THE FRIENDS OF MARYLAND'S OLMSTED PARKS AND LANDSCAPES COLLECTION

The Friends of Maryland’s Olmsted Parks and Landscape Collection is housed at the Baltimore City Archives (BCA). It consists of two sets of documents: 

  • Significant drawings for Baltimore park projects (many of them original) from the Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks, including a number for which the Olmsted firm was commissioned, as well as those created by others for the department. These documents may be viewed either in person at the BCA or on-line through the Maryland State Archives (See link below).

  •  Copies of correspondence files related to Olmsted projects from the Library of Congress  “Olmsted Associates, 1863-1971, Records Collection” stored in files at BCA. These documents are primarily for Baltimore area sites, focusing on parks and other public grounds, institutions and city redevelopment. 

To view the full FMOPL Olmsted Collection in person, visit the Baltimore City Archives is located at 2615 Mathews Street, Baltimore, 21218; 410-396-3884. Hours (by appointment only) are Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.  For more information, go to http://baltimorecityhistory.net/

To view the drawings from the FMOPL Collection, available on-line on the Maryland State Archives digital site,  go to http://speccol.msa.maryland.gov/pages/speccol/series.aspx?speccol=5339&series=55 

For inquiries about the Collection, you may also contact the Friends of Maryland’s Olmsted Parks & Landscapes by e-mail at FMOPLorg@gmail.com or by mail at P.O. Box 16244, Baltimore, MD 21210-0244.

The collection has been created with the assistance of dedicated FMOPL volunteers who compiled copies of correspondence from the Library of Congress files and consulted with the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site in Brookline, Massachusetts (Fairsted). 

The accommodation of the FMOPL Collection is governed by an agreement between the Baltimore City Archives, the City’s Department of Recreation and Parks, and the Friends of Maryland’s Olmsted Parks & Landscapes.