Utah State University DigitalCommons@USU Landscape Architecture and Environmental Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning 75th Anniversary Planning 2014 The History of the Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning 1939-2014 Utah State University, LAEP Department Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/laep75 Part of the Environmental Design Commons, and the Landscape Architecture Commons Recommended Citation Utah State University, LAEP Department, "The History of the Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning 1939-2014" (2014). Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning 75th Anniversary. Paper 7. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/laep75/7 This Brochure is brought to you for free and open access by the Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning at DigitalCommons@USU. 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The History of the Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning 1939 - 2014 Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning Published by Department of Landscape Architecture & Environmental Planning Utah State University 4005 Old Main Hill Logan, Utah 84322-4005 August 2014 Copyright LAEP Department, All Rights Reserved For more information contact LAEP Department at www.laep.usu.edu Cover photo: Donna Barry, USU Public Relations and Marketing Historic photos reproduced with permission from: Special Collections & Archives Merrill-Cazier Library Utah State University The History of the Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning 1939 - 2014 PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS As the Department of Landscape MLA 1989, for the 50th Anniversary of of current history. Readers are encouraged Architecture and Environmental Planning LAEP. It is largely the story of Laval Morris, to view former publications on the at Utah State University celebrates its first the founding of the program, and the department’s website http://laep.usu.edu/ 75 years of existence, it is appropriate early history of the department until his to reflect back on the individuals who retirement in 1964. Interviews of Laval and Grateful appreciation and thanks are have laid the foundation for what the Rachel Morris and many former students extended to Aaron Smith for his patience department has become, and to trace its augmented Susan’s extensive research of in dealing with the numerous changes and evolution from the first two graduates primary sources to create a comprehensive edits thrown his way in the production in 1940 to over 1,500 today. Given the and enjoyable insight into the period. of this document, and for his InDesign amount of time covered, the plethora of wizardry. Special thanks are also due to actors involved, and the many stories to be Epic 2 was produced by Aaron Smith, MLA Department Head Sean Michael for his told, it is inevitable that events have been 2014, as the major part of his master’s thesis contributions and careful edits. missed. It is hoped, however, that enough is this year. Beginning with Burton Taylor’s presented to provide a substantial overview succession of Morris in 1964, Aaron carries As the department looks forward to the of the program’s growth and development the story of LAEP into the new millennium. completion of our first century in 2039, we to recent times. Using extensive interviews of several thank everyone who has participated in faculty members prominent in the program and contributed to our first 75 years! Like all of history, it is easier to speak of beginning in the late 1960s until recent the past than of the present. Although an times, he examined changing patterns in attempt has been made to bring the story the profession and their relationship to the up-to-date where possible, coverage of development of the department. recent and current events and individuals is cursory, and awaits the writing of the Several sidebars scattered through the centennial history in 2039. work cover various topical subjects as Michael Timmons, Editor “stand-alone” short stories. Some of these Associate Professor Emeritus The first portion of this document (Epic have borrowed extensively from the LAEP 1), has been reproduced virtually intact Department’s newsletter InSites, which in from the history written by Susan Crook, itself provides a valuable annual account EPIC 1 - The Laval Morris Era “The Laval Morris Story” as published in the 50th Anniversary History Susan Crook, MLA 1989 - Michael Timmons, Editor CHAPTER 1 Laval Morris’ Early Life ......................................................... 1 Childhood - Student Years at the AC - On to Michigan State - Instructor in Horticulture - Looking for Landscape Architecture Education - Morris as a Harvard Man - Pioneering in Provo CHAPTER 2 Beginnings at USAC ............................................................. 9 An End and a Beginning - Staking out Turf - Running the Hurdles - The First Graduates CHAPTER 3 World War II ..........................................................................13 Return to Harvard - The Home Front - Morris’ Army Service - Departmental Affiliation - Job Hunting in Hollywood CHAPTER 4 Back in Business ..................................................................17 Initiating Graduate Study - Extension Landscape Architecture - Departmental Status: 1950-51 - Field Trips - Campus Planning CHAPTER 5 Life in the Department .....................................................29 Landscape Architecture Club - Socials at the Morris Home - Exchange Problems - Classroom Routine - Studio Nights CHAPTER 6 Transitions .............................................................................39 BLE OF CONTENTS Elevation is Status - Globetrotting - Staffing: A Revolving Door - Enrollment and Curriculum Status - Accreditation Review CHAPTER 7 TA Retirement ............................................................................47 Stepping Down - Life in Retirement - In Memoriam - Morris Traveling Fellowship EPIC 2 - A NEW ERA ADDITIONAL MATERIALS Excepts from The History of the Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning by Aaron Smith with additions and editing & SIDEBARS by Michael Timmons The Quad ............................................................. 15 Extension ............................................................. 20 CHAPTER 8 Laval’s Garden ..................................................... 26 New Management ...........................................................53 Burton Taylor - Program Development - New Hires - Stuck in the Basement - Mechanic Arts Building - The LAEP House .................................................. 28 Leadership in Transition Newsletters and Insites ...................................... 30 CHAPTER 9 Scaling Up ............................................................................69 Agathon and LAEP Week .................................... 34 Richard Toth - Dick Toth Reforms - Expansion of the Core Faculty - Facilities: Realizing a Vision - Extension & Kenji Shiozawa .................................................... 41 Environmental Field Service CHAPTER 10 Design Build ........................................................ 64 A Changing Student Body ...........................................81 Travel/Study Program ........................................ 67 Growing Numbers - Matriculation - Student Demographics The Charrette ...................................................... 78 CHAPTER 11 Visiting Speaker Series ....................................... 84 Technology ..........................................................................85 Technological Renaissance - The Computer Age - New Technological Developments Slovanian Exchange ........................................... 88 CHAPTER 12 Recognizing Student Scholarship ..................... 90 A Season of Change ........................................................89 Increasing Role of Research - Uncertain Times LAEP Advancement Board ................................. 92 CHAPTER 13 Native American Land Design Program ............ 95 Into the Next Millennium .............................................97 Faculty Evolution - New Initiatives - Distance Ed/Online Sustainability Conference .................................. 98 - Homecoming - Field Studio/LAEP House - Setting Sights on the Centennial Swaner Green Space Institute ......................... 101 Design Workshop Archive ................................ 102 LAEP Chronology .............................................. 107 List of Graduates ............................................... 111 EPIC 1 FOUNDING A PROGRAM: The Laval Morris Story CHAPTER ONE Laval Morris’ Early Life Childhood Sometime in the summer of 1908 or 1909, the course of Morris’ entire life. His life when the fruit was ripening on the cherry began in a time and place alive with a trees, Laval Morris looked, really looked pioneering spirit that encouraged his at those trees, and, for the first time in his inquisitiveness. Utah had been awarded young life was consciously aware of beauty. statehood only three years prior to the Recalling the incident in a 1973 interview birth of Laval Sidney to Koran Lemual and conducted by Mary Lynn Palmer, he said Louise Bissiger Morris on 3 December 1899. this: Their family farm was in East Millcreek, a rural agricultural