Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Irving C. Root papers, 1911-1972
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Root, Irving C.
- Title
- Irving C. Root papers
- Dates
- 1911-1972 (inclusive)Date of CollectionDate of Collection
- Quantity
- 6.58 cubic ft. (14 boxes)
- Collection Number
- 05972
- Summary
- Irving C. Root was an architect, city planner, chief engineer/planning director, and superintendent of the National Capital Parks in Washington D.C. The collection contains materials regarding his professional career and the projects he helped to develop.
- Repository
-
American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
American Heritage Center
University of Wyoming
1000 E. University Ave.
Dept. 3924
Laramie, WY
82071
Telephone: 3077663756
ahcref@uwyo.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Access Restrictions
There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.
- Languages
- English
Historical NoteReturn to Top
Irving C. Root (1891-1973) was an architect during the mid-20th century. He began his career as a city planner in Cambridge, Massachusetts (1916-1920) and Flint, Michigan (1920-1922). From 1922-1927 he pursued his own private practice as a planning consultant before becoming the Chief Engineer and Planning Director of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. In 1940 Root was appointed Superintendent of the National Capital Parks in Washington D.C. He held this post until 1953 when he returned to private practice as a planning consultant.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The collection contains materials relating to Irving C. Root's involvement in city and national park planning including extensive subject files containing maps, architectural drawings, correspondence, publications, newspaper clippings, and articles and reports concerning projects for zoning, park systems, city planning, and the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. The collection also contains files concerning his professional career and private practice. These files include correspondence, contracts, project prospects, newspaper clippings, articles and reports written by Root, and research files about zoning, park systems, and city planning.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Copyright InformationThe researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.
Preferred Citation
Preferred CitationItem Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Related Materials
Related MaterialsThere are no known other archival collections created by Irving C. Root at the date of processing.
Acquisition Information
Acquisition InformationThis material was received from the estate of Irving C. Root and his son, Robert W. Root, in June 1975.
Processing Note
Processing InformationThe collection was processed by Jamie J. Greene in February 2013.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series I. Subject filesReturn to Top
This series contains correspondence, reports, legislation, articles, clippings, ordinances, maps, blueprints and architectural drawings, pamphlets, brochures, publications, notes, and photographs relating to specific projects and subjects that Root worked on during his professional career.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box | ||
1 | American Society of Planning Officials |
1962-1970 |
1 | Architectural control |
1928-1951 |
1 | Automobile parking |
1928-1955 |
1 | Bridge planning |
1921-1929 |
1 | Building code |
1949-1952 |
1 | Building lines |
1931-1935 |
1 | California - Folsom |
1952 |
1 | California - Sacramento-Folsom |
1952-1955 |
1 | Cape Cod, National Park Service |
1953 |
1 | Causeway Memorial Park, Muskegon, Michigan |
1925-1943 |
2 | Commercial - Industrial |
1923-1950 |
2 | Drafting |
1917-1964 |
2 | Government Services, Inc. |
1964-1970 |
2-3, and 14 | Guam |
1948-1952 |
4 | Highway planning |
1920-1955 |
4 | Highway protect |
1930-1953 |
4 | Horticulture |
1926-1953 |
4 | Housing |
1931-1940 |
4 | Insects |
1911-1940 |
