Legacy for Living Blog
ASLA Chapters: A Timeline
January 23, 2024
As part of ASLA's 125th Anniversary we are celebrating the history of the Society's forty-nine chapters. Read on to learn more about the formation of ASLA's Chapters and discover the date that each was formed.
Alabama | Alaska | Arizona | Arkansas | Boston | California Northern | California Sierra | California Southern | Colorado | Connecticut | Florida | Georgia | Hawaii | Idaho/Montana | Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Kentucky | Louisiana | Maryland | Michigan | Minnesota | Mississippi | Nebraska/Dakotas | Nevada | New Hampshire | New Jersey | New Mexico | New York | New York Upstate | North Carolina | Ohio | Oklahoma | Oregon | Pennsylvania/Delaware | Potomac | Prairie Gateway | Rhode Island | San Diego | South Carolina | St. Louis | Tennessee | Texas | Utah | Vermont | Virginia | Washington | West Virginia | Wisconsin
1913-1936
1913
The Boston Society of Landscape Architects was organized on January 13, 1913, with twenty-seven charter members—all of them members of ASLA.
At the ASLA board meeting of February 18, 1913, the Executive Committee recommended a committee be appointed "to suggest such modification of the constitution and by-laws as would permit the organization of local chapters." The constitution was amended to allow the formation of chapters in February 1914. After a discussion a motion was made not to create geographical boundaries for chapters but to allow chapter membership up to the decision of individual members. Beginning in 1920 the bylaws stipulated that each chapter should elect a chapter trustee to the ASLA Board of Trustees
1914
The New York Chapter became the first local ASLA chapter organized under the new constitutional framework.
1915
A third chapter, the Minnesota Chapter was organized in 1915. This chapter is unrelated to the modern Minnesota Chapter. Indeed, it was renamed the Mississippi Valley Chapter in 1922, signifying its position as more of a regional than a state organization. The Mississippi Valley Chapter was disbanded in 1938.
1916
The Mid-West Chapter was organized in 1916. This chapter was later renamed the Ohio-Michigan Chapter in 1924. It split into the Detroit and Cleveland Chapters in 1937.
1919
The Pacific Coast Chapter was organized in 1919. It disbanded in 1937 and the San Francisco and Southern California Chapter were created in its place.
1931
The older of two chapters called the Southeastern Chapter was organized in 1931. It disbanded from lack of support in 1938 once smaller groups of members left to form the Washington, D.C. and Richmond Chapters
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1937-1947
1937
A major reorganization took place this year. Instead of continuing to add additional trustees to the ASLA Board for each newly admitted chapter, the bylaws were revised to organize the territory of the United States into six regions. Each geographic region contained one or more ASLA chapters, and chapter trustees were then elected at the regional level—keeping their number static at six trustees total.
The six regions were as follows:
- New England Region, comprising the states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut excepting Fairfield County.
- Middle Atlantic Region, comprising the states of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania east of the Allegheny Divide, Delaware, and Fairfield County, Conn.
- Southeastern Region, comprising the District of Columbia and the states of Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana
- Great Lakes Region, comprising the states of Ohio, Indiana, lower Michigan, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania west of the Allegheny Divide.
- Midwest Region, comprising the states of Illinois, Wisconsin, upper Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Montana, Texas, Wyoning, Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico
- Pacific Region, comprising the states of Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, and the territories of Alaska and Hawaii.
The Northern California Chapter. was organized in 1937 partly from the defunct Pacific Coast Chapter. It was called the San Francisco Chapter until 1950 and then the North Pacific Chapter from 1950-1959.
The Southern California Chapter was organized in 1937 partly from the defunct Pacific Coast Chapter.
The Michigan Chapter was organized in 1937 partly from the defunct Ohio-Michigan Chapter. It was called the Detroit Chapter until 1949.
The Cleveland Chapter was organized in 1937 partly from the defunct Ohio-Michigan Chapter. It was renamed the Kentucky-Ohio Chapter in 1952. It disbanded in 1972.
1938
The Potomac Chapter was organized in 1938. It was called the Washington, D.C. Chapter until 1951.
The Richmond Chapter was organized in 1938. It disbanded in 1948.
1939
The Nebraska/Dakotas Chapter was organized in 1939. It was called the Missouri Valley Chapter until 1975 and then the Great Plains Chapter from 1975-2018.
1940
The Pennsylvania/Delaware Chapter was organized in 1940. It was called the Pennsylvania Chapter until 1977.
The Chicago Chapter was organized in 1940. It was renamed the North Central States Chapter in 1963. It disbanded in 1972.
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1948-1967
1948
The Board of Trustees updated the bylaws to do away with regions. Each ASLA Chapter thereafter represented a specific geographic area and all members were then assigned to a single chapter. Each chapter elected a trustee to the Board of Trustees.
The Connecticut Chapter was organized in 1948. Its territory had previously been part of the Boston Chapter.
A new Southeastern Chapter was organized in 1948. It disbanded in 1974.
