Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech
C. David Loeks Papers
Loeks, C. David (Conrad David), 1923-2006
Ms.1988.091
7.7 Cubic Feet
15 boxes; 1 oversize folder
1947-1997
Papers of city planner C. David Loeks (1923-2006), St. Paul city planning director; Twin Cities Metropolitan Planning Commission executive director; Mid-Hudson Pattern for Progress chief executive officer; Hudson Basin Project executive director; and Virginia Tech professor of urban and regional planning, consisting largely of reports and background materials generated by Loeks' work on various planning projects.
The materials in the collection are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open to research.
Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use
The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials.
Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction. Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], C. David Loeks Papers, Ms1988-091, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.
Source of Acquisition
The collection was donated to Special Collections and University Archives in 1988 and 2005.
Processing Information
The processing, arrangement, and description of the C. David Loeks Papers commenced in October 2021 and was completed in December 2021. Partial processing of a portion of the collection had been completed prior to 2002.
Biographical Note
Landscape architect and urban planner Conrad David Loeks, son of John W. and Jeannette Boerma Loeks, was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan on April 7, 1923. On September 1, 1943, Loeks married Julie Anne Kruse (1923-2008) in Nueces, Texas; the couple had two children. Following service in the United States Navy Reserve, Loeks obtained a B. S. in landscape architecture at Michigan State University (1948) and an master's degree in city and regional planning at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1950). Loeks served as city planning director for St. Paul, Minnesota from 1950 until 1958, when he became director of the Twin Cities (St. Paul/Minneapolis) Metropolitan Planning Commission. In 1966, Loeks was named chief executive officer of Mid-Hudson Pattern for Progress (Poughkeepsie, New York), a non-profit regional planning and research corporation. He continued to serve in this position until 1980 and from 1973 to 1976 also served as executive director of the Hudson Basin Project. Loeks completed his career at Virginia Tech, serving as a professor and chairman of the graduate program in urban and regional plannning from 1980 to 1988. He also maintained memberships in several organiztions in urban planning, most notably in the American Institute of Planners, in which he served as secretary-treasurer, 1960 to 1962; vice-president, 1962 to 1964; and president, 1964-1966. David Loeks died on January 18, 2006, and was buried in Big Prairie-Everett Cemetery, Big Prairie, Michigan.
Sources
- "Conrad David Loeks" entry, Findagrave.com, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/79123526/conrad-david-loeks
- "Conrad David Loeks" entry, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Immigration Cards, 1900-1965 database, Ancestry.com, https://search-ancestrylibrary-com.ezproxy.lib.vt.edu/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=9800&h=4601268&tid=&pid=&queryId=35be018bd48d93003ad9f8e2003691fa&usePUB=true
- "Conrad David Loeks" entry, Texas, U.S., Select County Marriage Records, 1837-1965 database, Ancestry.com, https://www-ancestrylibrary-com.ezproxy.lib.vt.edu/discoveryui-content/view/22353755:9168
- "Conrad David Loeks" entry, U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 database, Ancestry.com, https://www-ancestrylibrary-com.ezproxy.lib.vt.edu/discoveryui-content/view/43307506:60901
Scope and Content
This collection contains the papers of C. David Loeks, a city planner who served as St. Paul city planning director (1952-1957), Twin Cities Metropolitan Planning Commission executive director (1957-1966), Mid-Hudson Pattern for Progress chief executive officer (1966-1980), and Virginia Tech professor of urban and regional planning (1980-1988). The collection consists largely of working papers, reports and publications generated by the various planning agencies in which Loeks served but also contains studies and drawings completed by Loeks for college coursework, texts and background materials from Loeks' speeches, and materials from a few of the courses taught by Loeks at Virginia Tech.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in six series:
Series I, Personal Papers, 1948-1994. This series contains papers not directly related to Loeks' service with various planning agencies or at Virginia Tech. Included are biographical sketches and curricula vitae, as well as a small selection of personal correspondence, personal papers, and photographs. The collection also includes papers and drawings completed by Loeks for his academic coursework and two copies of the Speing 1948 issue of
Horizons, containing Loeks' entry in the Landscape Exchange competition. Also contained in the series are papers relating to Loeks' membership in the American Institute of Planners, including speeches by Loeks and notes and slides from a 1965 AIP tour of Russia. Arranged by material type, then chronologically.Series II, St. Paul City Planning Board, 1952-1957. This small series contains working papers and formal reports generated during Loeks' time on the board, as well as related news articles and photographic slides. Arranged by material type, then chronologically.
Series III, Twin Cities Metropolitan Planning Commission, 1958-1986. Loeks' service on the Twin Cities MPC is documented here through correspondence, working papers, and published reports. Also included in the series are reports and slides from a 1960 world tour, as well as smaller tours of Puerto Rico (1960) and South Africa and South America (1962), all taken by Loeks for the Twin Cities MPC through grants from the Ford Foundation. Arranged by material type, then chronologically.
Series IV, Mid-Hudson Pattern for Progress, 1958-2000. This series consists largely of planning studies and reports generated by Pattern for Progress but also contains texts from Loeks' speeches and papers, as well as background materials. Arranged by material type, then chronologically.
