John Bertram papers

Collection

Identifier: MS 115

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection documents the activities of John Bertram, who, from 1977 to 2017, was the director of the Boise-based historic preservation and urban design consulting firm Planmakers and served on the Boise Historic Preservation Commission in the mid-1970s. The records include plans, maps, planning guides and criteria, brochures, notes, correspondence, reports, and meeting minutes.

Dates

1961-2013

Creator

Bertram, John (1946-) (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Biographical / Historical

John Bertram was born in Berkeley, California, in 1946. He graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in Urban Planning, then moved to Boise in 1969 as an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer. From 1977 to 2017, he was the director of the planning and urban design consulting firm Planmakers. He has also contributed to the historic preservation and urban design of Boise through his service as the President of Preservation Idaho, as a member of the Ada County Historic Preservation Council and Boise Historic Preservation Commission, and as a contributor to the Idaho Architecture Project.

Extent

2.6 Cubic Feet (4 archival boxes, 3 oversize folders)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into two series, each of which is arranged alphabetically. The series arrangement of the records is as follows:
Series 1: Bikeways
Series 2: Historic Preservation

Physical Location

Materials are stored offsite; advance notice is required.

Custodial History

The records were created by John Bertram during his involvement with various projects and while serving on the Boise Historic Preservation Commission. He gifted the records in Series 1 to Dave Fotsch, who stored and used the material to aid his bicycle advocacy work. Dan Everhart identified and separated the material in Series 2 during a survey of Preservation Idaho records.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The Boise City Archive acquired the John Bertram papers through gifts from Dan Everhart and Dave Fotsch in 2023 and 2024.

Accruals

No further accruals are expected.

Related Materials

Related material providing documentation of John Bertram’s professional life and the development of Boise’s urban landscape may be found in the Boise State University Library, Special Collections, and Archives. An interview with John Bertram focusing on his work and knowledge of the River Street Neighborhood may be found in the following collection in this repository: Oral History Program Collection.

Description Control

The following source was consulted during the preparation of the biographical note:
Boise Open Studios Collective Organization. (2024). John Bertram. https://boiseopenstudios.com/artists/view/79267059035878c25f39d94a48ba6d33