Papers of H. Parker Lansdale III

Bridgeport History Center, Bridgeport Public Library

Summary Information

Repository:
Bridgeport History Center, Bridgeport Public Library
Creator:
Landsdale, H. Parker, III
Title:
Papers of H. Parker Lansdale III
ID:
BHC-MSS 0239
Date [inclusive]:
1955-1983
Physical Description:
7 Linear Feet
Language of the Material:
English .

Preferred Citation

Papers of H. Parker Lansdale III (BHC-MSS 0239), Bridgeport History Center, Bridgeport Public Library.

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Biographical / Historical

Dr. Herbert Parker Lansdale III, known as H. Parker Lansdale or simply Parker, was born on [date] in [year.] From the 1960s into the 1980s, he was an active part of Bridgeport's push for greater access to equity, education, and creating nonprofit social support networks to improve the community.

Lansdale's sense of service came from his family. Both his father and grandfather spent their lives working for various iterations of the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA). In particular, his father, H. Parker Lansdale II, was a key part of the YMCA in Greece, moving the family there when Parker was two years old. Growing up in Thessaloniki with his brother Bruce was instructive, as the area included Protestant, Greek Orthodox, and Jewish community members. Parker would later cite this inter-faith harmony as a key part of his own approach to building understanding and community across both faith and racial based lines.

Lansdale himself was an ordained Presbyterian minister, who after attending Oberlin for undergraduate education received a degree from Yale Divinity School. He was posted to various YMCAs along the east coast of the United States. He began working at Bridgeport's Y in 1961. He quickly became a part of the civic and nonprofit social service scene. In addition to the Y, he was an active part of the United Way, Action for Bridgeport Community Development, the Bridgeport Area Foundation, and most crucially, the Higher Education Center for Urban Studies (HECUS),

H.E.C.U.S., or the Higher Education Center for Urban Studies, began in 1968 as a consortium of Fairfield County colleges and universities. The original founding members were the Bridgeport Engineering Institute, Fairfield University, Housatonic Community College, Sacred Heart University, and the University of Bridgeport, although the group later expanded to include Norwalk Community College, Norwalk State Technical College, the University of Connecticut Stamford, and Western Connecticut State College. The goal of HECUS was for academic institutions to collaborate with local communities to develop programs, study local needs, and implement real change. It also worked to reach out to low income and minority students to help get them through college.

This was a natural outgrowth of other investments in urban areas, such as the Model Cities program that sought to respond to city-based concerns like urban renewal, responses to violence, and housing. Likewise, this meant that programs like the Urban Youth Corp. were meant not only to provide support for local governments, but encourage those who worked in the program to take on government or social work related jobs in order to continue the work. The Urban Youth Corp. was one of the greatest successes of the organization, running until HECUS had to close down in 1977.

The 1970s also saw H.E.C.U.S. add programs to meet the needs of the community that it served. In 1972 it created Vets of H.E.C.U.S., a special branch meant to serve the educational and community needs of returning Vietnam soldiers. Originally focused mostly on education, it evolved to provide support for housing, drug and alcohol abuse, and psychological support. While H.E.C.U.S. was able to meet many of its goals, including the publication of reports studying urban problems and providing solutions, addressing community needs through partners and through programs like the Urban Youth Corp., and more, financial issues forced the organization's closure in early 1977. Taken along with the records of the Urban Coalition and records relating to the Model Cities program, the records of H.E.C.U.S. demonstrate the post-Civil Rights era landscape in Bridgeport.

H. Parker Lansdale was also active with Bridgeport Rotary, Park City Hospital, Connecticut Health Plan, and many more organizations. In his personal life he married Elizabeth

Parker retired in 1983, leaving the state of Connecticut for Florida, where he died in 2006.

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Scope and Contents

The vast majority of the collection is focused on the various organizations that Lansdale devoted his time to, especially in the 1970s. These include the Higher Education Center for Urban Studies, the YMCA both in Bridgeport and on a national level, working with the State of Connecticut on block grants and the negotiated investment strategy, the United Way, and numerous smaller nonprofit social service and civic organizations. As a result of his work, there are numerous awards and citations in the collection, mostly in the form of plaques.

