William B. McCroskey papers, 1986-1988

William B. McCroskey was the Associate Dean for the College of Letters and Science at the University of Idaho. McCroskey had great interest in landscape and building architecture, and was an architect by training. His interest and involvement with the Olmsted Brother's influence on the University of Idaho campus resulted in finding such documentation held within the Idaho State Historical Society. He kept these photocopied documents in his personal papers.

Frederick Law Olmsted (1822-1903) was founder of the Olmsted Brother's firm and co-founder of the profession of landscape architecture. His nephew, John C. Olmsted, and son, Frederick Law Jr., were charter members of the American Society of Landscape Architecture (ASLA), formed in 1899. John was ASLA's first president.

John was first contacted by University of Idaho President, James Alexander McLean in December of 1906. Olmsted came to the university and inspected and submitted reports, plans, and sketches regarding various aspects of the campus from 1907 to 1917. His initial calculations was that the university needed about 900 acres which would include the main campus, recreational grounds, botanical, and farm lands. As of 2020, the university acreage was just about 800.

One influence Olmsted had that can be seen in old campus photographs is the Hello Walk. He suggested the main sidewalk be curved, and it was eventually made to curve. Later on however, the walk was straightened back out. Though the campus plans Olmsted submitted never came into fruition, the legacy of the firm thrives in the University of Idaho's Landscape Architecture program.