4 | Landscape |
1923-1935 |
4 | Maryland - Caroline County |
1963-1964 |
4 | Maryland - Centreville |
1961 |
4-5 | Maryland - Charles County |
1959-1968 |
5 | Maryland - Denton |
1961 |
5 | Maryland - Montgomery County |
1954-1956 |
5 | Maryland National Capitol Park and Planning Commission |
1927-1967 |
6 | Maryland state roads |
1952-1962 |
6 | Maryland - Talbot County |
1951-1967 |
6 and 14 | Michigan - Flint |
1920-1924 |
6 and 14 | Michigan - Miscellaneous |
1920-1971 |
7 | National Park Service |
1944-1968 |
7 | Nevada - Boulder City |
1944-1953 |
7 | Playgrounds |
1934-1954 |
7 | Railroads-Transportation |
1920-1925 |
7 | Regional planning |
1937 |
7 | Subdivision of land |
1924-1941 |
7 | Tennessee - Gatlinburg |
1946-1955 |
7 | Virgin Islands |
1955-1958 |
7 | Virginia - Alexandria |
1932 |
8 | Washington area |
1920-1960 |
Series II. Professional filesReturn to Top
This series contains article and report drafts, contracts, city planning publicity and reports, correspondence, legislation, and newspaper clippings regarding Root's professional life.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box | ||
8 | Article and report drafts |
1927-1953 |
8 | City planning promotion and publicity |
1913-1949 |
8-9 | City planning reports |
1920-1969 |
9 | Contracts |
1923-1962 |
Correspondence: |
||
Box | ||
9 | Appointments |
1932-1952 |
9 | Commendatory |
1915-1968 |
9 | Letters of congratulations for appointment to Superintendent of National Capital Parks |
1940 |
9 | Miscellaneous |
1927-1972 |
Box | ||
9 | Legislation and legal documents |
1928-1952 |
9 | Miscellaneous |
undated |
9 | Newspaper clippings |
1920-1964 |
10 | Prospects |
1950-1968 |
10 | Reports |
1937-1955 |
10-11 | Zoning |
1923-1960 |
Series III. PhotographsReturn to Top
This series contains photographs regarding Root's projects and professional career.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box | ||
11 | Carter Barron Amphitheatre - Rock Creek Park, Washington D.C. |
July 1950 |
11 | Chesapeake and Ohio Canal - Potomac River |
1942-1945 |
11 | Krug, Julius Albert - United States Secretary of the Interior |
1946-1949 |
11 | Maryland |
1936-1951 |
11 | Miscellaneous |
1919-1946 |
11 | Monuments and markers |
1920-1950 |
11 | People |
1916-1950 |
11 | Potomac River |
undated |
11 | Root, Irving C. |
1945-1957 |
11 | Virginia |
1920-1950 |
Series IV. MapsReturn to Top
This series contains subdivision maps, zoning and planning city maps, and architectural drawings regarding Root's projects as a city planner, private consultant, and chief engineer and superintendent for the National Capital Parks.
Container(s) | Description | ||
---|---|---|---|
Maryland: |
|||
Box | |||
12 | Map Roll B | Charles County |
undated |
12 | Map Roll B | Montgomery County |
1950 |
12 | Map Roll A | Gaithersburg |
1933 |
12 | Map Roll A | Rockville |
undated |
Box | |||
12 | Map Roll A | Massachusetts: Concord |
1916 |
Michigan: |
|||
Box | |||
11-12 | Map Roll A and D | Flint |
1920-1924 |
11-12 | Map Roll A, B, and D | Midland |
1920-1924 |
12 | Map Roll A, B | Michigan Cities, Saint Joseph and Benton Harbor |
1925 |
12 | Map Roll A, B | Muskegon |
undated |
12 | Map Roll B | Owosso |
undated |
11-12 | Map Roll A | Saginaw |
undated |
Box | |||
12 | Map Roll A | Missouri: Kansas City |
1917 |
13 | Map Roll C | Mount Vernon Memorial Highway |
1930 |
12 | Map Roll A | Nevada: Boulder City |
1951 |
11-13 | Map Roll B, C, and D | Virginia: Alexandria |
1920-1927 |
11 | Washington D.C. |
1918 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- City planning--United States
- Landscape architecture
- National parks and reserves--Planning
- National parks and reserves--Washington (D.C.)
- Regional planning--United States
Corporate Names
- Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission
Geographical Names
- Alexandria (Va.)
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Potomac River
- United States--History--20th century
Form or Genre Terms
- Architectural drawings (visual works)
- Blueprints
- Maps