HABS - A Very Valuable Resource

One of the most valuable resources a restorationist and an architectural historian has is the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS). Started in 1933, HABS was formed to preserve the architectural heritage of America. There had been a tremendous movement which involved the Colonial Revival period during which architects were compiling measured drawings, photographs and written documentation of colonial era buildings in America. Starting in 1914, The White Pine Bureau, not to be confused with a chest of drawers, produced the White Pine Series of Architectural Monographs. These were exceptional recordings of the architectural treasures of early America by way of measured drawings, photographs and written documentations. The series was published from 1914 to 1940. It was intended to be a marketing device to advance the merits of White Pine to the architectural community. In no small measure it also bolstered the Colonial Revival movement.
None of this activity fell on deaf ears. The early preservation movement within the National Park Service including historic parks and National Historic Sites, saw the need to preserve this invaluable documentation of our early architectural heritage. By agreement between the American Association of Architects, the Library of Congress and the National Park Service, HABS was formed. To this day, HABS is actively recording our building traditions.
Accessing the collections through the internet is the quickest and easiest way to find a treasure trove of early building documentation. The collection and the department is so vast, it can be a bit frustrating to get where you want to be. The general web site is www.nps.gov/hdp/habs/index.htm. I find rather than starting at square one, I will "Google" my specific interests within HABS. For example, doing a search from Google I might search for " HABS Connecticut Saltbox". This will take me directly to the specific area that lists all saltbox houses in HABS in Connecticut. It can save much time and frustration. Once you have gotten to this point, you can pull up drawings, photos and other documentation on individual houses. You can either print drawings from the site or you can order prints and photos. The directions are quite clear.
I strongly suggest that you spend some time searching through HABS. I can pretty well promise that you will be intriqued by what you find.