To order any of the following books, click here for our Order Form.

Better Places Better Lives – A Biography of James Rouse By Joshua Olsen $31.00 Josh Olsen believes that James Rouse had a profound influence on shaping the American landscape during the second half of the 20th century. This comprehensive biography covers the career of this mortgage banker, master planner and city builder. The dust jacket says, “Drawing on archival materials and extensive interviews with Rouse’s own family, friends and colleagues, Olsen masterfully tells the story of a developer who associated with the business and political elite, yet dressed like a traveling salesman, who held extremely liberal political views, yet had a deep faith in the power of capitalism, and who was a starry-eyed idealist, yet created practical, logical plans for improving the built landscape,"

Columbia: A Celebration Text by Susan Thorton Hobby / Photographs by David Hobby $10.00 This coffee table book about Columbia is a collaboration of an award winning writer and photographer. Drawing on the author's intimate knowledge of Columbia and interviews with Columbia residents, this beautiful book explores the inspirations and ambitions of the city's pioneers and the commitment of the next generation. It was published in 1995 but its message is timeless.

Columbia: Images of America By Barbara Kellner $20.00 Columbia is a planned community that has influenced suburban development since its creation in the mid-1960s. Urban planners continue to study Columbia’s innovative approaches to suburban sprawl, racial and economic integration and preservation of the natural landscape. This volume contains the maps, models, and drawings that began the building process; the aerial views and individual buildings that illustrate how a city grows; and the images of the people and events that have created the fabric of the community. Barbara Kellner is the Director of the Columbia Archives and the photographs are from the Columbia Archives collection.

New City Upon A Hill: A History of Columbia, Maryland By Joseph Rocco Mitchell and David L. Stebenne $25.00 Mitchell and Stebenne know Columbia well. Stebenne grew up in Columbia and Mitchell was his high school history teacher. Their book presents a narrative history of Columbia, Maryland and an assessment of its accomplishments. To give context it also explores Howard County’s history and the life of James Rouse. New City Upon A Hill takes its title from the Puritan leader John Winthrop's memorable phrase. The authors write that Winthrop used those words to describe the Massachusetts Bay colony as a society that would be pleasing to both God and man. “Columbia possessed those same aspirations from the start. It was intended to be both a model urban center and an experiment in free enterprise capitalism."

Oh, you must live in Columbia! The origins of place names in Columbia Maryland By Missy Burke, Robin Emrich and Barbara Kellner $25.00 Columbia’s street names have been a source of conversation since the early days of Columbia. Faced with naming 1000 streets, The Rouse Company settled on the theme of the best in American literature and art as the source of most of the street names. That resulted in some pretty unusual names such as Morning Leap Terrace, Blue Pool and Liquid Laughter Lane. “Where did that street name come from?” is a common question. The answer can be found in Oh, you must live in Columbia: The origins of place names in Columbia, Maryland, the book published by Columbia Archives in 2008. The book includes the story of the people and the process that resulted in the city’s unique monikers and the poetic, artistic or historical source of each one. It also answers questions such as why some street signs are blue and others green and why Satan Wood is now Satinwood Drive. Peppered with photos, cartoons and stories, this long awaited book is fun to read and an inspiration for party conversation and family games.

To order any of the following books, click here for our Order Form.