UCB Library Home ENVI Library Home Search UCB Library
Environmental Design Library
Social & Cultural Factors in Environmental Design
Getting Started
Quick Facts
Topical Bibliographies
Research Guides
Background Readings
Libraries 		Research Methods
Interpreting the Built Environment
Interviewing
Using Images
Post Occupancy Evaluation 		Research Sources
Finding Books
Finding Journal Articles
Finding News Articles
Visual Resources, Maps, & Images
Archives & Historical Societies
Finding Statistics & Data
Social & Cultural Factors in Environmental Design is a strategic bibliographic guide for UC Berkeley students researching social, cultural, and psychological factors in environmental design, in particular students in Architecture 110/210 and Landscape Architecture 140. The guide emphasizes resources pertaining to the San Francisco Bay Area and California; for a broader view of the U.S., see American Cultural Landscapes. For additional assistance please consult the Environmental Design Library reference staff, 210 Wurster Hall.

UC Berkeley faculty, registered students, and staff who are off campus may use items marked UCB Only or UC Only by using The Library's off-campus access services.

Content reviewed : 23 February 2009 Conditions of Use

    Getting Started

    Quick Facts | Topical Bibliographies | Research Guides | Background Readings | Libraries
    Quick Facts  Here's a selection of specialized dictionaries and encyclopedias for factual background information on your topic.

  1. Encyclopedia of community: from the village to the virtual world, Karen Christensen & David Levinson, general eds. 4 vols. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2003. Comprised of well-written signed articles on diverse topics, including community gardening, housing, immigrant communities, and recreation.
    2. EnvDesign HM756 E53 2003 Reference
  2. Encyclopedia of cultural anthropology, David Levinson, Melvyn Ember, eds. NY: Henry and Holt, 1996.
    3. Anthro GN307 E52 1996 v.1-4 Indexes and Encyclopedias
  3. Encyclopedia of gardens: history and design, Chicago Botanic Garden.  Candice A. Shoemaker, ed. 3 vols. Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn, 2001. Excellent source for landscape design history. Substantive signed articles are illustrated; each includes a brief bibliography.
    4. EnvDesign SB465 E63 2001 Reference Desk
  4. Encyclopedia of multiculturalism, Susan Auerbach, ed. NY: Marshall Cavendish, 1994.
    5. Main E184 A1 E58 1994 v. 1-6, Library Use Only
  5. Encyclopedia of vernacular architecture of the world, Paul Oliver, ed. NY: Cambridge Univ. Pr., 1997. 3 vol. Excellent bibliographies.
    6. EnvDsgn NA208 E53 1997 Reference
  6. International encyclopedia of the social & behavioral sciences (IESBS) via ScienceDirect - UCB Only. Updated 2004. Contains more than 3,800 articles spread over 99 subject areas. Links from references to full text articles and browsable indexes makes this work a key research tool.
    7. Online ed.: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/referenceworks/0080430767; 2001 paper ed.: Anthro, Doe Ref H41 I58 2001 v.1-26.
  7. Oxford art online - UCB Only Includes the online version of the Grove Dictionary of Art (Grove Art Online), as well as other art reference sources. Contains articles on every aspect of the visual arts including architecture and landscape architecture. Features a search for images only.
    8. Grove dictionary of art: EnvDsgn, Doe Ref N31 D5 1996 Reference v.1-34
  8. Oxford reference online - Art and architecture - UCB Only Access to more than 10 architecture, art, and landscape architecture dictionaries and encyclopedias published by Oxford University Press, for example, A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture and The Oxford Companion to the Garden. Search sources collectively or search within an individual title.
    9. http://www.oxfordreference.com/views/SUBJECT_SEARCH.html?subject=s1
  9. Oxford reference online - Politics and social sciences - UCB Only Access to more than 20 Oxford University encyclopedias and dictionaries in the social sciences, for example, A Dictionary of Psychology, Dictionary of the Social Sciences, and The Oxford Encyclopedia of Latinos and Latinas in the United States. Search sources collectively or search within an individual title.
    10. http://www.oxfordreference.com/views/SUBJECT_SEARCH.html?subject=s20
    Topical Bibliographies  Specialized bibliographies can help you find publications on your topic. Also look for bibliographies in books as well as in journal and encyclopedia articles.