1954
The New York Upstate Chapter was organized in 1954. Its territory had previously been part of the New York Chapter.
1955
The Hawaii Chapter was organized in 1955. Its territory had previously been part of the San Francisco Chapter.
1957
The Southwest Chapter was organized in 1957. It disbanded in 1977.
1959
The Florida Chapter was organized in 1959. Its territory had previously been part of the Southeastern Chapter.
The Pacific Northwest Chapter was organized in 1959. It disbanded in 1973.
The Rocky Mountain Chapter was organized in 1959. It disbanded in 1973.
1964
The New Jersey Chapter was organized in 1964. Its territory had previously been split between the Pennsylvania and New York Chapters.
1967
The California Sierra Chapter was organized in 1967. Its territory had previously been part of the Northern California Chapter. It was called the California Central Valley Chapter until 1995.
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1968-1977
1968
The Georgia Chapter was organized in 1968. Its territory had previously been part of the Southeastern Chapter.
The current Minnesota Chapter was organized in 1968. Its territory had previously been part of the North Central States Chapter.
1970
The Wisconsin Chapter was organized in 1970. Its territory had previously been part of the North Central States Chapter.
1972
The Arizona Chapter was organized in 1972. Its territory had previously been part of the Southern California Chapter.
The Illinois Chapter was organized in 1972. Its territory had previously been part of the North Central States Chapter.
The Indiana Chapter was organized in 1972. Its territory had previously been part of the North Central States Chapter.
The Kentucky Chapter was organized in 1972. Its territory had previously been part of the Kentucky-Ohio Chapter.
The Ohio Chapter was organized in 1972. Its territory had previously been part of the Kentucky-Ohio Chapter.
The West Virginia Chapter was organized in 1972. Its territory had previously been part of the Kentucky-Ohio Chapter.
1973
The Colorado Chapter was organized in 1973. Its territory had previously been part of the Rocky Mountain Chapter.
The Idaho/Montana Chapter was organized in 1973. Its territory had previously been part of the Pacific Northwest Chapter.
The Oregon Chapter was organized in 1973. Its territory had previously been part of the Pacific Northwest Chapter.
The Utah Chapter was organized in 1973. Its territory had previously been part of the Rocky Mountain Chapter.
The Washington Chapter was organized in 1973. Its territory had previously been part of the Pacific Northwest Chapter.
1974
The Alabama Chapter was organized in 1974. Its territory had previously been part of the Southeastern Chapter.
The Maryland Chapter was organized in 1974. Its territory had previously been part of the Potomac Chapter.
The North Carolina Chapter was organized in 1974. Its territory had previously been part of the Southeastern Chapter.
The South Carolina Chapter was organized in 1974. Its territory had previously been part of the Southeastern Chapter.
The Tennessee Chapter was organized in 1974. Its territory had previously been part of the Southeastern Chapter.
1975
The Iowa Chapter was organized in 1975. Its territory had previously been part of the Missouri Valley Chapter.
The Prairie Gateway Chapter was organized in 1975. Its territory had previously been part of the Missouri Valley Chapter. It was called the Missouri-Kansas Chapter until 1976.
The St. Louis Chapter was organized in 1975. Its territory had previously been part of the Missouri Valley Chapter.
1976
The Alaska Chapter was organized in 1976. Its territory had previously been part of the Washington Chapter.
The San Diego Chapter was organized in 1976. Its territory had previously been part of the Southern California Chapter.
The Texas Chapter was organized in 1976. Its territory had previously been part of the Southwest Chapter.
1977
The Louisiana Chapter was organized in 1977. Its territory had previously been part of the Southwest Chapter. It was called the Louisiana/Arkansas Chapter until 1983.
The Mississippi Chapter was organized in 1977. Its territory had previously been part of the Southwest Chapter.
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1978-present
1978
The Oklahoma Chapter was organized in 1978. Its territory had previously been part of the Texas Chapter.
The Virginia Chapter was organized in 1978. Its territory had previously been part of the Potomac Chapter.
1983
The Arkansas Chapter was organized in 1983. Its territory had previously been part of the Louisiana/Arkansas Chapter.
The New Mexico Chapter was organized in 1983. Its territory had previously been part of the Colorado Chapter.
The Ontario Chapter was organized in 1983. By the end of the decade, ASLA increasingly pressured its Canadian members to first join the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects. The Ontario Chapter disbanded in 1991.
1986
The Rhode Island Chapter was organized in 1986. Its territory had previously been part of the Connecticut Chapter.
1998
The Southern Nevada Chapter was organized in 1998. Its territory had previously been part of the Southern California Chapter. It was renamed the Nevada Chapter in 2004 when the northern part of the state joined from the California Sierra Chapter.
1999
The Vermont Chapter was organized in 1999. Its territory had previously been part of the Boston Chapter.
2012
The New Hampshire Chapter was organized in 2012. Its territory had previously been part of the Boston Chapter.
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