Wayne Gronquist Papers

An Inventory to the Collection

Biographical Note

Wayne Gronquist was born in 1941 to Sophie and Robert Gronquist in Jamestown, New York. He attended the University of Texas at Austin and double majored in economics and philosophy. He married Jill McRae, and they had two sons, Mark and Eran. In 1972, Gronquist graduated from the University of Texas at Austin Law School, and he practiced law in Austin, Texas.

Wayne Gronquist was committed to protecting and preserving the environment in Austin. He worked to preserve the neighborhood known as Travis Heights. Gronquist applied and secured historic zoning for three of the most historic homes in Travis Heights, including the Warner Lucas House, where he lived from 1960 to 1987; the Red-Purcell House; and the Mather-Kirkland House, the latter of which was registered on the National Register of Historic Places. As a founding member of the Save Barton Creek Association and the Zilker Park Posse, he worked tirelessly to preserve Barton Creek and Barton Springs. Gronquist served on numerous tasks forces where he dedicated his time to improve Austin's environment. Wayne played a pivotal role in the cleanup of massive illegal dumping in Imperial Valley South and helped create a home for the Texas River School to educate and mentor disadvantaged youth.

He also enjoyed maritime preservation. In 1979 he co-founded NUMA, National Underwater Marine Agency, with Clive Cussler. He married his second wife Kari Puckett in 1986 and they had a son, Justin. In 2010, Gronquist passed away after a battle with cancer.

Source: Wayne Gronquist Obituary. Austin American-Statesman. November 13, 2010.

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Scope and Contents

The collection contains materials from Gronquist's involvement with the Save Barton Creek Association, the South River City Citizens, the Zilker Park Posse, the Friends of the Aquifer Task Force, and Austin Tomorrow. The collection contains reports, meeting minutes and agendas, correspondence, maps, notes, legal documents, and clippings referencing such topics as Barton Creek, Barton Springs, Edwards Aquifer, the Barton Creek salamander, and the impact of development on the environmental quality of Austin. Whenever possible Gronquist's folder labels were maintained, however, the collection contained a large quantity of loose materials that had to be filed by the processor. Effort was made to arrange the collection by organization name and then by subject or material type. However, lack of original order and the overlapping nature of the causes that Gronquist was dedicated to made it sometimes difficult to determine which series or subseries a particular folder belonged.

The bulk of the material in the collection is contained within the Save Barton Creek Association series (1971-2009). The Save Barton Creek Association incorporated in Texas in September of 1979 with the purpose of the preservation of Barton Springs and the unique environment of the Barton Creek Watershed and Zilker Park. This series is arranged into four subseries: Administrative; Newspaper Clippings and Publicity; Research and Subject Files; and Planning and Concerns. The Administrative subseries consists of bylaws and Articles of Incorporation; SBCA Board member lists, agendas and meeting minutes; memos, emails and correspondence; and legal documents. Gronquist saved newspaper and magazine articles on anything related to Barton Creek, Barton Springs and the Edward's Aquifer and these clippings were compiled into a Newspaper Clippings and Publicity subseries. The Research and Subject Files subseries is composed of materials related to development, legal reference materials, golf courses, Barton Springs and the Lower Colorado River Authority. The Planning and Concerns subseries is extensive, containing reports, legal documents, correspondence, flyers, recommendations, and resolutions related to the work of Gronquist with SBCA. Specific issues addressed by SBCA that are represented include Balcones Canyonland Conservation Plan, Barton Creek Community/Barton Creek Properties, Inc., Barton Creek Plaza, Barton Springs, canoe trips and public access issues, Barton Creek Salamander, the Comprehensive Watershed Ordinance and the Common Ground Resolution and Century Plan.

The South River City Citizens series (1973-2003) highlights the activities of this South Austin neighborhood association that was formed in 1972 to address the challenges faced by the community due to development. Administrative materials include the South River City Citizens Constitution, meeting minutes, and newsletters. Documentation of SRCC's planning and concerns include materials pertaining to the Austin Neighborhood Council, United South Austin, and a series of zoning projects.

The Zilker Park Posse series (1975-1985) contains materials related this political action committee, formed to compliment the Save Barton Creek Association, a 501 (C)(3) non-profit, informational organization. Administrative documents including Articles of Incorporation and correspondence document the founding and subsequent changes within the organization. Documentation of the organization's planning and concerns include files pertaining to the development of Barton Creek Square Mall, the Lakeway Water Lawsuit, and the bond election of 1982.

The Friends of the Aquifer series (1916-1987, bulk 1985-1987) documents the activities of the task force established by the City of Austin to work on the Comprehensive Watershed Ordinance. In addition there are recommendations for the preservation of Barton Springs and its underlying aquifer, data from a longitudinal study on water quality in Austin, and a proposal for the reclamation of McKinney State Falls. Lastly, the Austin Tomorrow Comprehensive Plan series (1973-1979) documents Gronquist's work on the planning tool to guide development adopted by the City of Austin in 1979.

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use

None.

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Related Material

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Separated Material

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Administrative Information

Custodial History

Upon Wayne Gronquist's death his family gave his records to the Save Barton Creek Association. Subsequently the records were donated to the Austin History Center.

Preferred Citation

Wayne Gronquist Papers (AR.2012.020). Austin History Center, Austin Public Library, Texas.

Acquisition Information

Donor #: DO/1984/107

Donation Date: 2012

Processing Information

Finding aid created and encoded by Kathryn Cain in 2012.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

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