  1. Architecture, environmental design, and the human psyche: recent journal articles. Dale E. Casper.  Monticello, IL: Vance Bibliographies, [1987]
    2. EnvDsgn NA200 A12A7 no.1759 Index
  2. Environmental sociology: a bibliography of conceptual, methodological, and theoretical readings, by Riley E. Dunlap. Monticello, IL: Vance Bibliographies, [1983].
    3. EnvDsgn NA200 A12 A7 no.1001 Index
  3. Psychological aspects of housing and the built-environment: a bibliography, by Marjorie Inman.  Monticello, IL: Vance Bibliographies, [1987]
    4. EnvDsgn NA200 A12 A7 no.1902 Index
  4. Psychological aspects of architecture: a bibliography, by Mary Vance. Monticello, IL: Vance Bibliographies, 1983.
    5. EnvDsgn NA200 A12 A7 no.939 Index
  5. Resources in environment-behavior studies, Gary T. Moore and the faculty and students of the Ph. D. Program, comps. Milwaukee: Dept. of Architecture, School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Univ. of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 1991.
    6. EnvDsgn NA2542.4 A12 R43 1991
  6. Social factors and environmental design: reciprocal relations of society and man-made environment, by Thomas H. Jenkins. Monticello, IL: Council of Planning Librarians, 1978
    7. EnvDsgn Microfiche 7179 no.1511
    Research Guides  Here is a selected list of environmental design research guides to UC Berkeley library and web resources. See also Environmental Design Library Guides for a complete list of subject guides and other useful research tools.

  1. Art information: research methods and resources, by Lois Jones. 3rd ed. Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt Pub. Co., 1990. Although slightly dated, offers excellent strategies, including for architectural research.
    2. EnvDesign N85 J64 1990 Reference
  2. Topical research guides. Here is a selection of UC Berkeley Library bibliographic research guides.
    American Communities
    http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/ENVI/amercomm.html

    American Cultural Landscapes
    http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/ENVI/cult.html

    Finding Information on Buildings and Places
    http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/ENVI/bldgs.html

    Finding Local Information
    http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/ENVI/locinfo.html

    History of Architecture
    http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/ENVI/ArchHist.html     		History of City Planning
    http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/ENVI/histland.html

    History of Landscape Architecture
    http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/ENVI/histland.html

    San Francisco Bay Area Architects & Architecture
    http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/ENVI/sfindex.html

    Urban design
    http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/ENVI/urbandesign.html

    Vernacular & Landscape Architecture
    http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/ENVI/vernacular.html
    Background Readings   Here's a brief selection of books and articles that talk about application of social science research methodologies to design.

  1. Behavioral scientists enter design, by William Reese. IN: Creating breakthrough ideas: the collaboration of anthropologists and designers in the product development industry, Susan Squires and Bryan Byrne, eds. Westport, CT: Bergin & Garvey, 2002. Online table of contents.
    2. Anthro TS183 C73 2002
  2. Ethnographic field methods and their relation to design, by Jeanette Blomberg, et. al. IN: Participatory design: principles and practices, Douglas Schuler, Aki Namioka, eds. Hillsdale, NJ: L. Erlbaum Associates, 1993, pp. 123-55.
    3. Main QA76.9 S88 P38 1993
  3. Public places and private spaces: the psychology of work, play, and living environments, by Albert Mehrabian. NY: Basic Books, 1976.
    4. EnvDesign, Educ/Psych, Moff BF353 M41
  4. The Social life of small urban spaces, by William H. Whyte. NY: Project for Public Spaces, 2001, c1980.
    5. EnvDesign HT153 W49 2001
  5. Some place like home: using design psychology to create ideal places, by Toby Israel. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2003.
    6. EnvDsgn NA2542.4 I77 2003
    Libraries  See the guide Finding Local Information for selected links to California and San Francisco Bay Area public libraries.

