Beginning with the homes of the first European settlers to the North American colonies, and concluding with the latest trends in construction and design of houses and apartments in the United States, Homes through American History is a four-volume set intended for a general audience. From tenements to McMansions, from wattle-and-daub construction in early New England to sustainable materials for green housing, these books provide a rich historical tour through housing in the United States. Divided into 10 historical periods, the series explores a variety of home types and issues within a social, historical, and political context. For use in history, social studies, and literature classes, Homes through American History identifies ; A brief historical overview of the era, in order provide context to the discussion of homes and dwellings. ; Styles of domestic architecture around the country. ; Building material and manufacturing. ; Home layout and design. ; Furniture and decoration. ; Landscaping and outbuildings.
The four volumes in the set are each divided into two or three eras. Highlights of each volume include the following.
Volume One, 1492-1820, includes:
Homes in the Colonial Era, 1492-1781
Information about regional home-building material and techniques such as wattle and daub in the Northeast; brick and mortar in Virginia
wood for Massachusetts; adobe for the Southwest; and tabby in the Southeast
The gradual move to a new colonial style, including the saltbox style in the Northeast; Dutch colonial in the Middle colonies; and eventually Georgian and classical revival styles in the South and throughout the colonies
The importance of fences to establish property
Homes in the Federal Era, 1782-1820 by Melissa Duffes
Use of pattern books in design and construction
Innovations in building materials and services
Franklin stoves, Rumford ranges for heat
Plumbing-pumps and privies
Purpose-built rooms for designated events such as dining and the move of the bed out of the parlor into a bedroom
The importance of working gardens for houses in town
Volume Two, 1821-1900, includes:
Homes in the Revival Era, 1821-1860 by Nancy B. Mingus
Settlement patterns
The popularity of octagon houses
Cellars, attics, carriage houses, summer kitchens, and porches
Homes in the Civil War and Reconstruction Era, 1861-1880 by Thomas W. Paradis
Westward expansion and homestead acts
Styles including Italianate, Italian Villa, Stick Style, Eastlake
Second Empire
Tenements in New York, Sanitary Housing, and the beginning of company towns, such as Lowell, Massachusetts
Homes in the Gilded Era, 1881-1900 by Elizabeth B. Greene
Victorian home designs
Lavish ornamentation
Tenement living
Spread of indoor plumbing
Volume Three, 1901-1945, includes:
Homes in the Early Modern Era, 1901-1920 by Leslie Cormier
The use of electric lights
Planned parks and housing around them
Model town planning and garden apartments
Homes in the Depression and World War II Era, 1921-1945, by Neal Hitch
The massive impact on houses in the 1920s and 1930s by the automobile, improvements in refrigeration, heating technology, the telephone, and the radio
The movement toward small, owner-occupied, single-family housing
Volume Four, 1946-Present, includes:
Homes in the Suburban Era, 1946-1970 by Jane C. Busch
Opposition between traditional styles and modern design
the popularity of the ranch house and split level home
Interstate highways, shopping centers, and suburbs
Attempts and failures at urban renewal
Retirement communities
Homes in the Neoeclectic Era, 1971-1985 by Mark E. Braun
The rise of consumerism, yuppies, and homelessness
Design of new towns
Do-it-yourself remodeling and design
The beginnings of energy consciousness
Homes in the New Era, 1986-Present by Brenda Kayzar
New trends that draw from the past (small towns, compact design, mixed uses), now politically encompassed under the umbrella
ideal of Smart Growth
Support for new urbanist ideals of neo-traditional design, transit-oriented development, and infill projects
