The Maine Olmsted Alliance for Parks and Landscapes started in 1990 with a group of officers and trustees who represented a wide range of interests: landscape architects, preservationists, historians, horticulturalists, planners, educators, and community activists. The organization was named after Frederick Law Olmsted (1822-1903), the founder and most famous practitioner of the profession of landscape architecture in America. Although he is well known with projects such as New York's Central Park and Boston's Emerald Necklace, his firm, the Olmsted Brothers, was busy in Maine with projects such as Portland's Eastern and Western Promenade, the grounds of the Governor's mansion, State House and Capitol Park in Augusta, the village green in Camden, the motor roads of Acadia National Park. A driving force behind the organization was Eleanor Noni Ames, a landscape gardener in Cumberland Foreside who was president from 1990-1994, and very involved in the organization throughout its duration. Her husband, Charlton Ames, was president from ca. 2004-2008. Their correspondence is included in the collection. The Alliance was involved in surveying and documenting Maine's historically designed landscapes, thanks to funding from the National Park Service, administered by the Maine Historic Preservation Commission. The following phases were done between 1991 and 2000 with over 30 volunteers, along with a few paid staff: Phase 1: Public landscapes (1991-1992) Phase 2: Private residential landscapes (1992-1994) Phase 3: Community planning, and suburban designs, including suburban landscapes, summer colonies, industrial villages, and new town plans (1995-1998) Phase 4: Distinct types of landscapes, including college campuses, institutions, golf courses, resorts/hotels, churches/religious properties, residential camps, historic houses/public institutions, government/defense sites, private parks, and roadways/transportation (1999-2000) One of the outcomes of this survey was the publication of Designing the Maine landscape by Theresa Mattor and Lucy Teegarden. [Camden, Me.] : Down East Books ; [Portland, Me.] ; Maine Olmsted Alliance for Parks & Landscapes ; [Lanham, Md.] : Distributed to the trade by National Book Network, c2009. (See Box 7) After 20 years of pioneering work on the history of the designed landscape in Maine, the Alliance decided to pursue its cause through the Maine Historical Society, including transferring its research collections and financial assets to the Society. In return, MHS would continue to offer related lectures and tours; make the Alliance's Survey of Designed Historic Landscapes available to researchers and the public; and extend the benefits of Maine Historical Society membership to all former Alliance members.
From the description of Maine Olmsted Alliance for Parks & Landscapes records, 1990-2009. (Maine Historical Society Library). WorldCat record id: 759924892
