Gwendolyn Wright, Janet Parks, Editors

The History of History in American Schools of Architecture

Princeton Architectural Press
1990
Architectural History

An exploration of the formative role of architectural history in American schools of architecture from their origins in the late-nineteenth century to the late-twentieth-century. The meanings ascribed to history have shifted dramatically from a knowledge of composition and a genteel cultural background to an awareness of the history of sites, local or regional contexts and overlapping cultural meanings. Essays trace the distinctive legacies of particular academic institutions. The copious visual material conveys radically diverse readings of the same iconic buildings at different historical moments.

Selected Review Quotes
'A rare event in architectural scholarship. . . that makes an original point without descending to polemic, . . . reminding us that looking at history has always been a critical part of architectural education, even in ages in which the importance of history was denied.'
   Paul Goldberger, New York Times

'As beautifully produced as it is authoritatively written, these essays illuminate the issues in a long-standing debate about architectural history in professional schools of architecture and in some cases redefine them with the broad and substantive framework of historical inquiry.'
   Gail Fenske, Winterthur Portfolio