Type: Exhibition section

Name: Metropolitan Affairs

Detail: "Why should we be satisfied with cities and suburbs that, so often, fall far short of the standards our nation deserves? How long can we tolerate the looting of our landscapes with endless miles of sprawling development that enjoy the amenities of neither country nor city living? What are we going to do about the deterioration of stable city neighborhoods into slums for low-income newcomers? When will we find a way to coordinate city redevelopment with new highway construction and new planning for mass transit systems. . . .In short, will America continue to grow by accident—as large parts of it grow now—or can we find some coordination, cooperation, and vision to help us make the most of our opportunities to make our cities and surrounding communities the most inspiring, enjoyable and useful civilization of all times?" Harrison A. Williams, Jr., Address, “America—Home of the Urbanized”, 26 January 1963.

Given that the majority of Americans lived within a metropolitan area (i.e., an urban core and suburban fringes), Williams viewed these urban settings as potentially "the true hallmark of our civilization." Nevertheless, the deterioration of the inner cities and the sprawling waste of the suburbs were apparent. Seeking to revitalize these areas as centers of community, work, recreation, and culture, Williams encouraged long-term sustainable plans over short-term piecemeal projects. Balancing development with preservation of open space, expanding rapid mass transit capabilities to avoid traffic congestion, and supporting clean and renewable energy sources were among the legislative initiatives Williams pursued to enhance the human environment.

Type: Exhibition caption

Detail: The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area as envisioned at the 1965 signing is a good example of the type of balance Williams tried to achieve between development and conservation of open space in metropolitan areas. It is also a good example of the difficulty in striking such a balance. In the 1965 vision, the Delaware Water Gap area would include both the recreation area and a major power generation project, known as the Tocks Island Dam (see next item), which would have destroyed the natural and cultural environment just outside the park's border. Eventually, protests against the dam project prevailed and, after being moribund for years, the dam was formally deauthorized in 1992.

Type: Finding aid

Name: Inventory to the Papers of Harrison A. Williams, Jr.

Detail: Finding aid provides description of materials in the Harrison A. Williams collection