D. Lyle Aten Papers
Abstract
The D. Lyle Aten Papers (dated 1951-2013, undated; 3.69 cubic feet and 1.11 Gigabytes; 4 legal document boxes, 1 slim letter document box, 3 shoe boxes, 3 flat boxes, 3 oversize folders, and 439 digital images) primarily comprise digital and analog photographs and slides; as well as surveys, plans, and reports; brochures, newsletters, and other printed material; speeches and presentations; course syllabi and assignments; newspaper clippings; honors and awards; and architectural drawings that document the landscape architecture and urban design projects and university teaching carried out by landscape architect D. Lyle Aten and the landscape architecture firm Scruggs and Hammond, Inc., primarily in Lexington, Kentucky, and the Commonwealth of Kentucky from the mid-twentieth century to the early twenty-first century.
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- D. Lyle Aten Papers
- Date
- 1951-2013, undated (inclusive)
- Creator
- Aten, D. Lyle, 1927-2017
- Extent
- 3.69 Cubic Feet
- Subjects
- Landscape architecture.
- Slides (photographs)
- Photographic Prints.
- Electronic records
- City planning -- Kentucky -- Lexington.
- Parks -- Kentucky.
- Community development -- Kentucky.
- Real estate development -- Kentucky.
- Landscape architects
- Lexington (Ky.)
- Fayette County (Ky.)
- Aten, D. Lyle, 1927-2017
- Scruggs & Hammond
- University of Kentucky. Department of Horticulture & Landscape Architecture
- Arrangement
- Collection is arranged by subject and format into 10 series: Biographical, Honors, Project Information, Subject Files, Teaching, Digital Photographs, Photographic Prints and Negatives, Photographic Slides, Photographs and Slides Information, and Drawings.
- Preferred Citation
- 2013ms0843 : [identification of item], D. Lyle Aten Papers, 1951-2013, undated, University of Kentucky Libraries Special Collections Research Center.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- Donovan Lyle "Lyle" Aten (1927-2017) was a landscape architect who practiced primarily in Kentucky, mainly in Fayette County. Aten was born on February 9, 1927, in Macomb, McDonough County, Illinois. His parents were Ferrol Glade Aten (1899-1975) and Mary Pauline Bryan Aten (1904-1993). He was mustered into the United States Navy as a seaman second class during World War II, and served as an electrician on board the U.S.S. Bairoko, 1945-1946. He attended Western Illinois University, 1947-1948, and graduated with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Landscape Architecture from University of Illinois in 1951, supported by the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944 (the "G.I. Bill"). One of his major professors at the University of Illinois was landscape architect Hideo Sasaki.
- After graduating from college, Aten began working for the landscape architecture firm Scruggs and Hammond, Inc., in Peoria, Illinois. John Dudley Scruggs and Clarence E. Hammond established the firm in 1946, specializing in park and recreation planning, land use planning, and regional and urban planning. Their clients included federal, state, and local governments; regional, county, and city planning commissions; developers; and eleemosynary groups. The firm had branch offices in Lexington, Kentucky, and Columbus, Ohio. Aten moved to Lexington in 1952 to work out of that office and remained with Scruggs and Hammond for 49 years. During that time, he was promoted to Associate Partner (1954), Principal Partner (1971), Vice President (1972), and President (1974-1993). After formally retiring in 1993, he continued working on landscape architecture projects through 2000. As one of the first landscape architects and landscape architecture practices in Lexington and the Bluegrass region of central Kentucky during post-World War II urban and suburban expansion, Aten was involved with residential, commercial, and infrastructure development not only in Kentucky, but also in Ohio and West Virginia.
- With Scruggs and Hammond, Inc., in Lexington and Fayette County, Ky., Aten worked on master planning and site design for neighborhood projects (Eastland, Cardinal Valley, Lansdowne, Stonewall, Merrick Place, Hamburg, Hartland, Beaumont, Wellesley Heights); shopping center projects (Lexington Green, Hamburg, Beaumont, Tates Creek Center, Lansdowne, Lansbrook, Palomar); parks (Jacobson Park, Lakeside Park and Golf Course, Phoenix Park, Shillito Park); corporate centers and research parks (IBM Recreation Complex, Ashland Oil Headquarters, Coldstream Research Park); stadiums (University of Kentucky Commonwealth Stadium, Lexington Legends baseball field); and the realignment of Main and Vine Streets downtown and the reconstruction of Paris Pike from Lexington to Paris, Ky. Aten was also involved with both master planning and detailed site design for a variety of Kentucky state parks (Barkley Lake State Park, Blue Heron Campground, Jenny Wiley State Park, Barren River State Park, Pine Mountain State Park, Lake Cumberland State Park, John James Audubon State Park, Buckhorn Lake State Park) and regional state parks (Breaks Interstate Park, Ky. and Va., and Big South Fork National Recreation Area, Ky. and Tenn.).
- While working in private practice, Aten also taught at the University of Kentucky, serving as a Visiting Critic in the Department of Architecture in the College of Engineering (1961-1963) and then as an adjunct Instructor in the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Design in the College of Agriculture (1974-1999). After full retirement from active project management in 2000, Aten served for eight years as a member of the Lexington Fayette County Planning Commission (2000-2008).
