Pennsylvania Horticultural Society - Archive Collections Guides

About This Collection

This ongoing collection consists of finding aids created for the archival holdings of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (1827- ). Included are guides to historical materials such as the PHS minute books, administrative records, and PHS initiatives and programs for events including the Philadelphia Flower Show and Philadelphia Green. Finding aids also cover the extensive image file collections, glass slides, and ephemera connected with the activities of the Society.
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Anne Wertsner Wood Slide Collection, 1940-1983
Flower shows, Flowers, Gardening, Gardens, Lecture notes, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Philadelphia Flower Show, Slides (Photographs), Trees, Anne Wertsner Wood (1907-2004)
Anne Wertsner Wood (1907-2004) was a horticulturist, writer and lecturer from the Philadelphia area. She was an active leader in the gardening community at the local, national, and international levels. She is recognized for her participation in numerous flower shows, garden creations, outreach activities, writings and lectures. This collection contains slides compiled and used by Anne Wertsner Wood. There are two boxes of color photographic slides that date from 1940 to 1983, with the bulk of slides dating from 1940 to 1960. The slides document Wertsner's travels to various local and international gardens, her involvement with the Philadelphia Flower Show, and her involvement in community activities.
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Council and Committee Listings, 2001-2008
Alling, Jane, Membership lists
Eight volumes compiled between 2001-2008 by Jane Alling that contain Council and Committee membership information
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Garden Club of Philadelphia Members' Gardens Lantern Slide Collection, 1930-1935
Garden Club of America, Gardens, Gardens--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia, Horticulture, Landscape architecture--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia, Lantern slides
The Garden Club of America was established in 1913 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, when the Garden Club of Philadelphia and eleven other garden clubs met to create a national garden club. Its purpose is to foster the knowledge and love of gardening and to restore and protect the quality of the environment through educational programs and gardening and conservation efforts. This collection consists of 205 glass lantern slides, donated by the Garden Club of America, of Philadelphia area gardens and homes, including Andalusia, Stenton, Highlands, and Ludington. The collection also contains several portraits of notable Philadelphians and horticulturists and landscape plans. Included are 35mm slide reproductions of many of the lantern slides. The lantern slides date from the year 1930
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Inventory of the Records of Philadelphia Green and Associated Programs, 1970-2009
Agreements, Announcements, Ballard, Ernesta Drinker, Bel Arbor Community Garden, Bowmer, Cheryl, Brewery Garden (Philadelphia, Pa.), Brochures, Budgets, Campbell Square Park (Philadelphia, Pa.), Carroll Park (Philadelphia, Pa.), Center City Green (Project), Clark Park (Philadelphia, Pa.), Cliveden Park (Philadelphia, Pa.), Community development, Urban, Community gardens--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia--History, Contracts, Correspondence, Eastern State Penitentiary of Pennsylvania, Ephemera, Fels Center of Government, Fernhill Park (Philadelphia, Pa.), Francisville (Philadelphia, Pa.), Frankford Avenue Garden (Philadelphia, Pa.), Friends Community Garden (Philadelphia, Pa.), Garden of R.U.N. (Philadelphia, Pa.), Garden Tenders (Program), Gas Station Garden (Philadelphia, Pa.), Glenwood Green Acres (Philadelphia, Pa.), Greene Countrie Towne (Program), Kensington (Philadelphia, Pa., Minutes, Neighborhood Gardens Trust, Nichols, Mamie, 1917-2009, Norris Square (Philadelphia, Pa.), Olde Richmond (Philadelphia, Pa.), Olin, Victoria, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Pepper, Jane G., Pew Charitable Trusts, Philadelphia City Planning Commission, Philadelphia Green (Program), Philadelphia Museum of Art, Point Breeze (Philadelphia, Pa.), Port Richmond (Philadelphia, Pa.), Reports, Shusterman and Schiller (Firm), Shusterman, Heidi, Slides (Photographs), Spilka, Gerri, Strawberry Mansion (Philadelphia, Pa.), Susquehanna (Philadelphia, Pa.), Urban beautification, Urban gardening, West Hagert (Philadelphia, Pa.), West Shore (Philadelphia, Pa.), William Penn Foundation, Yeh, Lily
This is a collection of administrative and other records documenting the Philadelphia Green Initiative as well as other programs including Neighborhood Vacant Lands, Center City Green, Greene Countrie Towns and others. The collection contains minutes, correspondence, photographs, reports, slides, pamphlets, financial records, studies, and publications. The records date roughly from 1970 to 2006 and cover topics such as community-based horticultural programs and events. The collection is divided into eight series: "Materials relating to the founding and early years" "Philadelphia Green's Initiatives" "Greene Countrie Townes" "Grant Proposals" "Center City Green and Neighborhood Vacant Land studies" "Slides, photos, and negatives documenting the projects" and "Slide Albums.".
