Building Materials and Property Types

Much of the available historic preservation information pertains to the treatment, conservation, analysis, and maintenance of specific building materials and historic property types.

The National Park Service's Preservation Briefs are one such set of documents that have proven to be an invaluable resource since their introduction in 1975. There are currently 44 documents in the series, addressing a wide variety of topics, all of which are available electronically from the National Park Service website.

The HPO also offers a series of FYI Publications related to specific building elements, available in PDF format.

Research and Documentation

The HPO has also prepared information relating to researching and documenting historic resources. This guidance is offered to improve the quality and effectiveness of preservation activities by professionals and advocates alike. The following are available for download from this website or hard-copies may be obtained by contacting the HPO.  (see Forms and Publications below.)

• How to Research the History of a House
• Historic Structure Reports and Preservation Plans
• New Jersey's Building Contracts and Mechanics Liens
• Maps and Map Repositories
• New Jersey's Archaeological Resources from the Paleo-Indian Period to the Present: A Review of Research Problems and Survey Priorities

Independent file review and research may be conducted at the Historic Preservation Office (HPO) on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, between, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. in half-day or whole-day increments.  Our collection includes USGS quads with notations associated with the State and National Register of Historic Places, SR/NR nomination and opinions of eligibility files, cultural resource surveys, inventories and reports, as well as a small reference library. The HPO recommends that research be conducted by qualified archaeologists, architectural historians, landscape architects or other historic preservation professionals who have experience with the specialized, technical nature of the HPO reference materials, though anyone is welcome once trained in the use of our files.  Space is limited, so please plan ahead.

HPO visitors are asked to bring a photo ID so that building security officers may issue a "visitor ID" for the 4th floor. For those planning to use our self serve copy machine, visitors are encouraged to bring a check for payment made out to "Treasurer, State of New Jersey." Without payment at the time of the visit, copies will be held until a check is received.

To schedule a file review appointment, please call
Milly Rivera at 609-292-0062.

One-hour free introductory training sessions are provided by the HPO on the first Thursday of each month (see dates at left).  Sessions commence at 10:00 a.m. in our large conference room and include handouts and a brief tour of the resources available.  Following training, visitors are welcome to continue research that day until 4:00 p.m.  Space is limited to ten participants.

To schedule a reservation in the introductory training session, please call
Sara Homer at 609-292-0061.

NOTE:  The HPO is not the official repository for NJ archaeological sites or the official repository for projects occurring within the boundaries of the Pinelands National Reserve.  Please note the following contact information for coordinating review of such resources:

Greg Lattanzi
Bureau of Archaeology and Ethnology New Jersey State Museum
205 West State Street  Trenton, NJ  08625-0530
(609) 292-8594

Barry Brady
The Pinelands Commission P.O. Box 7  New Lisbon, NJ  08064
(609) 894-7300
(Fridays only)

 

Forms and Publications:

1. NPS Preservation Briefs (NPS Website)
2. HPO FYI Publications: (All PDF Format)
   • Masonry Cleaning & Repointing
   • Masonry Repairs
   • Repairing Wood Windows
   • Retrofitting Historic Windows
   • Insulation
   • Interiors
   • Storefronts
   • New Construction and Related Demolition
   • Saving Wood Windows
3. Research and Documentation Publications: (All PDF Format)
   • How to Research the History of a House
   • Historic Structure Reports and Preservation Plans
   • New Jersey's Building Contracts and Mechanics Liens
   • New Jersey's Archaeological Resources from the Paleo-Indian Period to the Present (Coming Soon!)
4. HPO Speaker Series: (All PDF Format)
   • Community, Place, and the Economics of Historic Preservation (PDF Format)
   • Historic Preservation: Its Social and Economic Value (PDF Format)
   • Future of Preservation (PDF Format)
5. General Information: (All PDF Format)
• Historic Preservation - Article Reprint, OSP Memo, April 1996 (PDF Format)
• Alternatives Analysis Outline for Protecting Buildings (PDF Format)
  The Historic Preservation office provides lists of historic preservation consultants including historic architects, archaeologists, conservators, survey planning and registration consultants.  These lists do not imply recommendation of certification. These firms appear to meet the minimum National Park Service professional qualification standards 36 CFR 61. These lists are available on request.
  

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