The Maryland Historical Trust's annual Architectural Fieldwork Symposium brings together field surveyors, architectural historians, preservation planners, and related practitioners from across the state to discuss recent projects, themes, and methodology.

The Architectural Fieldwork Symposium was held on March 27, 2025. A call for presentation proposals for the 2026 event will be issued at the end of 2025.

Highlights from the 2025 Architectural Fieldwork Symposium

MHT Director Elizabeth Hughes gave a welcoming message.

MHT staff members Sierra Beighey and Mary Zell Galen provided an update on the Architectural Survey Data Analysis Project.

Susan Kern, Director of the Historic Preservation Program at the University of Maryland, presented on recent fieldwork at an early twentieth-century tenant house on the Eastern Shore.

Architectural historian Willie Graham shared the results of a study on brickwork in colonial Maryland.

Past Events

• Agenda – 2025
• Agenda – 2024
• Agenda – 2022
• Agenda – 2021
• Agenda – 2020
• Agenda – 2019
• Agenda - 2018

Enjoy some past recorded presentations from the 2020 and 2021 virtual events!

Dendrochronology in the U.S. and Abroad by Michael Worthington

Dendrochronology utilizes the technique known as tree-ring dating to date timbers from historic structures. This process requires a broad understanding of diverse principles from the impact of climate on trees’ annual growth rings to the ability to track a building’s architectural development. This work is critical to our understanding of historic buildings, as dendrochronology frequently results in a realignment of construction dates.

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In the Midst of These Plains: Charles County’s Historic Buildings and Landscapes by Nicole A. Diehlmann and Cathy Hardy Thompson

A major benchmark in a county’s architectural survey efforts is the publication of a comprehensive book synthesizing decades of completed fieldwork and research. Co-authors Nicole A. Diehlmann and Cathy Hardy Thompson have recently published such a culmination of research on the historic buildings and landscapes in Charles County, tracking the county’s development through the built environments of agriculture, naval proving grounds, and casinos, to name a few. The book, In the Midst of These Plains: Charles County Buildings and Landscapes, is available for purchase from MHT Press.

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Inscribing Significance: Documenting & Interpreting Historic Graffiti in Maryland by Michael J. Emmons, Jr.

A wide array of historic graffiti and vernacular inscriptions can be found on the old surfaces of Maryland's historic buildings, but they are sometimes overlooked and often left undocumented. This presentation highlights several examples of historic graffiti in Maryland, exploring their historical significance and interpretation potential.

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