Robert Tetlow Collection 2003.-05
L. Kirwan
Arrangement and description of this collection was funded by the Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning
University of California, Berkeley. College of Environmental Design. Environmental Design Archives
2005
230 Bauer Wurster Hall #1820
Berkeley, CA 94720-1820
designarchives@berkeley.edu
Contributing Institution:
University of California, Berkeley. College of Environmental Design. Environmental Design Archives
Title: Robert Tetlow Collection
Creator:
Tetlow, Robert, 1922-1988
Identifier/Call Number: 2003.-05
Physical Description:
30 Linear Feet:
34 oversize folders, 15 manuscript boxes, 1 roll
Date (inclusive): 1949-1987
Language of Material:
English
.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research
Conditions Governing Use
All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from materials in the collection should be directed to the Curator
Preferred Citation
[Identification of Item], Robert Tetlow Collection [2003-05] Environmental Design Archives, University of California, Berkeley.
Biographical / Historical
Robert Tetlow (1922-1988)
Robert Tetlow was an accomplished landscape architect and a dedicated professor, known for his love of art, music, and literature.
He particularly loved to paint and sometimes exhibited his landscape watercolors around the Bay Area. In addition to exhibiting
his own work, he co-curated a photographic exhibit in 1956 called Man's Impact on the Bay Area Landscape with landscape architect
David Abergast. He also authored several books, articles, and research studies focused on landscape design and its relationship
to the natural environment.
Born in Astoria, Oregon, Tetlow briefly attended Oregon State University before joining the United States Navy in 1941 and
serving in the Pacific. After leaving the military, he attended the University of Oregon graduating in 1949 with a degree
in landscape architecture. To further his education, he moved to the Bay Area to study at the University of California, Berkeley,
receiving a master's degree in landscape architecture in 1951.
His professional career began with the city of San Jose, but he soon switched to teaching when he joined the faculty at UC
Davis in 1952. In 1954 he once again returned to UC Berkeley, this time as a professor. He was a professor of landscape architecture
for 34 years, including a stint as chair of the Department of Landscape Architecture from 1977 to 1981.
As a practicing landscape architect, Tetlow designed the gardens for several private residences. He also designed the remodel
of his own home and did most of the carpentry himself. His most noted work was for the Strybing Arboretum and Botanic Gardens
in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. In 1959, he wrote the master plan for the gardens in which he stated that the major considerations
for the development of the land should relate to "the fundamental nature of the terrain that the design will appear to have
been dictated by the ground form rather than the reverse." This philosophy of minimizing human impact on nature ran throughout
his work. He also felt it important to integrate the mature garden with new developments and to maintain a balance between
open space and densely planted areas. He supervised the implementation of his plan and served on the Strybing Board of Trustees
between 1967 and 1981.
Tetlow authored and coauthored many works, including the Sunset Patio Book (1952); a National Water Commission study, entitled
The Role of Water in the Landscape: A Design Overview (1971); and a report for British Columbia's Ministry of the Environment,
entitled Visual Resources of the Northeast Coal Study Area, 1976-1977. He worked on two important exhibitions in 1956: a nationwide
traveling exhibit, entitled, Landscape Architecture Today—An Introduction and the photographic exhibit entitled, Man's Impact
on the Bay Area Landscape. This exhibit was said to draw "attention to environmental problems and helped prepare the way for
environmental activism in the Bay Area in the 1960's"
Scope and Contents
The Robert Tetlow Collection spans the years 1928-1987 (bulk 1953-1985) and concentrates mainly on Tetlow's work as a landscape
architect, an author, and professor. The collection includes textural documentation, photographs, and drawings that have been
organized into four series: Personal Papers, Professional Papers, Faculty Papers, and Project Records.
The vast majority of his Personal Papers consists of slides of his various travels. Some slides appear to be vacation images,
but others could be landscape scenes meant for professional research or reference. Of note in this series are two photographs
of Robert Tetlow and a few of his student drawings.
