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<br /> phase. There are several reasons. Probably the most important reason is that the principal ifiVesti
<br /> gator knows the county and the resources recorded better than anyone else and is best qualified to
<br /> provide the knowledge and continuity to undergird the additional analysis, tie in additional
<br /> research, and make selections for the publication. Secondly, it is the principal investigator whose
<br /> name will be on the book and who has, as well as the county, a great deal at stake in making that
<br /> book the best it can be. When the principal investigator carries the project through to this stage, it
<br /> is his or her book, and the basis for obtaining future work and establishing (or enhancing) a
<br /> professional reputation. In some cases, where there has been a delay between phases, the princi-
<br /> pal investigator has not been available to continue, and other consultants have been recruited to
<br /> do editing and research, but this is far from the best method.
<br /> In our conversation you mentioned the interest in considering a pool of qualified candidates for
<br /> this next phase--in order to produce the best publication possible, a goal we all share. Prime
<br /> qualifications include familiarity with Orange County architecture and history, a solid grounding
<br /> in architectural history including vernacular architecture, and research, writing, photographic,
<br /> and organizational skills. I have checked on a few possibilities in addition to Todd and Jody.
<br /> Kelly Lally, who worked on Phase I, is now employed fulltime with Wake County and unable to
<br /> take on the work. Ruth Little, who also worked on Phase I and is among our finest and most
<br /> experienced architectural historians, stated that she would not be able to do this project. s that
<br /> would be as well qualified as these. Ruth also stated emphatically her belief that Todd and Jody
<br /> were the best people for the project, for, as she said, "this is their survey." To get a range of per-
<br /> spectives, I discussed the Orange County project with Kelly, Ruth, and Scott Power, the author
<br /> of the excellent Pitt County survey book, now employed in our Eastern Office. All made a few
<br /> essential points independently that may be useful for your consideration.
<br /> First, in nearly every case, the survey publications that are the best are those that are carried from
<br /> start to finish by the principal investigators, who have the most at stake and who know the
<br /> resources best. Many of our very best survey publications--including the forthcoming Wake
<br /> County survey book by Kelly Tally, the fine Pitt County survey book by Scott Power, the Nash
<br /> County survey book by Rick Mattson, and the Lincoln County survey book by Marvin Brown, to
<br /> name a few--are works in which the principal investigators conducted their first county surveys
<br /> and produced their first survey publications. In all these cases, the surveyor obviously had a great
<br /> deal invested in malting the survey book of the highest quality possible, and the results speak for
<br /> themselves.
<br /> Second, as Kelly, Ruth, and Scott also stressed in their comments, and as'both Claudia Brown
<br /> and I have mentioned in our conversations, an additional key factor in all these projects is that
<br /> our office is intensively involved throughout the project. We will have the essay read and
<br /> critiqued by our research historian, and, as architectural survey coordinator, I will work closely
<br /> with the project to review drafts, edit for content and style, and make a variety of suggestions for
<br /> assuring the quality of the manuscript. I recall specifically how closely we have worked to help
<br /> both Scott Power and Kelly Lally focus and deepen and edit their manuscripts, both the essays
<br /> and the entries. In addition, we hope that local experts will also assist in similar ways: this is also
<br /> a key factor in the quality of such publications.
<br /> For these reasons we strongly recommend that Orange County continue to employ Jody Carter
<br /> and Todd Peck for this next phase. We have been quite impressed with their work thus far on the
<br /> project. They have displayed great devotion to the project, and their work has been timely, effi-
<br /> cient, and of high quality. They gave a first-rate presentation at the recent National Register
<br /> Advisory Committee meeting, and I anticipate your commission will receive an equally excellent
<br /> presentation. They have also shown exemplary willingness and ability to respond to suggestions
<br /> and constructive criticism in their fieldwork and writing. We have every confidence in their
<br /> ability to carry this project through this next phase. We believe that the most satisfactory results
<br /> will come from their continued work on the project.
<br /> Because the current project will wind up in late August, it seems wise to move as quickly as pos-
<br /> sible to finalize plans and selection of consultant for the next phase. If for some reason Todd and
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