Series V, Hudson Basin Project, 1973-1976. This series contains working papers and formal reports generated by the project, a three-year study of the environmental issues facing the New York metropolitan area and the Hudson River watershed. Arranged by material type, then chronologically.
Series VI, Virginia Tech, 1980-1997. The papers in this series document a few courses taught by Loeks, with course notes and background material. The series also contains texts of presentations given outside the classroom. Also included is a small file of material relating to Loeks' consultations on municipal planning in Blacksburg, Virginia and Staunton, Virginia.
Separated Materials
The following items were removed from the collection to be cataloged for the rare book collection:
Proceedings of the First International Electric Vehicle Symposium (New York: Electric Vehicle Council, 1969).
Summary Proceedings: Conference on Intelligent Vehicle/Highway Systems Involving Government, Industry, and University ([Blacksburg, VA: Center for Transportation Research, 1990]).
Rights Statement for Archival Description
The guide to the C. David Loeks Papers by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 (https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/).
Faculty and staff
University History
City planning
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (1970-)
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Urban Affairs and Planning Program
Series I: Personal Papers1948-1994Biographical materials1971-1985, n.d.11Personal correspondence1949-197412-3"A Survey of Public Sanitation Facilities in the Village of Newago, Michigan"194814"The Landscape Exchange" (Horizons)1948[2 copies]15"Vacant Land Limitations and Urban Redevelopment in Cambridge: the Need for a Metropolitan Policy"194916"A Parking Study for Central Square in Cambridge" - Michigan State College master's thesis195017"A General Plan for the Redevelopment and Improvement of Chicago's Central Commercial District"[1954?]18American Institute of Planners presentations1958-196919Other speeches and presentations1959-1967, n.d.110Russia AIP tour1965111Personal papers1966-1980, n.d.112Photographs1963, n.d.113Unidentified photographic slidesn.d.114Series II. St. Paul City Planning Board1952-1957Minnesota zoning ordinances195621"Planning Board Recommendations to the Mayor's Second United Improvement Council"195222City Planning Board reports (1, 3, 5)1955-195723Newsclippings1955, n.d.24St. Paul urban planning photographic slidesn.d.25Series III. Twin Cities Metropolitan Planning Commission1958-1986Correspondence and memoranda1963-196626Ford Foundation correspondence1958[2 folders]27Operations plan1966, n.d.28Loeks speeches and presentations1958-1965[2 folders]29Puerto Rico tour1960210Ford Foundation world tour reports1960, n.d.211Ford Foundation world tour photographic slides1960[8 folders]31Ford Foundation American master plan 1960, n.d.41Calcutta conference1961, n.d.42Ford Foundation South America / South Africa tour - correspondence1962, n.d.[3 folders]43Ford Foundation South America / South Africa tour - photographic slides196244Joint Program - Design Section1962-1964, n.d.[9 folders]4551Joint Program - Field Services Section1962-196352Joint Program - Metropolitan Studies Section1962-1964[2 folders]53Joint Program - Physical Studies Section1963-1965[2 folders]54Joint Program - Social Studies Section1961-1965[3 folders]5561Joint Program - Transportation / Communication Section1962-196562Joint Program - Consultants Papers1963-196563Joint Program - Program Notes1964-196564Joint Program - Alternatives Paper196665"The Challenge of Metropolitan Growth"195871"Local Planning Bulletin"1959-196572"Metropolitan Population Study"1959-196273"Metropolitan Economic Study"196074"Metropolitan Land Study"196075"Metropolitan Water Study"196076"Metropolitan Sewerage Study"196077"Metropolitan Transportation Study"196078"Metropolitan Parks - An Initial Investigation"196179"Selected Determinants of Industrial Development"1962710"Selected Determinants of Residential Development"1962711"Meeting the Challenge of Metropolitan Growth"1963712"Urban Report" (nos. 3-9)1963-1964713-14"Mass Transit in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area"1964715"Shopping Facilities"1964716"4,000,000 by 2000!: Preliminary Proposals for Guiding Change"1964717"Goals for Development of the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area"1965718"Twin Cities Modal Split Model"1966719"Soils of the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area"196681"Selecting Policies for Metropolitan Growth"196782"Metropolitan Policy and Metropolitan Development"196883"Solid Waste Management: Policies, System Plan, Program"197084"The Major River Corridors in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area"197085"The Impact of Fiscal Disparity on Metropolitan Municipalities and School Districts"197186Making One Community Out of Many: Perspectives on the Metropolitan Council of the Twin Cities Area198687Minneapolis Sunday Tribune Upper Midwest Future Edition196488Series IV. Mid-Hudson Pattern for Progress1958-2000Correspondence and Other Communications1971-198089Loeks articles and presentations1966-1977[2 folders]810Speeches - background materials1958-1976, n.d.[3 folders]811Papers and reports by Arthur E. Weintraub1971-1973[2 folders]91Presentations by others1969-197892Annual reports1966-197493Mid-Hudson Reconnaissance I196794Perspective196895Minnewaska State Park
