Library Guides: Vernacular and Regional Culture: Government Publications

Government Publications - Print

Log buildings in Illinois : their interpretation and preservation - ILLINOIS. 720.288 ILLI no.3
From the Illinois Dept. of Conservation, Division of Historic Sites; other titles in this Illinois Preservation Series (ILLINOIS. 720.288 ILLI) include information on storefronts on Main Streets, dooryard gardens in early Illinois, and use of stucco in Illinois buildings.
Historic America : buildings, structures, and sites - GOVPUBS. LC1.2:H62/5
From the Historic American Buildings Survey. Includes listings by state of historic buildings, as well as some overview essays on topics such as covered bridges, cast iron work in historic buildings, and Main Street architecture.
Log cabin studies - GOVPUBS. A13.2:L82/10
From the USDA Forest Service; includes information on types of log cabin construction, unique features of Rocky Mountain region log cabins, and an extensive bibliography of information on log cabins in various regions of the United States.
Shaker built - GOVPUBS. I29.74:SH1
Subtitle: "a catalog of Shaker architectural records from the Historic American Buildings Survey". Includes history, photos, and locations of Shaker architecture.

Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Record/Historic American Landscapes Survey
Documents "achievements in architecture, engineering, and landscape design in the United States and its territories through a comprehensive range of building types, engineering technologies, and landscapes". Digitally available through the Library of Congress; more details about these three surveys from the National Park Service.
Illinois Historic Preservation Agency
Find online information and locations throughout the state of significant places in Illinois; look here for examples of historical vernacular architecture in the state.
American English Dialect Recordings: The Center for Applied Linguistics Collection
"118 hours of recordings documenting North American English dialects", available digitally through the Library of Congress.
Carnegie Survey of the Architecture of the South
"A systematic record of early American buildings and gardens documented by the noted photographer Frances Benjamin Johnston (1864-1952)", with an emphasis on a wide variety of homes, but also including some public buildings and businesses. Available digitally through the Library of Congress.