Evening star., 1934-04-05
.H.A.B.S. EXHIBITION
WILL OPEN TODAY
Display of Architecture
From All Nations Is in
National Museum.

Designated by the new deal alpha
betical designation of H. A. B. s., an
exhibition typifying American archi-
lecture of another day, all over the
Nation will open late today in the
National Museum and will continue
until April 26. Representing the work
Of unemployed architects over the
country, the exhibit will be a monu-
ment to the industry Of the c. w. A.
H. A. B. S. stands for Historic Amer
ican Buildings Survey. Assistant Sec
retary Chapman of the Interior De-
partment will open the exhibition, the
combined effort OF some 800 architects.
Drawings, photographs and charts
selected from thousands Of records
made by the C. w. A. workers, under
the eye Of Thomas C. Vint. head of
the branch of plans and designs Of
the National Park Service, Interior
Department, form the exhibition
Historical buildings are the main sub
ject matter of the exhibition. from
the prehistoric Indian dwellings Of
New Mexico to the Colonial structures
Of centuries later. the pride of Vir-
ginia. Mr.. Vint describes the exhibit
as "a cross-section of historical build
ings Of the United States"
80 Districts in U. s.
When the exhibit ends. the material
will be turned over to the Library of
Congress for filing. and there will be
preserved Tor posterity an accurate
record of Americas most famous
buildings
For purposes of the Historic Ameri-
can Buildings Survey. the Nation was
divided into 80 districts. With the
cooperation of the American Institute
of Architects, unemployed craftsmen
and architects were put to work. The
best work in each district has been
assembled for the forthcoming exhibit
and in the National Museum. visitors
will be able to see a panel for each
section of the Nation.
Sponsoring the exhibit are Secre-
tary Ickes and the American Institute
of Architects. Assistant Secretary
Chapman, Frank c. Baldwin. secre-
tary of the American Institute of
Architects. and DR.. Leicester B. Hol-
land, of the Fine Arts division of the
Library of Congress. will welcome
guests in the foyer, between 3 and
4:30 pm. informally.
Old mills, Colonial structures,
covered bridge, old winding stairs, de-
tails of doors and windows and
mouldings of venerable residences,
churches, Spanish missions and forts
appear in the review of American
architecture.
Characterized as "the biggest COL
lection of drawings on American
architecture ever assembled the ex-
hibit will represent the first effort
of its kind, in a systematic way, to
gather a wealth of valuable informa-
ton, says Mr.. Vint.
Maury House Drawing Shown.
The National Capital will have in
the exhibit the old stone house at
30l5 M street in Georgetown and the
Maury House at 302 C street, which,
officials said yesterday, was the home
of mayor of Washington, John w.
Maury, between 1885 and 1853. The
plan and section of this old house will
be given special place in the collec-
ton, for the house was originally but
two rooms deep in a narrow lot 'front.'
ing on G street. During the first half
of the nineteenth century, the Maury
family made extensive alterations in
the original structure, said the
officials.
A wing was added to the rear, max
ing a narrow extension on one side
of the lot. At the present time, the
officials explained, wall runs along
the eastern side Of the lot, making q
very interesting rectangular enclosure
hidden from the street and used as q
sort Of American patio. The Maury
House is within property included in
the Governments Mall program and
the fact that the old structure may
not stand much longer further en-
hances the value of the records made
by the local staff of the Historic
American Buildings Survey" officials
declared.
There is an old tradition that q
hangman's gibbet previously occupied
the site of the Maury home.
Interior Department officials are
anxious to know what particular type
of olden American architecture visitors
to the National Museum will prefer
and so they will watch the progress
Of the event with interest.