- A Certified Landscape Architect through the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards (CLARB) and a registered landscape architect in Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky, Aten was a co-founder of the Kentucky chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architecture (ASLA KY) and served as Secretary-Treasurer (1978-1979), Vice President (1979-1980), and President (1980-1981), and Trustee (1985-1986). He became a member of the national ASLA in 1952 and was named a fellow of the association (FASLA) in 1986. Aten's civic and community service roles in Lexington, Ky., included President, Citizens Association for Planning; charter member, Metro Environmental Improvement Commission; member, Mayor's Citizen Advisory Commission on Recommendations for the Planning and Zoning Process for Fayette County (1974); and member, Board of Trustees for Cardinal Hill Hospital (1978-1983);
- Throughout his career, Aten received many awards for his landscape architecture work, including a merit award and an outstanding service award from the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA, 1974, 1986); five honor and special recognition awards and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Kentucky Chapter of ASLA (1982-1986, 2016); four honor and merit awards from the Kentucky Society of Architects (1972-1973); three awards from the Metro Environmental Improvement Commission (1970-1974); two awards from the Kentucky Department of Local Government Design (1985); and the Fayette County Outstanding Environmentalist Award (1976).
- A long-distance runner, baseball player, painter, and singer, Aten was a member of and sang in the choir of the Second Presbyterian Church in Lexington, Ky. He was married to Mary Louise Swearington Aten (1929-2007) and Joy Molino Aten (1930- ) and had two daughters, Kathy Aten Birkebak and Susan Aten Borst; a step-son, Dan Molino; and a step-daughter-in-law, Sheila Molino. He died in Lexington, Ky., on July 30, 2017. Sources:
- 1. 2013ms0843 : D. Lyle Aten papers, 1951-2013, undated, University of Kentucky Libraries Special Collections Research Center.
- 2. "Donovan Aten Obituary," kentucky.com. https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/kentucky/name/donovan-aten-obituary?id=874872. Accessed 6/25/2024.
- 3. "Donovan Lyle Aten," University of Kentucky Board of Trustees meeting minutes index cards, University of Kentucky Libraries Special Collections Research Center.
- 4. Eblen, Tom, "Landscape architect Lyle Aten's many designs decorate Lexington," Lexington Herald-Leader, September 23, 2013. https://www.kentucky.com/news/business/article44445150.html. Accessed 6/25/2024.
- 5. "KHC Member Profile: American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA)--KY," Kentucky Horticulture Council. https://kyhortcouncil.org/2022/10/02/khc-member-profile-american-society-of-landscape-architects-asla-ky//. Accessed 6/25/2024.
- 6. "Lifetime Achievement Award: Lyle Aten," Broken Sidewalk. https://brokensidewalk.com/2016/ky-asla-awards/. Accessed 6/25/2024.
- Scope and Content
- The D. Lyle Aten Papers (dated 1951-2013, undated; 3.69 cubic feet and 1.11 Gigabytes; 4 legal document boxes, 1 slim letter document box, 3 shoe boxes, 3 flat boxes, 3 oversize folders, and 439 digital images) primarily comprise digital and analog photographs and slides; as well as surveys, plans, and reports; brochures, newsletters, and other printed material; speeches and presentations; course syllabi and assignments; newspaper clippings; honors and awards; and architectural drawings that document the landscape architecture and urban design projects and university teaching carried out by landscape architect D. Lyle Aten and the landscape architecture firm Scruggs and Hammond, Inc., primarily in Lexington, Kentucky, and the Commonwealth of Kentucky from the mid-twentieth century to the early twenty-first century. The projects Aten and Scruggs and Hammond worked on include state and city parks, residential subdivisions, shopping centers, roadways and corridors, and industrial facilities. Specific locations and buildings represented in the collection through images or through site master plans, reports, and newspaper clippings include the Ashland Oil Building, Lexington, Kentucky (1978-1985) and Ashland Corporate Headquarters, Ashland, Ky. (1985-1987); Blue Heron Campground, South Fork, Kentucky (1988-1994); Columbia, Maryland (1972); Council of State Governments building and Spindletop estate, Fayette County, Kentucky (1971-1989); Equestrian Woods, Nicholasville, Ky. (1989 and undated); Idle Hour subdivision and Idle Hour Country Club, Lexington, Ky., (undated); Paris Pike, Fayette County and Bourbon County, Ky. (1966-1995); the Oaks condominiums, Lexington, Ky. (undated); and Vine Street and downtown, Lexington, Ky. (1971-1986 and undated). There are very few architectural and landscape drawings. The collection also includes Scruggs and Hammond booklets (1970), newsletters and newspaper clippings (1980-1996), and an urban renewal projects photograph album (1960) as well as Lexington, Ky., and Fayette County, Ky. urban redevelopment plans and reports from 1993 to 2011.
- Processing Info
- Processing of the D. Lyle Aten Papers was generously supported by Joy Aten in memory of Lyle Aten.
Restrictions on Access and Use
- Conditions Governing Access
- Collection is open to researchers by appointment.
- Use Restrictions
- The physical rights to the materials in this collection are held by the University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
Contents of the Collection
Biographical, 1951-2013, undated
Scope and Contents
The Biographical series (1951-2013, undated) comprises college school work, event programs, letters, resumes, and speech notes related to D. Lyle Aten's academic and professional work as a landscape architect. The series also contains newspaper clippings about Aten and two ink jet printed photographs of Aten at school and a marathon. The series is arranged alphabetically by title.