There is a small volume of person and family papers placed in series I of the collection, although most of those materials are also related to his work life. Some material is focused on his wife, Dorothy.

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Arrangement

The collection is arranged into four series. The first contains personal and family papers, generally grouped together. Lansdale's material comes first, followed by that of his wife, then his son, then other family members and related material. Series II, Organizational commitments, focus on major nonprofit social service organizations that Lansdale played a significant leadership role in and featured a large volume of material at time of processing. Files are arranged alphabetically by organization name.

In the case of the organizational commitment files, there are rarely specific records related to traditional organization material types such as board minutes, correspondence, and so on, that would demand subseries. Lansdale rarely specified these divisions and simply placed all documents into folders with the group's name. The original order of these individual folders have been maintained.

Series III contains subject files arranged alphabetically, and series IV contains awards and citations arranged chronologically.

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Administrative Information

Publication Statement

Bridgeport History Center, Bridgeport Public Library

Bridgeport History CenterBridgeport Public Library925 Broad StreetBridgeport, CT 06604Business Number: 203-576-7400 (Extension: #7)URL: https://bportlibrary.org/hc/

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Controlled Access Headings

  • Nonprofit organizations
  • Social service
  • Connecticut
  • Community health services -- Connecticut
  • Higher Education Center for Urban Studies
  • United Way of Coastal Fairfield County
  • Action for Bridgeport Community Development (ABCD)

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Other Finding Aids

Records of the Higher Education Center for Urban Studies (BHC-MSS 0160), Bridgeport History Center, Bridgeport Public Library. https://ctdigitalarchive.org/islandora/object/110002%3A21630

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Collection Inventory

Series I, Personal papers

Title/DescriptionInstances
H. Parker Lansdale III, 1979-1983
Box 1 folder 1-3
Speeches/articles,, undated
Box 1 folder 4
H. Parker and Lansdale III and Dottie, personal, 1977
Box 1 folder 5
Lansdale, Dotty Dechamps, 1964-983
Box 1 folder 6
H. Parker Lansdale Jr. (II), 1964-1972
Box 1 folder 7-8
256 Broad Street, home, 1975-1977
Box 1 folder 9
Lansdale, Bruce M., 1975-1976
Box 1 folder 10
Lansdale, family, 1951-1972
Box 1 folder 11
Lansdale, Florida, 1978-1982
Box 1 folder 12
Commencement programs, 1950s, 1972
Box 1 folder 13
Goodspeed, Harrison and Hueber, 1976-1978
Box 1 folder 14

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Series II, Organizational commitments

