The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Architectural and Engineering Documentation define the products acceptable for inclusion in the Heritage Documentation Programs (HABS/HAER/HALS) collections in the Library of Congress as measured drawings, large-format black & white photographs, and written histories.

 

The Secretary of Interior Standards consist of the following four standards, originally published in the Federal Register, Vol. 48, No. 190, Thursday, September 29, 1983, pp. 44731-34.

 

Standard I. Documentation Shall Adequately Explicate and Illustrate What is Significant or Valuable About the Historic Building, Site, Structure or Object Being Documented.

 

The historic significance of the building, site, structure or object identified in the evaluation process should be conveyed by the drawings, photographs and other materials that comprise documentation. The historical, architectural, engineering or cultural values of the property together with the purpose of the documentation activity determine the level and methods of documentation. Documentation prepared for submission to the Library of Congress must meet the HABS/HAER Guidelines

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Standard II. Documentation Shall be Prepared Accurately From Reliable Sources With Limitations Clearly Stated to Permit Independent Verification of the Information.

 

The purpose of documentation is to preserve an accurate record of historic properties that can be used in research and other preservation activities. To serve these purposes, the documentation must include information that permits assessment of its reliability.

 

 

Standard III. Documentation Shall be Prepared on Materials That are Readily Reproducible, Durable and in Standard Sizes.

 

The size and quality of documentation materials are important factors in the preservation of information for future use. Selection of materials should be based on the length of time expected for storage, the anticipated frequency of use and a size convenient for storage.

 

 

Standard IV. Documentation Shall be Clearly and Concisely Produced.

 

In order for documentation to be useful for future research, written materials must be legible and understandable, and graphic materials must contain scale information and location references.

 

The Guidelines provide advice and technical information on meeting the standards. Most important, they outline an approach to historic architecture, engineering and landscapes that helps ensure the documentation will meet the Secretary's Standards while creating a comprehensive understanding of the site or structure. They also provide recommendations on research methods and report organization, line weight and sheet layout, photographic paper and negative preparation, and the disposition of field notes.

 

Guidelines

 

HABS/HAER/HALS records include both formal documentation (drawings, photographs, histories) and informal documentation (field records, and other significant materials not meeting HABS/HAER/HALS standards):

 

• Measured drawings are produced at a precise scale from actual dimensions recorded in the field. Drawings may be produced either by hand or with computer-aided drafting (CAD).

• Large-format photographs are produced as contact prints from 4x5, 5x7, and 8x10 black-and-white negatives and color transparencies. The formats allow maximum enlargement with minimal loss of detail and clarity, and the black-and-white processing allows for achival stability.

• Written histories place the site or structure within the appropriate context, addressing both the historical and the architectural or engineering aspects of its significance.

• Field records are not considered formal documentation because they are the notes, sketches, 35 mm or digital photographs, and field measurements used to create the drawings. Nevertheless, they are the primary source of HABS/HAER/HALS measured drawings and can reveal aspects of a structure or site not emphasized in the formal documentation. They are an important record of the documentation process, and often provide the greatest detail. In addition, field records may include copies of historical views or documents.