American Society of Landscape Architects annual meeting program and schedule, 1986 November 22-25
Aten, Joy, email printout about the Aten oral history project, with handwritten oral history project notes, 2013 February 27
History notebook, Landscape Architecture II, instructor: I.L. Peterson, University of Illinois-Urbana, undated
Ink jet printed photograph of D. Lyle Aten running marathon, inscribed by Planning Staff (1988), undated
Ink jet printed photograph of landscape architecture students, about 1951, undated
Kentucky Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects banquet program, 1986 February 1
Kentucky Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects itinerary and packet for Ball State students visiting Lexington, undated
Newspaper clippings featuring Lyle Aten, 2002, undated
Professional correspondence, 1963
Resumes, D. Lyle Aten, about 1994, about 2008
Sasaki, Hideo, to D. Lyle Aten, letter about attending Harvard University Graduate School of Design, 1951 July 4
- Box 1, folder 11
Scope and Contents
Letter is of a personal and professional nature and includes compliments to Aten about his development as a landscape architecture student. Sasaki hopes to get all of Aten's class of landscape design students to attend the graduate school at Harvard University and is offering financial support. Folder includes a semester evaluation grade sheet for Aten by Sasaki.
Speech on campus master planning, about 1965
Speech/presentation notes, undated
University of Illinois-Urbana 27th annual Honors Day program, 1951 May 4
University of Illinois Commencement Program and letter from university president, 1951 June
University of Illinois transcript, 1947-1951, 1966 May 9
Honors, 1973-2008, undated
Scope and Contents
The Honors series (1973-2008, undated) comprises certificates for awards D. Lyle Aten received from the American Society of Landscape Architects, the Kentucky Chapter of the American Society for Landscape Architects, and the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government. Also included is a certification to practice in West Virginia and commendation letters from other professional architects and planners. The series is arranged alphabetically by title.
American Planning Association, Kentucky Chapter, Advanced Micro Computer Workshop completion certificate, 1983
American Planning Association, Kentucky Chapter, Charter Member certificate, undated
American Society of Landscape Architects Fellowship award letter and Investiture of Fellows program, 1986
American Society of Landscape Architects Fellowship, Investiture of Fellows program, 1992
Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards certificate, 1981 March 17
Kentucky Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects Distinguished Service Award presentation, about 2000
Kentucky Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects Newsletter featuring D. Lyle Aten receiving service award, 1986 March
Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Certificate of Appreciation for Services to the Community as a member of Citizens Review COmmittee for Revisions to Zoning Ordinances, 1984 February 8
Lexington-Fayette Urban County Planning Commission Certificate of Appreciation for service on the Commission's Subdivision Committee, 2008 July 24
Scruggs & Hammond and Aten recommendation letters, 1990, undated
West Virginia State Board of Landscape Architects right to practice certificate, 1973 March 6
Project Information, 1962-2006, undated
Scope and Contents
The Project Information series (1962-2013, undated) comprises brochures, data sheets, and plans of landscape architecture projects worked on by D. Lyle Aten. Notable projects include the Coldstream Research Campus for the University of Kentucky; Phoenix Park in downtown Lexington, Kentucky; Lake Barkley Kentucky State Park; and Riverfront Park in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The series is arranged into subseries by project categories and thereunder alphabetically by project title.
City Projects, Illinois, undated
Commercial Development Projects, 1964-1999
Homer Hoyt Associates, Consulting Real Estate Economists informational booklet, 1964
Jenkins, Kentucky presentation by Lyle Aten, Mountain Eagle newspaper clipping, 1999 March 10
Market Survey of Proposed Regional Shopping Center of Lakeview, Lexington, Kentucky, by Homer Hoyt, 1967 April
Lexington-Fayette County Projects, 1988-about 2006, undated
Coldstream Research Campus Master Plan, University of Kentucky, Scruggs and Hammond, Inc., 1992 February
Downtown Lexington Masterplan, Ayers/Saint/Gross Architects and Planners, about 2006
Farm project - Donamire Farm, Lexington, Kentucky, brochure booklet, undated
Greenway Master Plan, Adopted by the Urban County Planning Commission, 2002
Hamburg Place newspaper clippings, 1988-1989
Lexington Fayette Urban County Government Expansion Area Master Plan, 1996
Phoenix Park drawing, 1989, undated
Project map (digital and print copies) and key, Lexington and Bluegrass region, undated
Parks and Historic Sites Projects, about 1962-2013, undated
Albert Brewer Lakepoint Resort, Eufaula, Alabama, Master Plan, Scruggs and Hammond, Inc., about 1970
Cass Scenic Railroad State Park, Cass, West Virginia, expansion feasibility study, partially prepared by Scruggs and Hammond, Inc., about 1962
Jenny Wiley State Park, Prestonsburg, Kentucky, Golf Course feasibility study, Scruggs and Hammond, Inc., 1991 November
Kentucky state parks and historic sites brochures, 2013, undated
Lake Barkley State Resort Park, Cadiz, Kentucky, Master Plan brochure, Scruggs and Hammond, Inc., about 1965
List of Kentucky state parks and historic sites, with notes, undated
Perryville Battlefield, Perryville, Kentucky, commission letter and newspaper clippings, 1995
Regional/Economic Development Projects, about 1967-1994
Residential Projects, 1993-2003, undated
Bluegrass Station, Lexington, Kentucky, Development Concept, Scruggs and Hammond, Inc., 1993 January 13
Faith Countryside Homes, Hammond and Scruggs related experience, undated
Hartland Subdivision, Lexington, Lexington-Herald Leader Business Sunday feature, 1995 August 13
Hidden Valley, Stanton, Kentucky, 2003
The Oaks, Lakeshore Village, Greenhouse, Kirklevington North apartment communities, Lexington, Kentucky, project information sheets, Scruggs and Hammond, Inc., undated
Wellington, National Development Council, Design Guidelines, final draft, Omni Architects and Scruggs and Hammond, 1998 June 8
Roadways/Transportation Projects, 1996
Subject Files, 1951-2011, undated
Scope and Contents
The Subject Files series (1951-2011, undated) comprises reports, handbooks, and newspaper clippings about Lexington, Ky., and Bluegrass region planning projects, as well as publications by and documents related to Scruggs and Hammond, Inc., landscape architecture firm. The series is arranged into subseries by subject and thereunder alphabetically by title.
