Since 1979, the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia (PAGP) has protected historic properties through its easement program. The organization holds easements on approximately 250 properties, most of which are in or around the city of Philadelphia. To document conditions, PAGP conducts inspections every three years and produces a report on the current condition of each historic property under easement. As an easement inspector this summer, I completed approximately 94 reports, including 17 in collaboration with my coworkers. The work involved site visits and documenting deterioration through photography and surveys.
Beyond practical experience, this internship let me apply knowledge and skills from my coursework in conservation science, such as material identification and recognizing deterioration patterns across different materials. That background proved helpful when preparing recommendations for owners to implement over the next few years so they can better preserve their historic properties. The skills I learned in Documentation, Research, and Recording also came into play when managing large amounts and different types of data, including photographs, notes, and site forms.
Given the limited time of the internship, it was essential to work efficiently without sacrificing quality. I designed a standardized data-collection form, created a map to locate and track properties, linked a form to each property, and then uploaded the resulting data to Airtable. This workflow kept information consistent and streamlined reporting. Clear file naming and organized image sets further supported concise condition summaries and consistent recommendations. These experiences sharpened my observational skills, helped me better identify sources of deterioration, and strengthened my ability to manage large datasets effectively.
I am thankful to the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia. From the beginning, they included me in staff meetings and various projects so I could learn about the programs they are working on. Because of this, I had the chance to network with professionals in the field and better understand the range of roles involved in preservation. Site visits to places like the Wharton Esherick Museum and Lynnewood Hall deepened my understanding of the decision-making process behind preserving complex sites. Overall, the internship was a valuable way to learn more about preservation while getting to know Philadelphia on a deeper level.
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