HISTORIC CONTEXTS LIBRARY

Historic contexts and surveys are critical tools for understanding, identifying, evaluating, and protecting those resources which give each community its individual character and sense of place. Historic contexts provide the foundation for preservation activities including planning, project review, and registration.

Guidance for developing historic contexts is provided in

Guidance for conducting historic resource surveys is provided in

See also Historic Contexts and Surveys for Local Planning for more information.

CONTEXTS DEVELOPED FOR LOCAL GOVERMENT SURVEYS

Benicia - City of Benicia  (2010*)

Berkeley - Downtown (2007)

Fresno -Mid-Century Modernism (2008)

Glendale -  Craftsman Style Architecture  (2007*)

Monterey County -  Agricultural Resources Evaluation Handbook Part 1                   
                  Agricultural Resources Evaluation Handbook Part 2   
                  Agriculture in North County (2010*)
                  Agriculture in South County (2009*) 

Napa -   City-Wide Pages 1-130    Pages 131-163    Pages 164-208    (2009*)         
             Spencer's Addition (2010*)
             West Napa (2010*)

Ontario - New Model Colony Area (2004*)

Ontario - Ontario's Citrus Industry (2007*)

Pasadena -  Cultural Resources of the Recent Past  (2007*)

Riverside -  Modernism Part 1    Part 2  (2009*)  (Note: Huge files - take some time to download from City's website)              
                   Camp Anza/Arlanza  (2007*)

San Clemente - Citywide Inventory Update (2006*)

San Diego -   San Diego Modernism (2007*)
                    San Ysidro (2010*)
 
San Francisco -  Mission District (2007*)
                         Auto-Related Buildings: Van Ness Auto Row (2010)
                         Modern Architecture and Landscape Design (2010*)

San Jose - Japantown (2004, 2006*)
                   Guadalupe/Washington Conservation Area (2009)

* Partially funded with CLG Grant

CALTRANS CONTEXTS

A Historical Context and Archaeological Research Design for Agricultural Properties in California.
(Note: It’s a large (50.5 MB) zip file)

A Historic Context and Archaeological Research Design for Mining Properties in California (2008)
(Adobe PDF 14.5mb)

A Historic Context and Archaeological Research Design for Townsite Properties in California (2010)
(Adobe PDF 32.7mb)

General Guidelines for Identifying and Evaluating Historic Landscapes
(February 1999). (Note: Adobe PDF)

Tract Housing in California, 1945-1973: A Context for National Register Evaluation (August 2011) (Adobe PDF 21.1 MB)

Water Conveyance Systems in California, Historic Context Development and Evaluation Procedures (December 2000). (Note: Adobe PDF -  large (9.1 mb) file)

CULTURAL LANDSCAPE STUDIES

San Luis Obispo County - Cultural Landscape Report for Santa Margarita Ranch

ETHNIC HERITAGE CONTEXTS

FIVE VIEWS - AN ETHNIC SITE SURVEY FOR CALIFORNIA

AFRICAN REFLECTIONS ON THE AMERICAN LANDSCAPE: IDENTIFYING AND INTERPRETING AFRICANISMS

ASIAN REFLECTIONS ON THE AMERICAN LANDSCAPE: IDENTIFYING AND INTERPRETING ASIAN HERITAGE

HISPANIC REFLECTIONS ON THE AMERICAN LANDSCAPE: IDENTIFYING AND INTERPRETING HISPANIC HERITAGE

REFLEJOS HISPANOS EN EL PAISAJE AMERICANO: IDENTIFICACIÓN E INTERPRETACIÓN DE LA HERENCIA HISPANA


NATIONAL REGISTER MPS CONTEXTS

National Register Multiple Property Submission Contexts for California can be used to nominate and register thematically-related properties or to evaluate the National Register eligibility of related properties. Using Multiple Property Submission contexts can greatly simplify and shorten National Register nominations.

Multiple Covers (Historic Contexts) developed for other states and themes are also available online through the National Register Information System.

National Register Bulletin 16B provides information on how to use these contexts.


Federal Modernism GSA buildings of the 50s, 60s, & 70s

Public Housing In the US

A Model for Identifying and Evaluating the Historic Significance of Post-World War II Housing

NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARKS THEME STUDIES

NHL Theme Studies are valuable resources for developing local historic contexts and preparing nominations. They cover a wide range of themes and resources; a complete list is available online.