John T. Lyle Papers, circa 1950-2004

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
Lyle, John Tillman
Abstract:
John T. Lyle (1934-1998) taught Landscape Architecture at Cal Poly Pomona from 1968 to 1998. He was also founding project director of the Center for Regenerative Studies at Cal Poly Pomona, which is now called the John T. Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies. This collection includes personal and business correspondence; course outlines and lecture notes; blueprints and project designs; materials relating to the Center for Regenerative Studies, drafts and notes from his writings, including unpublished material; personal papers and subject files; and photographs and other audiovisual materials.
Extent:
81.27 Linear Feet (71 boxes, 5 flat file drawers)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Box/folder# or item name], John T. Lyle Papers, Collection no. 0059, University Archives, Special Collections and Archives, University Library, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection contains professional and personal materials from John T. Lyle, a professor of landscape architecture at Cal Poly Pomona from 1968 to 1998. The materials include lecture and course materials; projects drawings and blueprints; personal and professional correspondence; photographic prints and slides; plans and other records relating to the Center for Regenerative Studies; various subject files kept by Lyle; and documents relating to Lyle's writing projects, including drafts and proofs of his published books, correspondence, and materials relating to unpublished works.

Biographical / historical:

John T. Lyle (1934-1998) was a professor of landscape architecture at Cal Poly Pomona and was founding project director of the Center for Regenerative Studies at Cal Poly Pomona, which is now called the John T. Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies.

Lyle was born on August 10, 1934 in Houston, Texas to Leo Tillman Lyle and Martha Ellen Lyle. He received a bachelor of architecture degree from Tulane University in 1957 and later attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned a master's degree in landscape architecture in 1965. From 1966 to 1967, he was a Fulbright Scholar at the Danish Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen, studying land planning and urban design.

Lyle became a member of the faculty at Cal Poly Pomona in 1968, teaching courses on landscape design and planning. Lyle initiated the master of landscape architecture program and acted as its director from 1971 to 1979.

The idea for the Center for Regenerative Studies grew out of an assignment that Lyle gave to a graduate design class in 1976. The concept for the Center, initially known as the Institute for Regenerative Studies, continued to be developed until the mid-1980s and planning for the Center began in January of 1986. Lyle served as the founding project director. The groundbreaking for Phase I of the Center for Regenerative Studies took place in 1992 and the Center accepted its first students in 1994.

At Cal Poly Pomona, Lyle also oversaw 606 Studio, a graduate thesis project for Master of Landscape Architecture students that allows students to work with real clients. In 1996, the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) gave Lyle its highest honor for professional achievement: the ASLA Medal. In 1997, Lyle was awarded the Richard Neutra Award for Professional Excellence at Cal Poly Pomona. Lyle also won other awards for designs, including a "Merit Award in Design" from the American Society of Landscape Architects for the design of the "Lyle Garden."

In 1997, Lyle retired from teaching at Cal Poly Pomona but continued to work on landscape design projects for various institutions, including Oberlin College and the Claremont School of Theology. In addition to his teaching and design work, Lyle also was the author of several books. In 1980, Lyle wrote the fictional novel The Violent Air using the pen name "Chris Renn." Lyle also was the author of two scholarly books: Design for Human Ecosystems (1985) and Regenerative Design for Sustainable Development (1994).

Lyle died on July 3, 1998 in Sierra Madre, California. He was survived by his wife, Harriett, whom he married in 1966, and two children: Cybelle and Alex.

Acquisition information:
This collection was donated to California State Polytechnic University, Pomona by Harriett Lyle in February and March of 2017.
Processing information:

The processing of this collection and the creation of this finding aid was funded by the generous support of the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

The collection was processed by Rob Strauss, Emily Chavarria, Josh Rose, Alex Dan, and Elainna-Marie Herrera in May 2018. The finding aid was revised and reuploaded in July 2019 to include additional materials and digital objects.

Arrangement:

The collection is organized into the following series: Series 1. Lecture and Course Materials; Series 2. Center for Regenerative Studies; Series 3. Projects; Series 4. Writings; Series 5. Correspondence; Series 6. Personal Papers; Series 7. Media.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Advanced notice required for access.

Terms of access:

Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.

Preferred citation:

[Box/folder# or item name], John T. Lyle Papers, Collection no. 0059, University Archives, Special Collections and Archives, University Library, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.

Location of this collection:
3801 West Temple Ave.
Pomona, CA 91768, US
Contact:
(909) 869-3775