Keeping Time: The History and Theory of Preservation in America

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 The historic preservation movement has had a huge influence on America′s built landscape for the past thirty years, and Keeping Time is the cornerstone primer for students of all ages. This Third Edition features a wealth of new material, including new chapters on preservation values in oral–based cultures, international preservation, and future developments in the field. In an engaging and useful format, Keeping Time, Third Edition continues its long tradition of providing a concise, clear survey of the history of the preservation movement, complete with helpful coverage of the theory and practice driving it. Expanded coverage of landscape preservation as well as new material on scientific conservation, cultural corridors, and historic tourism is supported by dozens of informative photographs, making this a fundamental volume for tomorrow′s historic preservationists.

Preface. Preface to the Previous Edition. Introduction. Chapter 1. The Language of Preservation. Chapter 2. The Preservation Movement and the Private Citizen Before World War II. Chapter 3. The Preservation Movement and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Chapter 4. Government and the Preservation Movement. Chapter 5. Government and Preservation Since World War II. Chapter 6. The Historic Room and House Museum. Chapter 7. Outdoor Museums. Chapter 8. Historic Districts. Chapter 9. Rehabilitation and Adaptive Use. Chapter 10. Landscape Preservation. Chapter 11. Rural and Small Town Preservation. Chapter 12. Archaeology. Chapter 13. Preservation Values in Oral Based Cultures. Chapter 14. Preservation in Practice. Chapter 15. International Preservation. Epilogue: And What of the Future? Appendix A: Selected Federal Legislation. Appendix B: The National Register′s Criteria for Evaluation. Appendix C: The Secretary of the Interior′s Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings. Appendix D: Preservation Resources. Glossary. Bibliography. Illustration Credits. Index. 

WILLIAM J. MURTAGH has held pivotal positions in the field of historic preservation for almost fifty years. He served as the first keeper of the National Register of Historic Places, Department of the Interior; and was vice president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and president of the Victorian Society in America. He directed the preservation program at Columbia University and initiated preservation programs at the University of Maryland and the University of Hawaii. He is a founding and active member of the Preservation Roundtable in Washington, D.C.