MICHAEL GORDON SPENCER
Assistant Professor, Department of Historic Preservation
michael.spencer@uky.edu
859-257-4442
Expertise & Research Interest
Understanding historic materials and structures through new and innovative technologies.
Keywords: Non-Invasive; Infrared Thermography; Materials Analysis; Historic Preservation; Conservation
Education
- University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY. Master of Historic Preservation (MHP), May 2005
- Mary Washington College, Fredericksburg, VA Bachelor of Arts in Historic Preservation (BA), May 2003
- MWC/Robert Gordon University, Scott Sutherland School of Architecture, Scotland, summer 2002
Awards, Honors, Professional Registration & Certification
- Rotterdam, Holland, Honorable Mention at "The Flood", 2nd International Architecture Biennale, 2005
- University of Kentucky, Chan Mohney Scholarship in Preservation Design, spring 2005
- Mary Washington College, Center for Historic Preservation, Grace Wadsworth Award, spring 2003
Memberships
- Vernacular Architecture Forum (VAF) 2002-current
Selected Publications/Creative Scholarship
- "Infrared Thermography and Other Non-invasive Technologies within the Context of Historic Materials", sponsored by a NCPTT Grant, 2006
- Green River House (ca 1820s), Historic Structures Report, including photographs, drawings, damage assessment, mortar analysis, paint analysis, nail chronology and archival research, 2006
- Tate Hotel, Berea, Kentucky, "Understanding the early Motorist Hotel, a study of the W.B. Tate building", 2004-2005
Projects
Infrared Thermography
Creating of a calibration series and raw database for historic materials using infrared thermography.
Funding Sources
- National Center for Preservation Training and Technology (NCPTT)
Collaborators
- Dr. John Nychka, University of Kentucky, College of Engineering
Mortar and Brick Analysis
Study of historic mortar and brick used in Kentucky with comparative samples from Drayton Hall, South Carolina and other locations. This process will involve using a number of previously known analysis techniques to create a broader picture of historic mortar and brick within Kentucky.
Collaborators
- Dr. John Nychka, University of Kentucky, College of Engineering
- Dr. Sasha Veljkovic, University of Kentucky, College of Engineering
- Matt Webster, Director of Preservation, Drayton Hall, South Carolina