1970, n.d.96"The Future of Stewart Airport"197197"Orange County Governmental Study"197198"The Mid-Hudson: a Development Guide"197399"Mid-Hudson Regional Housing Study"1973910"Transportation in the Catskill Region"1974101"Electrical Energy and the Catskill Region"1974102"Transportation for the Elderly in Dutchess County"1974103"Toward the Preservation of the Mid-Hudson Railroad"1975104"An Examination of the Potential Impacts of the Downstate Reception Center, Fishkill, New York"1975105"Electrical Energy Facility Planning in the Mid-Hudson"1975106"An Evaluation of a Foreign Trade Zone in Orange County"1975107"Market Feasibility and Site Plan Evaluation of Waterside Place Condominiums, Newburgh, New York"1976108"Vassar Hospital Parking Study"1976109"Historic Preservation in Action: a Report on the Mid-Hudson Bicentennial Heritage Preservation Program"19761010"Comparative Analysis of Growth Trends in the Northeastern and Southwestern United States"1976111"Conference Proceedings of 'Where We Live -- Improving Community Design and Development in New York State'"1977112Coastal Management Pilot Demonstration Study1974-1977113"Proposal to the Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc." 1978114"Lower Broadway Improvement Program, Newburgh, New York"1977115"Solving the Parking Problem at St. Luke's Hospital, Newburgh, New York"1977116"Basic Demographic and Economic Information About the Mid-Hudson Region"1979117"Fair is Fair: Equity Issues Affecting Resource Allocation Decision-Making in the Hudson Valley"1980118"Managing the Econ-Vironment of the Mid-Hudson in the 80's--Pattern Regional Conference"1980119"Prospering Through People, Principles, and Purpose"20001110"Athens Study Area Community Planning Evaluation"n.d.1111"Clinton Point Study Area Community Planning Evaluation"n.d.1112"Silver Point Study Area Community Planning Evaluation"n.d.121Series V. Hudson Basin Project1973-1976Operations and project summary1973122"Report of the Research Institute of the American Arbitration Association to the Hudson Basin Project ..."1974123Policy Paper Team1974[2 folders]124"A Proposal for Improving Environmental Management in the Hudson Basin" (Loeks remarks)1976125"Status" newsletter (nos. 1-3)1973-1974126"Hudson Basin Project Summer Conference Work Group Reports"1974127"Occasional Papers" (nos. 1-10)1975128-9"Report of the Land Use / Human Settlement Task Group"[1974?]1210"Report of the Transportation Task Group"[1974?]1211"Report of the Task Group on Environmental Service Systems"[1974?]1212"Report of the Energy Systems Task Group"[1974?]1213"Report of the Land Use / Natural Resource Management Task Group"1974131"Report of the Water Resources Task Group"[1974?]132"Report of the Air Resources Task Group"[1974?]133"Report of the Biological Communities Task Group"[1974?]134"Report of the Human Health Task Group"1974135"Report of the Leisure Time and Recreation Task Group"[1974?]136Anatomy of an Environment: Final Report of the Hudson Basin Project[1974?]137Permuted Title Index to Hudson Basin Informationn.d.138Series VI. Virginia Tech1980-1997Correspondence and memoranda1980-1988141Presentations1982-1986, n.d.142Background materials on planning and higher education1962-1986, n.d.[3 folders]143Environmental and Urban Systems 4980 (Special Study) - course materials and lecture notes1983, n.d.144Environmental and Urban Systems 5121 (Urban Systems Synthesis I) - course materials and lecture notes1983, n.d.145Environmental and Urban Systems 5121 (Urban Systems Synthesis I, pt. 3, Fall 1986) - course materials and lecture notes1982-1985, n.d.[3 folders]146Environmental and Urban Systems 5121 (Urban Systems Synthesis II, pt. 3, Fall 1987) - course materials and lecture notes1979-1987, n.d.[3 folders]151Environmental and Urban Systems 5170 (Theoretical Foundations of Planning, Winter 1986) - course materials and lecture notes1986, n.d.152Landscape Architecture 4610 (Contemporary Issues in Landscape Architecture) - course materials and lecture notes1985, n.d.153Urban Affairs 5770 (Planning Problems Studio, Fall 1987)1985-1987, n.d.154Municipal planning consultation (Staunton, Virginia; Blacksburg, Virginia)1977-1997, n.d.155Oversize Materials1947-1948Drawings by Loeks1947-19481Proposed plan for Michigan State College auditorium parking lot1947General site details: Riverside Development, Michigan State College1947General development plan for a portion of the Michigan State College1947Demonstration planting plan for a portion of a perennial border that blooms continuously from April to October1947Interlochen State Park utilities map1947Interlochen State Park development plan1947General plan for Valley Court playground, East Lansing, Michigan1947Plan of the residence of the Richard Williams', Westport, Massachusetts1947Sketch of unidentified residence1947Planting plan, Valley Court playground[1947?]"A Zoo" Landscape Exchange problem[1947?]General development plan for Mr. and Mrs. Charles Benson, Lansing, Michigan1948General planting plan for Mr. Ken Jeffries, Lansing, Michigan1948