South Street Footpath Construction Project records, 1998-2002.
Overview
The Records of the South Street Footpath Construction Project collection was acquired by the Arboretum’s Archives in 2002 from Laura Tenny Brogna, Landscape Project Manager. The collection documents the clearing of the Arnold Arboretum’s South Street Tract and the construction of a new footpath between Washington Street and South Street. It also documents the construction of the Washington Street and South Street gates and contains correspondence, notes, photographs, drawings, and slides. The bulk of the materials in this collection date from 1998 to 2002.
Dates
- Creation: 1998-2002
Terms of Access
Researchers seeking to examine archival materials are strongly encouraged to make an appointment. The Director, or an office of origin, may place restrictions on the use of some or all of its records. The extent and length of the restriction will be determined by the Director, office of origin, and the Archivist and will be enforced equally for all researchers.
Terms of Use
The copyright is held by The President and Fellows of Harvard College for the Arnold Arboretum Archives of Harvard University. The copyright on some materials in the collection may be held by the original author or the author's heirs or assigns. Researchers are responsible for obtaining written permission from the holder(s) of copyright and the Arnold Arboretum Archives prior to publishing any quotations or images from materials in this collection.
Photocopies may be made at the discretion of the Arnold Arboretum Archives staff. Permission to make photocopies does not constitute permission to reproduce or publish materials outside the bounds of the fair use guidelines.
Extent
1 linear feetThe bulk of the materials relate to the construction of the Arnold Arboretum’s South Street Footpath. They document the clearing of the Arnold Arboretum’s South Street Tract and the construction of a new footpath between Washington Street and South Street. They also document the construction of the Washington Street and South Street gates and challenges presented by the project, including an unearthed concrete structure and the removal of an oil tank.
The collection includes correspondence,notes,photographs, and slides, as well as some drawings and maps of the South Street Tract.
The bulk of the materials were created and/or compiled by Laura Tenny Brogna between 1998 and 2002, but some of the materials date back to 1992. In addition, the collection contains copies of background documents dating back to 1966.
Historical Note
Laura Tenny Brogna joined the Arnold Arboretum as a Putnam Fellow before being appointed Landscape Project Manager in 1999. She left the Arboretum in 2004 to become Capital Project Manager at Harvard Real Estate Services.
During this period she managed a number of projects including the South Street Tract Footpath, Bussey Brook stabilization, the Stony Brook Sewer Separation Project, High Level Sewer Repairs, Peters Hill stormwater improvements, and the Bussey Brook Hydraulic and Hydrologic Study. Brogna also worked on watershed mapping, water testing, and many other watershed management tasks. In addition, she was involved with projects for the Institute of Cultural Landscape Studies.
Brogna documented her projects exceptionally well, taking extensive notes and many photographs. Her daily construction notes and photos of projects in progress form a detailed record of her work at the Arboretum.
The pieces of property addressed in this collection are known by multiple names. The 24-acre South Street Tract, which was added to the Arboretum in 1996, is also known as the Bussey Brook Meadow and Stony Brook Marsh. The South Street Footpath was officially dedicated as the Blackwell Footpath in 2002 in honor of John Thomas Blackwell, who helped raise over $800,000 for the design and construction of the path and gates.
Note: Laura Tenny Brogna now uses the name Laura Tenny. Also, 86 images of the path, its construction, and its dedication can be found in Image Portal by searching “Blackwell.” Images of the path and the piece of land that is goes through can also be retrieved by searching “South Street Tract.”
Arrangement
The Records of the South Street Footpath Construction Project collection is arranged into 4 series. Within folders, items are arranged chronologically. Note: Although the correspondence has been broken down by year, materials remain in their original order.
- Series I: Correspondence
- Series II: Notes
- Series III: Contracts and Agreements
- Series IV: Reports and Progress
Physical Location
Archives. ID-3c Series V
Other Finding Aids
Current version of this finding aid is available at the Archives of the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University.
The following article, a copy of which was originally contained in Series IV, folder 4 (Plantings), can be found in Arnoldia: Wyman, Donald. “Plants for Screening Junkyards, Gravel Pits and Dumps.” Arnoldia 25, no. 8 (November 19, 1965): 45-48.
The following plans can be found in Drawer 5, folder 13A of the map collection: 75% Submission—Plant and Path Layout/Grading Plan, Topographic Plan, Arnold Arboretum Expansion, prepared for Brown and Rowe, Inc. by Judith Nitsch Engineering, Inc. September 23, 1998.
Additional Laura Tenny Brogna correspondence can be found by searching the Arnold Arboretum Correspondence Database. Note: Laura Tenny Brogna now uses the name Laura Tenny.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Provenance: This collection was transferred from the Arnold Arboretum’s departmental holdings to the Arboretum’s Archives in 2002.
General note
Access to Finding Aid record in HOLLIS.
Processing Information
Alison Kobierski October, 2011.
- Title
- South Street Footpath Construction Project records, 1998-2002.
- Author
- The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University
- Language of description
- und
- EAD ID
- ajp00074
Repository Details
Part of the Arnold Arboretum Archives Repository
The Arnold Arboretum Horticultural Library is a specialized collection devoted to the study of temperate woody plants. We collect works on botany, horticulture, floras, urban forestry and taxonomy. The library contains more than 25,000 volumes and 40,000 photographs, and includes an archive that both documents the Arboretum's history and is a repository for 19th, 20th, and 21st century horticultural and botanical collections.