Lexington, Ky., Planning Projects, 1993-2011
"Design Guidelines for the Courthouse Historic Area," Winter and Company, 2000
"Downtown Design Think Tank Summary Report", 1993
"Downtown redesign plans by UK students," newspaper clipping, 2000 May 7
Lexington Comprehensive Plan, 2006, 2011
Patchen Wilkes Neighborhood Village plan (former student's project), 2004
Regional Planning Projects, 1994-2002
Bluegrass Corridor Management Planning Handbook, 2000 November
The Bluegrass Handbook, prepared for Bluegrass Tomorrow Community Design Committee, by UDA Architects, 1994 November
"Why Not Merge Lexington?", opinion newspaper clipping, by Peggy Kanotz, 2002 April
Scruggs and Hammond, Inc., 1951-1996, undated
Brochure booklets, about 1970
John Dudley Scruggs estate auction advertisements, 1996
Newsletters, 1980-1985
Newspaper clippings, 1996, undated
Outline of talk on landscape architecture by John D. Scruggs, given at Career Conference, University of Illinois, 1951 February 27
Professional awards lists, undated
Urban Renewal Projects photograph album, about 1960
Various landscape architecture assignments list, colleges and universities, undated
Various landscape architecture assignments list, hospitals and medical facilities, undated
Teaching, 1968-1994
Scope and Contents
The Teaching series (1968-1994) comprises course information for classes taught by D. Lyle Aten at the University of Kentucky School of Architecture and as a lecturer at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The series also includes a land use plan project designed by fifth-year University of Kentucky Architecture students on downtown Bowling Green, Kentucky, and an assignment problem for one of Aten's architecture classes. The series is arranged in alphabetical order by title of class or educational unit.
ARC 812, Architecture Studio, University of Kentucky, 1968
Department of Landscape Architecture, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, letter and newsletter, 1981
HOR 523, Landscape Planning and Design, 1975-1976
LA 523, Landscape Planning and Design, 1976 Fall
LA 575, Landscape Architecture, problem assignment, 1976 March 8
Landscape Architecture 5th Year Design Studio, University of Kentucky, Land Use Plan and Development Strategy prepared for Operation Pride, Bowling Green, Kentucky, 1994 May
Program of Study, Professional Studies Year Two, School of Architecture, University of Kentucky, 1968-1969 academic year, 1968
Digital Photographs, 2009-2013
Scope and Contents
The Digital Photographs series (2009-2013) primarily comprise images in JPG format taken by Joy and Lyle Aten in 2013 to record Lyle Aten's landscape design projects in Lexington, Ky. Some personal and family images (2009-2013) are included, as well as photographs of Aten's residence, 448 Linwal road in Lexington, Ky. Projects and locations include Coldstream Park, Lexington, Ky.; Lexington Green shopping center, Lexington, Ky.; and Whitaker Bank Ballpark (Legends Ballpark), Lexington, Ky. Arranged in alphabetical order by location name.
202 Woodspoint, Detraz, Gary, House, Lexington, Ky. (1), 2013
448 Linwal, Aten residence, Lexington, Ky. (4), 2009-2010
Access Road Richmond Road, Lexington, Ky. (3), 2013
Ashland Oil, Valvoline Headquarters, Lexington, Ky. (1), 2013
Beaumont Center, Harrodsburg Road, Lexington, Ky. (6), 2013
Doctor's Park, 1517 Nicholasville Road, Lexington, Ky. (2), 2013
Eagle Creek Office Center, Lexington, Ky. (2), 2013
IdleHour Country Club, Lexington, Ky. (3), 2013
Jacobson Park, Lexington, Ky. (2), 2013
Jerico, open space ribbon, Lexington, Ky. (2), 2013
Kentucky American Water, Lexington, Ky. (3), 2013
Lake Barkley, Kentucky State Park (4), 2013
Lakeside Golf Course, Richmond Road, Lexington, Ky. (9), 2013
Lexington Cemetery Jewish Section, Lexington, Ky. (3), 2013
Lexington Shopping Centers, Lexington, Ky. (3), 2013
Lexington Subdivisions, Lexington, Ky., 2013
Ellerslie, Lexington, Ky. (3), 2013
Lakeside, Lexington, Ky. (1), 2013
Wellesley Heights, Lexington, Ky. (1), 2013
Woods, The, Lexington, Ky. (4), 2013
Unidentified Subdivision, Lexington, Ky. (1), 2013
Paris Pike, rebuilt wall, Lexington, Ky. (11), 2010-2013
Phoenix Park, Lexington, Ky. (1), 2010
Rabbit Run, Harrodsburg Road, Lexington, Ky. (3), 2013
Roundabout, Old Frankfurt Pike, Lexington, Ky. (8), 2009
Shriners Hospital, Lexington, Ky. (1), 2013
Spindletop allee, forecourt, and grounds, Lexington, Ky. (8), 2013
St. Joseph Hospital East, Lexington, Ky. (1), 2013
Stonewall Equestrian Estates, Lexington, Ky. (5), 2013
Stonewall Subdivision, Lexington, Ky. (3), 2013
Tates Creek Corridor, Lexington, Ky., 2013
Bent Tree Apartment Complex, Lexington, Ky. (2), 2013
Castlegate Farms, St. Ives Circle, Lexington, Ky. (9), 2013
Creeks on Kirklevington Apartment Complex, Lexington, Ky. (2), 2013
Enclave, The, Tates Creek Road. Lexington, Ky. (2), 2013
Heartland Gardens Entrance, Lexington, Ky. (4), 2013
Landsdowne Merrick, Lexington, Ky. (3), 2013
Lexington Parks, Lexington, Ky. (2), 2013
Lexington Tennis Club, Lexington, Ky. (2), 2013
Merrick Place and Merrick Inn, Lexington, Ky. (7), 2013
Scruggs and Hammond Office Building, Lexington, Ky. (1), 2013
