886, iron tie rods were in fact present in Charleston buildings as early as the 18th century. And while the effect of the 1886 earthquake on Charleston's built environment is typically looked at from a sociological or political perspective, and the physical effect has been studied extensively, rarely has the …

One Small Step: An Analysis Of International Space Law And How It Effects Historic Preservation, Joseph Patrick Reynolds

All Theses

From 1969 to 1972 NASA's Apollo Program successfully completed six separate manned lunar landings. Since 1972 there has been no human presence on the Moon. The lunar landing sites of Apollo's 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, and 17 have sat in situ for forty years in the absolute zero vacuum of outer space. As the next phase of lunar exploration draws closer, it is important to protect the Apollo Lunar Landing Sites from exploration and damage because of their importance to human cultural heritage. This thesis assesses the international treaties that govern outer space, the Moon, and other celestial bodies …

The Potential Of Virtual Heritage Reconstruction In Lost Ansonborough, Caglar Aydin

All Theses

The virtual reconstruction of vanished heritage is a well-known practice in the preservation field. The constant development in computer technologies has been improving visualization and interpretation techniques for virtual reconstructions of no longer extant or inaccessible sites. Reconstruction projects of vanished heritage sites implement various approaches because of different challenges at each site. This research involves 3D reconstructions, as well as historical research of early nineteenth century residences, Radcliffe-King and Gabriel Manigault houses in the Ansonborough neighborhood of Charleston, South Carolina, USA.
The demolition of these two mansions in the first half of the twentieth century leads to the loss …

The Making Of A Movement: A Qualitative Content Analysis Of The National Trust For Historic Preservation Magazine From 1949 To 2010, Katherine Marie Ferguson

All Theses

For over 60 years, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has published a magazine. Covering issues from preservation legislation to sustainability, this publication has been the predominant voice in the preservation movement. But what has it been saying, really? This study applies a communications approach to examine the messages the National Trust magazine has presented to its members and the public and studies the role this type of marketing tool has played in the movement for more than half a century.
This research identifies seven important eras in communications for the magazine. Trends in the kind of news being reported, …

Fort Drive: Reestablishing Its Significance Within Washington, D.C.'S Park System, Kathryn Kelly Finnigan

All Theses

This thesis is an in-depth examination of Fort Drive, a 20th century proposed parkway connecting the principal Union Army fortifications which encircled Washington, D.C. The goal of the work is to determine if the landscapes acquired for Fort Drive are eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. This paper answers two questions: what role did Fort Drive play in establishing the Nation's Capital's park system; and are the remnants of the Fort Drive endeavor significant? These questions were answered through analysis of the National Capital Planning Commission's records, a comparison of the standards set by current National Register designations, …

'The Garden Spot Of The Earth': A History & Historic Resources Survey Of Reevesville, South Carolina, Stefanie Marasco

All Theses

Reevesville, South Carolina, is a rural agrarian town within Dorchester County. It was established as a settlement in 1793, but it did not become an official town until it was first incorporated into Colleton County in 1875. The population of Reevesville has, since 1875, remained fairly consistent, averaging 150 to 250 inhabitants. Reevesville's most prosperous era extended from 1875 to 1930, years that coincide with the most active period of the South Carolina Railroads, which served the town in the late 19th century. Many of the extant historic buildings in the area date to this period.
This thesis compiles a …

Castle Pinckney: Past, Present, Future, David Weirick

All Theses

Castle Pinckney is one of a few surviving 'castle' style forts. At the time of Castle Pinckney's construction in 1811 these all masonry, circular, casemated fortifications were a revolutionary experiment in military architecture, inspired by the theories of the foremost military engineers in the world. The southern theater of the War of 1812 never materialized, and Castle Pinckney was not called upon to demonstrate its superior tactical capabilities. As military technology progressed during the nineteenth century, Castle Pinckney became increasingly outdated, but its strategic location in Charleston Harbor caused its continued use as an important military post during the Nullification …

Detroit's Field Of Dreams: The Grassroots Preservation Of Tiger Stadium, Rebecca M. Long

All Theses

From 1987 until the time of this writing, several grassroots organizations have fought for the preservation of Detroit's Tiger Stadium and its historic field. The goal of this thesis is to chronicle those efforts, examine how these organizations fit into the history of preservation movements, and delve into what continues to draw people to this historic site: its `power of place.' In order to accomplish these objectives, this thesis will detail the history of the site from its storied time as the home of Major League Baseball's Detroit Tigers from 1896-1999, up to the preservation efforts which have been the …

Dendrochronology: A Status Report For The Eastern United States, Elyse Harvey

All Theses

Architectural historians and historic preservation practitioners have turned with increasing frequency to dendrochronology to determine dates of construction for houses and other timber structures for which the application of traditional dating techniques, chief among them historical documentation and stylistic analysis, failed. Since the advent of modern, statistically-driven tree-ring dating, analysis of the application of dendrochronology on the eastern region of the United States reveals that the use of this scientific technique has been unevenly applied and is most often used in New England and the Chesapeake. While the techniques used by American dendrochronologists are generally similar, practitioners have failed to …