Tetlow's literary contributions and studies on ecology and design are included in the Professional Papers. There are two folders
that contain the work of other landscape architects and architects including Thomas Church; Louis Barragan; the firm of Eckbo,
Dean, Austin, & Williams; the firm of Sasaki, Dawson, Delay & Associates; Eckbo & Royston; Lawrence Halprin; and many others.
Included are two folders of various types of plants in their natural environment. Tetlow's writings included in the collection
are Garden Ideas from California, Report of the Master Plan Committee of the City of Davis, The Role of Water in the Landscape,
Subject Classification Model, Sunset Patio Book, and Visual Unit Concept. The exhibit he cocurated, entitled Man's Impact
on the Bay Area Landscape, is found in this series and includes the original photographs from the exhibit.
The Faculty Papers Series provides a great starting point for any researcher interested in Robert Tetlow as it contains his
tenure portfolio, featuring many of his personal and professional interests and accomplishments. This series also contains
slide images for the classes he taught, including from LA 102 (Spring 1985) and LA 134. Also included are student work from
his landscape architecture students in LA 203 and LA 134. Some of the slides exemplify his philosophy on design and composition
in landscapes with views from Charleston, West Virginia; Atlanta, Georgia; and Savannah, Georgia. Other slides were used for
teaching color and drawing techniques in different mediums.
The majority of Tetlow's projects, as found in the Project Records, are residential. Of notable interest is his work on the
Strybing Arboretum for the City of San Francisco
Personal Papers I.
1941-1985
Biographical Information A.
1941
Travel and Research slides B.
1959-1985
Box 1, Folder 2-3
California Landscapes
1972-1985
Box 1, Folder 4-5
California / Wyoming scenes
1974-1985
Box 1, Folder 6
U.S. travel scenes and natural settings -- slide descriptions
1959-1974
Box 1, Folder 7-10
U.S. travel scenes and natural settings
1959-1974
flat-file-drawer W 4.19, Flat-File 1
Residential Landscape Watercolors
Professional Papers II.
1928-1985
Reference Files A.
1949-1985
Box 2, Folder 1
Bay Area Design and Landscapes: Colleges, Housing, Landscapes
1969-1975
Box 2, Folder 2
Bay Area Design: Gardens
1968-1984
Box 3, Folder 3-4
Designs by other Landscape Architects and Architects
1949-1978
Box 3, Folder 5-6
Plants and Planting
1976-1985
Box 3, Folder 7
Garden Ideas from California
1955
Box 3, Folder 8
Report of the Master Plan Committee of the City of Davis
1953
flat-file-drawer W 4.19, Flat-File 2
Man's Impact on Bay Area Landscape
1956
Box 3, Folder 9-10
The Role of Water in the Landscape
1971
Box 3, Folder 11
Subject Classification Model
n.d.
Box 4, Folder 13
User's Resource Recreation Planning Method
1959
Box 4, Folder 14-15, flat-file-drawer W 4.19, Flat-File 5
Faculty Papers III.
1952-1987
Tenure Portfolio A.
1952-2003
Box 4, Folder 1
Tenure Portfolio: Residential Projects, Tetlow's Paintings
1962-2003
Box 4, Folder 2
Tenure Portfolio: Strybing Arboreteum
1973
Box 4, Folder 3
Tenure Portfolio: Creative and Professional Activities
1952-1956
Box 4, Folder 4
Tenure Portfolio: Textbook Outline
n.d.
Box 4, Folder 5
Tenure Portfolio: Visual Vulnerability Project
1975-1981
Box 4, Folder 6
Tenure Portfolio: Subject Classification Model
1955
Box 4, Folder 7
Tenure Portfolio: American Society of Landscape Accrediting
1971-1973
Box 4, Folder 8
Tenure Portfolio: Grant Applications and Curriculum
1967-1974
Box 4, Folder 9
Tenure Portfolio: Public Service Letters
1967-1975
Box 4, Folder 10
Tenure Portfolio: Strybing Arboreteum
1962
Course Materials B.
