Special Collections Department
403 Parks Library
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-2140

RS 26/5/11
Philip Homer Elwood (1884-1960)
Papers, 1927-1969, n.d.


Descriptive summary

creator:

Elwood, Philip Homer (1884-1960)
title:

Papers
dates:

1927-1969, n.d.
extent:

1.72 linear feet (1 document box and one oversized box)
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 (1927-1969, 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.

 

Organization

This collection is arranged alphabetically.

 

Container list

Box

Folder

Title 

Date

1

12

"Nature in Garden Art: A Discussion of the Informal in Garden Design," quotations selected by P.H. Elwood

1935

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

3

Article: "Farmstead Planning and Rural Housekeeping"

1932

1

9

Article: "Landscape Architecture at Iowa State College: A Program of Aims, Ideals, and Objectives"

n.d.

1

10

Article: "Landscape Architecture: A Brief Outline of the Background and Scope of the Profession"

1931

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, n.d.

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"

n.d.

1

14

Paper: "Planning the Home Landscape"

n.d.

1

15

Paper: "Trends in Planning Education"

n.d.

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"

n.d.

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

n.d.

Map case

C402 D02 Folder 1

Botanical and Trial Gardens, The Ohio State University at Columbus. (Blueprint. 26" x 44". 1" = 50'. 6/4/1923)

1923

Map case

C402 D02 Folder 1

Street Plan, Colorado. (Sketch. 25" x 43". 1" = 50'. Fall 1948)

1948

Map case

C402 D02 Folder 1

Street and Parking Plan. (Pencil drawing. 28"x19")

n.d.

Map case

C402 D02 Folder 1

Preliminary Plan for Lakeside Cemetery, Canon City, Colorado. (Pencil drawing. 31"-22". 1" = 50'. 7/1948)

1948

Map case

C402 D02 Folder 1

A Proposed Civic Center—Alternate Scheme. (Ink and pencil drawing. 22" x 32". 1" = 40')

n.d.

Map case

C402 D02 Folder 1

Community Park: a Proposed Development. (Ink and pen drawing with color. 31" x 38". 1" = 100')

n.d.

Map case

C402 D02 Folder 1

Suggested Development for Margaret Park. (Ink and pen with color. 25" x 29". 1" = 20')

n.d.

Map case

C402 D02 Folder 1

Rudd Park. (Ink and pen with color. 29" x 23")

n.d.

Map case

C402 D02 Folder 1

A Shopping Center. (Ink and pen with color. 26" x 37". 1" = 30')

n.d.

Map case

C402 D02 Folder 1

Typical Neighborhood Shopping Center, Canon City, Colorado. (Ink and pen with color. 20" x 17". 1" = 20')

n.d.

Map case

D02 Folder 2

Detail of the Ionic Order. (Copied sketch. 23" x 37". 12/5/1908)

1908

Map case

C402 D02 Folder 2

Comparison of the Orders. (Copied sketch. 25" x 37". 1/30/1909)

1909

Map case

D02 Folder 2

Unidentified plan showing buildings and landscape plans. (Pencil sketch with watercolor. 25" x 36". 6/5/1909)

1909

Map case

C402 D02 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

C402 D02 Folder 2

Ionic Façade. (Color print. 38" x 24")

n.d.

Map case

C402 D02 Folder 2

Unidentified building with stairs and a man. (Pencil drawing with watercolor. 25" x 36.5")

n.d.

Map case

C402 D02 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

C402 D02 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

C402 D02 Folder 2

The George Junior Republic, Freeville, N.Y. Plan no. C256. (Topographic copy. 17" x 23". 1" = 100')

n.d.

Map case

C402 D02 Folder 2

Detail of Tuscan Order. (Sketch copy. 20" x 14". 10/17/1908)

1908

Map case

C402 D02 Folder 2

Detail of the Doric Order. (Sketch copy. 23" x 14.5". 10/26/1908)

1908

Map case

C402 D02 Folder 2

Doric Order: Detail of Capital and Base. (Sketch copy. 22.5" x 16". 10/29/1908)

1908

Map case

C402 D02 Folder 2

Doric Arcade. (Sketch copy. 19" x 19.5". 11/7/1908)

1908

Map case

C402 D02 Folder 2

Cover Page: Plans, Specifications, and Working Drawings for a Model Massachusetts Farmhouse, Amherst, Mass. (Pencil wording. 16" x 20.5")

n.d.

Map case

C402 D02 Folder 2

Front Elevations. Plan no. 5-25. (Ink sketch. 16.5" x 20.5". 0.25" = 1')

n.d.

Map case

C402 D02 Folder 2

Living Room and Elevation. Plan no. 5-25. (Ink sketch. 16.5" x 20.5". 0.25" = 1')

n.d.

Map case

C402 D02 Folder 2

Rear Elevation. Plan no. 5-25. (Ink sketch.16.5" x 20.5". 0.25" = 1')

n.d.

Map case

C402 D02 Folder 2

Service Elevation. Plan no. 5-25. (Ink sketch. 16.5" x 20.5". 0.25" = 1')

n.d.

Map case

C402 D02 Folder 2

Second Floor Plan. Plan no. 5-25. (Ink sketch. 17.5" x 21". 0.25" = 1')

n.d.

Map case

C402 D02 Folder 2

An Exhibition of Civic Art and the Town Hall, Amherst, Mass. (Ink sketch. 15" x 13")

n.d.

Map case

C402 D02 Folder 2

Tuscan Doorway. (Ink sketch. 18" x 24")

n.d.

Map case

C402 D02 Folder 2

First Floor Plan. Plan no. 5-25. (Ink sketch. 17.5" x 22". 0.25" = 1')

n.d.

Map case

C402 D02 Folder 2

Unidentified landscape with a lake. (Ink and pencil sketch. 25" x 15")

n.d.

Map case

C402 D02 Folder 2

Unidentified topographical map. (Topographical sketch. 15.5" x 19")

n.d.

Map case

D02
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

D02 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

D02 Folder 3

Wall Fountain Detail and Elevation of Driveway Pier. (Blueprint. 24.5" x 30.5". 1" = 1')

n.d.

Map case

D02 Folder 3

Wall Fountain Detail and Elevation of Driveway Pier. (Pencil drawing. 24.5" x 30.5". 1" = 1')

n.d.