Litton, Burton 1918-2007

Biographical Note

Born on a ranch in Santa Rosa in 1918, Burt Litton grew up to appreciate the open landscape. He attended Santa Rosa Junior College then transferred to UC Berkeley to complete his undergraduate studies in Landscape Architecture. He graduated from Berkeley in 1941, earning cum laude honors. Burt was accepted to Harvard’s Graduate School of Design and attended for one year before he enlisted in the U.S. Navy to fight in World War II. In the Navy, Burt worked as a photo-interpreter and trained others to convert 3D aerial photographs into 2D drawings of the landscape that would then be used for planning, and analysis operations.

Following the War, Burt returned to his education. He graduated from Iowa State University with a Masters in Landscape Architecture in 1948 and accepted a teaching position at UC Berkeley. Burt began his teaching career with a basic plant materials course in the Landscape Architecture Department. Over his 40 years as a Berkeley professor his teaching credentials included almost every course offered by the department; his most notable being his graduate course, examining the Landscape Provinces of California. Burt also served for 4 years as the Landscape Department Chair and was the motivating force behind creating the campus landscape committee to preserve the campus’ landscape design through its growth phases.

In 1968, Professor Litton joined the U.S. Forest Service as part of their research division. His work with the Forest Service focused on researching the aesthetic qualities present in many of the nation’s scenic highways and national parks. Burt’s efforts included research and consulting on forest management practices in many of the forests of the Wyoming, the Tennessee Valley, and in the Lake Tahoe region. He analyzed the aesthetic values of these landscapes and the impacts development could have on them. His work influenced the management policies of both the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. His commitment to the Forest Service lasted 20 years, which he did while continuing to teach at UC Berkeley. Much of Burt’s work during this time resulted in published manuscripts and technical research papers.

Burt Litton also wrote several articles of less technical merit, related to features of the landscapes he came across. Notably he wrote an article for Landscape archiEmtecture magazine about the variety of designs found in Western Fences and on the changing land uses of vacant-undeveloped land. The majority of records found in the archive’s collection relate to his multitude of research topics while at the Forest Service. The material includes his written drafts, notes, and hand drawn reference maps related to each project. Burt also extensively photographed many of these landscapes, which stemmed from his Navy training.

Burt Litton carried his landscape analysis into his personal travels and teaching. His graduate course often took extended weekend field trips to many of his favorite California landscapes. Students would be required to assess the forms and characteristics of the site and interpret their observations through sketches and watercolor prints. Burt Litton encouraged his students to improve their watercolor techniques and continue to visit the ordinary landscapes around them. Litton passed away in 2007.

Sources:

Burt Litton’s UC Berkeley Landscape Architecture Biography, October 1979

Beatty, Joe McBride & Russ. "academic-senate.berkeley.edu/memoriam." academic-senate.berkeley.edu. 2007. http://academic-senate.berkeley.edu/memoriam/documents/Litton_approved.pdf (accessed June 1, 2009).

From the guide to the Burton Litton, 1948-2005 (bulk of 1965-1998), 1948-2005, (Environmental Design Archives. College of Environmental Design.)