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John Wister Lantern Slide Collection, 1930-1940
Flowers, Gardening, Gardens, Gardens--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia, Horticulture, Landscape architecture--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia, Lantern slides, Wister, John C., (John Caspar), 1887-1982
John Casper Wister (1887-1982) devoted his life's work to horticulture. He was a noted author, editor, speaker, organizer, hybridizer, designer, planter and all around flower lover. Wister was closely affiliated with numerous horticultural organizations including the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, the American Rose Society, the John Bartram Association, the American Daffodil Society and the American Iris Society. He also served as director of Swarthmore College's Arthur Hoytt Scott Horticultural Foundation and the Tyler Arboretum in Media, Pennsylvania. This collection contains lantern slides dating from 1930 to 1940 and consists of 220 slides in total. The first series consists of 109 slides of different gardeners from the Philadelphia area. The second series consists of 111 slides and depicts different flowers and gardens from around Philadelphia, the surrounding areas and Europe. This is a very rich collection that researchers interested in Philadelphia gardens or 1930s gardens and horticulture would wish to consult. It is a visually compelling collection, useful for exhibits, publications and online productions.
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Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Minute Books, 1827-2001
Correspondence, Flowers, Flower shows, Gardening, Horticulture, Minutes, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Reports
The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) was founded on November 24, 1827 by fifty-three prominent Philadelphians; among them Horace Binney, David Landreth Jr., William Davidson, George Pepper, Nicolas Biddle and Moses Brown. Emulating similar societies existing in England at the time, the men formed their Society to promote "a highly instructive and interesting science for the purpose of improving the growth of vegetables, plants, trees, fruits and flowers." Since that time, the Society and its membership has fostered "...an appreciation of plants, acquiring scientific knowledge about them, disseminating horticultural information, and involving the public in gardening and beautifying the City of Philadelphia." More recently, the Society has worked specifically to beautify the city and help realize William Penn's founding vision for Philadelphia to be a "greene countrie towne." This is a collection of meeting minutes of the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. The collection contains twenty-seven volumes of recorded meeting minutes that date from 1827 to 2001. The minutes document the business activities and projects undertaken by the Society. The volumes include reports from standing and special committees, department and project reports, and lists of premiums and awards. In addition to reports from committees, the minute books contain some announcements of events, correspondence, and a list of awards.
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Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Records, 1791-2006
American Revolution Bicentennial, 1976, Awards, Ballard, Ernesta Drinker, Bylaws, Charters, Correspondence, Ephemera, Financial records, Flower shows, Gardening, Horticulture, Minutes, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Philadelphia Flower Show, Philadelphia Green (Program), Photographs, Public relations, Reports, Scrapbooks, Urban beautification, Wister, John C., (John Caspar)
The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) was founded on November 24, 1827 by fifty-three prominent Philadelphians; among them Horace Binney, David Landreth Jr., William Davidson, George Pepper, Nicolas Biddle and Moses Brown. Emulating similar societies existing in England at the time, the men formed their Society to promote "a highly instructive and interesting science for the purpose of improving the growth of vegetables, plants, trees, fruits and flowers.” Since that time, the Society and its membership has fostered... an appreciation of plants, acquiring scientific knowledge about them, disseminating horticultural information, and involving the public in gardening and beautifying the City of Philadelphia." More recently, the Society has worked specifically to beautify the city and help realize William Penn's founding vision for Philadelphia to be a "greene countrie towne." This is a collection of administrative records from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. The collection contains minutes, correspondence, photographs, reports, slides, pamphlets, financial records, publications, scrapbooks, awards, printing blocks, and medals. The records date from 1791 to 2006 and cover topics such as community-based programs and events, including Philadelphia Green and 10,000 Trees. The records include individuals such as Pennsylvania Horticultural Society President Ernesta D. Ballard and PHS events such as the Philadelphia Flower Show and the Chrysanthemum Show.
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Philadelphia Flower Show Minute Books and Financial Records, 1927-1996, 2004
Bylaws, Charters, Financial records, Flower shows, Gardening, Horticulture, Minutes, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Philadelphia Flower Show, Inc., Philadelphia Flower Show
The Philadelphia Flower Show's history extends back to 1829, when the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) hosted its first public horticultural exhibition in Masonic Hall on Chestnut Street, called the "Spring Flower Show." Three years later, in 1832, PHS hosted the first fall "Harvest Show." The Harvest Show (at times called the "Autumnal Exhibit") immediately became an annual event. In addition, from time to time, PHS hosted or participated in daffodil, rose, peony and other flower shows. The exhibitions were both large and small, and at times competitive. The Spring Flower Show, which was initially held intermittently, was an annual event by 1871. This is a collection of minute books and finance books of the Philadelphia Flower Show, Inc., from its inception in 1927 to 1996. The collection includes the charter and bylaws of the organization; minutes of monthly, annual and special meetings; correspondence; a small number of legal documents; investments and income reports; receipts and expenditures; and auditor's reports.
