Frederick Law Olmsted
Subject File
Parks
Baltimore, Md.
1876JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY,
Baltimore,
Executive Committee
6th March 1876
Fred S. Olmstead Eq
New York
My dear Sir
I will send
you to day,  or tomorrow,
a tracing of our working
map of the grounds at
"Clifton", giving the contour
lines & elevations over
the whole property.
I have been delayed in
getting it to you by press of
other matters.
At any time that
you need information for

JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY,
Baltimore,
Executive Committee
187
maturing your plans I shall
be happy to give it, and
whenever it may be
necessary for the purpose
I could run on to New
York to meet you.  In the
latter case I should like
two or three days notice
in advance.
I am
Yours truly
Reverdy Johnson

[*Reverdy Johnson*]R. Johnson
6 Mch. 1876Johns Hopkins University,
Baltimore,
Office, 25 N. Charles Street.
24th April 1876

My dear Sir.
I send you to
day a tracing of the section
between "Clifton" and the
"Druid Hill Park," which has
been recently laid out by a
Commission to fix the lines
of streets to the belt contiguous
to the city.  No elevations are
given on the tracing, as none
have been returned by the
Commissioners.
Yours truly
Reverdy Johnson

Mr OlmsteadR. Johnson
24 April 1876

[*1876, June 19*]

My dear Sir
Thinking you
might reach here this
morning, I had the Board
meeting called for this
afternoon at 3 1/2 at the
University office, 25 N. Charles
Street-where you have
already been.  I am not
now staying at the hotel,
and engagements elsewhere
may prevent me meeting you
here if you reach the City by
the "limited express"-
Please, therefore, meet us
at the hour indicated,
3 1/2, at the office
Yours truly,
Reverdy Johnson
Mr Olmstead
19th June[To] Robert Garrett Esq.
23 d. Dec. 1876.
Dear Sir, You have had a more [a larger]
[brunt of] liberal outlay in view than your
associates, [for] apparently, for the
imprints in the Memorial grounds
and your views in this respect
together with what was said
at your [dinner] table [have influenced 
the about a state]
of a project of a] of a possible statue to Mr
Peabody have influenced a
preliminary report which I have
[sent] addressed to the Chairman of your
Commission.  I send [you] a
copy of it for your private readingthat is to say in order

in order that you may understand
what I want here to bring to your
[the observations that follows]
attention.
A statue [to stand]  in the
place proposed [should] might properly face to
the east ward [and] and should stand several
feet away from the curb of
the wheel way. For close observation 
[servation there should be a 
level space in front of the 
base stair of its pedestal
to obtain [?]]
of it a level space should
be arranged still further
away. To obtain this space it must be 
necessary to bank out a little on the
hill side. [This would give] To restrain the bank there must be
occasion for a retaining wall
and [the] a retaining wall [should]so situated should be decorated [and]
and made of some importance. [to]
That it might have effective height
the surface of the ground below should
be made somewhat lower [than]
than it is at present.  This would
allow a basin to be thrown out
from the wall and [it of a point] [part] from a point 
[upon the hill] upon it sufficiently below
the level of the proposed fountain
at the head of the North and West
grounds, the water leaving both could
be poured in a single stream into
the basin (to be used again at a still lower
point at the South side)[in order that you may understand
the observations that follow.
To make [x] a site suitable
for a statue in the East side of
[xxx xxxxx xxx] the monument]


[which could therefore be united in it
(and again used [at] at a still lower point
on the South side).]

Now, if you have read [the] my report,
and are able to see the general
disposition of parts that I have
in mind, you will recognize that
I propose to give the Peabody statue
as it would be seen from the
garden below a foreground [in which]
[which would be full of sculptural
and natural suggestions
of ripeness, [bounteousness]
abundance, bounteousness and
copious outgiving would be
suggested]which would be rich and [appro.]
[privately] suggestive - [though rather] embodying
the ideas of [ripeness harvest]
[ripeness] harvesting the ripe fruits
of labor and of [abundance,]
plenty, bounty, liberality
[and copious] and copious
outflow. Much could be done in this way by sculpture
in low relief, [at comparatively moderate expense.]
and subdued in detail, at comparatively moderate expense.
There would be occasion
for short flights of stairs
in order to pass on the right & left below the terrace & the garden
and the whole affair could be
worked up [in] into a striking [and]
[appropriate] architectural composition.
[It would be complete without
the statue and a good general
effect would be had without the
proposed sculptural decoration,]tion. It would be complete
without the statue but would
acquire a new and I think
a happy significance with it.
I give you these ideas
privately because as I do not
know that either the project
of the statue or your father's
suggestion that he might
provide a fountain have been
before the Commission, [therefore
I can I could not well allude] I could
not properly allude to them in
my report.
Very respectfully yours,Robt. Garrett
23 Dec. 1876.
On the placing of a
statue.
Washington Mon. Grounds.
Baltimore