Title/DescriptionInstances
Higher Education Center for Urban Studies (HECUS), 1976-1982
Box 1 folder 15-19
HECUS close out, 1978-1982
Box 1 folder 20
HECUS Publication list, 1977-1978
Box 1 folder 21
HECUS staff, Allen, Clara, 1977
Box 1 folder 22
HECUS staff, Arroyo, Lucy, 1973
Box 1 folder 23
HECUS staff, Armistead, William, 1975
Box 1 folder 24
HECUS staff, Bravo, Lynn Elizabeth, undated
Box 1 folder 25
HECUS staff, Buxton, Sidney, undated
Box 1 folder 26
HECUS staff, Castello, Reinaldo, 1974
Box 1 folder 27
HECUS staff, Davenport, Wayne, 1974
Box 1 folder 28
HECUS staff, Dejesus, Oscar, 1972
Box 1 folder 29
HECUS staff, Delgado, Frank, 1979
Box 1 folder 30
HECUS staff, Harris, Victoria, 1972
Box 1 folder 31
HECUS staff, Kinney, Gail, 1971-1975
Box 1 folder 32
HECUS staff, Langston, John, 1975-1976
Box 1 folder 33
HECUS staff, Luna, Wilson, 1977
Box 1 folder 34
HECUS staff, Manduca, Albert M., 1975
Box 1 folder 35
HECUS staff, Michelle, Donaldo, 1977
Box 1 folder 36
HECUS staff, Nelson, Alfred, 1975
Box 1 folder 37
HECUS staff, Purvis, Rosa, 1974
Box 1 folder 38
HECUS staff, Rainey, Mary Ann, 1972
Box 1 folder 39
HECUS staff, Robinson, Isiah, 1976-1977
Box 1 folder 40
HECUS staff, Schine, Joan, 1974
Box 1 folder 41
ECUS staff, Special services staff termination letters and materials, 1976
Box 1 folder 42
HECUS staff, Sharkoor, Abdul Tariq [Todd, Thomas], 1976-1977
Box 1 folder 43
HECUS staff, Tyson, Mileage W., 1975-1977
Box 1 folder 44
HECUS staff, Stokes. Cortez B, 1977
Box 1 folder 45
HECUS staff, Watz, Lila Philips,, 1971
Box 1 folder 46
HECUS staff, Velez, Eunice, 1977
Box 1 folder 47
Vitae, general, 1969-1978
Box 1 folder 48
Vets of HECUS, 1977-1978
Box 1 folder 49
Mental health study (state), 1979-1982
Box 1 folder 50-51
Mental health study (state), 1979-1982
Box 2 folder 1
Negotiated Investment Strategy and task force on block grants, 1980-1983
Box 2 folder 2-11
United Way, 1976-1982
Box 2 folder 12-19
YMCA, Bi-regional advisory committee, for NY management services center, 1977-1978
Box 2 folder 20
YMCA, Greater Bridgeport, 1962-1979
Box 2 folder 21-22
YMCA, Greek, 1978-1979
Box 2 folder 23
YMCA, historic library, 1971-1976
Box 2 folder 24
YMCA, international division,, 1978-1981
Box 2 folder 25-26
YMCA, international division,, 1978-1981
Box 3 folder 1-5
YMCA, National board training committee, 1976
Box 3 folder 6
YMCA, National board of YMCAs of the USA, 1979-1981
Box 3 folder 7
YMCA, Northeast region, 1975-1981
Box 3 folder 8
YMCA, operating ratios, 1977
Box 3 folder 9
YMCA, perspective article, 1977
Box 3 folder 10
YMA, purpose, 1977
Box 3 folder 11
YMCA, related data, 1977-1981
Box 3 folder 12
YMCA, research and development, 1977-1981
Box 3 folder 13-14
YMCA, tri-state regional planning committee, 1974-1976
Box 3 folder 15

