Helping to preserve Northwest Indiana's historic built environment : an honors thesis (HONRS 499)

I, Dean Kessler, spent one semester as an intern with the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana (HLFI), Calumet Region Office, in Gary. My goal for this project was to learn what professional historic preservationists do on a day-to-day basis and to help educate the residents and city officials of Northwest Indiana on the matters and benefits of preservation. The duties I performed, as spelled out by my supervisor, Tiffany Tolbert, were to assist with the planning and preparation for various historic preservation commission meetings in the area; assist with surveying historic properties for consideration in local, community historic districts; begin the research and writing for a National Register of Historic Places nomination; and various other tasks assigned to me. Interning with HLFI introduced me to techniques for researching historic buildings and structures, the identification of architectural styles, preservation law, the influence of preservation organizations and how they cooperate together, and the activities of a not-for-profit organization. The knowledge and skills I learned while working with HLFI are recorded in Daily Journal Entries, Midterm and Final Reports, and documents written specifically for HLFI.Honors CollegeThesis (B.?.