Unlocking Drayton Hall: A Survey And Analysis Of Hardware At A Southern Plantation, Lauren Elizabeth Golden

All Theses

No other single architectural element at Drayton Hall near Charleston, South Carolina better reflects the social and financial evolution of the house better than its hardware. When Drayton Hall was built, architectural hardware was in a period of transition, shifting from displaying hardware as a symbol of one's ability to purchase relatively expensive items to conceptualizing of rooms as holistic spaces where the hardware elements were as hidden as possible. Generations of family owners significantly changed the original, cohesive hierarchy of types ranging from the highly stylized to the simply functional, but much of the original remains. This thesis is …

Slave Housing: In Search Of Endangered Architecture, Syra V. Valiente

All Theses

Although enslaved Africans constituted a significant majority of the population of Charleston County, South Carolina, from the early eighteenth century until the Civil War, only miniscule number of former slave houses survive. Intense analysis of the surviving slave houses at McLeod Plantation on James Island raises questions about what inherent aspects of their plan and construction constitutes what this study labels 'slave architecture.' The emergence, development and decline of slave houses reflects the broader history of slavery in the South Carolina Lowcountry and suggests that improved documentation of these rare buildings can play an important role in conveying the history …

Little Houses, Big Expenses: A Financial Study Of Small House Museums In New England, Marie Elise Haremski

All Theses

This thesis is examines the finances of house museums in New England with annual receipts under $250,000. It discusses the need to compile and evaluate data of this nature and the steps that were taken to obtain and present that data. This study maps how house museums behaved during this period. It will also present recommendations for practices that can be implemented to either drive revenue up or costs down.
It analyzes the various income and expense categories as they have been reported to the Internal Revenue Service for the filing years 2000 through 2009. The income categories analyzed include: …

'For Those Who Live In The Sun:' Holocaust Commemoration In The Southeastern United States, Lauren Elizabeth Cannady

All Theses

Holocaust commemoration is a vast, multifaceted enterprise. Diverse styles and forms have continued to emerge, and a chronology of types has evolved throughout the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Holocaust remembrance began with narratives, communicated as oral histories and sermons, published in books, journals, newspapers, and magazines, and presented in dramatic performances. In the 1960s and '70s many Holocaust groups sought something more substantial to represent the horror that the Holocaust wrought. Synagogues, community centers, and Jewish businesses installed plaques, stained glass windows, and displays containing Holocaust relics to commemorate the Shoah. Cemeteries became the appropriate location to dedicate larger structures, …

404 King Street: The Charleston County Library And Modern Architecture In Charleston, Ryan Thomas Pierce

All Theses

This thesis examines the development and construction of the Charleston County Library at 404 King Street in Charleston, South Carolina. The research and analysis of this site provides a case study for the development and treatment of the Modern style in downtown Charleston. Significant aspects of this include evaluation of the community's input and reaction to development of the site, and reactions to its completion and opening.
This begins with an overview of the development of the Modern style in America and American library design, and how this translates into South Carolina. Then the influences of these larger communities on …

Profile Of An Origin: A Chemical And Physical Characterization Study Of Historic Brick And Clay From The Ashley River, South Carolina, Kristina Marie Lanphear

All Theses

The goal of this thesis is to develop an adapted scientific methodology for identifying the clay region or source location for a particular brick used in early Charleston, South Carolina. The focus of the paper will be on the Ashley River region. It will review previous scholarly research, theses, and publications on Charleston brick, geology of the river and selected analytical methods with intent to build on this topic. A justification is also given for the selection of the materials and testing methods used for the study. Through chemical and physical characterization testing, of clay sites and bricks of known …

A Forgotten Typology: The Rediscovery Of The Train Stations On The Oldest Railroad In The Country, Lora Ann Cunningham

All Theses

The Charleston and Hamburg Railroad in South Carolina, when completed in 1833, was the first steam powered railroad in America. It was also the longest in the world at 136 miles. The railroad was initially referred to as the 'Best Friend of Charleston.' On December 25, 1830, the 'Best Friend' engine made its first public run on the freshly laid railroad tracks. This milestone trip shifted the country toward an era of transportation development. With this new form of transportation came a new building type, the train station. The train station was the first building to greet people when they …

Ambition's Apex: The Private Art Gallery Of The Aiken-Rhett House, Christine Mathieson

All Theses

This thesis is an analytic in-depth examination of the private art gallery added to the Aiken-Rhett House in Charleston, South Carolina in 1858. The goal of the work is to imagine, understand, and contextualize the gallery, delving deeply into the lives, travels, and ambitions of its owners, William and Harriet Lowndes Aiken. Exploring all aspects of the gallery's inspiration and design, as well as the provenance and significance of works of art housed in it, the paper poses two questions: why a gallery; and why this gallery. Answers to these questions are located in socio-historical analysis that focuses on the …

St. Thomas And St. Denis Parish Church: An Anglo-Franco Alliance In The Lowcountry, Robert Shelton Converse

All Theses

Now vacant and seldom used, St. Thomas and St. Denis Church is a small, neo-classical building constructed in 1819 to serve one of the original colonial parishes carved out of Berkeley County, South Carolina. Even though it has been included in numerous publications devoted to the history of religion in early South Carolina, this church has never been systematically recorded nor has its role been thoroughly explored. This thesis, which grew out of an effort to create a complete set of documentation drawings, explores the history of St. Thomas and St. Denis Church.

