Special Collections Department
403 Parks Library
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-2140
RS 26/5/11
Philip Homer Elwood (1884-1960)
Papers, 1907-1969, n.d.
Descriptive summary
| creator: | Elwood, Philip Homer (1884-1960) |
| title: | Papers |
| dates: | 1907-1969, n.d. |
| extent: | 4.72 linear feet (1 document box, 1 oversized box, and 3 map case folders) |
| collection number: | RS 26/5/11 |
| repository: | University Archives, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University. |
Administrative information
| access: | Open for research; artifacts and sketches restricted without permission of the Head, Special Collections Department |
| publication rights: | Consult Head, Special Collections Department |
| preferred citation: | Philip Homer Elwood Papers, RS 26/5/11 University Archives, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library. |
Biographical note
Philip Homer Elwood was born in Fort Plain, New York on December 7, 1884 to Philip and Alice Elwood. He received his B.A. (1910) in Landscape Architecture from Cornell University. He then worked as a Civil and Landscape Engineer in the firm of Charles W. Leavett of New York City (1910-1913), as an Agent for the Agricultural Extension Service of the Massachusetts State College at Amherst (1913-1915), as the head of the Department of Landscape Architecture at Ohio State University (1915-1923), and as a Landscape Architect in the firm of Elwood and Frye (1920-1923). He also served as a field artillery captain in the First World War, and in 1919 he acted as the Chief Landscape Engineer during construction of the Argonne Cemetery in Romagne-sous-Montfaucon, France. In 1923, Elwood was hired as a Professor of Landscape Architecture at Iowa State College (University) and helped to organize the new Department of Landscape Architecture. He was made head of the department in 1929 and served in that capacity until 1950. Elwood was named Professor Emeritus in 1958. During his time at Iowa State, Elwood conducted several summer travel tours for students to Asia and Europe, and throughout North America. He also published numerous articles and served as the editor of American Landscape Architecture. Elwood retired from Iowa State in 1951 and started a landscape architecture firm, Elwood and Greene, in Tucson Arizona. Aside from his academic career, Elwood also served on several commissions and completed many professional projects. He served on the National Resources Planning Board (1940-1943), the Missouri Valley Regional Planning Commission (1941-1943), and the Mississippi River Parkway Planning Commission (1932-1950). He was a Town Planner for the U.S. Army Engineers on the Garrison Reservoir Town site, a Site Planner for Boys Town, near Omaha, Nebraska, and he made up the master plan for Canon City Colorado in 1948 and 1949. Elwood was active in several social and professional organizations, including the American Society of Landscape Architects, the American Planning and Civic Association, the American Society of Planning Officials, Tau Sigma Delta, the honorary landscape architecture organization, and Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. Elwood was married to Dorothy Elwood, and had two children, Mary and David. Elwood died in Tucson, Arizona on August 20, 1960. |
Collection description