  1. California public libraries (Libweb) Directory of links to California public libraries
    2. http://lists.webjunction.org/libweb/Public_CA.html
  2. UC Berkeley campus libraries: Here's a selection of campus libraries whose collections support your research.
    3. Anthropology Library
    230 Kroeber Hall
    http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/ANTH/
    Architecture Visual Resources Libary
    232 Wurster Hall
    Note: Open to UCB faculty & graduate students for class-room presentations. An orientation is required.
    http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/ARCH/
    The Bancroft Library
    East wing, Doe Library
    http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/
    Business & Economics Library
    Student Services Wing Haas School of Business
    http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/BUSI/
    Education/Psychology Library
    2600 Tolman Hall
    http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/EDP/
    Doe Reference Center
    2nd floor, Main Library
    http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/doemoff/reference.html
    Earth Sciences & Map Library
    50 McCone Hall
    http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/EART/
    Ethnic Studies Library
    30 Stephens Hall
    http://eslibrary.berkeley.edu/
    Media Resources Center
    Moffitt Library 1st floor
    http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/MRC/
    Research Methods

    Interpreting the Built Environment | Interviewing | Using Images | Post Occupancy Evaluation
    Interpreting the Built Environment

  1. Analyzing activity areas, an ethnoarchaeological study of the use of space, by Susan Kent. Albuquerque: Univ. of New Mexico Pr., 1984.
    2. Anthro CC79 E85 K46 1984
  2. Architecture as space, how to look at architecture, by Bruno Zevi; ed. by Joseph A. Barry. Rev. ed. NY: Horizon Pr., [1974] Includes concepts of space through many eras, and different interpretations of architecture--political, religious, scientific, etc.
    3. EnvDsgn NA2500 Z452 1974
  3. Architecture everywhere: investigating the built environment of your community, by Joseph A.Weber. Tucson, AZ: Zephyr Pr. 2000.
    4. EnvDesign NA705 W43 2000
  4. Architecture, form, space & order, by Francis D.K. Ching. 3rd ed. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 2007. Online table of contents.
    5. EnvDesign NA2760 C46 2007
  5. Building up the mental encyclopedia, IN: A Visual approach to park design, by Albert J. Rutledge. NY: Garland STPM Pr., 1981, pp.133-150.
    6. EnvDesign SB481 R87
  6. Buildings and society, essays on the social development of the built environment, Anthony D. King, ed. Boston: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1980.
    7. EnvDsgn NA2543 S6 B76
  7. Cities & people, a social and architectural history, by Mark Girouard. New Haven: Yale Univ. Pr., 1985.
    8. EnvDsgn HT111 G571 1988
  8. Close-up, how to read the American city, Grady Clay. Phoenix, ed. Chicago: Univ. of Chicago Pr., 1980.
    9. EnvDesign HT153 C585 1980
  9. Cross-cultural studies and urban form, by Amos Rapoport. College Park, MD: Urban Studies Program, Univ. of Maryland, [1993]  Monograph series, no. 10. See especially p. 15+, "How might one go about doing cross-cultural research?" Excellent bibliography.
    10. Environ Dsgn GN345.7 R37 1993
  10. Learning from things: method and theory of material culture studies, W. David Kingery, ed. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Pr., 1996.
    11. Anthro GN406 L43 1996
  11. The Meaning of the built environment, a nonverbal communication approach, by Amos Rapoport. Tucson: Univ. of Arizona Pr., 1990.
    12. EnvDesign BF353 R36 1990
  12. Meaningful architecture: social interpretations of buildings, Martin Locock, ed.  Brookfield, VT: Avebury, 1994. Worldwide archaeology series, 9.
    13. EnvDesign, Anthro NA2543 S6 M43 1994
  13. Public places, exploring their history, by Gerald A. Danzer. Walnut Creek, CA: AltaMira Pr., published in cooperation with the American Association for State and Local History, 1997. Includes streets and open spaces.
    14. EnvDsgn E180 D36 1997
  14. Right before your eyes, penetrating the urban environment, by Grady Clay. Chicago, IL: Planners Pr., 1987.
    15. EnvDesign HT153 C58571 1987
  15. Understanding buildings, a multidisciplinary approach, by Esmond Reid. London: Construction Pr., 1984.
    16. EnvDesign TH145 R42 1984b
  16. Understanding the use of space: an ethnoarchaeological approach, by Susan Kent, IN: Method and Theory for Activity Area Research: An Ethnoarchaeological Approach, Susan Kent, ed. NY: Columbia Univ. Pr., 1987.
    17. Anthro GF95 M481 1987
    Interviewing

