American Planning Association -- Texas Chapter:

The History of Planning in Texas Project Records, 1977-1994

Historical background of the Texas Chapter of the American Planning Association

Created in 1977 by the Executive Committee of the Texas Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA), The History of Planning in Texas Project is a valuable resource for students and educators alike. With the support of Chapter president Bruce McClendon, the project obtained permanent financial support and oversight from the APA's Education Foundation in 1979. The project's focus was to create a record of the experiences of planners from around Texas. Robert Cornish, chapter historian, began the project by focusing on 8 metropolitan areas, Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas, El Paso, Fort Worth, Galveston, Houston, and San Antonio.

Mr. Cornish ran the project from 1979 until 1994. During this period he was director to Texas A&M's Department of Urban and Regional Planning. Mr. Cornish traveled Texas recording oral history interviews with well known state and local planners and educators. With the assistance of students from Texas A&M, Mr. Cornish collected transcripts, monographs and supporting historical documentation on the history of planning from each of the eight metropolitan areas.

The History of Planning in Texas Project archives were donated to The University of Texas at Austin by the American Planning Association in 1995 and are housed in the Alexander Architectural Archives.

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Scope and Content of the collection

The archives' primary resources are transcriptions, monographs and documentation relating to the history of planning in eight metropolitan areas; Austin, Beaumont, Corpus Christi, Dallas, El Paso, Fort Worth, Galveston, Houston, and San Antonio. Accompanying materials include original recordings on twelve cassette tapes and transcriptions saved on 5.25” and 3.5” computer diskettes. The computer diskettes contain transcriptions saved in numerous formats, some unknown.

Supporting documentation includes historical readings, reports, planning documents, color slides and various other materials related to each of the eight metropolitan areas included in the project. Two monographs have been transferred to the Architectural and Planning Library's circulating collection.

Also included in the archive are teaching materials from the American Institute of Planners Early Short Course for planner certification. Records of the project's financial history, and correspondence between parties involved in the project are located in the archive as well.

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

Access is by appointment only to any serious scholar. Rolled materials must be flattened before viewing. A three day advance notice is required to flatten rolled materials. Portions of this collection are not processed and may not be accessible.

Restrictions on Use

Permission for publication is given on behalf of the University of Texas as the owner of the collection and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder which must be obtained by the researcher. For more information please see the Alexander Architectural Archive's Use Policy.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

American Planning Association -- Texas Chapter, The History of Planning in Texas Project Records, the Alexander Architectural Archive, University of Texas Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin

Acquisition Information

Transferred to the Alexander Architectural Archive from the University of Texas at Austin, School of Architecture.

Processing Information

by David W. Danenfelzer, January 1999, under the generous sponsorship of the American Planning Association, Texas Chapter.

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Other Finding Aids

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Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

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