This collection (1907-1969, n.d.) includes Elwood's correspondence, as well as correspondence with Elwood's son following his death, biographical information, articles and papers, and materials from his time as Head of the Department of Landscape Architecture. This collection also has materials related to the summer travel schools, including news clippings and a scrapbook from the 1927 trip to the western United States. The 1927 trip took Elwood and his students from Ames through South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, and New Mexico, with stops at National Parks such as Yellowstone, Glacier, and Yosemite, and included meetings with city planners in Seattle and Los Angles. The University Archives houses the 16 mm films Elwood took on his trips. These films are available on the Department's YouTube Channel. |
Organization
This collection is arranged alphabetically. |
Container list
Box |
Folder |
Title |
Date |
1 |
2 |
Address to the Department of Landscape Architecture |
1940 |
1 |
20 |
Address: "What should be done about the Missouri River Valley," an address to the Iowa League of Women Voters |
1946 |
1 |
21 |
Article: "Appreciation of Landscape Architecture: Oriental Gardens" |
undated |
1 |
3 |
Article: "Farmstead Planning and Rural Housekeeping" |
1932 |
1 |
9 |
Article: "Landscape Architecture at Iowa State College: A Program of Aims, Ideals, and Objectives" |
undated |
1 |
10 |
Article: "Landscape Architecture: A Brief Outline of the Background and Scope of the Profession" |
1931 |
1 |
12 |
Article: "Nature in Garden Art: A Discussion of the Informal in Garden Design," quotations selected by P.H. Elwood |
1935 |
1 |
4 |
Article: "Planning a Better Community," an excerpt from an Iowa State Planning Board Bulletin |
1938 |
1 |
5 |
Articles on the National Park Service for the Fifth Travel Summer School |
1927 |
1 |
6 |
Biographical Information and News Clippings |
1929-1969, undated |
1 |
7 |
Correspondence |
1951-1967 |
1 |
8 |
Discussion: "Landscape Architecture: A Profession for Some, an Opportunity for All" |
1939 |
1 |
11 |
Lecture: "The Design of Cemeteries" |
1934 |
1 |
13 |
Paper: "How State Agencies Affect the Profession of Landscape Architecture" |
undated |
1 |
14 |
Paper: "Planning the Home Landscape" |
undated |
1 |
15 |
Paper: "Trends in Planning Education" |
undated |
1 |
1 |
Report: "1931-1932 Progress and Programs for 1933-1934" in the Department of Landscape Architecture |
1932 |
1 |
16 |
Report: "Iowa Postwar Rehabilitation Commission," with P.H. Elwood as consultant |
1945 |
1 |
17 |
Report: "The Iowa State College Campus: A Resume of the Past and a Planned Program for the Future" |
undated |
2 |
1 |
Scrapbook: "Summer Course Trip Report," from the fifth summer travel school (16- 2x3, 60- 3x5, and 1- 5x7 b&w photographs) |
1927 |
1 |
18 |
Study Tours: news clippings and travel materials |
1927-1932 |
1 |
19 |
Travel School Film Listings |
undated |
Map case |
Folder 1 |
Botanical and Trial Gardens, The Ohio State University at Columbus. (Blueprint. 26" x 44". 1" = 50'. 6/4/1923) |
1923 |
Map case |
Folder 1 |
Street Plan, Colorado. (Sketch. 25" x 43". 1" = 50'. Fall 1948) |
1948 |
Map case |
Folder 1 |
Street and Parking Plan. (Pencil drawing. 28"x19") |
undated |
Map case |
Folder 1 |
Preliminary Plan for Lakeside Cemetery, Canon City, Colorado. (Pencil drawing. 31"-22". 1" = 50'. 7/1948) |
1948 |
Map case |
Folder 1 |
A Proposed Civic Center--Alternate Scheme. (Ink and pencil drawing. 22" x 32". 1" = 40') |
undated |
Map case |
Folder 1 |
Community Park: a Proposed Development. (Ink and pen drawing with color. 31" x 38". 1" = 100') |
undated |
Map case |
Folder 1 |
Suggested Development for Margaret Park. (Ink and pen with color. 25" x 29". 1" = 20') |
undated |
Map case |
Folder 1 |
Rudd Park. (Ink and pen with color. 29" x 23") |
