Guide to the Joel Garreau Papers, 1954-1994 Joel Garreau C0057

Guide to the Joel Garreau Papers, 1954-1994

A Collection in
Special Collections and Archives
Accession Number C0057


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George Mason University Libraries

2006 By George Mason University Libraries. All rights reserved.

Processed by: Special Collections and Archives Staff

Repository
George Mason University. Special Collections and Archives.
Collection number
C0057
Title
Joel Garreau Papers November 1954-February 1994
URL:
http://sca.gmu.edu/finding_aids/garreau.html
Physical Characteristics
33.5 linear feet (65 boxes)
Creator
Joel Garreau,
Language
English
Abstract
This collection contains research materials for Garreau's books, "Edge City" (1992) and "The Nine Nations of North America" (1981). Materials include newspapers, magazine clippings, contact information, government publications, book excerpts, tapes, annual reports, advertisements, newsletters, essays, interview transcripts, notes, project proposals, pamphlets, fliers, brochures, and other documents.

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions on personal use. Permission to publish material from the Joel Garreau Papers must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.

Preferred Citation

Joel Garreau Papers, C0057, Special Collections and Archives, George Mason University Libraries.

Acquisition Information

Collection donated by Joel Garreau in 1997-1999.

Processing Information

Processed by Special Collections and Archives staff. EAD markup completed by Eron Ackerman and Jordan Patty in April 2009. Additional processing and EAD markup completed by Hal Barthold in 2011.

Biographical Information

Joel Garreau is an American journalist and author. Currently he works as the editor in charge of "cultural revolution" reporting at The Washington Post, as senior fellow at the School of Public Policy at George Mason University, and principal of The Garreau Group, which is "dedicated to the creation of more liveable and profitable urban areas worldwide." He also writes for Wired magazine.

Garreau's work is often compared to that of Jane Jacobs or Ronald J. Oakerson for its focus on urban quality of life and autonomy of urban regions from suburbs and surrounding agricultural areas. His books include, "The Nine Nations of North America" (1981), "Edge City" (1992), and "Radical Evolution: The Promise and Peril of Enhancing Our Minds, Our Bodies -- and What It Means to Be Human" (2005).

Scope and Content

This collection contains research materials and other documents pertaining to Garreau's books, "Edge City" (1992) and "The Nine Nations of North America" (1981). Materials include newspapers, magazine clippings, contact information, government publications, book excerpts, tapes, annual reports, advertisements, newsletters, essays, interview transcripts, notes, project proposals, pamphlets, fliers, brochures, and other documents.

The total volume of the collection is 33.5 linear feet, consisting of 64 document boxes and 1 oversize box. The collection is arranged into 2 series. Series 1 consists of the materials dealing with Garreau's book "Edge City", published in 1992. It contains general "Edge City" files and 11 subsections. The general files cover development in the suburban regions of the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area; planned communities; edge cities around the world; the location of corporate headquarters; the impact of edge cities on the environment; the economics of urban and suburban development; urban design; real estate development; the availability and use of natural resources; the construction of shopping malls; and housing. Subseries 1.1 deals with Shadow Governments, which are private organizations governing bodies that influence their employees and where they live and work. Subseries 1.2 contains material about the life and work of Til Hazel, a prominent Northern Virginia land developer. Subseries 1.3 deals with land preservation and how land development threatened the environment and historical sites. Subseries 1.4 contains the historical resources used. Subseries 1.5 deals with race and poverty and the effects of development on the poorer regions of both urban and rural areas. Subseries 1.6 covers the transportation and infrastructure issues that arise during the development of edge cities. Subseries 1.7 contains numbers and statistics and the results of various studies many of which focus on office space markets and real estate. Subseries 1.8 contains book excerpts and articles that provide further information about issues in "Edge City". Subseries 1.9 contains transcripts of interviews conducted by Joel Garreau while researching material for "Edge City". Subseries 1.10 is a number of maps. Subseries 1.11 is miscellaneous materials that did not fit in any of the other categories. Series 2 consists of the materials dealing with Garreau's book "The Nine Nations of North America", published in 1981. The general files in series 2 covers regionalism; energy production; religion; journalism; water management; and economics. The first 10 subseries correspond with the first ten chapters of "The Nine Nations": New England, The Foundry, Dixie, Aberrations, The Breadbasket, The Islands, MexAmerica, Ecotopia, The Empty Quarter, and Quebec. Subseries 2.11 deals with the proposed television series based on "The Nine Nations". Series 2.12 is miscellaneous materials that did not fit in any of the other categories.

The collection is especially valuable for its material on the history and development of Northern Virginia. Garreau's chronicling of the growth of Fairfax County and the development of the Tysons Corner area is important for its depth and also for the time in which it was compiled. The "Edge City" material contains extensive files about John "Til" Hazel, a Northern Virginia land developer.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged by subject.

Series 1: Edge City, 1959-February 1994 (Boxes 1-52, 65) Series 2: The Nine Nations of North America, November 1954-February 1987 (Boxes 52-64)

Related Material

Special Collections and Archives also holds many other collections of personal papers and organizational records on urban planning and development, particularly in Northern Virginia.

Index Terms


Adjunct Descriptive Data

Significant Persons Associated With the Collection

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Contents List

Series 1: Edge City
1959-February 1994

Materials pertaining to Garreau's book, "Edge City: Life on the New Frontier" published in 1992. An Edge City is a concentration of business, shopping, and entertainment outside a traditional urban area in what had recently been a residential suburb or semi-rural community.

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Series 2: The Nine Nations of North America
November 1954-February 1987

Materials pertaining to Garreau's book, "The Nine Nations of North America" published in 1989. Garreau proposed that instead of the traditional national, state and provincial borders of North America, there exist nine nations whose borders correspond to the economic and cultural similarities of their citizens. The nine nations are: New England, Quebec, The Foundry, Dixie, The Islands, The Breadbasket, Mexamerica, The Empty Quarter and Ecotopia.

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