Frederick Law Olmsted: Designing America

FAIN: TD-50218-10

Western New York Public Broadcasting Association (Buffalo, NY 14240-1263)
John Grant (Project Director: January 2010 to May 2011)

Development of a 90-minute documentary exploring the life and career of landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, an accompanying website, and a four-part radio series.

This is a grant proposal for the scriptwriting phase of a 90-minute film about the life and work of Frederick Law Olmsted. He is known as the father of American landscape architecture; what is unknown to the viewing public is the fact that he had many different careers, trying (with frequent success) to reform 19th-century America in surprising ways. He succeeded mightily, changed the nation, and his concerns foretold the future; but he also struggled with failure, with loss, and with despair for much of his life. The project includes five short films about Olmsted parks for web distribution, a four-part radio series, a website, and more. With funding of $75,000 from the NEH, a $10,000 grant from the Massachusetts Humanities Foundation (secured in December 2009), and in-kind donations of $8,975, we will create a full film script, scout locations, assemble archival materials, and consult with scholars and advisors. This five-month project starts in September 2010.