Lesson 6: Creating a Local Historical Resources Inventory

Students create and compile information on local historic buildings.

Subjects: Social Studies

Grade Levels: 5-12

Time Frame: 2-3 class periods

Materials Needed:

Local Landmarks List
Aspects to Consider worksheet
Building Portrait Field Record Booklet

Learning Objectives: Students will:

Analyze characteristics of historical/modern sites
Identify historic/modern sites in their area
Complete a historic resources inventory of an important site in their own community

Procedure:

1. Explain to students how their local area determines community sites of historical significance.

Most communities have a register of historic resources in place that produces a list of properties recognized as significant in contributing to the area's history, architecture, archaeology, engineering and culture, and thus worthy of preservation.
Edmonton: Register of Historic Resources; a list of buildings and structures within Edmonton that merit conservation and may be eligible for designation as Municipal Historic Resources. Initially compiled by an experienced team of architectural and historical consultants in 1992.

Contact:

Maps and Publications Customer Information Advisory
2nd Floor, 10250-101 Street
Edmonton AB T5J 3P4

Phone No. (780) 496-6160
Fax No. (780) 496-6054
Email: Margaret.Mikitka@gov.edmonton.ab.ca

2. Have your class consider sites in their community that might meet the criteria for listing in the Register of Historic Resource.

As students discuss buildings in their community, help them understand that places must be carefully documented and must have significance in the following areas:

They are associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of the community's history
They are associated with the lives of persons significant in the community's past
o They embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction, possess high artistic values, or represent a significant and distinguishable entity
o They have yielded, or may be expected to yield, information important in community history or prehistory.

3. Explain that interested people in local communities generally prepare a Historic Resources Inventory for a large number of sites that meet one of the listed criteria above.

4. Have students choose from the Local Landmarks sheet a site that requires additional study and documentation. Students may want to prepare one or more inventories.

5. Provide students a copy of the Aspects to Consider worksheet and the Building Portrait Field Record booklet. Review booklet carefully with students, explaining what information must be included.

For practice, have students use the Building Portrait Field Record booklet by preparing a form for their own home or for a commercial building in their community. Have the class compare what they have learned by completing the booklet.

6. Have students present their information to the class.

Extension

As a class, choose one local property which was selected by students for the historical resources inventory, and have students research the background of the property and write a report, or oral presentation, and, possibly develop the documentation necessary for nominating this property for their local register of historical resources.

References

Built Environment

Lesson 6: Creating a Local Historical Resources Inventory

Students create and compile information on local historic buildings.

Register of Historic Resources in Edmonton List, $10.70
Contact the Maps and Publication section of the Planning and Development.

Maps and Publications
Customer Information Advisory
2nd Floor, 10250-101 Street
Edmonton AB T5J 3P4
Phone No. (780) 496-6160
Fax No. (780) 496-6054
Email: Margaret.Mikitka@gov.edmonton.ab.ca

City of Edmonton Archives

Over 250,000 historical photographs, dating from the 1880's, more than 100,000 slides currently housed are of a more contemporary nature. Much of the collection consist of negatives, slides, moving images and prints. An extensive collection of aerial photographs of the city dating from 1924 to 1988

Books

Edmonton's lost heritage / prepared by the Heritage Sites Selection Committee of the Edmonton Historical Board. Published: 1982

Edmonton : the life of a city / Bob Hesketh and Frances Swyripa, editors.
Published: c1995. Articles: What Kind of a City is Edmonton? Edmontonians and the Legislature

Edmonton, gateway to the North : an illustrated history / by John F. Gilpin ; picture research by John E. McIsaac ; "Partners in progress" by Stanley Arthur Williams. Published: c1984.

Building Portrait Field Record
(not available at this time)
http://academy.pointofview.cc/modules/

A Guide to Researching Building History Brochure
http://www.calgary.ca

Glenbow Archives Photographs
http://ww2.glenbow.org/search/archivesPhotosSearch.aspx

Alberta WorldWeb Travel Guide: Photo Gallery
http://www.discoveralberta.com/PhotoGallery

Bob Kenyon's Old Edmonton Buildings Page
http://www.angelfire.com/ab4/bobk/oldeb.htm

[Top]

Lesson 1: Choosing Your Special Place

Lesson 2: Your Special Place Has a History

Lesson 3: What are Landmarks?

Lesson 4: Local Buildings and Landmarks

Lesson 5: Documenting Landmarks

Lesson 6: Creating a Local Historical Resources Inventory