IV Baltimore

M



John Lanahan
23d Dec. 1876
[Dear Sir]
I received the revised map of
your grounds, through Commissioner Garrett on 
the 15th inst. and have since given some
study to the question of their plan.  I have
an idea of a design upon which before
I undertake drawings I should like your
judgment and, to introduce it, I will indicate
the course of reflection [by which I have 
been led to conceive of it.] through which
it has come to me.

J. M. Lanahan Esq.
Chairman of the
Commissioners of the Washington
Monument Grounds, Baltimore.
Dear Sir,¶  The areas to be laid out have
[The [These the plots] grounds have] hiterto
been simply reserves of space
by which the monument was
kept [opt] open to view. That 
they might be [neat resat]
neat and seemly they have
been graded each to a plain surface,
coated with turf and enclosed, by an iron fence.
[by buy an iron fence by a straight
iron and suit at
by a suitable slight iron fence
as thus treated they are in perfect
harmony with the monument
and undoubtedly add
to its impressivness]On the South and East sides where the ground
falls rapidly away from the Monument [it]
[would] the terrace would require to be supported by [a]
[would be upheld by [a] 
retaining walls [and to be reached by stairs.] 
[and to be approached from the gardens below by [staircases] [stair cases.]
short [staircases] flights of steps.  [Such a feature being  
made prominent the grounds on the outside of it [the outer
grounds might] [within the lines of wall] might in each case
be given a garden character
and [with] walks lead.
[my] through them less directly [to] toward the
monument. [and] but of 
course [with] no intentions
would be admissable there
would involve an [?]]

[This] Nothing could be better adapted
to its purpose than this
simple and consistent treatment.
The design of the monument to
which the grounds are thus made auxiliary
belongs rather to the last
than the present century and if
the period [to] which it thus[A design for carrying [out]
out such a proposition is, however,
[it art is], in view of the narrowness 
of the site, [however] a difficult
problem. [and] Its solution
would at least [probably be involve]
require that [all practicable] the walls, [edgings]
copings, ramps and edgings
[should be of] should have an
effectively massive form and
enduring character commensurate with that of the monument and that
salient points should be enriched
with cut stone work. 
[as there would be] As over
[1500 feet of] 1500 linear feet
of coped wall, [which should]
[be gr] would be required, which
should]

represents the country has  [to
say the least] no better architectural
memorial. There is 
not and there never will
be [a] another monument to Washington
 more accordant with [as fully to] his own
tastes. [and character.]
Faulty in conception, according
to the the best cut judgment
of our [own day] day it is undeniably stately and impressive [it is nevertheless
and severely simple
it is stately and impressive
it is nevertheless it has a
stateliness and even sublimity
which in my experience is
unequalled [unapproached] on this side of the ocean. [by no other
monument in the country.]]no other American city holds [of our [cities] cities possesses] 
an heirloom of equal
value [and or] nor one which is
[nearly as likely] as sure to
command the veneration of posterity.
[On it]
[For these reasons I confess
that I shrink a good deal from 
meddling with the grounds except
to [n] remedy some defects
of the planting and put them in
[up] good general repair.
One rarely sees public places [grounds]
[so] as well adapted to their purpose
and in the intentions of which there is so
little to offend good taste.]

While the grounds in their
present condition are consistent
with the monument and as a part of its apparel meet any
requirement of good taste, they are small
in area, narrow and not well [not] 
adapted in form [for places of] 
to be used as public [gardens.] pleasure grounds.
I confess that in view of all
these considerations I have shrunk
from the duty of advising [any radical 
changes in their character.]any considerable departure from
their present design and that I
doubt if any can be made
[by which the monument by
which] by which something of
their value with reference to the
monument will not be lost.
But considering [the dearth of lack of
public squares in Baltimore
green places in]
their central position in the city the larger
[and] densely built and populous area in which they
are situated and the lack of
public squares in Baltimore;
considering also that they can 
[and that these places can]
not long be left open as they are
without leaving desolate places
[I have asked myself this question
in what way can spaces so constructed be
[then how can such narrow
grounds
places be so] treated as to
justify [the changes] what will be lost and give the
city a result of permanent, substantive value?][in the centre of [the] a larger
[city and gr] and thriving city
and furnish the [only] only places
available [places] for public
pleasure grounds within a
large, closely built and populous
area. If Baltimore is bound
to satisfy their [public] craving
which has [but] led every other
larger city to furnish itself
with numerous fountains, gardens
and decorated places [as a relief
to the more generally prevailing
conditions], she is in a measure
compelled to concentrate [on
this ground] effort for them]

