Keeping Time: The History and Theory of Preservation in America

by William J. Murtagh

Praise for the First Edition . . . "A single volume offering a synopsis of the history of the preservation movement, an analysis of the relevant data, and a discussion of the key issues facing preservationists . . . informative and well written." —The Public Historian. William Murtagh, the first Keeper of the National Register of Historic Places, presents an effective portrait of the preservation movement by looking into the values underlying the efforts to safeguard America's architectural heritage, including the development of legislation and court action. A section on the National Trust for Historic Preservation explains how this private, non-profit organization created in the 1940s has expanded its services and goals parallel with changes in the national preservation movement. Three useful appendices give a sampling of the pertinent federal legislation, the National Register's criteria for evaluation, and the Secretary of the Interior's standards and guidelines. A chronology of important dates in the history of preservation from the eighteenth century through the present encapsulates the movement's achievements. 75 black-and-white photographs depict the beautiful and intriguing architecture of buildings all across the country, as Keeping Time investigates every aspect of the national picture, including historic house museums, outdoor museums, historic districts, rural and landscape preservation, rehabilitation, and adaptive use.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Heritage Preservation

248 pages, Paperback

First published May 28, 1991

Reviews

[Jamie Reeder · Rating 4 out of 5]

The guy who I’m going to be interviewing with soon told me this book is foundational for historic preservation. You better give me the job now, Paul.

[Elizabeth Bradley · Rating 3 out of 5]

solid, useful.

[Mike Emett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Required reading for the "Capital City Field School, Columbia, SC Historic Preservation" graduate seminar

[Fletcher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Re