1977-1985
Box 5, Folder 11
LA 102 Course Lectures - Spring 1985
1985
Box 5, Folder 12-13
LA 134 Course Lectures
1981, 1986, 1987
Box 5, Folder 14
LA 134 Course Lectures - Graphic Examples
1979
Box 6, Folder 15-16
Graphics Techniques Classified by Media
1977, 1978, 1980
Students' Work C.
1976-1985
Box 6, Folder 17
Examples of Student Work
1976-1985
Project Records IV.
1949-1965
Scope and Contents
The project records include many drawings executed by Tetlow for private residences in the Bay Area and in Oregon. The work
that Tetlow did for the Strybing Arboretum is well documented in this series by extensive drawings and written documentation.
Tetlow also did design work for the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Oregon, Eugene.
flat-file-drawer W 4.19, Flat-File 6
flat-file-drawer W 4.19, Flat-File 7
flat-file-drawer W 4.19, Flat-File 8
Brooks, Reid Davis CA
1954
flat-file-drawer W 4.19, Flat-File 7
flat-file-drawer W 4.19, Flat-File 8
Bureau of Parks and Recreation: Irrigation Plans for Municipal Pool and Washington Park Eugene OR
1949
flat-file-drawer W 4.19, Flat-File 8
flat-file-drawer W 4.19, Flat-File 9
Carter, Harold Berkeley CA
1955
flat-file-drawer W 4.19, Flat-File 9
Clement, L.J. Davis CA
1954
flat-file-drawer W 4.19, Flat-File 9
Damanske, A.B. Davis CA
1952
Emory, C.A. Berkeley CA
n.d.
Gerbode, Gertrude Piedmont CA
1955
flat-file-drawer W 4.19, Flat-File 10
George, Alex Davis CA
1952-1954
flat-file-drawer W 4.19, Flat-File 10
Gibson, D.A. [Davis] CA
1953
flat-file-drawer W 4.19, Flat-File 10
Goelzer El Cerrito CA
1955
flat-file-drawer W 4.19, Flat-File 11
Lowe, H.E. [Berkeley] CA
1956
flat-file-drawer W 4.19, Flat-File 11
McLucas, J.D. Hood River OR
n.d.
flat-file-drawer W 4.19, Flat-File 11
Nestor, B.L. Berkeley CA
1957
flat-file-drawer W 4.19, Flat-File 12
Raski, Dewey Davis CA
1954
flat-file-drawer W 4.19, Flat-File 12
Ramsey, Warren Berkeley CA
1958
Box 6, Folder 1-6, flat-file-drawer W 4.19, Flat-File 13
San Francisco, City and County of, Department of Public Works: Strybing Arboretum San Francisco CA
1949-1965
flat-file-drawer W 4.19, Flat-File 14
Stoddard, K.B. Berkeley CA
[1954]
flat-file-drawer W 4.19, Flat-File 14
Struck, James Parkdale OR
1956
Box 6, Folder 7, flat-file-drawer W 4.19, Flat-File 14
Tetlow, Robert Berkeley CA
n.d.
flat-file-drawer W 4.19, Flat-File 15
Thode, E.N. [Berkeley] CA
1958
flat-file-drawer W 4.19, Folder 15
Thomas, W.R. El Cerrito CA
1958
flat-file-drawer W 4.19, Flat-File 7
University of California (UC): Blake Gardens Kensington CA
n.d.
flat-file-drawer W 4.19, Flat-File 15
University of California (UC): A Subdivision Berkeley CA
1958
flat-file-drawer W 4.19, Flat-File 16
University of Oregon Eugene OR
1949
Box 6, Folder 8, flat-file-drawer W 4.19, Flat-File 16
U.S. Corps of Engineers, San Francisco: Shelters for Tilden Park Berkeley CA
1964
flat-file-drawer W 4.19, Flat-File 7
Watson, David F. Piedmont CA
1958
flat-file-drawer W 4.19, Flat-File 16
Warne, Herbert Davis CA
1954
flat-file-drawer W 4.19, Flat-File 17
Wells, Rutherford Winters CA
1956
flat-file-drawer W 4.19, Flat-File 17
Wilson, E.E. College Park
1954