Tates Creek Center, Lexington, Ky. (3), 2013
Tates Creek Road, Lexington, Ky. (5), 2013
Tates Creek Village Apartment Complex, Lexington, Ky. (2), 2013
Warrenton Woods, Lexington, Ky. (3), 2013
Woodfield, Lexington, Ky. (3), 2013
University of Kentucky, Lexington, Ky., 2013
Waveland, Nicholasville Road, Lexington, Ky. (1), 2013
Wellington Road, Wellington Park, Lexington, Ky. (8), 2013
Photographic Prints and Negatives, 1970-2001, undated
Scope and Contents
The Photographic Prints and Negatives series (1970-2001, undated) include architecture and urban design projects, buildings, and locations Lyle Aten worked on or was interested in, primarily around Lexington, Kentucky. The types of projects include state, city, and county parks; horse farms; subdivisions; shopping centers; roadways and corridors; as well as industrial facilities. Specific projects, buildings, and locations represented include the Ashland Oil corporate offices, Ashland, Ky. (1985-1987); Idle Hour neighborhood and country club, Lexington, Ky. (undated); Paris Pike, Fayette County and Bourbon County, Ky. (undated); and the Oaks condominiums, Lexington, Ky. (undated). Arranged in alphabetical order by location name. Some of the locations were given a number (indicated in parentheses) and the numbers are included in the location title.
239 North Broadway, Lexington, Ky. (number 26), undated
Ashland Oil, corporate offices, Ashland, Ky. (3 folders), 1985 May-1987 August, undated
Bank Frontage on Vine Street Lexington, Ky., undated
Bell residence, Lexington, Ky., undated
Bellefonte Country Club, Ashland, Ky. (number 34), undated
Central Park construction, early construction, final [park?], and first year open, undated
Dixiana Farm, Lexington, Ky., gates, "Lyle did not do" (number 33), 1970
Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, Ky. (number 9), undated
Equestrian Woods, Lexington, Ky. (number 35), undated
Gainesway Farm and horses, Lexington, Ky. (number 32), undated
Gates on Newtown Pike, Lexington, Ky., "just pictures" (number 16), undated
Hartland, Lexington, Ky., entrance (number 7), undated
Houses (number 57), undated
House on Parker's Mill Road, Lexington, Ky., undated
Idle Hour Country Club, Lexington, Ky. (numbers 20 and 3) (3 folders), undated
Lake Barkley State Park, Ky. (number 36), undated
Lakeview Estates and Lakeview "Islands", Lexington, KY., aerial photographs (number 6), 1981 Spring
Lexington Green Apartment Homes, Lexington, Ky. (number 27), undated
Longview Golf Course and Country Club, Georgetown, Ky., 1974 December
Nada Tunnel at Jenny Wiley State Park, Ky. (number 15), undated
Natural Bridge State Park, Hoedown Island, Ky. (number 30), undated
New Kentucky state capitol renovations plaque, Scruggs and Hammond, undated
Paris Pike, Fayette County and Bourbon County, Ky. (numbers 54 and 56) (2 folders), 1995 February-2000 October, undated
Squire Oak Road, Lexington, Ky., Amphitheater Park plans (number 31), undated
Photographic Slides, 1960 May-1995, undated
Scope and Contents
The Photographic Slides series (1960 May-1995, undated) include various landscape architecture and urban design projects, buildings, and locations Lyle Aten worked on or was interested in, primarily around Lexington, Kentucky. The types of projects include state, city, and county parks; horse farms; subdivisions; shopping centers; roadways and corridors; as well as industrial facilities. Specific projects, buildings, and locations represented include Ashland Oil Building, Lexington, Kentucky (1978-1985); Blue Heron Campground, South Fork, Kentucky (1988-1994); Columbia, Maryland (1972); Council of State Governments building and Spindletop estate, Fayette County, Kentucky (1971-1989); Equestrian Woods, Nicholasville, Ky. (1989 and undated); Idle Hour, Lexington, Ky., (undated); Jenny Wiley State Park, Ky. (1966-1986 and undated); Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park and Kentucky Lake (1962-1963); Lakeside Golf Course, Lexington, Ky. (1971); Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, Minn. (1969); Paris Pike, Fayette County and Bourbon County, Ky. (1966-1995); Town Branch, Lexington, Ky. (1970-1971); various University of Kentucky farms and landscapes (1970-1977); Vine Street and downtown, Lexington, Ky. (1971-1986 and undated).
Also included are slides of Lexington and regional locations and buildings used by Aten for teaching landscape architecture courses at the University of Kentucky. Specific locations and buildings represented include Gainesway Park, Lexington, Kentucky (1983); Minoru Yamasaki buildings at Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan (1962); Pipestem Resort State Park, Pipestem, West Virginia (1974); Transylvania College, Lexington, Ky. (1967-1973); Wolf Run Park, Lexington, Kentucky (1971); and aerial photographs of various subdivisions in Lexington, Ky. (1967-1970). Where possible, the archivist retained Aten's slide titles. When received, the slides had been organized into two groups: Projects and Teaching. These groups have been retained as subseries within the photographic slides series. Numbers in parentheses indicate the number of slides present for each location.
