T. Harry Williams Center for Oral History Collection

ABSTRACT

INTERVIEWEE NAME: Burden, Steele

COLLECTION: 4700.0452

IDENTIFICATION: [1900-1995] LSU landscape architect and donor of Rural Life Museum.

INTERVIEWER: Kathy Grigsby

PROJECT: LSU History

INTERVIEW DATE(S): February 2, 1994

FOCUS DATES: 1930 through 1990s

ABSTRACT:

Tape 642

Family background; begins planting and landscaping on family farm; starts job in City Park in late 1920s; plants every tree in City Park; begins work at LSU in 1931 as "yard man"; relates humorous experiences at LSU; plants live oaks, crepe myrtles, and magnolias at LSU; designs and plants LSU President Smith and Mrs. Smith's garden; comments of Pike Burden's printing business; origins of Rural Life Museum; Steele's gardening style; Ione; Steele's contributions to LSU and to Baton Rouge; landscaping Anita and Payne Breazeale's house; wishes to convert City Park Golf Course in to a walking park; comments on lack of aesthetic values by LSU administrators; criticisms of American Legionnaires in Paris, 1929.

TAPES: T642

TOTAL PLAYING TIME: 1.5 hours

PAGES TRANSCRIPT: 70

RESTRICTIONS: Copyright retained by interviewer, interviewee, and/or their heirs.