AHJ_ah05972 Inventory of the Irving C. Root papers, 1911-1972 Root (Irving C.) papers Processed by Jamie J. Greene University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
American Heritage Center Dept. 3924, 1000 E. University Avenue University of Wyoming Laramie, WY 82071 Phone: 307.766.2574 Fax:307.766.5511 Email:ahcref@uwyo.edu URL:http://ahc.uwyo.edu/
2013

University of Wyoming

 Finding aid encoded by Jamie J. Greene February 2013 Finding aid is in English Collection Summary Root, Irving C. Irving C. Root papers 1911-1972 05972 6.58 cubic ft. (14 boxes) University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center. English 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. Biography of Irving C. Root

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.

 Scope and Content

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.

 Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.

 Copyright Information

The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

 Related Materials

There are no known other archival collections created by Irving C. Root at the date of processing.

 Acquisition Information

This material was received from the estate of Irving C. Root and his son, Robert W. Root, in June 1975.

 Processing Information

The collection was processed by Jamie J. Greene in February 2013.

 Preferred Citation

Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

 Access Terms Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission City planning--United States National parks and reserves--Washington (D.C.) National parks and reserves--Planning Regional planning--United States Landscape architecture Michigan Alexandria (Va.) Maryland Potomac River United States--History--20th century Maps Architectural drawings (visual works) Blueprints <?xm-replace_text {Title as Subject}?> Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Architecture City Planning National Parks Container List Series I. Subject files

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.

 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 files

This series contains article and report drafts, contracts, city planning publicity and reports, correspondence, legislation, and newspaper clippings regarding Root's professional life.

 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: 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 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. Photographs

This series contains photographs regarding Root's projects and professional career.

 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. Maps

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.

 Maryland: 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 12 Map Roll A Massachusetts: Concord 1916 Michigan: 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 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