Projects, 1960 May-1995
Appalachian Mountains, aerial views (2), 1967 July
Ashland Oil building, Lexington, Ky. (38), 1978-1985
"Aten wall, R-6", Lexington, Ky. (3), 1970 April-May
Blue Heron Campground, Big South Fork, Ky. (233), 1988-1994, undated
Blue Heron Campground, Big South Fork, Ky., Scruggs and Hammond, B-1, B-4, B-8 (122), 1988-1989, 1992, 1994
Blue Heron Campground, Big South Fork, Ky., Award Winner (1), undated
Blue Heron Campground, Big South Fork, Ky., campgrounds (5), 1988 November
Blue Heron Campground, Big South Fork, Ky., church (1), 1992 August
Blue Heron Campground, Big South Fork, Ky., company store (1), 1992 August
Blue Heron Campground, Big South Fork, Ky., ghost structures (16), undated
Blue Heron Campground, Big South Fork, Ky., interpretative (36), 1989 June, undated
Blue Heron Campground, Big South Fork, Ky., overlook (17), 1988 November, 1989 October
Blue Heron Campground, Big South Fork, Ky., school (1), 1992 August
Blue Heron Campground, Big South Fork, Ky., site views (5), 1989 October
Bluegrass, Ky., aerial views (4), 1968 July
Blue Grass Field (Blue Grass Airport), Lexington, Ky., aerial view (1), 1967 July
Breaks Interstate Park, Kentucky and Virginia, "in the beginning" (9), 1967-1969
Breaks Interstate Park, Kentucky and Virginia (1), 1967
Breaks Interstate Park, Kentucky and Virginia (3), 1968
Breaks Interstate Park, Kentucky and Virginia (4), 1969
Breaks Interstate Park, Kentucky and Virginia, wooded roadway (1), 1969
Capitol View Park, Frankfort, Kentucky, various plans for soils, slope, and flood plain (4), 1974 October
Carl, Bill, "residence, east of lakes area, R-8", Lexington, Ky. (10), 1970 May
Carter Caves State Resort Park, Kentucky, "details, A-14" (7), 1962 March
Colombia, Maryland (37), 1972 May-July
Columbia, Maryland, arterial street (1), July 1972
Columbia, Maryland, Oakland Village (1), 1972 May
Columbia, Maryland, design character (1), 1972 May
Columbia, Maryland, playground detail (3), 1972 May
Council of State Governments building, Fayette County, Ky. (26), 1971-1989, undated
"Council of State Governments with many cherry trees!" Fayette County, Ky. (3), 1989 May
Council of State Governments building "Before landscape elements--historic 10" Fayette County, Ky. (14), 1971 April
"Dot Crutcher house? on Chinoe [Road], [Lexington, Ky.], residential site design, R-2" (2), 1978 September
Detraz residence, 202 Woodspoint, Lexington, Ky., "R-12 Inventory", "R-13" (30), undated
Doyle residence "R-10" (10), 1964 July
Equestrian Woods, Nicholasville, Ky. (45), 1989 May, undated
Franklin Village Shopping Center, "small scale, nice set, has orientation clock detail! 11" (20), 1975 June
"Gable "finished" slide set, Stearns?, nice set, 3" (23), 1982 October
Gardenside, Lexington, Ky., "4, Saturday, 12:30" [aerial views] (3), 1967 April
Givens, Ambrose, residence, Lakewood area, Lexington, Ky., "R-5, residential site design" (2), 1966 October
"Golf course shot [i.e. image]" (1), undated
IBM Courtyard, Lexington, Ky., "nice scenic photographs" (8), undated
Idle Hour, Lexington, Ky., "spring, "finished," nice set, 5" (38), undated
"Interchange B5P diagram, details, C-24" (8), 1971 December-1972 January
Jenny Wiley State Park, Kentucky (21), 1966-1986, undated
"A2, L, Lexington Office, Jenny Wiley State Park, [Ky.], Aerial Campground," photo by Durham, Harlan, Ky. (1), 1986 August
"Jenny Wiley State Park, Ky., B1 to B7, L" (8), 1986 August, undated
Jenny Wiley State Park, Ky., golf course study [plans] (3), undated
Keith, Luke, residence, renderings [plans], "great graphics!" (11), 1975 June
Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park and Kentucky Lake, "C-32, Kentucky history" (23), 1962 August-1963 April
Kirklevington North, Lexington, Ky., "C-17, historic" (15), 1973 August
Lake Barkley State Resort Park, Cadiz, Ky., including lodge and marina at sunset (7), undated
Lakeview Estate, Lexington, Ky., "pre-development, The Island?" (15), 1967 May-1971 July, undated
Lexington, Ky., Reservoir Air, aerial photograph (1), undated
Lakeview Estate, Lexington, Ky., aerial photographs, including one of the reservoir (5), 1967 May
Lakeview Islands (The Island), Lexington, Ky., master plan and model, "Nice" (14), 1973 October
Lakeside Golf Course, Lexington, Ky., "back nine" (32), 1971 October
Lansbrook Shopping Center, Lexington, Ky., "historic" (7), undated
Lansdowne cul-de-sac, Lexington, Ky., "A1" (2), undated
Lansdowne-Merrick, Lexington, Ky., "open space, historic, A-15" (4), 1977 May
"Left over important; Left over scenic [Executive Park, Atlanta, 1967?]" (10), 1960 January-1976 September, undated
Reservoir Park "C-14" (1), undated
Topography Model (1), 1960 January
Strip Mine Farmington (1), undated
Kearny Park (1), undated
Golf Course Subdivision (1), undated
Lexington Land Use (1), undated
IBM Lexington Master Plan (1), undated
Crossroads in Somerset preliminary master plan (1), undated
Unlabeled plans (2), 1976 September, undated
Lexington Cemetery, Lexington, Ky., Spinoza Society master landscape plan (4), 1994 November
Lexington Redrying Plant, Lexington, Ky., site design (4), 1969 November
Loom and Needle and the Esplanade, Lexington, Ky. (4), 1975 October-November
Main Street, Lexington, Ky. (4), 1970
Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, Minn. "reference photographs?" (26), 1969 September
Northland, Lexington, Ky., signage details and iron railing, "8" (9), 1971 August
Old Frankfort Pike?, Lexington, Ky., "Black fence" (9), 1970 April-1971 April
"Palumbo Drive site design?" and "Clark Eq.," Lexington, Ky. (8), 1974 October-1976 June
Palumbo residence, Lexington, Ky., residential site design, "R-7" (13), 1970 April
Paris Pike, Fayette County and Bourbon County, Ky., "film developed, corridor, boards" (60), 1966-1995, undated
Scope and Contents
Includes six images of people standing and talking in small groups, outside, wearing name tags.
