HISTORY

Chapter logos through the years

PAST PRESIDENTS

1952-54 George Yarwood

1956-57 Arthur Hoffman

1960 Helene Warner

1961 Robert Heck

1962 Mary Edwards

1963-64 Harold Perkins

1967 Thayer Chase

1969-70 Allen Hixon

1971-72 James Block

1973-74 Ray Craigin

1975-76 Jeff Gebrian

1977 Robert Kent

1978-79 William A. Rutherford

1980-81 Edward C. Cape

1982-83 Dean Johnson

1984-85 Cathyann Plumer

1986-87 Dickson DeMarche

1988 Richard Kent

1989 Desiree Darling

1990 David Golebiewski

1991 James Donovan

1992 Keith Simpson

1993 Channing Harris

1994 James Tate

1995-96 Whitney Talcott

1997 Christopher Ferrero

1998 Tom Tavella

1999 Norma Williams

2000 Rob Clapper

2001-03 Tom Tavella

2004-05 Rod Cameron

2006 Aris Stalis

2007 Brian Robinson/Rod Cameron

2008 Rod Cameron

2009 Jane Didona

2010 Bill Pollack

2011 Jeff Olszewski

2012 Eric Rains

2013 David Verespy

2014-16 Barbara Yaeger

2016-18 Debra De Vries-Dalton

2019 Thomas Hammerberg

2020 Oliver Gaffney

2021 Matthew Verry

2022 Dan Granniss

The Connecticut Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (CTASLA) began in February 1948 with nine founding members:

Theodosia Burr
Edgar Beaumont
Marianne Dean
Thomas Henry Desmond
Arthur Hoffman
Frederick Davis
Helen Tilapaugh (Jones)
Helene B. Warner
George Yarwood

Together, they spent the first several years drafting bylaws and laying the groundwork for the mission and operating structure of the chapter. In 1952, George Yarwood began serving as its first elected President.

ASLA held its 65th Annual Meeting in Hartford in June of 1965. Momentum from the event helped the chapter establish the case for statewide licensure which was enacted by the legislature in 1968. The chapter received its first national-level VP with Richard Dee in 1973.

CTASLA began sharing the New Haven office space of CSA-AIA in 1980. That same year, the current Executive Board structure with members and officers was adopted.

During the 1981-1982 legislative session, the chapter successfully defeated a sunset bill for the profession thanks to support from State Rep. Nancy Johnson and State Senator Amelia Mustone. To increase awareness of landscape architecture, CTASLA prepared a public exhibit of work by state landscape architects, which ran for two years at libraries, museums, banks and several universities. Additionally, the chapter cosponsored the first Public Spaces Awards

In 1985, CTASLA was again represented on the national level with the election of Dean Johnson as VP for Finance. The Connecticut Landscape Architect (CTLA) began regular publication in 1986 as a modest newsletter. In early 1987, practitioners located in Rhode Island split off from the chapter to form an independent RIASLA. Later in the year, CTASLA conferred its first Yarwood Award to Bob Gregan.

The chapter Handbook launched in 1992, providing the definitive listing of Chapter members and other pertinent state information. The Connecticut Olmsted Award program also began that same year with Dr. Richard Goodwin receiving the inaugural honor.

In 1995, Vincent McDermott became the first chapter members to be elected President of CLARB. The chapter launched the Connecticut Design Awards program that fall. The CTASLA.org website went live in 1996, offering basic program and chapter contact information.

Thanks to the efforts of numerous chapter members, legislative modifications to Public Act 97-174, an Act Concerning Landscape Architecture became law in 1997. The chapter hosted its first Golf Outing benefit in 1998, and the University of Connecticut program becomes accredited. Continuing education requirements for landscape architects were added to state regulations in 1999.

The chapter bylaws and constitution received an update in 2001. The college scholarship program was established in 2002. Jeff Mills became the first Executive Director for the chapter in 2004, offering email listserve updates and online event registration.

Public Act 05-179 of 2005 established April 26th of each year as “Frederick Law Olmsted Day”.

Connecticut ASLA at 1965 Annual Meeting, Hartford, CT

Back Row: James Block, Margaret Osborn Hall

Second Row: Stan Geda, Thayer Chase, William Green, Helen Russell Barnes, Theodosia Burr, Mary Edwards

Front Row: William Rutherford, Harold Perkins (President), Lynn Harris, Helene B. Warner, Joan Clasio

From June 27th to 30th of 1965, the Connecticut chapter hosted ASLA's Annual Meeting in Hartford. The theme was Space for Survival and focused on how the state was an experimental laboratory for urban renewal plans in both Hartford and New Haven as implemented by the Johnson Administration. Walking tours of Constitution Plaza and other downtown sites featured prominently. Technical lectures alluded to this theme with titles such as "Space for Highways", "Space for Recreation" and Space for City Parks".

The agenda also included tours of new work on university campuses including Yale and Wesleyan as well as tours of the grounds at Hill-Stead Museum, Elizabeth Park, and Miss Porter's School.

At the Wadsworth Atheneum, the Connecticut Chapter hosted an exhibit on Frederick Law Olmsted. The drawings and other items of interest were intended to acquaint visiting landscape architects with the history and context of how Hartford played an important role in Olmsted's career.

The chapter was well-represented among the speakers and session leaders. Harold Perkins, William Rutherford, George Yarwood, Stan Geda, Thayer Chase, and Helen Russell Barnes contributed their expertise and time towards making the meeting a success. This was the first and only annual meeting hosted by the chapter.

1965 ANNUAL MEETING