California Association of Landscape Architects, 1944-1960

The California Association of Landscape Architects (CALA) consisted of Professional Landscape Architects, students, and allied professionals living and working in the San Francisco Bay Area. The purpose of the organization, as stated in its Articles of Incorporation, was to “provide an organization wherein Landscape Architects may work more effectively as a group to bring about a greater collaborative effort among Architects, Landscape Architects, City planners, Engineers, and the Building Industry, to provide an organization wherein Landscape Architects may work as a group to study and act upon all proposals by political bodies, individuals, or enterprises which affect the physical development of our cites and communities, or our countryside, and to provide an organization wherein Landscape Architects may meet as a group for an exchange of ideas, self-education, and free discussion, to promote a higher standard of professional practice, and a greater uniformity in fees and services for the good of the profession and the public welfare.”

The organization went by the name Association of Landscape Architects (ALA) until 1954, when they changed the name to California Association of Landscape Architects to avoid confusion with the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), and to reflect their widening influence in the state. By 1949 the Association had active groups in Sonoma and Sacramento, as well as in the Peninsula.

In addition to their monthly meetings and programs, the CALA actively lobbied for the state registration of Landscape Architects, published a fee schedule for the profession, and annually participated in the San Francisco Garden Show.

Sources: [CALA Articles of Incorporation], California Association of Landscape Architects Records, (19XX-22), Environmental Design Archives, University of California, Berkeley.