Paris Pike, Fayette County and Bourbon County, Ky., "historic, scenic inventory of road and 3-4 nice garden slides" (37), 1994 September
General, Paris Pike, Fayette County and Bourbon County, Ky. (1), undated
Bluegrass, Paris Pike, Fayette County and Bourbon County, Ky. (1), 1966
Fall, Paris Pike, Fayette County and Bourbon County, Ky. (1), 1966
Scenic photos, Paris Pike, Fayette County and Bourbon County, Ky. (9), 1971 June
Rouse, Arthur residential design, construction, Lexington, Ky., "R-7" (10), August-November
Scruggs, John house, Lexington, Ky., "R-3" (5), 1964 October
Shillito Park, Lexington, Ky., master plan "C-18" (4), 1971-1970 September, undated
Short Street, Lexington, Ky., "Lexington urban renewal model/Lexington urban renewal project, C-23" (5), 1963 April
Shriner's Hospital, Lexington, Ky., site design (4), undated
South Elkhorn River, Brown's Mill Pike Bridge, Kentucky, "historic?, A-6" (4), 1970 October
Southland, Lexington, Ky., aerial photograph, Saturday, 12:30 (2), 1967 Spring
Spindletop home and Council of State Governments building (33), Fayette County, Ky., 1963-1979
Spindletop home, Fayette County, Ky., "circulation?, planting? plan" (14), 1979 October
"6" Spindletop Lexington, Kentucky (4), 1979 October
"9" Spindletop Lexington, Kentucky (3), 1979 October
"1" Spindletop Lexington, Kentucky (3), 1979 October
"5" Spindletop Lexington, Kentucky (2), 1979 October
"4" Spindletop Lexington, Kentucky (2), 1979 October
Spindletop, Council of State Governments, Fayette County, Ky. (16), 1963-1965
Spindletop, Fayette County, Ky., aerial photographs (3), 1968 July
Stearns houses, "houses on strip mine site?" [includes Scruggs and Hammond title slide] (20), 1976 March
"Tates Creek and New Circle Road intersection, [Scruggs and Hammond] office," Lexington, Ky. (1), 1973 October
"Town Branch historic slides, nice" Lexington, Ky. (21), 1970 October-1971
Town Branch, Lexington, Ky. (3), 1970 October
Town Branch, Lexington, Ky., at Old Bridge, Viley Pike, Clean Up Day (2), 1970 October
Boone Creek, Lexington, Ky. (2), 1970 October
Town Branch Old Viley Pike Bridge, Lexington, Ky. (various views) (5), 1970 October
Town Branch at Yarnalton Road, Lexington, Ky. (3), 1970 October
South Elkhorn and Brown's Mill Bridge, Lexington, Ky. (2), 1970 October
South Elkhorn, Lexington, Ky. (4), 1970-1971
"Turfland Aerial" photographs, Lexington, Ky., "Saturday, 12:30" (6), 1967 April
University of Kentucky Animal Diagnostic Center, Lexington, Ky., A9 (6), 1974 November
University of Kentucky Landscape Garden Center, Lexington, Ky., 16 (10), August
University of Kentucky campus and Patterson Office Tower Plaza, draining terrace, Lexington, Ky. (5), 1970 October
University of Kentucky Research Laboratory, Lexington, Ky., 15 (11), 1977 May
University of Kentucky South Farm (Waveland State Historic Site), Lexington, Ky., "historic, 6" (24), undated
University of Kentucky South Farm "inventory photos," Lexington, Ky., 7 (24), undated
Vine Street and downtown, Lexington, Ky. (60), 1971-1986
Vine Street, Lexington, Ky. (2), 1971 April
Vine Street performances, Lexington, Ky. (2), 1986 July
"Vine Street Urban Renewal Project," Lexington, Ky., Scruggs and Hammond, title slide and images of construction (35), undated
Teaching Slides, 1962 May-1994 May
Adam Rankin House, Lexington, Ky., "scenic photographs, site design?" (7), undated
Bluegrass Scenes, Paris Pike vicinity, side road, Kentucky (3), 1970 May
Bowling Green, Kentucky, Senior Class Studio Project (20), 1994 May 5, undated
Karstoon (1), 1994 May 5
Karst County (1), Undated
Karst City (1), 1994 May 5
Entry Corridor (1), 1994 May 5
Section Entry Corridor (1), 1994 May 5
Plan Entry Corridor (1), 1994 May 5
Visual Clutter (1), 1994 May 5
Visual Clutter (1), 1994 May 5
The River (1), 1994 May 5
Sketch River Park (1), 1994 May 5
Plan River Park (1), 1994 May 5
Plan River Development (1), 1994 May 5
Section Jennings Creek (1), 1994 May 5
Plan Boat Landing (1), 1994 May 5
Jennings Creek Section (1), 1994 May 5
Jennings Creek (1), 1994 May 5
Plan Jennings Creek (1), 1994 May 5
Depot Photo (1), 1994 May 5
Depot Plan (1), 1994 May 5
Depot Sketch (1), 1994 May 5
Corbin, Ky., swimming pool (5), 1983 July
Cypress Trees, Berheim Forest, Clermont, Ky. (2), 1966 Fall
Gainesway, Lexington, Ky., aerial photograph and Lexington, Ky., aerial photographs (4), undated
Gainesway, Lexington, Ky., horse farm tour, "built photographs, not Lyle's?" (20), 1983 August
High Street, Lexington, Ky., historic houses urban renewal area, "historic quality" (8), 1969 November
Lexington, Ky., High Street houses urban renewal area (3), 1969 November
Historic houses urban renewal area, Lexington, Ky. (3), 1969 November
