Margaret Olmsted: Found Recordings Show an Interesting Life

In 2017, an unexpected donation arrived at the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site from a one-time neighbor by way of a rusty tin. It had been left behind years ago when Frederick Law Olmsted’s grandchildren moved from the property. Inside were 22 video recordings from the 1920’s and 1930’s that hadn’t been watched for decades. Written titles like “Barred Is. Surf” and “Seagulls & Horatio'' hinted at the content and the name “Margaret Olmsted” seemed to indicate the owner.

The recordings raised a question: who was Margaret Olmsted? There was little information about her at the site other than her place in the Olmsted family tree. The recordings were digitized and showed some brief moments of Margaret’s life, silent and in black and white. Boats bobbing on a sparkling harbor, an outdoor dance performance by a group of young women, and guests socializing at a garden party are few of the scenes within the films. Through additional research, we have gained a broader view of Margaret and her family.

Margaret’s upbringing was shaped by her father’s work as a landscape architect. She was born in 1902 and raised with her older sister, Carolyn, down the street from the Olmsted Brothers firm. Her father, John Charles Olmsted, operated Olmsted Brothers with his half-brother, Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr., and worked on many major design projects across the country. John Charles was on the road often and spent as many as nine months of the year away from home. His long absences were difficult for him and his family, but he wrote every day and his work helped provide stability and opportunities for his children. He passed away in 1920, but his daughters remained connected to their Olmsted family, with landscapes and nature an integral part of their lives.