  1. Handbook of interview research, context & methods, Jaber F. Gubrium, James A. Holstein, eds. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2002.
    2. EnvDesign, EdPsych, Doe Stacks, Anthro Ref H61.28 H36 2002
  2. Interviews: an introduction to qualitative research interviewing, by Steinar Kvale. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications, 1996.
    3. EnvDesign HM48.9 K9 1996
  3. Learning from strangers: the art and method of qualitative interview studies, by Robert S. Weiss. NY: Free Pr., 1995.
    4. EnvDesign HN29 W42 1995
  4. The Oral history manual, by Barbara W. Sommer, Mary Kay Quinlan. Walnut Creek, CA: Altamira Pr., 2002.
    5. Anthro, Moff D16.14 S69 2002 Reference
  5. Qualitative interviewing: the art of hearing data, by Herbert J. Rubin and Irene S. Rubin. 2nd ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Pubications, 2005.
    6. EnvDesign, Anthro, Bus & Econ H62 R737 2005
    Using Images & Maps for Research  Remember: Images are protected by copyright.

  1. Image-based research: a sourcebook for qualitative researchers, Jon Prosser, ed.  Bristol, PA: Falmer Pr., 1998.
    2. EnvDesign, Anth GN347 I43 1998
  2. Mapping it out: expository cartography for the humanities and social sciences, by Mark Monmonier. Chicago: Univ. of Chicago Pr., 1993.
    3. EnvDesign, Earth Sci, Main GA108.7 M66 1993
  3. Researching the visual: images, objects, contexts and interactions in social and cultural inquiry, by Michael Emmison. London: Sage, 2000.
    4. EnvDesign, Main HM500 E56 2000
  4. Visual anthropology: photography as a research method, by John Collier, Jr., and Malcolm Collier. Rev. and expanded ed. Albuquerque: Univ. of New Mexico Pr., 1986.
    5. Online ed.: http://www.netlibrary.com/summary.asp?id=22737; paper ed.: EnvDesign, Anthro, Moff GN347 C64 1986
  5. Visual methodologies: an introduction to the interpretation of visual materials, by Gillian Rose. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 2001.
    6. EnvDesign, Main P93.5 R67 2001; Anthro P93.5 R67 2007, on order for EnvDesign
  6. Visual methods in social research, by Marcus Banks. London: Sage, 2001.
    7. EnvDesign, Anthro, Main HM500 B35 2001
    Post Occupancy Evaluation

