By David Linstrum, ASLA, International Associate Editor

"City planning is neither extravagant nor grandiose; it is nothing more than practicality, avoidance of needless future expense by exercise of wise forethought." Harland Bartholomew, 1915 Newark Comprehensive Plan

Brian: Please put this in a white colorbox (on the black background):

Your humble reviewer and the distinguished author of this detailed, illustrated biography share a common bond that marks an important milestone in both of our careers: Eldridge Lovelace hired me in August of 1966 for my first job right out of university to work in the St. Louis office of Harland Bartholomew and Associates; in August of 1935, (the middle of the Great Depression), Bartholomew hired new University of Illinois grad Lovelace to work in the same office! Partner Russ Riley could initially only offer Lovelace six months work, yet he stayed on until his retirement in 1981. Mr. Bartholomew sometimes visited the office while I was working, but I was not able to acquaint myself with him. However, the reading of this comprehensive book, Harland Bartholomew: His Contributions to American Urban Planning, A Biography by Eldridge Lovelace, FASLA, FASCE, AICP, improved our relationship.

Harland Bartholomew was born near Boston in 1889 and died a few months after his 100th birthday. By his death, the consulting firm he created had completed over 6,000 professional assignments on a wide range of urban planning, landscape architecture and civil engineering projects around the world.

Bartholomew himself represented that unusual combination of consultant, educator and politician; he taught students at the University of Illinois (including his future biographer Lovelace) and served as an advisor to government officials and Past Presidents from FDR to Eisenhower. While his contributions to urban planning were based on simple principles, his innovations reached nearly every American city, including Washington D.C., Memphis and St. Louis. Even the smallest of rural towns benefited from his influential methods. This rich and complex historical account contains many innovative solutions to our current urban problems.

Within Harland Bartholomew: His Contributions to American Urban Planning, Lovelace lists the many solid career accomplishments made by his mentor: in 1919, Bartholomew innovated the Interdisciplinary Design Team; he discovered that Land Use and Zoning were closely related; he chaired the National Capital Planning Commission; and his work for FDR forecast the Interstate Highway System. Bartholomew insisted that planning without implementation was of no value, so he proposed capital improvement programs, new zoning techniques, public participation, neighborhood programs and urban redevelopment corporations. Bartholomew maintained that a refined, systematic approach to the planning process is a major responsibility of all levels of government; likewise, by making them systematic, urban planning concepts could then be taught and learned.

As the life story of one of America's greatest planners, whose work influences us even today, this biography belongs in your professional reference library. Landscape Architects can learn a great deal from Harland Bartholomew, and will be inspired by his progressive attitude that was a driving force behind urban planning in America.

Proceeds from the sales of this book and donations from his firms' numerous alumni will help fund urban planning lectures at the University of Illinois. University of Illinois; Department of Urban & Regional Planning; $19.25 PP

Photo of Harland Bartholomew?

Photo Captions:

(Front Cover)

All planning agencies in the Washington D.C. Region contributed data to depict the land use pattern of 1955. This was part of the Transportation Plan for the National Capital Region, the preparation of which was the culmination of Harland Bartholomew's life long endeavor--a scientific approach to urban planning.

(Back Cover)

The regional development plan for the National Capital Region formed one basis for traffic estimates that demonstrated that rail rapid transit was essential to Washington's future. The Transportation Plan of 1959 prepared under Harland Bartholomew's direction and leadership became the foundation for the Washington Metro System.