Intro to My Story
Do you love historic buildings? That’s the reason most architectural historians enter our field.
Strangely, the general field of historic preservation rarely offers continuing education opportunities related to historic buildings. Why don’t we have events where we can share connections and discoveries that we make as part of our work? We miss out on the joy of contribution to our own field.
I got involved in continuing education in 2019 while recuperating from a heart attack. My detailed research into a relatively fresh field resulted in my book on the history of doors. Then I was hired as the inaugural [adjunct] professor of historic preservation at Rowan University. In my classes, I sometimes incorporate my discoveries about the chronology of historic fabric into my lectures – and my students actually like this kind of information! I also give four or five lectures each year to historical commissions or groups, and these presentations are almost always well-attended.
Then I had the idea of putting together a comprehensive course that would help architectural historians evaluate other elements of historic fabric in houses as well. What you see on this website is my gradual collection of information for this proposed new course. I have spent hundreds of hours searching for information in old buildings, books and publications so that you can find the specific bit of information you need in a few minutes.
So I hope you will find this information helpful in your work. I am not here to entertain you, just to help you do a more professional job in your understanding and writing descriptions of parts of historic buildings. It warms my heart now that I have started to see a greater degree of attention to building details that had been disregarded previously. Building elements that aren't appreciated and described tend to disappear over time.
Testimonials
"This is exactly what I was looking for. Very informative. I'm replacing my interior doors and want to put the correct latches on them. I hadn't been able to find a lot of information because I didn't know the names of them." – toddp.3872
"I really enjoyed your interior description webinar last week... I always appreciate your insights about interior elements and you have been so helpful with questions about buildings." – KHerrick
"Very informative, most do not even know to consider the details you mentioned." – RustyYorkThievery
My Products
This website has several areas of free information that you can access on the left. The mantels database and the windows database are works in progress but currently provide information for the years 1870 to 1905. The section on sash locks introduces you to this important type of iron hardware, along with details of when each type was in production. If you click the videos link, you will see links to my more pertinent YouTube videos.
My door book is currently my only item for sale. A link on my home page ("Buy Book") takes you to the publisher's website where you can order it. I recently visited an office that had a photocopy of my door book on their shelf. It was funny that they saved money that way, as the person's time at the copying machine was more than the book cost!
Thank you for stopping by! If you would like to share some information with me or have a question, please use the address sethhinshaw [at] yahoo [dot] com.