Attachment3_Specifications_for_Historic_Furnishings_Reports_rev2022.docx

Specifications

Historic Furnishings Reports

Table of Contents

Page left blank intentionally General Requirements and Scope The historic furnishings report (HFR) is the primary guide to furnishing a historic interior. It outlines the plan for furnishing the interior and provides the basis for those plans. The HFR provides detailed information critical to furnishing and managing the structure. In particular, it provides background, history, occupancy, and use over time, and documents, where possible, previous furnishings.

The HFR provides the interpretive objectives of the project, listing of recommended furnishings, sources, and a comprehensive installation plan. It includes how much documentation exists for the structure, and addresses how visitors will experience the site, and how the plan will be implemented.

Historic Furnishings and Historic Furnished Interiors Historic furnishings are the combination of historic spaces, objects and themes. They evoke a powerful interpretive experience for visitors who can sense that ‘history happened here’.

Historic furnishings include the following: original objects and furnishings directly associated with the site, referred to as “original” objects; objects and furnishings dating to the period, referred to as “period” objects; floor coverings; wall coverings; window treatments; reproduction objects and furnishings, including floor coverings, wall coverings, and window treatments; accessory items used to represent the appearance of an area to a date or period of time specified by a site’s interpretive plan.

A historic furnished interior is an assemblage of furnishings arranged in a historic structure. The historic structure can include original furnishings with intact architectural features, or it may be a restored interior with some original furnishings; or it can be a recreated or reconstructed interior without original furnishings.

Accessibility All documents shall comply with sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Pub. L. 93-112.) Section 504 is a part of the Rehabilitation Act that prohibits discrimination based upon disability. Section 508 (Federal Electronic and Information Technology) Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. § 794d), as amended by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (P.L. 105-220) requires federal agencies to develop, procure, maintain and use information and communications technology (ICT) that is accessible to people with disabilities - regardless of whether or not they work for the federal government.

The HFR shall make a good faith effort to recommend furnishings and room layouts that exceed legal requirements to improve general accessibility and universal design.

Historic Furnishings Report Overview

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments (if appropriate)

Management Summary This section offers resource managers a synopsis of the report to help focus issues for consideration during review and approval, particularly any implications for site management when implementing the furnishings plan. It should briefly address: the level of interior documentation that exists for the site; summarize the plans for furnishing and the basis for those plans (both in terms of documentation and prior planning documents, such as general management plans and interpretive plans that call for historic furnishings); identify any associated media called for in the furnishings plan; explain how visitors will access the site (i.e., by guided tour, self-guided tour, or other); state whether implementation of the furnishings plan is tied to a larger restoration package, and identify any architectural modifications required for implementation.

Administrative Information This section explains the management background of the structure, and provides the context for the current planning effort. It should briefly address: the establishment of the site (may be limited to citing the legislation); the status of the structure(s) on the National Register and its preservation history; the history of use by the NPS (including administrative and/or interpretive use) and any previous furnishings or other media installations; and list other research and planning documents pertaining to the structure. These last commonly include foundation documents or general management plans, long range interpretive planning documents, historic structure reports (HSR), historic resource studies, cultural landscape reports, scope of collections statements and collection management plans. If the structure(s) was operating as a museum prior to NPS involvement, that history should also be included here.

subhead: Interpretive Objectives Address the interpretive objectives of the furnished space(s), referencing if applicable the overall interpretive objectives of the site. This section explains what furnishings are intended to convey to the viewer, and why they are needed. Explain exactly which spaces are to be furnished. Include guidelines for personal services interpretation, with recommendations for specific interpretive messages that can be conveyed in the furnished spaces.

subhead: Operating Plan Cite operating hours and seasons of operation, how visitors access the site (i.e., through self-guided, guided, fixed point interpretation or other), staffing needs for interpretation, museum/curatorial and maintenance, and a visitor circulation pattern. Also identify any barrier needs in this section. This section should be prepared in close collaboration with park staff.

subhead: Accessibility Strategy Furnishings plans shall follow the latest published version of the Programmatic Accessibility Guidelines for National Park Service Interpretive Media (2019) (https://www.nps.gov/subjects/hfc/accessibility.htm) Describe how visitor circulation patterns, the layout of the physical space, and proposed exhibit elements support accessible interpretation. Describe features of the furnishings installation accessible to visitors with mobility, visual, hearing, and learning impairments. Plans should be compliant with Section 508 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

subhead: Prior Planning Documents List NPS research and planning documents pertaining to the structure. Include these documents in the bibliography as well.