the demand for a change of arrangement
seems justified.
¶ The considerations I have indicated 
nevertheless make it
necessary that in [undertaking making]
attempting any material changes something
shall be had in view [attempted]
of more than ordinary consequence,
something which shall
be of permanent and substantial
value, [and and] thoroughly creditable
to the city and likely to outlast [stand
through] with the monument itself,
[through] many changes of fashion.[I open the way to it with observations
of some triteness.
The importance of the[se]
grounds lies in the fact that
they are connected with the
Washington Monument. The
design of this monument [belongs
to the last century
longs] more to the last than
the present century and of
a certain phase of art the country
has no better memorial
[the special phase of culture
which it represents the
country has no better other equally
good architectural memorial.]
It is very unlikely
that [any] there will ever be]

[monument I find this] to be
If laid out in what might be
[thoughtlessly] described as a
common, modest, intrusion
way, such as never be suitable 
if they were designed for
[the use of a family
only of some respectable family
or half a dozen families]
the use of a respectable family or even a
[dozen respect] score or two of respectable
families, the result would
not favor satisfactory even temporarilly. In the

[*[monument I have been in some
doubt of the one practicable.
The monument is not a common
one. Its design [be] belongs]*][the necessity of for a change of
arrangement seems
the demand for a change of
arrangement seems justified. [The
ques But the question]
The question is nevertheless a
difficult one in what many
can spaces so contracted be
treated that the result will
be of sufficient permanent[ value 
to] and substantive value to the
city]

first place [a ground of that
character] gardens of that character
in the midst of a public
place and in direct association
with dignified public
structures would seem [appear] puerile,
[fussy] paltry and fussy and
in the second place [it] they would
be actually cramped, [and insufficient]
and inconvenient; [it] they
must [be] consequently be ill used
and a shabby and forlorn aspect would [be] become inevitable.
[and it would be impossible
to prevent avoid its taking on a forlorn
and shabby and forlorn aspect
expression.]

[*[another monument as fitting
to the tastes and charac-]*][another monument to [Wash]
Washington as fitting to his
own tastes and character.
[There can be no other which
while it remains standing will
will can become as venerable.]
While it remains standing no
other can have equal historic
[interest and] value or become equally
[as] venerable.  [It is in honor
to Maryland and] If it is needful
to a nations honor that it [holds]
maintain with reverence the
names of its [founders]
benefactors, it]

¶ If on the other hand a broad,
simple [formal] arrangement should be
attempted, [such as has been proposed] [consisting of a]
consisting of a spacious alley extending
from and to end of each
[plot with plain parrallelgrams 
of turf on [either]
each side of it the grounds [and There
again [border] bordered with
[sch] the present straight runs]

[*[To give strength and support
and a greater degree of independence
to the base]*][To give greater aspect?
firmness, and solid support
to the base and
render it more independent
of the part of the grounds
in which a varied
treatment would be attempted
a distinct parapet should
a [?] but solid
line of masonry would
need to cross each plot
each of the grounds
in such a manner as to suggest a
manifest the face of a spacious level
platform which on the or terrace and the]

plot, bordered by symetrical
[plots] strips of turf and set in the
midst of a formal avenue 
of trees, [they] the grounds would assume
a mien intimate and
[a new and more ?]
important relation to the
monument than they have
at present, namely that
of exterior halls or ground
approaches. [to it. As such
they should]

[would assume the character
of]
This is the idea presented in the
report which you sent me of a Committee of the Commission Council
[a copy of which you have furnished
me and] in which the removal of the
slight iron fences and the
separation of the whole arrangement
from the [roadways] wheelways of the
adjoining [stret] streets by a 
low wall is [properly] justly recognized
as a necessary condition of its
success. It is  practicable to
carry out this proposition
in such a manner as to
produce a grand and dignified
result, but to[ulated and rapidly growing town.
Moreover, it is not to be expected
that the public will be satis
long satisfied with using
them, when them simply as
passages. A demand will 
come that they shall serve the purpose of
public pleasure grounds.  If the
To attempt to meet
arrangements made for the purpose
are not adequate [?] at they
will not be likely to last. and Either
they will after a few years
be again recast or feature
after feature with more or less of incongruity will be added
to the adopted plan until]

obtain a sufficient impression
of artistry of design [between the appr with the]
between the monument and its approaches it would be necessary
that the walls and
their copings, the edgings of
the walk and such steps,
[piers] ramps, piers, and terminals
as there might [should] be found
occasion for should be
of an effectively massive [form and
enduring material]
and enduring character, commensurate
with that of the monument.
Although the theory of design has had
you provisional approval I am not quite
satisfied to set to work upon it for the[The undersigned have the honor
to present a report introductory
to a series of plans for laying out
the new wards of the city. The 
first of those plans can, if desired,
be had before the Board at its
be presented at the next meeting
of the Board, a second and third
are well advanced and
the whole series is
the whole scheme is the scheme
of the whole series is partially studied.
in progress of study.]

