A student competition of measured drawings, the Charles E. Peterson Prize is presented jointly by the Heritage Documentation Programs (Historic American Buildings Survey / Historic American Engineering Record / Historic American Landscapes Survey) of the National Park Service, the Athenaeum of Philadelphia, the American Institute of Architects, and the Association for Preservation Technology. The annual competition, currently in its 40th year, honors Charles E. Peterson, FAIA (1906-2004), a founder of the HABS program, and is intended to heighten awareness about historic buildings in the United States and to augment the HABS/HAER/HALS Collection of measured drawings at the Library of Congress. In addition to generating over 7,200 sheets of drawings for the collection to date, the competition presents awards totaling $19,000 to the winning student teams. Drawings must be of a site that has not been recorded by HABS, HAER, or HALS through measured drawings, or be an addendum to an existing set of HABS, HAER, or HALS drawings that makes a substantial contribution to the understanding of the significance of the building, structure, or cultural landscape.
2010-present
See the most recent Peterson Prize winners (from 2010 to 2023).
2000-2009
1990-1999
1989
First Place Award
Louisiana State University, Livestock Judging Pavilion
- Survey Number: HABS LA-1207-A
- Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- Program: Louisiana State University
- Student Team: Mary C. Bowlin, Joseph D. Brewton, C. Bayne Dickinson, Joel D. Fontenot, Jeanne G. Gewalt, Mohdsufian Mohdtahir, Pamela J. Richard, Karl W. Stumpf, Buryl Terro
Second Place Award
Villa Meilleur
- Survey Number: HABS LA-1216
- Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
- Program: Tulane University
- Student Team: Craig Ackerman, Huyen Bui, Tanya Caruso, Ellen Davis, Jim Elmasry, Peggy Fitzgerald, Susan Herskowitz, Julia Hickham, Louis Malachias, Todd O'Brien, Carolyn Parler, Loren Pope
Third Place Award
University of Virginia, Pavilion I
- Survey Number: HABS VA-193-P
- Location: Charlottesville, Virginia
- Program: University of Virginia
- Student Team: Amy E. Facca, Catherine Haley, D. Jeffrey Kidder, Kathryn McCutchen
1988
First Place Award
Oaklawn Avenue Waiting Station
- Survey Number: HABS CA-2290
- Location: South Pasadena, California
- Program: Arizona State University
- Student Team: Todd Skenderian
Second Place Award
Fitzpatrick House and Horse Barn
- Survey Number: HABS IL-1153 and HABS IL-1153-A
- Location: Lockport, Illinois
- Program: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Student Team: Robert Gilvesey, Timothy M. Gregg, Priscilla J. Holt, Mark W. Igleski, Joseph P. Matyi, Jonathan C. Spodek, Barry R. Swedeen
Third Place Award
Hightower Building
- Survey Number: HABS AL-890
- Location: Lafayette, Alabama
- Program: Auburn University
- Student Team: Deborah Adkinson, T. Paul Bates, Nancy Burke, Judith E. Collins, Darla S. Davis, David Harris, Karen Hundt, Lee Ann Jackson, Katherine Lynn, Elaine G. Pierce, Mark E. Pierson, Julie Ann Smith, Phillip B. Smith, Michael R. South, Gail M. Tubbs, Sidney P. Ward, Mae B. Washington, David Mingtze Wu
1987
First Place Award
Eugene Mill & Elevator Company
- Survey Number: HABS OR-140
- Location: Eugene, Oregon
- Program: University of Oregon
- Student Team: Neal A. Vogel
Second Place Award
Ike Cleaver Muskrat Shed
- Survey Number: HABS DE-247
- Location: Odessa vicinity, Delaware
- Program: University of Delaware
- Student Team: Gabrielle Lanier
Third Place Award
Don Joseph Tovar House
- Survey Number: HABS FL-140
- Location: St. Augustine, Florida
- Program: University of Florida
- Student Team: Jacqueline H. George, Jose Luis Miranda, Jr., Lori S. Smith, Michael Stauffer
1986
First Place Award
T.A. Leonard Barn
- Survey Number: HABS WA-168
- Location: Pullman vicinity, Washington
- Program: Washington State University
- Student Team: Steven Eric Nys, David M. Burger
Second Place Award
Adam Thoroughgood House
- Survey Number: HABS VA-209
- Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Program: Hampton University
- Student Team: Timothy R. Hanna
Third Place Award
Old Monroe County Jail
- Survey Number: HABS AR-35
- Location: Clarendon, Arkansas
- Program: University of Arkansas
- Student Team: David Haney, John Jensen, Kui Mew Wong, Judy S.I. Yeoh
1985
First Place Award
Lycurgus Johnson House
- Survey Number: HABS AR-31
- Location: Lake Village, Arkansas
- Program: University of Arkansas
- Student Team: Edwin K. Denham, Daniel R. Ellingson, Gary T. Evans, James S. Lohmeyer
Second Place Award
Logansport State Hospital, Women's Infirmary
- Survey Number: HABS IN-202
- Location: Logansport, Indiana
- Program: Ball State University
- Student Team: Richard Strothman, Alejandro Busto, Jerrold Parsey, David Mann
Third Place Award
Carolina United Methodist Church
- Survey Number: HABS AR-30
- Location: Rosston, Arkansas
- Program: University of Arkansas
- Student Team: Edwin K. Denham, Daniel R. Ellingson, Gary T. Evans, James S. Lohmeyer
1984
First Place Award
University of Virginia, Pavilion IV
- Survey Number: HABS VA-193-K
- Location: Charlottesville, Virginia
- Program: University of Virginia
- Student Team: Mary A. Reuman-Redenbaugh, Harry Bradley III
Second Place Award
Cavitt House and Log Cabin
- Survey Number: HABS TX-270 and HABS TX-270-A
- Location: Wheelock, Texas
- Program: Texas A&M University
- Student Team: Vicki Borchers, Bruce Bradsby, James Davidson, Sandra Gramley, Alan Hohlfelder, Gary Maples, Steve Monroe, Andrew Need, Gary Olover, Charles Peveto, Barbara Rottler, Denise Seavitt, Teri Taylor, Bartlett Wales, Charles Wooldridge
Third Place Award
Schmid Brothers Building
- Survey Number: HABS TX-300
- Location: Brenham, Texas
- Program: Texas A&M University
- Student Team: Kristen Ashbeck, Michael Baker, Deborah Hardt, Stephanie Husfelt, Michele Molnar, Lee Scott
1983
First Place Award
Mulford House
- Survey Number: HABS NY-5412
- Location: East Hampton, New York
- Program: Columbia University
- Student Team: Anne E. Weber
Second Place Award
Tampa Bay Hotel
- Survey Number: HABS TX-362
- Location: Tampa, Florida
- Program: University of Florida
- Student Team: Reed Alan Black
Third Place Award
University of Virginia, Pavilion X
- Survey Number: HABS VA-193-E
- Location: Charlottesville, Virginia
- Program: University of Virginia
- Student Team: Deborah Diana Johnson
Last updated: October 26, 2023