  1. Built environment evaluation: conceptual basis, benefits and uses, by Wolfgang F.E. Preiser. IN: Directions in person-environment research and practice, Jack L. Nasar and Wolfgang F.E. Preiser, eds. Brookfield, VT: Ashgate, 1999, pp.73-98.
    2. EnvDesign NA2542.4 D57 1999
  2. Communities by design: a post-occupancy evaluation of construction, design, community life and resident experiences at four affordable housing developments, by Gloria Bruce. Professional report (Master of City Planning) Berkeley: Univ. Of California, Berkeley, 2006. Includes case studies.
    3. EnvDesign NA25.42 2006 B783
  3. Easter Hill Village: some social implications of design, by Clare C. Cooper. NY: Free Pr., [1975]
    4. EnvDesign HD7304 R47 C661
  4. Post-occupancy evaluation, by Wolfgang F.E. Preiser, Harvey Z. Rabinowitz, Edward T. White. NY: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1988. Includes case studies.
    5. EnvDesign NA2750 P691 1988
  5. Post-occupancy evaluation and the corporate architect, by Edward T. White. Tucson, AZ: Architectural Media Ltd., 1991.
    6. EnvDesign NA2750 W465 1991
  6. A User-oriented evaluation of San Francisco's public housing for the elderly, by Galen Cranz, David Christensen, with Sam Dyer. [San Francisco?], 1977.
    7. EnvDsgn HD7287.9 C7 1977
  7. A Visual approach to park design, by Albert J. Rutledge.  NY: Garland STPM Pr., 1981.
    8. EnvDesign SB481 R87
    Research Sources

    Finding Books | Finding Journal Articles | Finding News Articles| Finding News Articles | Finding Visual Resources | Archives & Historical Societies | Statistics & Data
    Finding Books   Consult the Guide to library catalogs for help choosing which UC library catalogs to use, and how to use them.  If we don't own what you need, try the Interlibrary borrowing service - UCB Only.

  1. The Current Melvyl® catalog (http://melvyl.cdlib.org) is your best first place to look for books on your topic. Provides excellent coverage of the UC Berkeley libraries, as well as the other nine UC campuses and selected other libraries. Excellent keyword searching. Hint: Use the Advanced Search in the library catalogs, which allows you to combine keywords, authors, subject headings and more, and to limit by date, language, etc.  To locate materials in libraries not listed in the Melvyl® catalog, use WorldCat - UC Only via OCLC/FirstSearch.

    2. Here're some examples of subject headings helpful for researching topics on the social and cultural aspects of environmental design:
    Architectural design--Evaluation
    Architectural practice
    Architecture and society
    Architecture--Human factors
    Buildings
    Cities and towns
    City and town life
    City planning
    Design
    Dwellings
    Environment (Aesthetics)
    Environmental psychology
    Ethnicity
    Ethnoarchaeology
    Ethnology     		Gardens
    Housing
    Human ecology
    Landscape architecture
    Landscape assessment
    Open spaces
    Parks
    Parks
    Public spaces
    Space (architecture)
    Spatial behavior
    Streets
    Urban anthropology
    Urban landscape architecture
  2. Narrow your searches with the addition of place names and/or some useful stock phrases, e.g., Architecture--Cross-cultural studies). Here's a selection of subject subheadings:
    3. Bibliographies
    Case studies
    Citizen participation
    Cross-cultural studies
    Design and construction
    Designs and plans
    Details
    Economic aspects
    Environmental aspects     		Evaluation
    Handbooks, manuals
    History
    Methodology
    Pictorial works
    Psychological aspects
    Research
    Social aspects
    Social life and customs
  3. Finding books on special topics:
    Finding Journal Articles  Use journal and newspaper indexes and databases to discover articles on your topic.  Some online databases include the full text of the articles you discover or the UC eLinks button image icon which may lead you to the full text elsewhere. In many cases, however, you will need to locate the print journal in the Library's collections; search the Library's online catalogs by the journal title in order to find the shelving location and call number for the journal.  If we don't own what you need, try the Interlibrary borrowing service - UCB Only.

