A Window to the Past, a View to the Future: a Guide to Photodocumenting Historic Places

A Window To The Past, A View To The Future: A Guide To Photodocumenting Historic Places by Frederic J. Athearn. This revised field manual, published in 1994 as part of Colorado's Bureau of Land Management Cultural Resource Series, provides practical guidance for photodocumenting historic and prehistoric properties to support long-term preservation. The author draws on two decades of archival photography and historic recordation experience to outline methods, standards, and project organization used by the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) and Historic American Engineering Record (HAER). The volume covers the rationale for archival photography, the evolution of film and paper permanence, and the handling, processing, and storage of prints and negatives. It details the three-tier documentation framework (Level I, II, III), the process of measured drawings, historical documentation, and the preparation of documentation packages, as well as alternative archival approaches for lesser properties. Rich with field guidelines, equipment recommendations, and practical checks, the book emphasizes that thoughtful photography can ensure the visual record of historic places endures for future generations.