Correspondence, 1961-1988

The correspondence in this series relates to Hosmer's historic preservation research and the publication of Presence of the Past and Preservation Comes of Age. Many of the files contain ancillary materials, such as newspaper clippings, pamphlets, and annotated draft chapters. Although the correspondence dates from 1961 to 1988, the bulk of the material falls between 1972 and 1976.

Hosmer corresponded with architectural historians, restoration architects, National Park Service and National Trust for Historic Preservation officials, and preservationists active in local communities. Significant correspondents include George Palmer, Charles Peterson, Charles W. Porter, III, and Diane Maddex.

Subjects discussed include specific restoration projects (e.g. the Vieux Carre district in New Orleans and the San Xavier Mission in Texas), Hosmer's requests for comments on drafts of his books, and queries regarding the transcripts of his oral history projects. The correspondence also focuses on the activities and functioning of the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities (SPNEA) and the National Park Service.

Hosmer's arrangement of the correspondence--alphabetically by correspondent and chronologically within each file--has been retained. Located at the end of the alphabetically-arranged portion of the series, however, are several exceptions to this order; this group of files consists of correspondence arranged by topics rather than correspondent.