  1. UC e-Links--articles  provides a way to move from an article citation to the digital version of the item, to check if the item is available in print on your campus, or to request via the Request feature, items not available on your campus.
  2. Journal article indexes: The study of social and cultural factors in environmental design is highly multidisciplinary. See the following web guides for recommended indexes by discipline.
  1. The following periodical indexes are especially helpful in identifiying articles on the social and cultural aspects of environmental design.
    • Art index retrospective & Art full text via WilsonWeb - UC Only Indexes journal articles in art, design, and architecture, landscape, urban design, and planning.
      • Online ed.: Art Index Retrospective: 1929-1984; Art Full Text: 1984--; paper ed.: 1929-1994, EnvDesign N18 A72 Index
    • Avery index to architectural periodicals via CSA - UC Only The most comprehensive periodical article index for architecture and all aspects of environmental design. Indexes scholarly and professional journals from all over the world in the subjects of architecture, landscape architecture and urban design. Early volumes have only minimal coverage of the U.S. West Coast.
      • Online access: 1890--; paper ed.: 1890-1995; EnvDesign fNA8 C64 1973 Index
    • JSTOR - UCB Only A full text archive of interdisciplinary scholarly journal literature, including sociology; African, African-American, Asian, Latin American, Middle East, and Slavic studies; and political science. Coverage begins with the first issue of each journal; the last few years of publication are frequently unavailable.
      • Coverage varies
    • PsycInfo via CSA - UC Only Indexes over 1300 journals, conference proceedings, books, reports, and dissertations in psychology, and more.
      • Coverage: 1840--.
    • Readers' guide to periodical literature. [cumulated] NY [etc.] Indexes popular American magazines.
      • Online ed.: Readers Guide Retrospective 1890-1982 - UC Only; paper ed.: 1900--, Doe Refe AJ3 R4;  Moff AI3 R4 Index
    • Sociological abstracts via CSA - UCB Only Indexes journal articles, book chapters, & reviews from over 1,900 journals, books, book chapters, and reviews in the social sciences.  Excellent source for public policy topics.
      • Online ed.: 1963--; paper ed.: 1952--; Main HM15.5 S6
    • Urban studies & planning via CSA - UCB Only. Provides indexing to and full text of 12 journals published by SAGE Publications and participating societies, some journals going back 37 years.
      • Coverage varies
    Finding News Articles  Local newspapers are vital sources of information on their communities.  Increasingly, recent issues are available full-text through the Web or other databases. Several databases have historical indexes and/or full-text for newspapers. From The Library's home page, see Electronic Resources, News Databases, for a comprehensive list of online news databases available to UC Berkeley students. web page.

  1. Access world news via NewsBank - UCB Only Full-text database of articles from regional, national, and international newspapers and newswires, including many California papers such as Contra Costa Times (1995-current), Fresno Bee (1986-current), Sacramento Bee (1984-current), San Francisco Chronicle (1985-current), and San Jose Mercury News (1985-current).
    2. Coverage: Varies.
  2. Ethnic newswatch via ProQuest - UC Only  Full text coverage of approximately 100 newspapers and other periodicals published by ethnic and minority presses in the U.S. Includes articles published in African-American, Hispanic, Latino, Chicano, Native American, Asian, Jewish, Arab, and European/Eastern European publications.
    3. Coverage: 1960--.
  3. Factiva  General and business news and information from more than 9,000 sources, including newswires.
    4. Coverage: Varies
  4. Lexis-Nexis academic - UCB Only Includes indexing to journals and newspapers and provides full-text.
    5. Coverage: Varies.
  5. Newspaper and periodical indexes for California List of indexes of California newpapers and periodicals available in the Bancroft Library.
    6.
    http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/reference/newsindexes.html
  6. U.S. news archives on the web Provides links to web versions of dozens of U.S. newspapers and their full-text, online back files.
    7. http://www.ibiblio.org/slanews/internet/archives.html
    Visual Resources & Maps  Note that archives are often excellent sources of images.  See the Using Images for Research section of this guide, for information on doing visual research.