[This theory has had your provisional approval but
I am not quite satisfied to set
to work upon it this theory] for the
reason among others, that I am sure that the result relative
to the public enjoyment of it 
[the improvement of the grounds would seem
would seem my expression.]
to have been too costly.  There
would be, for instance nearly 3000 [over 1500]
linear feet of the low exterior wall alone to be built [required]
of which a large share of
the expense would be under
[ground; and much of the other stone work
whcih would require deep
and heavy foundations would
have but one or two
faces of little breadth exposed.]
ground.
The appearance of the [aspect of each of the]
form approaches would be very
much the same and in each case 
[[?] and] would be monotonous,
formal and stern rather
than cheerful or entertaining
II To relieve this aspect fountains might
be introduced as has been suggested,
but they also must have
to be kept in general accord
with the ruling motive of
dignity and grandeur
which would involve
simplicity and sobriety.
There would also be
an infelicity [of character
in such an arrangement]in advancing by four [alleys
equally very] similar alleys
toward an object of which
the crowning feature would
face toward but one. [If
the eastern approach 
should have a superiority]
The approach to the front
should be broader but
would, in fact, [need to]
be narrower than those
toward the sides of the 
[figure] statue.[As more than 1500 linear
feet of low wall would
be required to set off the
grounds from the adjoining
wheel ways of the street
alone, you will readily
see then a large expense
would be required for 
[datrins?] and otherwise under
ground. You will also recognize
then all fun of the gr?
would have a very similar
aspect and that each 
with itself would be mono?
there would also be an infelicity
in approaches of a uniform character led]

I would not say that all these
objections can [could] not be overcome
[at least] so far as to produce
a result in which they [would]
will not be seriously felt
but if some theory of design
could be hit upon
which would practically lend itself
more readily either
to [greatly?] or to some pleasing
[poetic fancy ideas, uniting
the mind to] poetic association
further removed from
the [hardness of the]
hard common place prose of the streets
it would be [fortunate] preferable.What is desirable in this [?]
is [several] a general theme of
which, to borrow a term from music, each of the four
plots should present a [distinct
passage] [truce?] movement
each movement admitting a
contrast in details with all
the others.

[Move from What is really required
is a common theme
of which to borrow a term
from music there should be
four distinct passages
movements]

It would cost [num?], I
judge, considerably, to carry
out the idea to which, as I
said, then reflecting [him enight]
me, than that which
you have had in mind but
[I think that] the result [might]
would, I am [sure] confident be much more than proportionally
valuable.
What I would like to
do is this:
[First in order to [?gibly]
detach the garden ground from
the monument, so, as to
that a degree if detail]The monument is actually at a distance
of nearly a hundred feet from the nearest part of the [present
enclosures] grounds to be laid out [of nearly 
a hundred feet] and is divided
from them by public streets. If the
[fences and the] trees now [clearly] obviously
misplaced and the fences at the ends of the grounds
[and the fences] nearest the monument were removed as they would
be in carrying out the idea of the
[central alleys] straight alleys, the imagination would
bridge the intermediate space and connect the [the]
grounds [seem to be united with the] with the monument. If, on the
other hand, in the place of the [fence]

present slight fence there should be a distinct architectural 
line of masonry, then, in [approach]
looking toward the monument from
within the grounds it would seem to
stand, as in fact it does upon a 
[central platform or terrace from which
the grounds themselves would then be
seem the stand more distinctly apart.
The grounds would then have much
more the aspect of detached places.]
broad level central plateau or terrace. The
grounds would then appear much more
distinctly detached and would be more
readily regarded apart from the monument and their
treatment might be much more than they have at present
more complex in its interior detail without [an effect
of] incongruity and without serious injury to the effect of the monument.
[While
then in their outlines and in their
more salient features simplicity &
strength would still be desirable it would be practicable to have more variety
and some degree of intricacy of interior 
detail would be practi it would
be practicable to have much more][variety and some degree of intricacy
of interior detail without producing
[incongruity or] a belittling
[effect] or incongruous general
effect.]
As the supposed walls would
not be seen together it would not
be necessary to have regard for
symmetry of arrangement in determining
their position. I would,
[therefore] then place that on the East side
at such a distance from the monument
that the principal doors of
the Peabody Institute and the Church
opposite would give fairly upon
the terrace and then in the South side I