undated |
Map case |
Folder 1 |
A Shopping Center. (Ink and pen with color. 26" x 37". 1" = 30') |
undated |
Map case |
Folder 1 |
Typical Neighborhood Shopping Center, Canon City, Colorado. (Ink and pen with color. 20" x 17". 1" = 20') |
undated |
Map case |
Folder 2 |
Detail of the Ionic Order. (Copied sketch. 23" x 37". 12/5/1908) |
1908 |
Map case |
Folder 2 |
Comparison of the Orders. (Copied sketch. 25" x 37". 1/30/1909) |
1909 |
Map case |
Folder 2 |
Unidentified plan showing buildings and landscape plans. (Pencil sketch with watercolor. 25" x 36". 6/5/1909) |
1909 |
Map case |
Folder 2 |
Sketch Study for Improvement, Locust Hill Cemetery Assn., Montague, Mass. Plan no. 32-3. (Copied sketch. 29" x 36". 1" = 30'. 11/19/1914) |
1914 |
Map case |
Folder 2 |
Ionic Facade. (Color print. 38" x 24") |
undated |
Map case |
Folder 2 |
Unidentified building with stairs and a man. (Pencil drawing with watercolor. 25" x 36.5") |
undated |
Map case |
Folder 2 |
Topographic Map for Subdivision C Property of F. B. Polson, Toronto, Ontario. (Topographic copy. 17.5" x 22.5". 1" = 20'. April 1907) |
1907 |
Map case |
Folder 2 |
Plan for Arrangement, Subdivision C Property of F. B. Polson, Toronto, Ontario. (Topographic copy. 23" x 19.5". 1" = 20'. April 1907 |
1907 |
Map case |
Folder 2 |
The George Junior Republic, Freeville, N.Y. Plan no. C256. (Topographic copy. 17" x 23". 1" = 100') |
undated |
Map case |
Folder 2 |
Detail of Tuscan Order. (Sketch copy. 20" x 14". 10/17/1908) |
1908 |
Map case |
Folder 2 |
Detail of the Doric Order. (Sketch copy. 23" x 14.5". 10/26/1908) |
1908 |
Map case |
Folder 2 |
Doric Order: Detail of Capital and Base. (Sketch copy. 22.5" x 16". 10/29/1908) |
1908 |
Map case |
Folder 2 |
Doric Arcade. (Sketch copy. 19" x 19.5". 11/7/1908) |
1908 |
Map case |
Folder 2 |
Cover Page: Plans, Specifications, and Working Drawings for a Model Massachusetts Farmhouse, Amherst, Mass. (Pencil wording. 16" x 20.5") |
undated |
Map case |
Folder 2 |
Front Elevations. Plan no. 5-25. (Ink sketch. 16.5" x 20.5". 0.25" = 1') |
undated |
Map case |
Folder 2 |
Living Room and Elevation. Plan no. 5-25. (Ink sketch. 16.5" x 20.5". 0.25" = 1') |
undated |
Map case |
Folder 2 |
Rear Elevation. Plan no. 5-25. (Ink sketch.16.5" x 20.5". 0.25" = 1') |
undated |
Map case |
Folder 2 |
Service Elevation. Plan no. 5-25. (Ink sketch. 16.5" x 20.5". 0.25" = 1') |
undated |
Map case |
Folder 2 |
Second Floor Plan. Plan no. 5-25. (Ink sketch. 17.5" x 21". 0.25" = 1') |
undated |
Map case |
Folder 2 |
An Exhibition of Civic Art and the Town Hall, Amherst, Mass. (Ink sketch. 15" x 13") |
undated |
Map case |
Folder 2 |
Tuscan Doorway. (Ink sketch. 18" x 24") |
undated |
Map case |
Folder 2 |
First Floor Plan. Plan no. 5-25. (Ink sketch. 17.5" x 22". 0.25" = 1') |
undated |
Map case |
Folder 2 |
Unidentified landscape with a lake. (Ink and pencil sketch. 25" x 15") |
undated |
Map case |
Folder 2 |
Unidentified topographical map. (Topographical sketch. 15.5" x 19") |
undated |
Map case |
Folder 3 |
Detail of the Terrace Garden for Dr. and Mrs. W. B. Armstrong. Ames, Iowa. (Blueprint. 25" x 31". 0.5" = 1'. 7/1938) |
1938 |
Map case |
Folder 3 |
Detail of the Terrace Garden for Dr. and Mrs. W. B. Armstrong. Ames, Iowa. (Pencil drawing. 25" x 31". 0.5" = 1'. 7/1938) |
1938 |
Map case |
Folder 3 |
Wall Fountain Detail and Elevation of Driveway Pier. (Blueprint. 24.5" x 30.5". 1" = 1') |
undated |
Map case |
Folder 3 |
Wall Fountain Detail and Elevation of Driveway Pier. (Pencil drawing. 24.5" x 30.5". 1" = 1') |
undated |