How to Research Historic Houses
Historically Important Individuals
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Traditionally, a common reason for designating a house is that some
notable individual has lived there. This has often
meant prominent political or business figures,
although some attention has been paid to writers,
artists, labour leaders, and scientists, among
others.
This measure of significance is
sometimes imprecisely applied because it is not the
house that is being commemorated but the person who
lived in it. In some cases, this is valid, but
many times it is only a roundabout way of commemorating
a historically important individual and has nothing to
do with the built environment. A famous person is
usually not well known because of the house he or she
lived in. If, however, the exterior and interior design
of the house reflects the aspirations, character and
life of the individual and his or her class, ethnicity
and occupation, its significance would be greater. It
can be a means of learning about that person and the
society he or she lived in and the forces that shaped
the look and construction of the house.
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