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Arthur G. Barton Papers
MS0003
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Title: Arthur G. Barton Papers,
Date (inclusive): 1908-1975,
Date (bulk): 1940-1960
Collection number: MS0003
Creator:
Barton, Arthur G., 1907-1980
Extent:
42 boxes, 262 flat files, 19 tubes, 500 rolls (approximately 850 linear feet)
Repository:
Special Collections, Robert E. Kennedy Library
California Polytechnic State University
San Luis Obispo, CA 93407
Abstract: Contains records related to the life and career of California landscape architect Arthur G. Barton, FASLA
(1907-1980.) Barton designed landscapes for many significant structures and sites such as Camp Pendleton, Dodger Stadium,
and the San Gabriel River
Wildlife Sanctuary. The records consist of job files documenting client projects with correspondence, change orders, requests
for payment, shop drawings,
sketches, vendor information, transmittals, bills, clippings, inspection reports, contracts, addendum, consultant correspondence,
and certifications.
Personal papers contain family photographs.
Gift.
Collection is open to researchers by appointment. For more information on visiting,
access policies, and reproduction requests, please visit our Reference Services page
online at
http://lib.calpoly.edu/search-and-find/collections-and-archives/reference-services/.
.
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
Digital copies are provided to researchers for the purpose of study, research, and
personal use only, unless otherwise specified in writing. Materials that are the
property of Cal Poly Special Collections and Archives require written permission
prior to publication. No complete collection may be reproduced. For print and online
publication, please visit our Reproduction Services page online at
http://lib.calpoly.edu/support/sca-policies/reproduction/. Special Collections and
Archives reserves the right to review all reproduction requests and to withhold
permission if scanning would endanger the material, would violate copyright law, or
would violate institutional restrictions.
Arthur G. Barton Papers, Special Collections and Archives, California Polytechnic
State University.
Arthur Gipson Barton was a California Landscape Architect born October 2, 1907 in Denver Colorado to parents Archilles A.
Barton and Eva Campbell Barton.
He attended UC Davis 1925-1927, later transferring to UC Berkeley, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Design
in 1929. Early in his
career he worked for the National Park Service in San Francisco and later served as Assistant Superintendent of Parks for
Los Angeles County. He
married Lucile B. Beach August 26, 1936.
Barton opened his private practice in 1940, which was interrupted by World War II. During the war he served in the Camouflage
Division of the War Department and as
Assistant Farm Advisor for Los Angeles County. He resumed his practice in 1946. In 1963 he founded Arthur G. Barton & Associates,
with notable
planner Tracy Abell, FASLA, and Tadashi D. Nakase.
Barton was instrumental in establishing licensure in California for landscape architects. In the early 1950s, Barton and landscape
architects Raymond
Page, Harry Shepard, Lynn Harris, and George Huntington raised $7000 as a starter fund to establish the licensure process.
Their advocacy established
the California State Licensure Law for Landscape Architects enacted in 1953.
Barton was an active member of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) serving as the president of the Southern
California Chapter of ASLA
as well as a Trustee and Vice President for the National ASLA. He was the first president of California Council of Landscape
Architects and was a member
and President of the Glendale Rotary Club. He was designated an American Society of Landscape Architects Fellow in 1963 which
he held in three categories:
Excellence in works of Landscape Architecture, Service to the Society, and Education. He was awarded several Los Angeles Beautiful
Awards including his
Eastman Kodak project.
His projects are located throughout California, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Colorado, and Virginia. Barton designed notable
projects including a project for composer
Henry Mancini, Dodger Stadium, the Ambassador Hotel, the Boy Scouts, and the Girl Scouts of America. He died January 28, 1980
in Glendale, California.
Sources
“Professional Qualifications and Experience of Arthur G. Barton and Associates.” Typescript, Dec. 1966. Arthur G. Barton Papers,
Special Collections,
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, California.
Zubizarreta , M. 2011. Celebrating the 100 Year History of Landscape Architecture. Retrieved from http://www.landscapeonline.com/research/article/3124.
California Death Index (1940-1997). Retrieved from Ancestry.com
1920, 1930 U.S. Census. Retrieved from Ancestry.com
Social Security Death Index Retrieved from Ancestry.com
The Arthur G. Barton Papers contain landscape designs, drawings, plans, office records, photographs, correspondence, project
files, and personal papers
of Landscape Architect Arthur G. Barton, FASLA of Glendale, California.
The records date from 1908 to 1975, and consist of 42 boxes of unprocessed job files, 262 flat files folders, 19 tubes, and
unprocessed
rolled drawings. The records document client projects with correspondence, change orders, requests for payment, shop drawings,
sketches,
blueprints, and renderings, vendor information, transmittals, bills, clippings, inspection reports, contracts, addendum, consultant
correspondence, and certifications.
The collection is arranged alphabetically as a single series. Original organization of the records has been retained where
possible. Materials
may have been reorganized or rehoused for preservation and access purposes. Dates have been provided where possible and are
updated as project time allows.
The Arthur G. Barton Papers are divided into 4 series:
Series 1: Project Drawings
Series 2: Unprocessed Project Drawings
Series 3: Unprocessed Project Records
The job files are organized first by project type (commercial, residential, parks, schools), by project name, and then by
record type within each folder. The
collection includes family photographs that document his childhood, schooling, and military career. Photographic slides include
client work, street scenes,
and personal travel, plaques and awards, scrapbooks and notebooks for coursework at the University of California in the late
1920s. This portion of the
collection remains unprocessed.
The flat files are organized by project type: Residential, Commercial, Churches, Parks, and Schools, and Miscellaneous. The
drawings reflect major phases of
design and include sketches, design development, and working drawings. The records note client name, street address, and city.
Street addresses have not
been included in the finding aid. Researchers can contact the repository for further information.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the
library's online public access catalog.
Architecture--California--History--20th century.
Architecture--California--Los Angeles.
Architecture--California--Los Angeles Region--History--20th century.
Architects and builders--Certification.
Architects--California.
Barton, Arthur G., FASLA, (1907-1980)
Barton, Art
Dodger Stadium (Los Angeles, Calif.)--History.
Landscape architecture--Arizona.
Landscape architecture--California.
Landscape architecture--Colorado.
Landscape architecture--Nevada.
Landscape architecture—New Mexico.
Landscape architecture--Virginia.
Landscape architecture--20th century--Designs and plans.
Central Coast (Calif.)--History
Architectural drawings and plans
Correspondence
Awards
Photographs
Presentation Drawings
Business records
Architectural drawings and plans
Correspondence
Awards
Photographs
Presentation drawings
Business records