Chapter logos through the years

The Connecticut Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (CTASLA) began in February 1948 with nine founding members:

• Theodosia Burr

• Edgar Beaumont 

• Marianne Dean

• Thomas Henry Desmond

• Arthur Hoffman

• Frederick Davis

• Helen Tilapaugh (Jones)

• Helene B. Warner

• George Yarwood

Together, they spent the first several years drafting bylaws and laying the groundwork for the mission and operating structure of the chapter. In 1952, George Yarwood began serving as its first elected President. 

ASLA held its 65th Annual Meeting in Hartford in June of 1965. Momentum from the event helped the chapter establish the case for statewide licensure which was enacted by the legislature in 1968. The chapter received its first national-level VP with Richard Dee in 1973. 

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CTASLA began sharing the New Haven office space of CSA-AIA in 1980. That same year, the current Executive Board structure with members and officers was adopted.

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During the 1981-1982 legislative session, the chapter successfully defeated a sunset bill for the profession thanks to support from State Rep. Nancy Johnson and State Senator Amelia Mustone. To increase awareness of landscape architecture, CTASLA prepared a public exhibit of work by state landscape architects, which ran for two years at libraries, museums, banks and several universities. Additionally, the chapter cosponsored the first Public Spaces Awards

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In 1985, CTASLA was again represented on the national level with the election of Dean Johnson as VP for Finance. The Connecticut Landscape Architect (CTLA) began regular publication in 1986 as a modest newsletter. In early 1987, practitioners located in Rhode Island split off from the chapter to form an independent RIASLA. Later in the year, CTASLA conferred its first Yarwood Award to Bob Gregan.

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The chapter Handbook launched in 1992, providing the definitive listing of Chapter members and other pertinent state information. The Connecticut Olmsted Award program also began that same year with Dr. Richard Goodwin receiving the inaugural honor.

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In 1995, Vincent McDermott became the first chapter members to be elected President of CLARB. The chapter launched the Connecticut Design Awards program that fall. The CTASLA.org website went live in 1996, offering basic program and chapter contact information.

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Thanks to the efforts of numerous chapter members, legislative modifications to Public Act 97-174, an Act Concerning Landscape Architecture became law in 1997. The chapter hosted its first Golf Outing benefit in 1998, and the University of Connecticut program becomes accredited. Continuing education requirements for landscape architects were added to state regulations in 1999.

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The chapter bylaws and constitution received an update in 2001. The college scholarship program was established in 2002. Jeff Mills became the first Executive Director for the chapter in 2004, offering email listserve updates and online event registration.

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Public Act 05-179 of 2005 established April 26th of each year as “Frederick Law Olmsted Day”.