Historical Information This section contains the complete history of the interior spaces, their appearance, and how they were used over time. It forms the documentary basis for the furnishings plan, and provides a resource manual for personal services interpretation, as well as for developing other kinds of interpretive media.

subhead: Summary of Sources Succinctly describe primary sources of information, including important collections, repositories, and interviews. Some reports will not require this summary.

subhead: History of the Structure If structural history is contained in another document (typically the Historic Structures Report or Historic Resource Study), reference that work and include only a brief summary of its contents here. If no such document exists, address the structural history to the extent needed as background for the furnishings history.

subhead: Analysis of Historical Occupancy Treat the building's occupants, including household or other staff, as fully as possible (provided that information does not appear in another document), including biographical information, dates of occupancy, and information about people's lives and activities in the structure. A subsection on room use may be appropriate, particularly if it changed frequently over time.

subhead: Evidence of Room Use and Furnishings Describe the interior appearance over time as fully as possible, including the contents of each space and their arrangement, when and where items were acquired and dispensed of, where produced, and any known repairs or other kinds of work to the furnishings. Include interior finishes and lighting fixtures. If that information is contained in an HSR, reference the HSR here. Organize this section by room, addressing all rooms on the first floor, all rooms on the second floor, and so on. Depending on the site, it may be helpful to separate the room analysis into “Room Use,” “Physical Evidence,” and “Furnishings” for each room.

A separate section detailing information on furnishings of closely related structures should be included if site specific information is lacking, and if needed to develop a furnishings plan.

Furnishings Plan The purpose of this section is to guide furnishings installation, and to provide a permanent record of object placement for park staff. Some HFRs will be limited to historical information sections and will not include a furnishings plan.

subhead: Floor plan Include accurate floor plans of areas to be furnished, with directional signage. The park will often be able to provide this plan.

subhead: List of Recommended Furnishings The furnishings list should include object name, documentation or basis for inclusion, park catalog number or, if the object is not in the park collection, a recommendation as to whether a reproduction or period piece is needed. Include a brief description, and date or date span for each recommended object. (Example: Desk, small, oak, c. 1910-1930.) In general, recommend period pieces first, and reproductions as a second resort. However, if the object is fragile (such as a textile, or paper), extremely rare, or prohibitively expensive to acquire, recommend reproductions. The list of furnishings should begin with recommendations for appropriate period lighting fixtures, floor coverings, window treatments, and wall and ceiling treatments.

The list shall include a complete, item-by-item account of every object to be placed in a room, starting at the entrance and working clockwise around the room. Objects to be placed on a table or other piece of furniture should immediately follow the piece in the furnishings list. All items should be enumerated; i.e., entries such as "desk accessories" or "mantel garniture" will not be accepted.

The list of shall also include alternative recommended furnishings for rotation when selected original recommended furnishings are being rested.

subhead: Related Media Include suggestions for accompanying media, such as panel exhibits, interior waysides, or podcasts. Provide suggestions for illustrations and text.

subhead: Preventive Conservation Strategy This section should include recommendations on objects to be targeted for conservation treatment or reproduction in consultation with a conservator. This may include outlining the packing and shipping of collections for treatment.

subhead: Special Installation, Collections Care and Maintenance and Protection/Security Recommendations This section should provide collections care and preservation requirements, including minimizing exposure of objects to damaging UV, visible light, and humidity fluctuations and other agents of deterioration that impact museum collections on exhibit. Additionally, it should make recommendations or take into consideration the physical security of artifacts on display in historic furnished interiors.

Illustrations Provide a list of illustrations, as well as a caption with each illustration. Include full citations with source information. Include photo numbers if available.

Organize the illustrations chronologically within the following sections:

· Floor plans

· General or overall images of the site

· Exteriors

· Individual structures, separated into individual rooms within structures

· Biographical images (if using)

Appendixes

Bibliography Organize the bibliography by publication type. Categories should appear in the following order:

· Books and government reports – separate this section if there are a large number of these sources

· Manuscript collections

· Articles and pamphlets

· Interviews

· Other – includes transcripts, web sites, and correspondence

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