Frederick Law Olmsted's Other Career

A new essay by Thomas Fisher details Frederick Law Olmsted's lesser known work in the realm of public health and sanitation.

1 minute read

November 15, 2010, 1:00 PM PST

By Emily Laetz


Fisher argues that Olmsted's work as a general secretary of the US Sanitary Commission might have important implications for planning and public health in the 21st century:

"But when we examine Olmsted's Sanitary Commission work in light of the history of public health, it is clear that here - just as with his foundational work in public parks - Olmsted has set an example that landscape architects might follow in the future. To see where the field might venture in the 21st century, in other words, it is illuminating to chart an often-overlooked path that Olmsted pioneered in the mid-19th century."

Monday, November 15, 2010 in The Design Observer Group

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