House on Mill Street, Lexington, Ky. (1), 1969 November
Historic houses log house, Lexington, Ky. (1), 1969 November
Hunt Club and Grimes Grist Mill Road, Lexington, Ky. (1), 1970 October
Keeneland Paddock, Lexington, Ky., "scenic" (4), 1970 April
Kentucky Power building, Ashland, Ky., Roche, architect, "All architecture" (16), 1978 July
Land use plans, near Veterans Hospital, Georgetown Pike, [?] Pike, and Newtown Pike, Lexington, Ky. (13), undated
Lecture slides from books (8), undated
Cul-de-sac, development (1), undated
Historic, Qualls, neighborhood scheme (1), undated
Historic, tree line before "Sub. Reg." (1), undated
Historic, tree line after "Sub. Reg's" (1), undated
Neighborhood boundaries (1), undated
Riverside plan (1), undated
Riverside, roadway (1), undated
Westlake, condominiums (1), undated
Lowell and Hart (7), 1962 May
Lowell and Hart (3), 1962 May
Lowell and Hart insect belt line, Broadway and New Circle Road (2), 1962 May
Lowell and Hart, Newtown Road belt line (1), 1962 May
Lowell and Hart, Newtown Road [?], Carnahan House (1), 1962 May
Pipestem Resort State Park, Canaan Valley, West Virginia (26), 1974 November
Sherwin-Williams, Richmond, Ky., overview of site (15), 1975 November
Transylvania College plaza, Lexington, Ky. (18), 1967-1973
University of Kentucky, Lexington, Ky., Carnahan House, "scenic photographs" (5), 1974 October
Wayne State University, Yamasaki, Detroit, Mich., "nice set, many details" (21), 1962 May
Photographs and Slides Information, undated
Scope and Contents
The Photographs and Slides Information series (undated) includes handwritten information that accompanied the photographic prints and slides when they were received by the Special Collections Research Center. Arranged in alphabetical order by title.
Original list of prints and slides and original slide labels, undated
List of teaching slides, undated
Drawings, 1955-1982, undated
Scope and Contents
The Drawings series (1955-1982, undated) primarily comprises architectural drawings of three residential projects Aten designed or co-designed, including for Dr. and Mrs. Bruce J. Morrow in Macomb, Illinois, 1955-1957. There are also architectural drawings in support of teaching or for a state park and a Fayette County and Bourbon County roadway. Arranged into two subseries by type of project and thereunder alphabetically by title.
Residential Projects, 1955-1957, undated
Aten residence, 448 Linwal Drive, Lexington, Kentucky, screen details, undated
Lindenburg, A.J. residence, Charleston, West Virginia, landscape plan and fence design (Scruggs and Hammond) (2 sheets), undated
Morrow, Bruce, J. (Dr. and Mrs.) residence, Macomb, Illinois (with James C. Wash, architect) (9 sheets), 1955 February-1957 August, undated
- Folder OS 2
Scope and Contents
Includes landscape plan; master construction plan; carport details; screened porch, deck, and construction details.
Parks, Roads, and Teaching, 1975-1982, undated
Landscape Architecture Project, "Sophistication Problem One" for HOR 523, 1975
"Miscellaneous Improvements, Breaks Interstate Park, Virginia, Kentucky" for the Breaks Interstate Park Commission, 1982 Autumn
Old Frankfort Pike, Lexington, Kentucky, undated
Special Collections Research Center - Closed
The Breckinridge Research Room will be closed starting May 11, 2026, and anticipates re-opening Fall semester 2026 in an alternate location for the duration of the King Library renovation.
Reproduction requests will still be available during the closure.
Contact SCRC with questions.
Table of Contents
- Abstract
- Descriptive Summary
- Collection Overview
- Preferred Citation
- Restrictions on Access and Use
- Contents of the Collection
- Biographical, 1951-2013, undated
- Honors, 1973-2008, undated
- Project Information, 1962-2006, undated
- Subject Files, 1951-2011, undated
- Teaching, 1968-1994
- Digital Photographs, 2009-2013
- Photographic Prints and Negatives, 1970-2001, undated
- Photographic Slides, 1960 May-1995, undated
- Photographs and Slides Information, undated
- Drawings, 1955-1982, undated
You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.
If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.
Special Collections Research Center - Closed
The Breckinridge Research Room will be closed starting May 11, 2026, and anticipates re-opening Fall semester 2026 in an alternate location for the duration of the King Library renovation.
Reproduction requests will still be available during the closure.
Contact SCRC with questions.
Requests
No items have been requested.
You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.
If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.
