Style Guide

Buildings

Building Name

Building naming generally follows the National Register. See How to Complete the National Register Nomination Form for additional examples.

Enter the name that best reflects the property's historic importance or was commonly used for the property. Enter only one name. The first sentence of the building entry text should indicate the building's historic name (if different) and other names. See the Wikipedia entry for the Bank of America Building.

When the name of a person is used to identify a property, use the following format: last name, first name, and building type. If a property is significant for more than one person, choose the most prominent. If the persons are equally important, include as many names as appropriate but do not exceed 120 characters for the entry. A property may be named for both the husband and wife who owned it. If there is not enough space for both names, choose the most prominent person's name or eliminate the first names altogether.

Differentiate properties with common names by numbering them or adding the location to the name. For example, Enoch Pratt Free Library, Hampden Branch.

If a building does not have a name use its address in place of its name.

Infobox Data

Only complete the fields you have information for. It is not required to complete every field.

Address

When writing addresses, spell out terms like "Street" "Boulevard" "Road" etc. Abbreviate cardinal directions that are part of street names such as "W. 37th Street". If a building includes multiple numbers or you are referring to multiple buildings such as a row of homes, include the number range like "100 - 110 N. Charles Street."

If the property does not have an address, list its location as follows: “NE corner of Charles and Chase Streets” or “1 mile east of North Avenue”.

Make sure the Geo-reference pin is in the correct location. It can be moved by clicking on the map.

Building Type

Use the following Building Types only

• Residential
• Commercial
• Industrial
• Infrastructure
• Agricultural
• Institutional

Review the List of Building Types page on Wikipedia for more details about subtypes that fit in each Type.

Architectural Styles

The following architectural styles are taken from the National Register of Historic Places. See How to Complete the National Register Nomination Form

The categories appearing in bold relate to the general stylistic periods of American architecture. The subcategories below relate to the specific styles or stylistic influences that occurred in each period and other commonly used terms. Use the category or subcategory that best describes your entry.

Colonial

• French Colonial
• Spanish Colonial
  • Mexican Baroque
• Dutch Colonial
  • Flemish Colonial
• Postmedieval English
  • English Gothic
  • Elizabethan
  • Tudor
  • Jacobean or Jacobethan
  • New England Colonial
  • Southern Colonial
• Georgian

Early Republic

• Early Classical Revival
  • Jeffersonian Classicism
  • Roman Republican
  • Roman Revival
  • Roman Villa
  • Monumental Classicism
  • Regency
• Federal
  • Adams or Adamesque

Mid 19th Century

• Early Romanesque Revival
• Greek Revival
• Gothic Revival
  • Early Gothic Revival
• Italian Villa
• Exotic Revival
  • Egyptian Revival
  • Moorish Revival
• Octagon Mode

Late Victorian

• Victorian or High Victorian Eclectic
• Gothic
  • High Victorian Gothic;
  • Second Gothic Revival
• Italianate
  • Victorian or High Victorian Italianate
• Second Empire
  • Mansard
• Queen Anne
  • Queen Anne Revival
  • Queen Anne-Eastlake
• Stick/Eastlake
  • Eastern Stick
  • High Victorian Eastlake
• Shingle Style
• Romanesque
  • Romanesque Revival
  • Richardsonian Romanesque
• Renaissance
  • Renaissance Revival
  • Romano-Tuscan Mode
  • North Italian or Italian Renaissance
  • French Renaissance
  • Second Renaissance Revival

Late 19th and Early 20th Century American Movements

• Sullivanesque
• Prairie School
• Commercial Style
• Chicago Skyscraper
• Bungalow/Craftsman
  • Western Stick
  • Bungaloid

Modern Movement

• New Formalism
• Neo-Expressionism
• Brutalism
• California Style or Ranch Style
• Post-Modern
• Wrightian
• Moderne
  • Modernistic
  • Streamlined Moderne
  • Art Moderne
• International Style
  • Miesian
• Art Deco

Mixed

Materials

Enter the primary building material. If more than one, separate with a "/" such as "Brick/Stone" Enter only materials visible from the exterior of a building. Do not enter materials of interior, structural, or concealed architectural features even if they are significant. Materials include:

• Wood
• Brick
• Stone
• Metal
• Stucco
• Terra Cotta
• Concrete
• Glass

Architect

If there is an individual architect primarily associate with the design of the building enter their name here. Existing architects in the database will show up in the dropdown. If no entry exists for the architect, a new page will be created for them.

Architecture Firm

Enter the Architecture Firm primarily associated with the design of the building. Existing firms in the database will show up in the dropdown. If no entry exists, a new page will be created for it.

Other Designers

Sometimes, especially with projects completed in recent decades, multiple firms will be associated with a project. The primary design architect should be added as the "Architecture Firm." Other designers, such as the architect of record, should be added here.

Contractors

This includes any other contractors/artisans that worked on the project including carpenters, masons, stained glass makers, etc. Multiple entries can be added. If no entry exists, a new page will be created for it.

Awards

Awards should be entered in the following format: [Awarding Organization] [Award Name] [(Award Date)]. Example: AIA Baltimore Grand Design Award (2007). Multiple awards should be separated by semicolons.

Dates

The Infobox includes multiple milestone dates to use. You can include the full date, month + year, or just the year. If the date is approximate check the "approximate" box. Only fill in dates that you know or have an approximate date for.

Renovations

Projects that have undergone major renovations can be noted in this section. This section uses the same format as the above fields.

National Register

Buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places should be identified here. Buildings can be searched on the National Park Service website or using the Maryland Historical Trust Medusa database.

Free Text

This section is best left empty. It is better to use Edit Text and edit the page directly than to use the Infobox.