Location & Hours | Access to the Collection | Circulation & Loan Policy | About Rexford G. Tugwell

The Greenbelt branch of the Prince George's County Memorial Library System (PGCMLS) is home to the Tugwell Special Collection. This collection focuses on the history of Greenbelt, MD, from the town's earliest planning stages in the mid 1930's through the present day. It is a record of Greenbelt's past, and educates future generations on the town's significance.

The Tugwell Special Collection honors the achievements of Rexford Guy Tugwell (1891-1979). The collection features information on the development of Greenbelt communities in the United States, planned communities, city planning, and consumer cooperatives.

Location & Hours

Greenbelt Branch
11 Crescent Road Greenbelt, MD 20770
(301)345-5800
TTY (301) 808-2061

Mon- Wed 10am - 9pm
Thursday 10am - 6pm;
Friday Noon - 6pm;
Saturday 10am-5pm

Access to the collection

The hours of operation for the Tugwell Special Collection are the same as the Greenbelt Branch hours. Everyone is welcome to use the Tugwell Special Collection for studying, researching, or browsing. All visitors are asked to sign the guest book. If any assistance is needed, please ask the librarian at the Information Desk (301-345-5800)

The Greenbelt Branch is wheelchair accessible from the lower level entrance of the library, where there is ample parking. Follow the signs for the elevator to the second floor.

Circulation and Loan policy:

The Tugwell Special Collection is a reference collection, and the materials must be used within the Greenbelt branch. Whenever possible, materials should be photocopied. Duplicate copies of core local history materials are available for loan.

A special loan of Tugwell material may be authorized by the Tugwell Special Collection curator, or the Branch Manager. Such loan may be overnight, weekend (Saturday to Monday), or for one week. Circulation staff will check out material, charging the due date as indicated by the librarian authorizing the loan. The borrower’s card will be held until the material is returned.

Rexford G. Tugwell

Born on June 10, 1891, Rexford G. Tugwell grew up in Sinclairville and Wilson, NY. Tugwell’s father was a farmer and a cannery owner. Tugwell attended the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce at the University of Pennsylvania, where he received his Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral degrees. After completing his studies at UPenn, Tugwell taught economics at UPenn, the University of Washington, and Columbia University.

While at Columbia University, Tugwell became a member of the “brain trust” - a group known as Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s inner circle of advisors. Roosevelt was then governor of NY. This group initially helped Roosevelt plan his campaign to become the president of the United States and later advised him on issues during his presidency.

In 1933, Tugwell moved to Washington, DC, where he began working for the United States Department of Agriculture. After serving as the assistant secretary of Agriculture, Tugwell became the head of the Resettlement Administration.

Tugwell strongly believed in government economic planning. While at the Resettlement Administration, he worked on many New Deal programs, such as tax reform, relief public works, and federally planned communities. Tugwell is connected to Greenbelt, MD through his instrumental work with the Greenbelt Towns program. While he was head of the Resettlement Administration, he dedicated much of his time in the creation and development of the Greenbelt Towns project.