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Restoration Resources

These are a few of our favorite resources for research and information. We are continuing to update the list.

 

Resources

Lime Mortars:

 

Stronger Is NOT Better” | Matt Wolf | Masonry Design

 

The Basics of Understanding Lime Mortar” | Matt Wolf | Masonry Design

 

Henry Frerk Son’s Lime Mortar Tips

 

Old-House Journal Magazine

 

Lime: The Basics | Taylor, Jonathan | buildingconservation.com

 

Why Use Lime? | Building Limes Forum

 

Scottish Lime Centre | An organization that promotes the knowledge and traditional skills required for the conservation, repair and maintenance of the historic built environment

Terra Cotta Resources:

 

Friends of Terra Cotta |  They offer a searchable database of citations for terra cotta articles.

 

Gladding, McBean | Terra cotta manufacturer founded in 1875

 

Boston Valley | Terra cotta manufacturer

 

The Brickbuilder was published from 1892 until 1916. In 1917 it was folded into Architectural Forum. The Brickbuilder had many articles about terra cotta, although it frequently called it “burnt clay.” The following editions can be downloaded: v.1, 1892 v.2, 1893 v.4, 1895 v.6, 1897 v.7, 1898 v.9, 1900 v.23, 1914 v.24, 1915 v.25, 1916

 

Boston Valley | Boston Valley Common Terminology | (compiled from other references)

 

Davis, Charles Thomas| A Practical Treatise on the Manufacture of Brick, Tile, and Terra Cotta | 1895

 

National Terra Cotta Society | Terra Cotta Architectural Terra Cotta: Standard Construction |1914

 

Smithsonian Institute’s Bibliography of Ceramic Tile and Architectural Terra Cotta| http://www.si.edu/Encyclopedia_SI/nmah/ceratile.htm

Searchable Databases:

 

JSTOR | Collection of scholarly articles on a wide range of topics. It’s now available remotely by logging into the Chicago Public Library with your library card. http://www.chipublib.org or through APTI.org. (Members only)

 

Library of Congress | www.loc.gov (HABS/HAER drawings as well as architectural photos and industry publications)

Restoration and Preservation Websites:

 

Old-House Journal | The original preservation and restoration magazine for owners of historic houses.

 

The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards | The guiding concepts for the treatment of historic properties

 

APT Building Technology Heritage Library | Pre-1964 collection of building resources

 

Historic American Building Survey | Documentation of many historic sites throughout the country

Chicago Area Resources and Organizations:

 

Landmarks Illinois | Statewide preservation advocacy organization

 

Preservation Chicago | Chicago-focused preservation advocacy organization

 

Historic Chicago Bungalow Association| A nonprofit group that helps owners maintain and preserve their Chicago bungalows

 

Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago | A nonprofit dedicated to neighborhood revitalization that assists homeowners and communities

 

Partners for Sacred Places | A national nonprofit (with a Chicago office) that takes a multifaceted approach to helping congregations preserve their buildings

 

Association for Preservation Technology Great Lakes Western Chapter | Regional chapter of the national preservation professional organization.

 

Explore Chicago | Consolidated access to many of the area’s archival resources

 

City of Chicago Historic Survey | The city’s inventory of historically significant resources

 

Chicago Landmarks |City historic structures and districts