Alan McClennen Collection
Collection
Identifier: CHC003
Collection Description
Included in this collection are maps, development studies, town reports, and traffic studies for the City of Cambridge with the bulk of the materials dating from the 1950s to the 1970s. Researchers interested in viewing the Alan McClennen Collection will be engaged by topics on community development in the City of Cambridge during the mid-twentieth century.
Dates
- ca. 1940s-1980s
Language of Materials
Material is in English.
Access
Collection is available for research under the CHC rules of use.
Copyright Notice
Copyright for materials resides with the creators of the items in question, unless otherwise designated.
It is the responsibility of the researcher to understand and observe copyright law and to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyright. Questions concerning copyright and permission to publish should be directed to the Cambridge Historical Commission Archives.
It is the responsibility of the researcher to understand and observe copyright law and to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyright. Questions concerning copyright and permission to publish should be directed to the Cambridge Historical Commission Archives.
Historical Note
Alan McClennen was born in Cambridge on December 16, 1916 and grew up in a large family at 35 Lake View Avenue near Fresh Pond, Mount Auburn Cemetery, and the houses of Tory Row. McClennen attended the Country Day School in Newton and graduated from Harvard in 1938. He attended the Harvard School of Law where his father had graduated in 1895. McClennen married Louise Field Herman on May 21, 1938 and around 1942 became the Assistant City Planner of the Boston City Planning Board. From 1944-1946, McClennen was an Enlisted Man and Commissioned Officer in Radar and Information Center Instruction in the United States Navy.
Following his enlistment, McClennen continued what would become a lifelong career in public service. McClennen graduated from the MIT School of Planning in 1947 and from the mid-1940s to early 1950s, he served as Secretary of Community Development in the New England Council and Associate Field Representative with the National Housing Agency. From 1950-1953 he was the Assistant Director of Planning in Cambridge. In 1953, he became the Director of Planning in Somerville and in 1958 left this position to become the Director of the Division of Planning of the Massachusetts Department of Commerce.
From 1958-1968 McClennen served as the Planning Director for the City of Cambridge. During this period, he was also Clerk of the Urban Renewal Coordinating Committee, Member of the Traffic Board, Clerk of the School Building Advisory Committee, Member of the Council on Aging, Assisted Housing Authority in site selections for projects for the elderly, and Secretary of the Cambridge Historical Commission.
McClennen was a staunch supporter of the Inner Belt project, and this earned him the ire of many Cambridge residents in opposition to the proposed highway. Plans for the Inner Belt began in the mid-1950s. Moving along gradually for the following decade, the 8-lane highway was set to loop from Boston neighborhoods through areas of Somerville, Cambridge, and Brookline. The project would have displaced thousands of residents, and consistent community outcry led to the plan's demise by 1971.
In 1968, McClennen became the Planning Director for the City of Somerville. He held this position for two years and before becoming Planning Director for the City of Waltham in 1970. McClennen retired from this position in 1982. Over the years, he volunteered in numerous areas including the Town of Lincoln Planning Board, Somerville Chamber of Commerce, Waltham Kiwanis Club, Southern Massachusetts Yacht Racing Association, and the Friends of Pleasant Bay. Alan McClennen died on July 16, 2007 in Harwich, Massachusetts.
Following his enlistment, McClennen continued what would become a lifelong career in public service. McClennen graduated from the MIT School of Planning in 1947 and from the mid-1940s to early 1950s, he served as Secretary of Community Development in the New England Council and Associate Field Representative with the National Housing Agency. From 1950-1953 he was the Assistant Director of Planning in Cambridge. In 1953, he became the Director of Planning in Somerville and in 1958 left this position to become the Director of the Division of Planning of the Massachusetts Department of Commerce.
From 1958-1968 McClennen served as the Planning Director for the City of Cambridge. During this period, he was also Clerk of the Urban Renewal Coordinating Committee, Member of the Traffic Board, Clerk of the School Building Advisory Committee, Member of the Council on Aging, Assisted Housing Authority in site selections for projects for the elderly, and Secretary of the Cambridge Historical Commission.
McClennen was a staunch supporter of the Inner Belt project, and this earned him the ire of many Cambridge residents in opposition to the proposed highway. Plans for the Inner Belt began in the mid-1950s. Moving along gradually for the following decade, the 8-lane highway was set to loop from Boston neighborhoods through areas of Somerville, Cambridge, and Brookline. The project would have displaced thousands of residents, and consistent community outcry led to the plan's demise by 1971.
In 1968, McClennen became the Planning Director for the City of Somerville. He held this position for two years and before becoming Planning Director for the City of Waltham in 1970. McClennen retired from this position in 1982. Over the years, he volunteered in numerous areas including the Town of Lincoln Planning Board, Somerville Chamber of Commerce, Waltham Kiwanis Club, Southern Massachusetts Yacht Racing Association, and the Friends of Pleasant Bay. Alan McClennen died on July 16, 2007 in Harwich, Massachusetts.
Extent
1 cubic foot
Abstract
Included in this collection are maps, development studies, town reports, and traffic studies for the City of Cambridge with the bulk of the materials dating from the 1950s to the 1970s. Researchers interested in viewing the Alan McClennen Collection will be engaged by topics on community development in the City of Cambridge during the mid-twentieth century.
Collection Arrangement
Materials arranged chronologically
Physical Location
Collection is stored on-site
Provenance
Gift of Alan McClennen’s daughter, Eliza McClennen, August 16, 2011.
Processing Information
Processing and finding aid by Meta Partenheimer, August 2018. Contribution to spreadsheet/box list by Steve Kaiser, volunteer, August 2018.
Encoded by: Brittany Fox, September 2020.
Encoded by: Brittany Fox, September 2020.
- City planning
- Civil servants
- Civil service
- Historic districts
- Historic districts--Conservation and restoration
- Historic preservation
- Historic preservation--Law and legislation
- Historic sites--Conservation and restoration
- Municipal officials and employees
- Municipal ordinances
- Parking lots
- Streets--Design and construction
- Urban transportation
- Zoning
- Title
- Inventory of the Alan McClennen Collection, ca. 1940s-1980s
- Author
- Processing and finding aid byMeta Partenheimer, August 2018. Contribution to spreadsheet/box list by Steve Kaiser, volunteer, August 2018. Machine-readable finding aid by Brittany Fox, September 2020.
- Description rules
- Finding Aid Was Prepared Using Dacs
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- Description is in English.
Repository Details
Part of the Cambridge Historical Commission Archives Repository
Contact:
831 Massachusetts Avenue
2nd Floor
Cambridge Massachusetts 02139 US
617-349-4683
histcomm@cambridgema.gov
831 Massachusetts Avenue
2nd Floor
Cambridge Massachusetts 02139 US
617-349-4683
histcomm@cambridgema.gov