In The Fork Of The Road: A Study Of The Burt-Stark House, Abbeville, South Carolina, Grace Naomi Washam

All Theses

The Burt-Stark house, one of the last surviving antebellum townhouses in Abbeville, South Carolina, is a significant residence which, despite its designation as a National Historic Landmark, remains largely unstudied. This thesis examines the design, construction, use, and evolution of the house within the contexts of its setting and past occupants. Measured architectural drawings and exterior and interior paint analyses, along with historical analysis, provides an inclusive documentation of the Burt-Stark house.

'Turning Shambles Into Showcases:' Herbert A. Decosta, Jr.'S Role In The Ansonborough Rehabilitation Project In Charleston, South Carolina, Alissa Clare Keller

All Theses

This thesis examines a portion of the restoration and rehabilitation work Herbert A. DeCosta Jr. and the H. A. DeCosta Company completed in the 1960s and 1970s in Charleston, South Carolina. A third generation, African-American contractor, DeCosta specialized in the restoration of historic structures. A native of the city, he possessed an innate understanding and respect for the city's architectural heritage, and he worked throughout the city and region to promote the preservation of this heritage. Under the direction of Herbert DeCosta, the H. A. DeCosta Company worked with Historic Charleston Foundation on numerous properties in their revolutionary Ansonborough Rehabilitation …

The Fire Houses Of Charleston, South Carolina 1881 - 1943, Rebecca Marie Moffatt

All Theses

From the first Charleston settlement in 1670, fire has posed an ever present threat. For this reason, fire fighting took on an important role even in its earliest forms within the city. As firefighting techniques evolved so did the buildings used to house both the equipment and the men used for such a task.
This thesis studies the architecture of the Charleston Fire Department. From its early beginnings in 1881 when the newly formed department absorbed the former volunteer companies, to the more recent buildings (ending with the structure built in 1943) which were constantly being added as the needs …

Volumes That Speak: The Architectural Books Of The Drayton Library Catalog And The Design Of Drayton Hall, Patricia Ann Lowe

Master of Science in Historic Preservation Terminal Projects

Drayton Hall, an early eighteenth-century plantation house on the Ashley River in Charleston, South Carolina, is widely considered to be the first Palladian house in the United States. Now owned and operated by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Drayton Hall is something of a laboratory for the study of archaeology, landscape architecture, material culture, social history, and historic preservation. Though new discoveries are made almost every day at Drayton Hall, the origins of the house’s design remain unknown.

In 2009, the Drayton Library Catalog was discovered within the Drayton manuscript collection containing references to seven popular eighteenth-century architectural books. …

Charleston History Through Architecture: Educating Students About Historic Preservation, Cultural Heritage, And Social History In Charleston, South Carolina, Katherine L. Stamps

Master of Science in Historic Preservation Terminal Projects

No abstract provided.

A Study Of The Vernacular Beach Cottage Typologies Of Sullivan's Island, South Carolina And Documentary Drawings Of The Nathaniel Barnwell House For The Historic American Building Survey, Amelia Morgan Millar

Master of Science in Historic Preservation Terminal Projects

Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina is a coastal barrier island located to the northeast of Charleston Harbor. Utilized as a health retreat and vacation destination from the early 1810s to the 1930s by the wealthy of Charleston, the island now exists as a full-time residential community. The island’s residential structures consisted mainly of simple one to two story wood structures, many with substantial and distinctive porch designs. While there have been surveys completed of the location and histories of structures on the island, until now, there has not been a study of the particular architectural typologies or their prevalence on the …

Gothic Revival Outbuildings Of Antebellum Charleston, South Carolina, Erin Marie Mcnicholl

Master of Science in Historic Preservation Terminal Projects

The Gothic Revival was a movement of picturesque architecture that is found all over the United States on buildings built in the first half of the nineteenth century. In Antebellum Charleston people tended to cling to the classical styles of architecture even when the rest of the nation and Europe were enthusiastically embracing the different picturesque styles, such as Gothic Revival and Italianate. In the United States the Gothic Revival style can be found adorning buildings of every use. One of the unique applications to be found is on kitchen buildings and carriage houses. These applications exhibit traits of an …

Stained Glass In The Holy City A Catalogue Of Ecclesiastical Stained Glass In Charleston, South Carolina, Eileen Grogan

Master of Science in Historic Preservation Terminal Projects

Charleston, South Carolina, is internationally known for its characteristic architecture and commitment to historic preservation. A wide variety of religious denominations have been represented here since the city was founded in 1670, and ecclesiastical buildings play an important role in the city’s cultural and architectural history. Sailors returning to this early trading port dubbed it “The Holy City” for its church spires, so numerous they were visible even from out at sea. Many houses of worship on the peninsula are home to stained glass windows which date from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. These windows are historically significant …