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Series III, Subject files

Title/DescriptionInstances
Academy of Certified Professional Directors, 1973-1981
Box 3 folder 16-18
Adolescent pregnancy program, 1982
Box 3 frame 19
Bannow foundation, 1971-1972
Box 3 folder 20
Ambulatory task force, 1979-1980
Box 3 folder 21
Area agency on aging, 1979-1982
Box 3 folder 22
Bridgeport Area Foundation, 1975-1980
Box 3 folder 23-28
Bridgeport Economic Development Administration,, 1976-1978
Box 3 folder 29-30
Bridgeport Economic Development Administration, 1976-1978
Box 4 folder 1-2
Channel 43, Bridgeport, 1979
Box 4 folder 3
Christ-Janer, Dr. Arland F., 1981-1982
Box 4 folder 4
Clifford, Arthur, 1975
Box 4 folder 5
Coastal area management program, 1980
Box 4 folder 6
Connecticut Energy Corp, 1982
Box 4 folder 7
Connecticut Health Plan, 1975-1980
Box 4 folder 8-10
Connecticut Institute of Health, Manpower, and Resource, Inc., 1977
Box 4 folder 11
Correspondence, 1975-1982
Box 4 folder 12-14
Council for Institutional Leadership, 1978-1982
Box 4 folder 15-16
Council of Presidents, undated
Box 4 folder 17
Department on Aging, 1980-1983
Box 4 folder 18
Dialog [interfaith], 1963-1968
Box 4 folder 19
Disarmament and development, 1978
Box 4 folder 20
Dodd, Christopher, 1980-1981
Box 4 folder 21
Dresch, Stephen, 1976-1977
Box 4 folder 22
Energy steering committee, 1981
Box 4 folder 23
Experimental learning center, Springfield College, 1974-1977
Box 4 folder 24-28
General Electric foundation, 1970-1975
Box 4 folder 29
German Marshall fund of the USA,, 1979
Box 4 folder 30
Greater Bridgeport emergency fuel committee, undated
Box 4 folder 31
Greater Bridgeport regional planning agency, 1976-1977
Box 4 folder 32
Health systems agency, 1980-1982
Box 4 folder 33
Higher education material, 1979
Box 4 folder 34
Hospice, 1979-1980
Box 4 folder 35
Housatonic Community College, 1981-1982
Box 4 folder 36
Independent sector, 1981
Box 4 folder 37
Interdistrict council, public schools, 1976-1982
Box 4 folder 38
Interfaith clergy, 1977-1978
Box 4 folder 39
Interfaith tribute to Lansdale, 1972
Box 4 folder 40
Intergroup committee, 1976-1979
Box 4 folder 41-43
Juvenile delinquency, 1955
Box 5 folder 1
Legislature, State of Connecticut, 1978-1982
Box 5 folder 2
Liturgical Musical festival, 1976-1978
Box 5 folder 3
Manning, President Thurston, 1973-1977
Box 5 folder 4
Manpower report, 1976-1977
Box 5 folder 5
Material for book, 1956-1968
Box 5 folder 6
Mayor's conference remarks, 1982
Box 5 folder 7
McManus, Michael, 1976-1977
Box 5 folder 8-9
Miscellaneous, 1960-1993
Box 5 folder 10-12
Morton, Margaret, 1982
Box 5 folder 13
Neighborhood housing services, 1975-1978
Box 5 folder 14
Oberlin College, 1977-1979
Box 5 folder 15-17
Park City Hospital, 1977-1979
Box 5 folder 18-22
Peace education task force, 1979
Box 5 folder 23
People's Savings Bank, undated
Box 5 folder 24
Presby of Southern New England, 1976-1982
Box 5 folder 25-26
Project OWN, 1977-1978
Box 5 folder 27
Records to University of Bridgeport, 1978
Box 5 folder 28
References (letters of), 1974-1977
Box 5 folder 29
References, 1978-1982
Box 5 folder 30
Regional plan association, 1978
Box 5 folder 31
Rotary, 1972-1982
Box 5 folder 32
Rotary Housing Corporation, 1970-1978
Box 5 folder 33-34
Royal bank of Canada, 1973-1978
Box 5 folder 35
Sacred Heart University, 1981
Box 5 folder 36
Springfield Masters Program, 1980
Box 5 folder 37
Rudkin foundation, 1972-1973
Box 5 folder 38
Southwestern Connecticut Agency on Aging, 1977-1978
Box 5 folder 39
Southwest Connecticut Health Systems Agency, 1978-1980
Box 5 folder 40
Streets for people, 1979
Box 6 folder 1
United States government, 1980-1981
Box 6 folder 2
University of Bridgeport, 1977-1982
Box 6 folder 3-5
Urban observatory, 1977-1979
Box 6 folder 6
Victim symposium, 1978
Box 6 folder 7
Yale University, undated
Box 6 folder 8

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Series IV, Awards and citations

Title/DescriptionInstances
Awards and citations, 1960-1983
Box 6 folder 9-12
Rotary club president plaque, 1967
Box 7 item 1
Outstanding Citizen, Civitan Club, 1968
Box 7 item 2
State of Israel bonds, 1972
Box 6 item 13
Edward J. Kocahn Citizenship Award, YMCA and HECUS, 1973
Box 7 item 3
Connecticut Valley Americanism Award, 1974
Box 6 item 14
SWCAA board president, 1980-1982
Box 6 item 15
Kolbe Catherdral High School, 1982
Box 7 item 4
YMCA international division, 1982
Box 6 item 16
Bridgeport Consumer Advisory Council, 1983
Box 6 item 17
Hall Neighborhood House, 1983
Box 6 item 18
Action for Bridgeport Community Development, undated
Box 6 item 19
Professional social worker certificate, National Association of Social Workers, undated
Box 7 item 5

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