  1. Aerial photographs:  The Earth Sciences & Map Library (EART) has an excellent collection of aerial photos of California, 1939--present.  See the searchable Catalog of aerial photography (UC Berkeley, Library) for details. The site also includes links to other campus aerial photo collections.
    2.
    http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/EART/MapCollections.html
    http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/EART/air-catalog.html
  2. Cities and buildings database(Univ. of Washington Libraries).  An international image database of cities and buildings; search the database by country, city, style, title, architect, date of construction, as well as other fields.
    3. http://content.lib.washington.edu/cities/
  3. Environmental design videotapes in the Media Resources Center A guide to environmental design videos at UC Berkeley. You can also search OskiCat and Melvyl by subject or keyword and limit format to videos, films, movies.
    4. http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/MRC/EnvidesignVid.html
  4. Images sources for the built environment (UC Berkeley Library) A list of print and electronic sources with plans, illustrations and photos of architecture, landscape architecture and urban design.
    5. http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/ENVI/pict.html
  5. Plat maps, also called fire insurance maps, show a variety of details, including actual lot boundaries, special uses, building materials and building footprints. For a bibliography on using fire insurance maps in research, see Fire insurance plans.
    • Digital Sanborn maps, 1867-1970 (UMI) -UCB Only  Site provides digital access to more than 660,000 large-scale maps of more than 12,000 American towns and cities. The maps "are large-scale plans containing...information such as the outline of each building, the size, shape and construction materials, heights, and function of structures, location of windows and doors. The maps also give street names, street and sidewalk widths, property boundaries, building use, and house and block numbers."
    • Fire insurance maps (UC Berkeley, Library) Links to description of and indexes to fire insurance maps.
      • http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/EART/sanborn.html
    • Insurance maps of Berkeley, California, Sanborn Map Company. NY: The Co., 1911. Includes Albany and parts of Emeryville and Oakland.
      • EnvDesign fffG1529 B6 S3Rare v.2 only, 1911 corrected to 1933
  6. San Francisco Public Library digitized images Searchable by subject or neighborhood.
    7. http://sfpl.lib.ca.us/librarylocations/sfhistory/browse.htm
  7. UC Image service (California Digital Library)  Provides 330,000 high resolution, zoom-able digital images in about a dozen image collections, among them the David Rumsey Historical Map Collection and the SPIRO online image database (UC Berkeley, Architecture Visual Resources Library).
    http://imageservice.cdlib.org/
    Archives & Historical Societies   Archives and historical societies are excellent sources of primary research materials in environmental design.

    Archives | Historical Societies
    Archives   Archival and other original materials are often difficult to locate, so check in directories of archives and special collections to locate manuscripts, drawings and other unpublished materials. See Archival Collections & Primary Source Databases for additional archival sources.

  1. Using archival materials
  2. Finding archival materials
    • Architectural records in the San Francisco Bay Area: a guide to research, California Cooperative Preservation of Architectural Records, Waverly B. Lowell, project director. NY: Garland, 1988.
      • EnvDesign NA2125 C22 S2631 1988 Reference Desk
    • Architecture archives (Carnegie Mellon Univ. Library) Links to numerous architectural archives in North America.
      • http://search.library.cmu.edu/rooms/portal/page/23082_Architecture_Archives
    • Municipal archives: Municipal archives can be a fabulous source of primary research material.  Many cities, counties, etc., maintain archives of historical municipal records, ranging from meeting and office records to maps, vital records, photographs, plans, parks and recreation planning, and much more. These archives are managed in diverse ways: as a separate department, as a function within an individual department, as part of the public library, etc. Search H-Urban discussion logs for "municipal archives" for a sampling of the type and quality of municipal archives available.
    • Online archive of California (Calif. Digital Library) Over 120,000 images; 50,000 pages of documents, letters, and oral histories; and, 8,000 guides to archival collections. Includes finding aids for architectural manuscripts and drawings in the UCB Bancroft Library, Environmental Design Archives, and many other California collections. Can search all collections at once.
      • http://www.oac.cdlib.org/
  3. Selected archival collections in California
    The Bancroft Library (UC Berkeley)
    http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/
    California State Archives
    1020 O Street, Sacramento
    http://www.sos.ca.gov/archives/archives.htm
    California State Library, California Section
    900 N Street, Room 200, Sacramento
    http://www.lib.state.ca.us
    California State Library, Sutro Library
    480 Winston Drive, San Francisco
    http://www.onelibrary.com/Library/calslsut.htm
    Environmental Design Archives (UC Berkeley)
    By appointment only
    230 Wurster Hall
    www.ced.berkeley.edu/cedarchives/
    National Archives, Pacific Region (Laguna Niguel)
    24000 Avila Road, Laguna Niguel, CA
    http://www.archives.gov/pacific/laguna/
    National Archives, Pacific Region (San Francisco)
    1000 Commodore Drive, San Bruno, CA
    http://www.archives.gov/locations/index.html
    San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
    Historic Documents Department, Fort Mason Center Building E, San Francisco
    http://www.nps.gov/safr/index.htm
    Water Resources Center Archives (UC Berkeley)
    410 O'Brien Hall Berkeley CA 94720-1718 telephone 510 642-2666
    http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/WRCA/
    Historical Societies

