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Guide to the Warner L. Marsh papers, 1910-1995 (1940-1987)
MSS 2001/14
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Title: Warner L. Marsh papers
Identifier/Call Number: MSS 2001/14
Contributing Institution:
California State University, Sacramento Special Collections & University Archives
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
15.5 Linear feet
(25 manuscript boxes, 1 record carton, 8 photograph/slide boxes, and 8 oversize folders)
Date (bulk): Bulk, 1940-1987
Date (inclusive): 1910-1995
Abstract: The collection consists of professional and personal correspondence, published works, projects and community plans, slides,
and ephemera pertaining to the lives of Warner L. Marsh and his wife Florence Marsh.
creator:
Marsh, Warner L.
Warner L. Marsh assembled these papers over many years. The collection was purchased from Barry Cassidy Rare Books, located
in Sacramento, California on March 6, 2002.
The collection consists of more than fifty years of the professional output of notable landscape architect, Warner Lincoln
Marsh and the collaborative work of his wife, Florence. While this collection includes some of Warner Marsh's early work in
Los Angeles as a landscaper of many public parks and private estates, it focuses on his career as a community planner of rural
and urban developments in Sacramento and Northern Central California during 1940-1987. Throughout his career, Marsh's special
interests included the development of private and public botanical gardens.
Professional and personal correspondence of Warner Marsh is found in the papers including extensive correspondence from C.M.
Goethe. Also contained in the papers are numerous community plans for twelve California counties with an emphasis on Sacramento.
Documents relating to various grant applications can be found in the collection as well as material regarding the California
Native Plant Society, Sacramento Valley Chapter. Published works by Warner Marsh include a book on landscape vocabulary, magazine
articles, and formal project reports to government agencies.
Florence Marsh took an active part in her husband's professional career and her efforts are well documented during the Sacramento
period. The Annual Appointment Calendars from 1958 to 1988 were created and maintained by Florence. Additionally, as an accomplished
musician and artist in her own right, Mrs. Marsh's correspondence and artifacts from artists and musiciains enhance the scope
of the collection and reflect the richness of the Marsh's social life.
A large collection of trade literature is contained in the papers including commercial brochures about building construction,
private homes and yards; masonry, landscaping, heating, cooling, appliances, lighting, and recreation.
Over 6,000 Kodachrome slides taken by Marsh are of botanical specimens, landscapes, architectural features and public gatherings.
Approximately 40 black and white photographs include some of Marsh's early landscaping and architectural projects as well
as family, friends, architects and notable California politicians. He maintained systematic index card files of botanical
specimens including Native American food plants by common and botanical names, geographical area, and other characteristics.
Art appears to be an integral part of the Marsh's professional and personal lives. Marsh's architectural plans and drawings
reflect his work as an artist. The inclusion of children's art work, original paintings and handmade cards from friends and
even greeting cards were saved for over 30 years. An original 1946 oil painting of Warner Marsh by Natalae Bixby is also in
the collection.
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
The Warner L. Marsh papers were purchased by the CSUS Special Collections and University Archives in March 2002.
Conditions Governing Access note
Collection is open for research. Some restrictions may apply.
Warner Lincoln Marsh was born February 12, 1899 in Iowa and died February 15, 1987 in Sacramento, California. As an undergraduate,
he attended Morningside College in Iowa studying mathematics and chemistry. He became an architect and was a member of the
American Landscape Architectural Society. In his early work with architects Jens Jensen, Carl A. Taylor and Earl Fogelsong,
he planned estates in Iowa, Nebraska, and Arizona. From 1923 to 1931 he designed and supervised construction of gardens, parks,
and subdivisions for Los Angeles Park and Playground Departments. These included Fern Dell Park in Griffith Park, Point Firmin
Park in Cabrillo Beach, Rose Garden at Exposition Park, Elysian Park, Holmby Park and others. In 1935-1936 he was Director
of Research for Los Angeles County to study ways to develop jobs for the poor.
In 1939 Marsh moved to Sacramento as a special assistant to Governor Culbert L. Olson, then as Deputy Director of the Deparment
of Natural Resources. He was also a planning consultant, landscape architect specializing in subdivision design. He was founder
and assistant curator of the California State University, Sacramento Arboretum and executive secretary of the American Institute
of Landscape Architects. He consulted with Sacramento's Department of Education to include nature areas on public school campuses
and received educational grants for preservation of nature areas in rural areas. One of the grants funded was an American
Indian Botanical Garden of edible plants.
Florence Mahn Marsh was born October 15, 1911 in Canada and died October 9, 1997 in Sacramento, California. She was a graduate
of UCLA majoring in music and Spanish. She taught piano and was accompanist for the Sacramento Unitarian Universalist Society.
She also studied art and produced oil paintings under the name Florence Camphuis. With her husband, Warner Marsh, she helped
to establish nature gardens in 14 Sacramento area schools. She helped develop the California State University, Sacramento
Arboretum and the Sacramento Science Center. Fron 1968 to 1990 she was treasurer of the Sacramento Valley Native Plant Society,
a member of the Carmichael Garden Club and Sacramento Piano Teachers Society. Mrs. Marsh was instrumental in preserving the
Charles Jensen Garden in Carmichael as a neighborhood park.
Processed by Reiko Nagumo, Special Collections volunteer. Project began February 2007 and was completed March 2008.
[Identification of item including date], [Folder Title], MSS 2001/14, Warner L. Marsh papers, Department of Special Collections
and University Archives, The Library, California State University, Sacramento.
No additions are expected.
Copyright is protected by the copyright law, Chapter 17 of the U.S. Code. Requests for permission to publish, quote, or reproduce
from collections must be submitted in writing to the Head of the Department of Special Collections and University Archives.
Permission for publication is given on the behalf of the Department of Special Collections and University Archives, Library,
California State University, Sacramento as the owner of the physical item and is not intended to include permission of the
copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
American Institute of Landscape Architects.
Barry Cassidy Rare Books.
Brown, Edmund G. (Edmund Gerald), 1905-1996
Marsh, Florence
Marsh, Warner L.
Olson, Culbert Levy, 1876-
Save the American River Association.
City planning.
Forest fires--Prevention and control.
Landscape architects -- California
Landscape architecture
Plants--Classification.