Historic Black Resources: A Handbook for the Identification, Documentation, and Evaluation of Historic African-American Properties in Georgia

Merritt, Carole

From introduction: "This handbook has been prepared to aid persons interested in the preservation of historic African-American buildings, structures, districts, sites, and objects in Georgia. It represents a special effort by the Historic Preservation Section (the State Historic Preservation Office) of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to compile guidelines for the identification, documentation, and evaluation of those cultural resources in Georgia's built environment which have been significant in the development of the black community... African-American cultural resources have been among the most threatened, for as an underclass, blacks have had less power over their immediate environment. Their communities have been more vulnerable to development pressures. Moreover, the significance of black resources and the imperative for their protection have often gone unrecognized. This handbook is dedicated to the greater appreciation and protection of these rich, yet undervalued, resources. The information presented here is for use by individuals, organizations, and agencies who wish to take concrete steps to protect the significant black resources in their communities. The historical overview presented in Chapter One provides a very general frame of reference for understanding some of the resources in the context of the broad patterns of Georgia's history. This overview is neither comprehensive nor detailed. Rather it is a preliminary perspective on some of the historical processes which shaped the development of the black community, specifically its built environment. Much research remains to be done in this area. Chapter Two describes a variety of cultural resources comprising the built environment. It discusses the major aspects of each category of resources, indicating, when known, the distinctively African-American features. Chapter Three contains a step-by-step procedure for identifying historic resources. It suggests how to organize the survey process and what information to collect for different kinds of surveys. In Chapter Four, the major sources for researching and documenting black historic properties are reviewed. Chapter Five discusses the criteria which assist in the evaluation of the relative significance of identified resources. These criteria are based on the standards for determining eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places. The procedures for registration are also discussed in this chapter. There are three appendixes. The first is a comprehensive checklist of categories of cultural resources to be considered in identifying properties of historic significance. The second is a list of National Register properties in Georgia significant in terms of African-American history. The third contains a directory of public and private agencies and organizations which can be of assistance or have had some experience in the preservation of black resources. The last section of the handbook is a bibliography of selected materials for further research on the historical significance of black resources in Georgia. References for assistance in the evaluation and protection of significant properties are also cited." Funding was provided in part by a Historic Preservation Fund grant administered by the Georgia State Historic Preservation Office and the State, Tribal, and Local Plans and Grants Division, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Historic Black Resources: A Handbook for the Identification, Documentation, and Evaluation of Historic African-American Properties in Georgia

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