The Friends of Fairsted (FOF) invite you to explore the newly digitized Instructions to Draftsmen, a cyanotype (blueprint) booklet produced by the Olmsted Brothers firm in 1932. This document served as a formalized guide for the office’s graphic standards, providing clear direction to the draftsmen tasked with translating the firm’s design concepts into detailed drawings.
Anyone fascinated by the plans and drawings of the Olmsted firm will appreciate this reproduction. At a mere 12 pages, it quickly provides insight into how the firm’s drawings were created and how they should be interpreted today.
The original booklet— characterized by its distinctive white lines set against a rich blue background, one-sided layout and staple binding— is preserved in the Olmsted Archives at Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site (Olmsted NHS) under the catalog number FRLA 20104.
Check out the digital version of the draftsman guide. You can also request a physical copy of the booklet from FOF by email at info@friendsoffairsted.org.
