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synopsis

Both Olmsted brothers recieved communications with the University of California concernng the Berkeley campus, as had their father. A 1949 letter from the campus architect notes that the University has a copy of the "Report Upon a Projected Improvement of the Estate of the College of Califormia, at Berkeley, near Oakland", which was prepared by Olmsted Sr. and dated June 19, 1866.

Both Olmsted brothers recieved communications regarding the University of California concernng the Berkeley campus, as had their father. A 1949 letter from the campus architect notes that the University has a copy of the "Report Upon a Projected Improvement of the Estate of the College of Califormia, at Berkeley, near Oakland", which was prepared by Olmsted Sr. and dated June 29, 1866. Also the architect mentions a "Working Drawing" as well as "The Principal Drawing" which was titled "A Study for Laying Out the Berkeley Neighborhood Including the Grounds of the College of California." [LOC_02047_12/13/1949_RJ Evans to OB_mss52571.01388_im.19] See job 12014 for the Report.

The file also contains a 1904 letter from F.L. Olmsted Jr. responding to an inquiry for advice from an architect for a residential job in California, saying he was particularly interested in the California project. He articulates why it is not a good idea to try to impose a typology of landscape copied from another climate, saying "I have felt, as my father did very strongly, the absurdity and stupidity of the attempts to lay out gardens and parks in a climate like that of California in imitation of ideals which we have brought to America from England and other northern countries of Europe." [LOC_02047_11/02/1904_FLOjr to BGoodhue_mss52571.01388_im.10-12]

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