Executive Summary
In this database, Masonry Production and Repair: 160 Years of Indexed Bibliography 1837 - 1997, the over 6,500 references each represent a different article or publication related to masonry. The documents were collected in the course of a research project for the National Endowment for the Arts on the repair of broken and cracked masonry. Consequently, the vast majority of entries in this masonry database reflect issues of brick, stone, and terra cotta manufacturing, installation, structural performance, and repair. To a lesser but still substantial degree is information on non-destructive testing, cleaning, environmental degradation, building codes, condition assessment, fireproof construction, and earthquake vulnerability, as well as some entries on concrete, hollow clay tile, tariffs on masonry products, and labor rates and issues for masons and stone setters.


Introduction
The vast majority of the documents for Masonry Production and Repair: 160 Years of Indexed Bibliography 1837 - 1997 were obtained through the library at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign or through the highly experienced interlibrary loan office to whom I am highly indebted. Despite the relative ease of physically obtaining the documents, identification of these items proved a substantial challenge.The bulk of the entries were not previously indexed on line and many not indexed at all, as they were derived from trade journals, nineteenth century documents and academics theses.

The greatest value of this database is in the listing and indexing of items that would be extremely difficult to know about without an exhaustive shelf-by-shelf, page-by-page perusal of a major library, which is precisely how many of these entries were found, especially the early trade publications and conference proceedings.

The database of abstracts has been put on-line so those interested in building conservation have an easily accessible way to find a significant quantity of information on preserving historic masonry buildings and monuments. However, users should be aware that The Masonry Society does not have access to most of the references in this database. Therefore Please contact your nearest university or major public library to obtain  references.