The monument being, by this
arrangement, placed in a distinct
architectural plateau, and the

[would set the wall] at a still
greater distance. [from the
monument.] As the natural surface
of the ground falls [naturally]
away on both these sides,
The base of the walls would
be [some] several feet below the base
of the monument. I would 
build them up to an equal height with
it and make the intermediate spaces [lus?]
by embaillement.  The walls would then need 
to be surmounted by a pierced parapet or ballustrade.

[build them up to a level with 
it and fill in the intermediate
space so that they would
serve as retaining walls
and be surmounted by a pierced
parapet or ballustrade.][terrace, and As in these
cases the terrace would be
supported by a [?] wall
this would be need only if
a parapet or ballustrade
above the surface on the terrace
side [?] the monument.]
On the garden side of each
of the structures thus crudely indicated I would
have a wall fountain and
the walls about its issue should be formed with a view
to sculptural decoration in relief.

[structures I would
of these walls I propose would
have a wall fountain and
the walls formed with a view
to sculpture above them and
in relief upon them about the inflow if the water
in original designs. Each
design sculpture design would be [?y] significant if]

[terrace to the gardens]
terrace. The entrance from the terrace
to the [gardens would be] garden in each side would be
through two [g?] architectural [portals]
ports

The design in each case should be significant of
one of the four seasons.
[The accompany conditions
should correspond and through]
Then through each of the gardens below
I would have a recurrence
in some [m?] a less distinct
form of the special motive
of the fountain at its head.
I do not mean emblematically
but in such [way that]
manner that [in the succession of] according as it
should be spring, summer,
autumn or winter the visitor
[should] would find in one or the other
[sbically?] grateful and
appropriate conditions[That is to say] For example I would have [the
winter] one fountain framed in cycloperian
masonry to be over run by ivy and
[the garden exhaust the] lit the
garden below it be adapted to and take its
character largely from evergreen shrubbery.
[The summer fountain should simulate]
The frame of another should simulate
a cool grotto and the garden below it
be provided with shaded walks;
[abound with shade. The autumn
fountain] a third should exhibit harvest bounty
[of the season] and the garden [adapted
to display] below it rural quietness
with the bright hues of [autumn] foliage
and the flowers of the [fading] dying year.
In the fourth fountain placed lower
[The Spring fountain, situated lower]
than the others on the South
[side should have triple water][formed but leaving out of account
any fine sculptor's
work, I should think that
it could not be less than
$50,000.  I should hesitate
to even to make the suggestion
under your instructions
if it that did not appear to me
that what your city needs
is in fact to to be a seat of
[moral?] necessity growing out of
the small number and extent of open spaces never have
been included in the plan of
what must in time be a larger
area of compactly]

side the waters from all the [other
would] rest should unite and burst out again
and again, and [pass sheltered coverts] in coverts sheltered from the winds and open to the sun [all ? 
blowing and budding shrubs,]
there should be the earliest bloom and verdue of the year.
[Of course] Such a general theme
[could best] could if there were breadth enough best be worked out by
a plan which, a little below
the fountains [at the head of each
garden] would run into the natural
style but I doubt that
this could be well done in 
spaces so narrow and I
should probably rather aim
[at an old fashioned quaintness
of character.]
to secure something of the quaint[ness]
character of the old fashioned
flower garden, always maintaining
[?], largeness of scale
and convenience of passage and looking more to the turf and
shrubs for [effect] decoration than to [fl?sts]
materials.
It would be a month's work
at least to fully [digest and][work out this
suggestion and define it [idea in drawings so that a trust]
digest this suggestion and define it in drawings so that a trustworthy
estimate of the cost of realizing
it could be made.  I hardly think
it would be worth while to undertake
it, however, with a less sum
in view [than] as likely to be required
than $50,000.[There are several reasons why
I am not quite satisfied
to accept this thing of arrangement.
In the first place
so large a proposition of all the [?ttaring?]
it would require
would need to be for [foundations and underpined]
work
which would not [tell]
directly tell, in foundations that
is to say and in stone construction
of which but [two fac]
are two faces would be
[cuspicuions?]


Report-See Copy
23 Dec. 1876.
Washington, Monument
Grounds. Baltimore
Preliminary suggestions for
Treatments.