Edward G. Lawson papers, 1915-1937.
Collection Number: 4237

Edward Godfrey Lawson was born in Buffalo, N.Y. on October 29, 1884. He attended Cornell University, receiving a B.S. in 1913 and a Master of Landscape Design in 1914. Awarded the "Prix de Rome" in Landscape Architecture in 1915, he studied at the American Academy in Rome, and was elected a fellow of the American Academy in 1920. During World War I, he served in the Italian Red Cross, from 1917 to 1919. From 1920 to 1922, Lawson planned military cemeteries in France, England, and Belgium for the U.S. Graves Registration Service, Paris.

During his time in Italy he photographed and documented the iconic gardens of the Italian Renaissance, which would become the subject of his teaching at Cornell. Lawson's "Garden Details" sketchbook would become a measure of his endeavors while at the Academy. The voluminous 193-page folio contains dozens of photographs and technical drawings of the villas and gardens that he visited. In particular, Lawson provided the first detailed measurements and descriptions of the famous gardens of Villa Gamberaia, on the hillside of Settignano, in Tuscany. The spectacular restoration of the villa and the gardens in the 1950s would be largely based on Lawson's observations and recommendations.

He returned to the United States, and was appointed assistant professor of landscape architecture at Cornell in 1922, where he taught until 1931. His departure from Cornell was under controversial terms. He would return two years later as an assistant professor and later as an associate professor, teaching until 1943 when he once again would leave under controversial terms. He worked for the House of Herbs, the first center of herb culture in the United States, until his retirement in 1964. On January 4, 1968, Lawson died at Winter Park, Florida.

Photo album / sketchbook kept by Lawson during his years as a student at the American Academy in Rome, as a "Prix de Rome" winner in landscape architecture. Includes photographs and measured drawings of buildings and architectural details, planting lists, plans, and elevations, primarily in Italy. Also, photographs of plans of American cemeteries in France and England, 1921; photographs of Lawson, and of a portrait of Lawson; photographs of unidentified architectural details and plans; measured drawings of unidentified details; and a postcard and note sent to Lawson.

Also bound volumes from the American Academy in Rome, with article and photographs of the Villa Gamberaia, by Edward Lawson, compiled by Edward Lawson, 1927; Villa Medici, Rome, written and compiled by Edward Lawson, 1930; Villa d'Este at Tivoli, by Michael Rapuano, compiled by Lawson, 1933; Villa Palmieri, Florence, by Michael Rapuano, compiled by Lawson, 1935; Villa Medici at Fiesole near Florence, by Norman T. Newton, compiled by Lawson, 1935; and Villa Cicogna Bisuschio, by Ralph E. Griswold, compiled by Lawson, 1937. Includes colored architectural drawing of the Villa Camberaia at Settignano created by Lawson.

Eight lantern slides of illustrations from Lawson's Rome Prize thesis.

Edward G. Lawson papers, #4237. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.