PRESENTING NOMINATIONS TO THE STATE HISTORIC
PRESERVATION REVIEW BOARD
The following guidelines have been prepared at the request of the State Historic Preservation Review Board to address the quality and content of presentations by nomination preparers.
PRESENTATION STYLE
Presenters are asked to address the group from the front or side. Please speak to all those in the room, since the interested audience may include other presenters and citizens. Present a clear and convincing case for the eligibility of the property, citing the criteria and area of significance.
Begin your presentation by introducing yourself, your organization and your client or any other guests associated with your project who are present. This relieves the chair of having to remember every consultant’s name and to determine who is interested in a specific nomination.
PRESENTATION CONTENT
Board members read all nominations prior to the Review Board meeting, so a presenter should assume the members are already familiar with the property. The presenter should organize the presentation as a brief oral abstract of the nomination, not a recitation of the full content. A written outline will allow the presenter to be well-prepared, focused and concise. Number slides in the order of presentation to correspond to your outline.
Presenting Historic Districts
Select views that illustrate the overall character of the district, represent the diversity of its resources, and highlight its most significant qualities. Keep in mind that there is no need to show or discuss each individual building. Avoid tedious presentation styles, such as showing each building in order of street address. Often it is appropriate to accompany general remarks with some typical views of the district or with views from or towards focal points of the district. Views which do not convey significant information relevant to the nomination, such as buildings hidden in foliage, or views down the middle of the street should not be included. It is also unnecessary to show views of the surrounding areas outside the district.
LENGTH OF PRESENTATION
The length of preservations must be strictly limited to ensure a timely schedule.
Individual properties. For individual nominations, a presentation should not exceed 10 minutes plus time for questions from the board. If you believe special circumstances warrant additional time, discuss your need with staff well in advance of the meeting.
Districts and Multiple Properties. For these complex nominations, a presentation of no more than 15-20 minutes plus time for board questions is adequate. At local public meetings, sponsors of historic district nominations often enjoy a presentation that takes more time and covers many buildings. Review Board meetings require a different presentation, one that is highly focused and brief.
Photographic Quality of Slides
The careful illustration of a property, using good quality slides, can assist you in crafting a convincing argument for the property’s importance. These images are the last impression board members have of your client’s property, so it is in your best interest to use compelling, picturesque views. Use the slides to graphically illustrate the argument you are making for the listing of the property.
Consider the Following Advice:
At the beginning of the project take a set of slides, inside and out, review them and retake views that did not turn out well. Whenever possible photograph properties on bright, sunny days and avoid backlit views. Scheduling your work to follow the sun around buildings can improve the end results.
After taking numerous slides and multiple exposures, project your slides to assess their quality. Before submitting them to the Historic Preservation staff, cull them for the best shots. Removing over and underexposed or blurred images spares the preparer from having to apologize for poor slides. (With advance notice, SHPO staff can set up a projector in the office for you to review your slides.) Resist the temptation to use all your slides or large numbers of slides. Ask yourself if a secondary view from a similar perspective conveys additional information or is merely redundant. When selecting slides, consider why the property is significant and select images that support those qualities.
While not required, maps or aerial photos of the district will help to quickly orient those viewing the presentation. A set of close-up lenses for use on 35 mm cameras are inexpensive. In the absence of a copy stand, satisfactory slides can be made of maps using a tripod and a sunny place.
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