  1. Finding historical societies:
    • State historical agencies (American Association for State and Local History)  Directory of Web links to state historical agencies and societies, many of which provide links to local historical societies.
      • http://www.aaslh.org/cgi-bin/stateagencies.cgi
    • California cultural directory (California State Historical Society) Includes links to California historical agencies.
      • http://www.californiahistoricalsociety.org/programs/ccd.html
  2. Selected local historical societies: Hint: Many community libraries have rich local history collections.
    Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association
    2318 Durant St., Berkeley
    http://www.berkeleyheritage.com/
    Berkeley Historical Society
    Veteran's Building, at 1931 Center Street
    www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/histsoc/
    California Historical Society Library
    678 Mission Street, San Francisco
    http://www.californiahistoricalsociety.org/collections/northbaker_research.html
    San Francisco Architectural Heritage
    2007 Franklin Street, San Francisco
    http://www.sfheritage.org/home.html
    Finding Statistics & Data  Here's a small selection of statistical resources. For a more comprehensive list, including some full-text, see Statistics & data for city planning: United States; American focus with a California emphasis.

  1. ABAG data center (Association of Bay Area Governments) Great source of San Francisco Bay Area economic and demographic statistics. Here is a selection of the categories available. ---Population and demographics ---Land use and maps ---Real estate and housing.
    2. http://www.abag.ca.gov/abag/overview/datacenter/
  2. American factfinder  (U.S. Census Bureau) Users can create a variety of tables, reports, or maps with information on their community.
    3. http://factfinder.census.gov/home/saff/main.html
  3. California county profiles (Calif. Dept. of Finance) Compilation of selected economic, social, and demographic data for California and its 58 counties.
    4. Online access: http://www.dof.ca.gov/html/fs_data/profiles/pf_home.htm; paper ed.: 1996--; Main Stack HA262 C68; latest in Doe Refe
  4. California demographics (Calif. Dept. of Finance, Demographic Research Unit) Includes California demographic data, selected full-text reports and papers, catalog of publications, etc.
    5. http://www.dof.ca.gov/html/Demograp/druhpar.htm
  5. DataPlace Easy-to-use source of U.S. housing and demographic data from the census tract to the national level.  Currently contains data from the 1990 and 2000 Censuses, as well as home mortgage, Section 8, and housing needs data.  Create your own maps. Includes nice directory of other online data sources.
    6. http://www.dataplace.org/
  6. State of the cities data systems (HUD User) For individual metropolitan areas, central cities, and suburbs, presents demographic and economic data from the 1970-2000 U.S. censuses (when available), and much more. 
    7. http://socds.huduser.org/index.html


    Compiled by Deborah Sommer and Elizabeth D. Byrne
    Environmental Design Library

    Orignally compiled in 2004

    Top
    Environmental Design Library
[ HELP/FAQ ][ CATALOGS ][ COMMENTS ][ HOME ] 
Copyright © 2009 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Document maintained on server: http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/ by Deborah Sommer.
Last modified 11/17/2009. Server manager: Contact.