Curator and conservator Grant Romer talks about the formation and work of the Boston photography partners Albert Sands Southworth and Josiah Johnson Hawes and their studio on Tremont Row. Romer looks at the architecture of Tremont Row and how it impacted the work of the partners. His presentation includes slides.
Audio and video options are available.
Professor Lawrence J. Vale shows provocative images from early advertisements to demonstrate some of society's long-held attitudes toward public housing and those who live in public housing. He analyzes government policies as they evolved to provide housing to 'reward people who are most deserving' of assistance, or to provide housing assistance as a 'coping mechanism.'
A panel of scholars and professionals discusses college and university architecture throughout U.S. history, focusing particularly on the architectural history of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Professor and author James Ackerman overviews the general history and development of academic architecture in the U.S.; curator Kimberly Alexander specifically overviews MIT's architectural history; and MIT president Charles Vest describes the process of completing the modern Stata Center.
To view part two of this lecture, scroll down to "Related Videos."
Scholar and author Emily Thompson describes the study of aural history—the study of not just music, but of noise and soundscapes as a whole, what cultures heard and how they heard it—and discusses the aural culture in the U.S. from 1900 to 1933. She looks at how sound at the time was influenced by technology and at the consumption of sound, focusing particularly on architecture's influence on sound.
Professors William J. Mitchell follows the architectural development of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) throughout its history. He focuses particularly on developments in the last decade, but also discusses development prior to the present day.
Professor Edward T. Linenthal discusses the similarities and differences in cultural reactions to the events of September 11, 2001, and the aftermath of the Oklahoma City terrorist bombing of April 19, 1995. He explores the co-construction of narrative and memorial process in light of considerations for the World Trade Center and a memorial at the site.
Professor William J. Mitchell and Ph.D. candidate Anthony M. Townsend examine the rebuilding of the digital telecommunications infrastructure in Manhattan following the 9/11 attacks, look at how telecommunications has changed the structure of a city's recovery from disaster, and consider how digital infrastructure may be better protected in future.
Senior Architectural Historian Carl Lounsbury tells the story of Williamsburg's Capitol's reconstruction, early in the 20th century. The architects overseeing the reconstruction at the time focused more on issues of aesthetics and polished completion than on social historical accuracy.
Click here to discover more about Colonial Williamsburg's Capitol building.
Ed Chappell, director of architectural research at Colonial Williamsburg, talks about the research required to restore buildings to their colonial-era state, and how perception of how a building should be restored and presented changes over time and with the appearance of new information.
Meredith Poole, a staff archaeologist at Colonial Wiliamsburg, describes work on the Ravenscroft site, where 17th-century artifacts are being discovered.