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Further Reading

A list of useful books and publications related to history and preservation

If you have any suggestions, email dchpn_planning@yahoo.com

Also check out Preservation Alliance online bookshop for these books and many more

 

HISTORIC PRESERVATION/ BUILDINGS

Historic Preservation     Specific Building Types     Window Repair     General Maintenance     

Historic House Buying     Architecture      Economics and Historic Preservation

 

HISTORY

Municipal History A-D   E-N   P-U     People/ Genealogy   Trees, Transportation

HISTORIC PRESERVATION/ BUILDINGS

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Historic Preservation

Historic Preservation: An Introduction to Its History, Principles, and Practice (Second Edition)- Norman  Tyler

Historic preservation, which started as a grassroots movement, now represents the cutting edge in a cultural revolution focused on “green” architecture and sustainability.

This is the only book to cover the gamut of preservation issues in layman’s language: the philosophy and history of the movement, the role of government, the documentation and designation of historic properties, sensitive architectural designs and planning, preservation technology, and heritage tourism, plus a survey of architectural styles. It is an ideal introduction to the field for students, historians, preservationists, property owners, local officials, and community leaders. Updated throughout, this revised edition addresses new subjects, including heritage tourism and partnering with the environmental community

Purchase on Amazon

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The Past and Future City: How Historic Preservation is Reviving America's Communities- Stephanie Meeks

National Trust President Stephanie Meeks explores the many ways that saving and restoring historic fabric can help a city create thriving neighborhoods, good jobs, and a vibrant economy.

Purchase through National Trust and get 20% discount with code

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Protecting Historic Properties, a Guide to Research and Preservation- Brandywine Conservancy, 1984    Purchase on Amazon

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Places + People: A Book List for Kids- list of children's books by LA Conservancy about places, architecture, and preservation

https://www.laconservancy.org/places-people-book-list-kids

 

 

Specific Building Types

The Historic Barns of Southeastern Pennsylvania – Architecture and Preservation – Built 1750 to 1900

Discussed in this text are the primary factors that have determined the fundamental structures and appearances of the six great barn classifications, including forest resources. Other featured topics are architectural aspects and regionalisms, dates of construction, survival of 18th-century examples, mysterious decorations, and barn preservation. Completing this treatise are representative color photographs, building plan sketches, charts conveying the prevalence of types, and a glossary of barn terms.

Learn More   Purchase on Amazon

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The Wayside Inns of the Lancaster Roadside- Julius Sachse, 1913    Purchase on Amazon

 

The Paper Makers- Early Pennsylvanians and their Water Wheels- Jane Levis Carter, 1982     Purchase on Amazon

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Building Technology Heritage Library

The Building Technology Heritage Library (BTHL) is primarily a collection of American and Canadian, pre-1964 architectural trade catalogs, house plan books and technical building guides. Trade catalogs are an important primary source to document past design and construction practices. These materials can aid in the preservation and conservation of older structures as well as other research goals.  Access here

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Sears Houses- All the information you need about Sears kit homes (1908-1942), including a blog, archive of catalogs, and information on how to identify Sears Houses. Access here

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Window repair and preservation

Old Windows Made Easy- Scott Sidler- Learn more and purchase

 

Steel Window Made Easy (eBook)- Scott Sidler- Learn more and purchase

 

Old Windows In-Depth (both of above together)- Scott Sidler- Learn more and purchase

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General Maintenance/ Building Preservation

The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties with Guidelines for Preserving, Rehabilitating, Restoring and Reconstructing Historic Buildings- revised by Anne Grimmer, 2017

The Guidelines for these four treatments have been revised and updated to include more building materials and systems, such as those that have become “historic” since this document was first issued in 1995. The Guidelines, which are abundantly illustrated with all new photographs in color, have also been expanded to address new topics and provide additional guidance. PDF

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The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties & Illustrated Guidelines on Sustainability for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings- Anne Grimmer et al. 

These revised and greatly expanded guidelines replace the chapter on "Energy Conservation" in The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation & Illustrated Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings, published in 1992. PDF

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Living in the past- Scott Sidler

The ultimate book for old house owners! Filled with dozens of full color tutorials of the most common repairs you’ll face, this book gives you the information you need to navigate living in an old house. Learn more and purchase

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Historic Restoration Plan (eBook)- Scott Sidler

Get a plan for the restoration of your historic building. Whether it’s a house or some other building this guide will help you start off on the right foot and put together a plan that will save you money and stress as you restore your old house.

Learn more and purchase

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Old House Basics- Scott Sidler

This simple 25-page booklet is the perfect “quick-start” guide for any homeowner of an old or historic home who wants to learn what to expect from living in a vintage house and how to handle the inevitable “quirks” you encounter.

