Charles Emil Peterson (1906–2004) was an architect who “... is widely considered to be a seminal figure in professionalizing the practice of historic preservation in the United States. He is referred to as the ‘founding father’ of the professional encouragement of historic preservation, the ‘godfather of preservation,’ and an ‘extraordinary preservationist’ who made important contributions to the knowledge of early American building practices, helped create the profession of the preservation architect, and passionately advocated for the retention and restoration of the American built heritage.” Peterson was intimately involved with historic Philadelphia’s preservation and preservation as this preliminary report documents. Within, the thirty-seven illustrations accompany text that describe Independence Hall, Philosophical Hall, the Old Custom House, Carpenter’s Hall, Bishop White’s house, and other now-familiar architectural Philadelphia landmarks. “Peterson and NPS historian Roy E. Appelman were assigned to Philadelphia in early 1947 to advise the Philadelphia National Shrines Park Commission on the national park being proposed for the area surrounding Independence Hall. Peterson was the uncredited primary author/editor of the Shrines Commission's 7-volume final report to Congress (December 1947), which was incorporated into the enabling legislation under which Independence National Historical Park was created.”