ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY

In the modern period of County government, the responsibility for the design, construction, renovation, and care of Montgomery County's governmental buildings has been held by a variety of departments, offices, and divisions. From 1950 to 1980, the County government underwent many reorganizations, some extensive, and others limited to simple changes in departmental functions. In the course of streamlining or broadening services, the executive branch often reassigned the responsibility for the care and development of public buildings.

In the early 1950s, the Department of Public Works, Division of County Buildings, was responsible for maintaining County government buildings. By the mid-1950s, this function was ceded to the Public Work's Division of Facilities and Services, which reported directly to the County Manager. In 1957, a separate Department of Buildings and Grounds was created. The department, under the direction of the County Architect, functioned as the primary caretaker of public buildings until August 15, 1967, when the responsibility was transferred to the Department of General Services, Division of Buildings and Ground Maintenance.

Until 1974, the Office of the County Architect operated in concert with the building maintenance branches. But for a six-year period, from 1974 to 1980, such responsibility was vested with the Office of Architectural Services under the auspices of the Department of Economic and Community Development.

In 1980, County Executive Charles W. Gilchrist created the Department of Facilities and Services. The Department combined the functions of the Department of General Services and the Office of Architectural Services.

PROCESSING PROCEDURES

General processing procedures consisted of discarding duplicates, unnecessary binders, and routine transmittals. Oversized documents and photographs were removed from the original location in their assigned series and placed in separate containers. Separation sheets were inserted in the original location within the folder to indicate the new location of any records placed elsewhere.

Preservation copying of newspaper clippings was performed whenever feasible. Records in folders were arranged, unless otherwise indicated, in forward chronological order, with undated records appearing at the end of the folder.

PROVENANCE

Not applicable.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The records of the Department of Facilities and Services comprise 1.67 cubic feet and include correspondence, memoranda, maps, photographs, and reports dating from 1961 to 1979. These records deal exclusively with the coordination of new building construction and renovations funded under the Capital Improvements Projects budget category. The bulk of these records emanated from the Office of Architectural Services, when the office was a division of the Department of General Services and the Department of Economic and Community Development. Some of these records originated with the Department of General Services, Division of Grounds and Buildings.

The record group is arranged in two series:

Series I: Capital Improvement Projects

Series II: Photographs.

SERIES DESCRIPTIONS

Series I: Capital Improvement Projects, 1961-1979 (1.67 cu. ft.)

The records in this series deal with the physical development of County buildings, one of the primary functions of the Office of Architectural Services and the Department of Facilities and Services. The projects covered in this series were funded under the County's Capital Improvement Projects budget and include new construction and/or renovation of existing structures.

The series is arranged alphabetically by subject.

Series II: Photographs, ca. 1968-1979 (1 folder)

This series consists entirely of black and white, large format photographs of capital improvement projects in various stages of construction. The Public Service Training Academy photographs show various views of the architect's model for the Academy.

The photographs were transferred to RG 19, Audiovisual.

Series I: Capital Improvement Projects

Box 1

General, 1963-1971

Aspen Hill Library, 1968-1972

Cabin John Pool: Architectural Plans, 1970

Cabin John Pool: Correspondence, 1968-1973

Circuit Court Alterations, 1968-1973

Council Wing Addition: Contracts, 1965-1967

Council Wing Addition: Architect's Correspondence, 1964-1970 (2 folders)

County Office Building: Air Conditioning Renovation, 1966-1967

County Office Building: Auditorium Renovation, 1971

County Mental Health Facility, 1963-1970

Fenwick Senior Citizens Center, 1970-1973

Forest Glen Senior Citizens Center, 1971-1974

Gas Service Facility: Contract, 1968, 1970

Gas Service Facility: General, 1970-1971

Gas Service Facility: Specifications, 1970

Gray Courthouse, 1970-1973

Juvenile Detention Center, 1961-1974

Kensington Park Library: General, 1964-1970

Kensington Park Library: Specifications, 1968

Little Falls Library, 1969-1970

Long Branch Community Center, Correspondence, 1970-1973

Medical Center Facilities Study, 1967-1972

Maintenance Building Addition: General, 1969-1971

Maintenance Building Addition: Plans, 1966, 1971

Noyes Library, 1969-1970

Parking Garage: Jefferson and Fleet Streets, 1967-1975

Parking Garage: #1, 1972-1973

Parking Garage: #2, 1971-1974

Parking Garage: #7A, 1972-1974

Public Service Training Academy: Architect's Correspondence, 1968-1971

Public Service Training Academy: General, 1968-1969 (folder 1 of 2)

Box 2

Public Service Training Academy: General, 1971-1979 (folder 2 of 2)

Public Service Training Academy: Maps and Plans, 1968-1969

Radio Equipment Building, 1971-1973

Rockville Library: General, 1968-1971 (2 folders)

Rockville Library: Maps and Plans, 1969-1971

Rockville Library: Specifications, 1969 (2 folders)

Box 3

Rockville Library: Test Reports, 1970

Silver Spring Library Parking Lot Extension: General, 1969-1972

Silver Spring Library Parking Lot Extension: Maps and Plans, 1968-1970

Wheaton-Glenmont Pool: General, 1967-1971

Wheaton-Glenmont Pool: Specifications, 1968

Wheaton Library, 1968-1970

Series II: Photographs

Photographs, 1968-1979