Learn more and purchase

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10 Tips: Restoring vs. Rehabilitating Your Historic House- National Trust Website

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Life Expectancy of Building Components- Scott Sidler

A guide that lists the expected lifespan of most materials in an old house PDF

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Historic House buying

10 Tips for Inspecting Historic Houses Before You Buy- National Trust Website

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10 Tips for Financing Your Historic House- National Trust Website

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How to Find a Historic House- National Trust Website

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Architecture

A Field Guide to American Houses (Revised): The Definitive Guide to Identifying and Understanding America's Domestic Architecture- Virginia Savage McAlester

Now in paperback: the fully expanded, updated, and freshly designed second edition of the most comprehensive and widely acclaimed guide to domestic architecture: in print since its original publication in 1984, and acknowledged everywhere as the unmatched, essential guide to American houses. This revised edition includes a section on neighborhoods; expanded and completely new categories of house styles with photos and descriptions of each; an appendix on "Approaches to Construction in the 20th and 21st Centuries"; an expanded bibliography; and 600 new photographs and line drawings

Purchase on Amazon

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Get Your House Right: Architectural Elements to Use & Avoid- Marianne Cusato

Sick of McMansions? Marianne Cusato, creator of the award-winning Katrina Cottages, is a champion of traditional architectural principles: structural common sense, aesthetics of form, appropriateness to a neighborhood, and sustainability. She presents the definitive guide to what makes houses look and feel right, revealing the dos and don'ts of livable home design. Hundreds of elegant line drawings--rendering the varieties of architectural features and displaying “avoid” and “use” versions of the same elements side by side--make this an indispensable resource for designing and building a timelessly beautiful home.

Purchase on Amazon

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Seventeenth Century Survivors: Pre-1700 Buildings in the Five Country Philadelphia Area- Jane Feaver, 1982     Purchase on Amazon

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Economics and Historic Preservation

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The Economic Impact of Historic Preservation in Philadelphia

Report for Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia, by Econsult, 2010   Read Here

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Measuring Economic Impacts of Historic Preservation

Report to the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation by PlaceEconomics, 2013     Read Here

PlaceEconomics Website

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Economic Benefits of Historic Preservation Activities in Pennsylvania

Report for PHMC and Preservation Pennsylvania by Econsult and Urban Partners, 2011    Executive Summary   Full Report

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Preservation and Residential Property Values: The Case of Philadelphia

UPenn Thesis by Prema Katari, 2005     Read Here

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The Economic Case for Historic Preservation- Webinar video here

Why is historic preservation so critical to protecting communities’ culture and identities? Today, with the representatives from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, PlaceEconomics, Bedrock Detroit, and Wheeling Heritage, we will count the dollars and cents behind historic preservation. 

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HISTORY

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Municipality Histories

DCPD: a copy is available for viewing at DCPD offices

Some may be available at local historical societies or libraries or on Open Library (openlibrary.org), and you can try ABE Books (abebooks.com) as well to purchase.

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Delaware County

History of Delaware County, PA- Henry Graham Ashmead, 1884    Read online

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Aston

   Rockdale- Anthony F.C. Wallace, 1972    Purchase on Amazon     DCPD

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Bethel

   Bethel Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Thru Three Centuries- George Walter Goodley, 1987 (rare)    

   Purchase on Amazon

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   Bethel Township, Delaware County (Images of America)- Elizabeth McCarrick, 2013     Purchase on Amazon     DCPD

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Chadds Ford

   Around Chadds Ford (PA) (Images of America)- Karen Smith Furst, 2005    Purchase on Amazon

 

Chester

   Historical Sketch of Chester, on Delaware- Henry Graham Ashmead, 1882.     Purchase on Amazon

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   History of Chester- John H. Martin, 1877    Purchase on Amazon

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   Pioneer on the Delaware (History and Chronicles of the Delaware County National Bank 1814-1964)- John V. Diggins,   

   1964     Purchase on Amazon

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   History of the Delaware County National Bank- Henry Graham Ashmead, 1914     Purchase on Amazon     DCPD

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   Chester (and its vicinity,) Delaware County, in Pennsylvania : with genealogical sketches of some old families- John H.

   Martin, 2015 (reprint)    Purchase on Amazon

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   Chester (PA) (Images of America)- Chester Historical Preservation Committee, 2004    Purchase on Amazon

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Collingdale

   Collingdale Borough (Images of America)- Elizabeth MacGuire, 2012    Purchase on Amazon

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Concord

   Prosperity and Progress: Concord Township 1683-1983 (Vol 1, the Colonial Legacy)- Robert P. Case, 1983  

   Purchase on Amazon

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Darby Borough

   Darby Borough (PA) (Images of America)- Darby Borough Historical and Preservation Society, 2003    Purchase on Amazon

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Edgmont

   Edgmont, The Story of a Township- Jane Levis Carter, 1976     Purchase on Amazon

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Glenolden

   The History of Glenolden- Keith Lockhart, 1994     Purchase on Amazon

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Haverford

   Haverford Township (PA) (Images of America)    Purchase on Amazon

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Lansdowne

   Views of Lansdowne (Images of America)- Matthew Shultz, 1996    Purchase on Amazon

