· Assistant Professor of Historic Preservation
· Department of Geography & Geology
· 223 Strong Hall
· Phone: 734-487-7571
· Fax: 734-487-6979
· Email: lstaves@online.emich.edu
Ph.D., Architecture, 1988
University of Edinburgh, School of Architecture, Scotland
Dissertation: "Mortars in Old Buildings and in Masonry Conservation: A Historical and
Practical Treatise."
M.S., Historic Preservation, 1980
Columbia University, Graduate School of Architecture and Planning, New York:
Thesis: "The Versailles of Scotland: Hopetoun House."
Thesis: "The Colman Legacy."
Focus: material analysis, particularly mortar & paint; architectural history; conservation
technology
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Publications (since 1997)
Reports and Nominations
Documentaries; and Invited Presentations (since 1997)
Professional Affiliations
Research Interests and Recent Projects:
Dr. Sickels-Taves has devoted much of her research to the analysis of building materials, particularly historic masonry. She has been a pioneer in the application of rigorous scientific methodology and advanced technology to materials analysis in historic preservation. Her efforts in this area have produced unique and novel insights into the way building materials, and their uses, vary through time. Results have been published in Masonry Construction, Old House Journal, the Association for Preservation Technology (APT) Bulletin, and ASTM’s Journal of Testing and Evaluation. Her recent work with the vernacular and historic building material, tabby, culminated in the 1999 book, The Lost Art of Tabby Redefined: Preserving Oglethorpe’s Architectural Legacy. This research also earned Dr. Sickels-Taves two 1997 honorable mention awards with APT.
These interests continue, with research underway, on other vernacular materials (e.g. soddies) and architectural elements (e.g. porches). On the local scene, Dr. Sickels-Taves hopes to work closely with the Michigan SHPO on lighthouses, and will remain active in preserving the buildings at Greenfield Village in Dearborn—both subjects actively involving students. She is also chair of the 2002 Vernacular Architecture Forum’s annual meeting, to be held here in Detroit.
Throughout her career, Dr. Sickels-Taves has maintained a close, and highly rewarding, relationship with the National Park Service. Her most recent collaboration with the National Park Service involves an architectural and structural assessment of “The Chimneys”, remnants of 19th century slave cabins, at Cumberland Island National Seashore. This follows a project three years ago on the same island. Securing a grant, Dr. Sickels-Taves spent the summer of 1997 restoring the Tabby House, an 1804 overseer/bookkeeper’s house.
Professionally trained in Scotland, Dr. Sickels-Taves also has a long-standing interest in international preservation. This interest has led her to pursue fieldwork in Scotland and Hungary—naturally on building materials, namely mortars, lime, and stucco. As a keen observer of historic preservation in the international arena, she has been a leader in the attempt to raise awareness of the need for international standards for historic preservation. This stemmed from observing the continual, yet detrimental use of Portland cement in rural areas of Europe. To promote this awareness, Dr. Sickels-Taves chaired an ASTM symposium on “The Use of and Need for Preservation Standards in Architectural Conservation,” and edited a subsequent book by the same title.
Restorations:
1999-2000 Ackley Covered Bridge, 1832, Dearborn, MI;
Cotswold Cottage, c.1600, Dearborn, MI;
1999 Konbento mamposteria, 1856, Hagatna, Guam;
1998 Ligard-Petho Manor House, c.18th century, Szarvasgede, Hungary;
1997 The Tabby House, c.1804, Cumberland Island, GA;
1987-88 Milan Harris House, 1833, Harrisville, NH;
1984-86 George Matthewson House, c.1869, Tarboro, NC.
Publications (since 1997):
CIS Web Site Notes: Care and Preservation of Historic Tabby. Dearborn: Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village, 2000. <www.hfmgv.org/histories/cis/tabby.html>
CIS Web Site Notes: Care and Preservation of Historic Log Buildings. Dearborn: Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village, 2000. <www.hfmgv.org/histories/cis/log.html>
The Lost Art of Tabby Redefined: Preserving Oglethorpe's Architectural Legacy. Southfield, MI: Architectural Conservation Press, 1999; co-author Dr. Michael S. Sheehan.
The Use of and Need for Preservation Standards in Architectural Conservation. ASTM STP 1355; editor. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM, 1999.
"The Lime Middens of Cumberland Island," CRM, National Park Service, vol. 22, no. 5 (1999), 39-41.
"Handle With Care: Tabby is no Ordinary Concrete," The Conservation and Preservation of Tabby: A Symposium on Historic Building Material in the Coastal Southeast, Jekyll Island, GA (February 1998), 75-81.
"A Strategy for Mimicking Voids in Historic Masonry," The Journal of Testing and Evaluation, JTEVA 26 (July 1998): 393-395.
"Selecting mortar for historic preservation projects," Masonry Construction, vol.10, no.10 (1997): 533-557.
"Applications of Qualitative Trace Element Analyses: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Materials Conservation," Materials Issues in Art and Archaeology V, Materials Research Society Proceedings, vol.462 (1997), 323-330.
"Understanding Historic Tabby Structures: Their History, Preservation, and Repair," Association for Preservation Technology Bulletin, vol.28, no.2 (1997): 22-29.
"Computer-Assisted Optical Stereology in Historic Preservation: Tabby, a Case Study," Association for Preservation Technology Bulletin, vol.28, no.2 (1997): 30-33.
Reports and Nominations:
Historic Structure Report (HSR);
2000 Sir John Bennett, c.1870/1929, Dearborn, MI;
1999 McGuffey Birthplace, c.1780, Dearborn, MI;
Ackley Covered Bridge, 1832, Dearborn, MI;
Cotton Gin Mill, c.1840, Dearborn, MI;
1998 Cotswold Cottage & outbuildings, c.1600, Dearborn, MI.
National Register nominations:
2000 Hoyt House, c.1818, Pontiac, MI;
1988 Roanoke Rapids Junior-Senior High School, 1921, Roanoke Rapids, NC;
Hoffman-Bowers-Josey-Riddick House, c.1885, Scotland Neck, NC;
Bell-Sherrod House, 1859, Enfield, NC:
1987 Lone Pine Farm, c.1860-1932, Tarboro, NC.
1980 Crissman Orchards, c.1833, 1856, Rochester, MI.
Documentaries; and Invited Presentations (since 1997):
"Analyzing Historic Mortars: From In-situ to Laboratory," Annual Meeting of the Waterproofing Contractors Association, Raleigh, NC, March 20, 1998.
"Handle with Care: Tabby is no Ordinary Concrete," Symposium on The Conservation and Preservation of Tabby, Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida State Historic Preservation Offices, Jekyll Island, GA, February 25, 1998.
"The Development of Preservation Standards," Annual Conference of The Association for Preservation Technology International, Chicago, IL, September 25, 1997.
"The Lost Art of Tabby Redefined: A Practical and Cultural Study." Annual Summer Chautauqua Series of Coastal Georgia Historical Society, St. Simons, GA, July 8, 1997.
"Qualitative Trace Element Analyses: Application of XRF and PIXE in Historic Preservation and Archaeology," 62st Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, Nashville, TN, April 4, 1997.
Professional Affiliations:
American Society for Testing and Evaluation;
Committee C12 on Mortars for Unit Masonry
Committee E6 on Building Performance
Task Group on Repointing/Tuckpointing
Association for Preservation Technology
Michigan Historic Preservation Network
National Trust for Historic Preservation
Society for Architectural Historians
Vernacular Architecture Forum