Over twenty years ago, Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site (Olmsted NHS) launched the Olmsted Research Guide Online (ORGO)—a groundbreaking online catalog that unified project-related records from Olmsted NHS and the Library of Congress (LOC). Created with support from the National Center for Preservation Technology & Training, the Olmsted Network (formerly NAOP), the LOC, Friends of Fairsted, and a dedicated group of scholars and supporters, ORGO became a vital research tool— reuniting historically separated collections and providing detailed microfilm information for LOC materials.
Today, we’re proud to introduce ORGO 2.0, a major step forward in accessibility, functionality, and research support.
Key improvements include:
- Integrated Digital Images
Over 140,000 architectural plans and drawings, along with 60,000 photographs from project albums, are now embedded directly within ORGO catalog records. Previously only available via our Flickr archive, these images can now be viewed in context with catalog data—providing a more seamless research experience.
- Direct Access to Library of Congress Materials
Digitized microfilm collections from the LC’s Olmsted-related holdings are now fully integrated. Users can access folder- and item-level links to correspondence, subject files, letterbooks, and project files—bringing unprecedented ease to navigating these extensive archives.
- Personalized Research Tools
ORGO now allows users to mark, save, and organize records into personalized lists. Each record also includes a shareable link, enabling easy reference and collaboration between researchers or with staff at Olmsted NHS and LC.
- Updated Platform Architecture
Behind the scenes, ORGO 2.0 has been rebuilt on a modern software foundation, ensuring faster performance, greater reliability, and capacity for future enhancements.
This is a significant leap forward in access to the Olmsted archives, and we hope you’ll help us spread the word. If you have questions or feedback, please contact us at frla_orgo@nps.gov.
Thank you to our supporters, partners, and the broader research community for making this next chapter possible. We’re excited to continue expanding access to the Olmsted legacy with ORGO 2.0.