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Marcus Hook

   Marcus Hook (PA) (Images of America)- Patricia Ann Miller, 2007    Purchase on Amazon

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Marple

   Marple's First One Hundred Years- Lucy Simler, 1985    Purchase on Amazon

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   Marple and Newtown Townships (Images of America)- Mike Mathis, 1998    Purchase on Amazon

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Media

   From Media's Past- I. Frank Lees, 1977     Purchase on Amazon

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Middletown

   History of Middletown Township- Henry Pearson, 1985    Purchase on Amazon   Purchase on Amazon

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   Middletown Township, Delaware County (Images of America)- Mary Anne Eves, 2011    Purchase on Amazon

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Nether Providence

   Nether Providence (Images of America)- Michele S. Davidson, 2010    Purchase on Amazon

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Newtown

   Historic Newtown Township- Alice and Carl Lindborg, 1984     Purchase on Amazon

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   Marple and Newtown Townships (Images of America)- Mike Mathis, 1998    Purchase on Amazon

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Prospect Park

   Prospect Park Centennial 1894-1994- Keith Lockhart, 1994     Purchase on Amazon

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Radnor

   A Rare and Pleasing Thing: Radnor- Katharine Hewitt Cummin, 1977     Purchase on Amazon

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Ridley Park

   The History of Ridley Park- Keith Lockhart, 1987     Purchase on Amazon

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Ridley Township

   The History of Ridley Township- Keith Lockhart, 1987     Purchase on Amazon     DCPD

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Rose Valley

   A History of Rose Valley- Peter Ham, et al, 1973     Purchase on Amazon

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   The School in Rose Valley: A Parent Venture in Education- Grace Rotzel, 1971    Purchase on Amazon

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Sharon Hill

   Sharon Hill (Images of America)- Kathleen Clarke, 2009    Purchase on Amazon

 

Springfield

   Springfield Township, Delaware County (Images of America)- Springfield Historical Society, 2004    Purchase on Amazon

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Swarthmore

   Swarthmore Borough (Images of America)- Susanna K. Morikawa and Patricia C. O'Donnell, 2009    Purchase on Amazon 

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Tinicum

   Historical Sites (located near the Westinghouse Steam Turbine-Generator Division Plants)- E.D.J. Campen, 1983     DCPD

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Upland

   The Crozers of Upland 1723-1926- David A. MacQueen, 1932    Purchase on Amazon

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Upper Darby

   A History of Upper Darby- John H. Tyson, et. al., 1972    Purchase on ABE Books

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   The History and Development of Upper Darby Township, 1609-1987- Thomas J. DiFilippo, 1988    Purchase on Amazon       

   DCPD

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   Upper Darby (Images of America)- Beverly Rorer and Barbara Marinelli, 2011    Purchase on Amazon

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Upper Providence

   The Rose Tree Families- Jane Levis Carter, 1984     Purchase on Amazon 

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People/ Genealogy

Thomas Leiper- Scottish Patriot of the American Revolution- John Ashhurst Leiper, 1976     Purchase on Amazon

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Passengers and Ships Prior to 1684- Walter Lee Sheppard, Jr., 1970    Purchase on Amazon

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The Papers of William Penn- Drs. Richard and Mary Dunn and Dr. Caroline Robbins    Purchase on Amazon- Vol 1, Vol 2, Vol 3, Vol 4, Vol 5

 

Penn's Colony: Genealogical and Historical Materials Relating to the Settlement of Pennsylvania. (A heritage classic)- George E. McCracken, 2007    Purchase on Amazon

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Immigration of the Irish Quakers into Pennsylvania, 1682-1750 : with their early history in Ireland- Albert Cook Myers, 2015    Purchase on Amazon

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Swedes of the Delaware Valley (Images of America Series)- Margaret Murray Thorell, PHD, 2011    Purchase on Amazon

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Welsh Settlement of Pennsylvania- Charles H Browning, 1912     Purchase on Amazon

 

Welsh Founders of Pennsylvania- Thomas Allen Glenn, 2000    Purchase on Amazon

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Historic Trees

Penn's Woods 1682-1982: The oldest trees in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Eastern Shore, Maryland - Halfred W. Wertz and M. Joy Callender, 1981    Purchase on Amazon

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Trains/ Trolleys/ Transportation

Suburban Philadelphia Trolleys (PA) (Images of Rail)- Kenneth C. Springirth, 2007    Purchase on Amazon

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West Chester Pike (Images of America)- Stephen J Edgcumbe, 2012    Purchase on Amazon

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Pennsylvania Main Line Railroad Stations: Philadelphia to Harrisburg (Images of Rail)- Jim Sundman, 2016    Purchase on Amazon

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Historic Preservation
Window Repair
Specific Building Types
General Maintenance
Historic House Buying
Architecture
Economics and HP
HISTORY
Municipality History E-N
Municipality History P-U
Trees, Transportation
People/ Genealogy
Municipality History A-D
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