By Michael Haas, with Edward Olinger, Douglass McCord, Joy Kuebler, and Emily Timber,
 
The New York Upstate Chapter was officially formed on December 3, 1954. The Chapter was the 13th to be organized, and it consisted of 23 members and 24 Associates.

Key members who were instrumental in the Chapter’s creation include: Herbert Blanche, Noreda Rotunno, George King, Bradford Sears, James Glavin, Jr., George Albrecht, Katherine Rahn, Nelson Wells, Eugene Montillon, and John Ryan.

The Chapter encompasses all of upstate New York. It includes a significant geography from the Adirondack Mountains to the Ontario and Erie Lake plains, the Finger Lakes, the Southern Tier, and the Hudson Valley.
 

Seneca Falls, Rochester, New York / Rockester Public Library, Local History Division

From its earliest days, it has had a strong mix of private, academic, and public practitioners. The Chapter now boasts 265 members and associates.

In 1955, a National Committee was formed to develop a list of noteworthy works by landscape architects. These included:

• Durand Eastman Park, Irondequoit (Alling S. Deforest)
• Genesee Valley, Highland and Seneca Parks, Rochester (F.L. Olmsted)
• University of Rochester Campus (Olmsted Brothers)

The list was hardly complete, as landscape architects had a large presence in upstate — from the work of Frederick Law Olmsted to the extensive development of parks and parkways by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the depression years.

New York Upstate ASLA Chapter and Sections Map

Early on, the Chapter worked with the New York Chapter on the passage of professional licensure legislation. The bill was passed in March of 1960, and licensure survived a constitutional challenge in 1965.

In April 1966, the Chapter approved emeritus status for Fletcher Steele. In 1971, the New York State Council of Landscape Architects held its first meeting at Lyndhurst, Tarrytown, NY.

The Medallion Program provided another opportunity to identify projects that represent the best in landscape architecture. These projects hosted public ceremonies:

• Letchworth State Park, Castile (Bryant Fleming)
• Sunken Garden at Warner Castle, Rochester (Alling S. Deforest)
• Washington Park, Albany (F.L. Olmsted)
• Delaware Park, Buffalo (F.L. Olmsted & Vaux)
• Oakwood Cemetery, Syracuse (Howard Daniels)
• Highland Park, Rochester (F.L. Olmsted)

The Chapter is proud to have two accredited programs in landscape architecture: SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry (1911) and Cornell University (1904).

Michael Haas, ASLA, is director of landscape architecture at Delta and Haas Landscape Architecture. Edward Olinger, FASLA, Douglass McCord, ASLA, Joy Kuebler, FASLA, and Emily Timber provided input into this article.