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Philadelphia Flower Show Slide and Photograph Collection, 1927-2009
Dolente, Carl S., Flower shows, Gardening, Gilchrist, Edmund B., Horticulture, Negatives (photographic), Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Philadelphia Flower Show, Photographs, Slides (Photographs)
The Philadelphia Flower Show is the world's largest indoor flower exhibition and, as of 2010, encompasses thirty-three acres and draws over 250,000 visitors annually. The Philadelphia Flower Show was first held in 1829. From 1927 until the mid 1960s, management of the Flower Show was under the auspices of the Philadelphia Flower Show, Inc., a professional group of nurserymen and growers. In 1964, Philadelphia Flower Show, Inc. decided to halt production of the show for two years because of difficulties locating an exhibition space. Under the direction of Ernesta D. Ballard, who felt that yearly continuation of the show was necessary, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society hosted the show in the 23rd Street Armory. In 1966, the show moved to the Civic Center, and in 1968, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society became the show's official producer. In 1996, the Flower Show moved to its current location in the Pennsylvania Convention Center. This is a collection of photographs, slides, contact sheets, and negatives from the Philadelphia Flower Show, from 1927 to 2009. Photographs include general views of the exhibition and its attendees, displays of major exhibitors, first through third place winners for each judging category in the competitive classes, opening ceremonies, and awards presentations. The images represent changes in floral design composition for over eight decades and they display the growth and changes of the Philadelphia Flower Show. The photographs also represent the works of many prominent Philadelphia photographers.
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Preliminary Inventory of Ephemera Related to PHS-sponsored Competitions
Announcements, Awards, Brochures, Gardens--Competitions--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia, Handbills, Invitations, Newsletters, Posters, Urban gardening, Urban gardens--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia
Announcements, brochures, applications, and newsletters related to the 'City Gardens Contest" the "Landscape Horticultural Awards" "Plants in the Business Environment Competition" "Country Gardens Contest" and "Suburban Greening Award".
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Preliminary Inventory of Library Records and Files, 1964-1980
Accessions registers, American Philosophical Society, Ballard, Ernesta Drinker, Bookmarks, Brochures, Card catalogs, Catalogs, Correspondence, Evans, Janet, Gardening, Horticulture, Invitations, Landscape architecture, Library catalogs, Microfilms, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. McLean Library., Postcards, Visitors' books, Wolfe, Mary Lou
Library Records and Files include correspondence, early book catalogues, materials on library exhibitions, programs and projects as well as library acquisitions records, catalogue card shelf lists of rare books, Pennsylvania Collection, and special collections, and a microfilm reel titled "PHS Library Accession Books #01 thru 16399".
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Preliminary Inventory of Miscellaneous Photographs and Slides of the Flower Show, Harvest Show, Azalea Garden and Other Projects
Negatives (Photographs), Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Pepper, Jane G., Philadelphia Flower Show, Photographs, Street, John F. , (John Franklin), 1943-, Slides (Photographs)
This collection consists of miscellaneous photographs and alides of the Flower Show, Harvest Show, Azalea Garden 26th Street Gateway, Community Gardens and other projects.
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Preliminary Inventory of Philadelphia Green Programs Slide Files
Bonham, J. Blaine, Community gardens, Community gardens--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia--History, Francisville (Philadelphia, Pa.), Goode, W. Wilson, Green the Schools (Program), Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Philadelphia Green (Program), Point Breeze (Philadelphia, Pa.), Slides (Photographs), Susquehanna (Philadelphia, Pa.), Urban beautification
This collection consists of images Philadelphia Green Programs and includes Green the Schools, Garden Mobile, Community Vegetable Gardens and lotscapes, and individual projects in Susquehanna, Point Breeze and Francisville.
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Preliminary Inventory of Slide Files Related to the City Gardens Contest, Exhibitions and Events Other Urban Greening Projects
Community gardens, Community gardens--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia--History, Gardens, Gardens--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia, Land use, Urban, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Philadelphia Flower Show, Philadelphia Green (Program), Slides (Photographs), Tree Tenders (Program), Urban beautification
This collection consists of images of the City Gardens Contest, PHS Exhibitions and Events, and other urban greening projects including the Azalea Garden Party, Ile Ife, the Harvest Show and the John F. Kennedy Boulevard and Guild House.
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Preliminary inventory of slides, negatives, CD-ROMs, contact sheets, and photographs from the Philadelphia Flower Show, Harvest
CD-ROMs, City Year (Service corps), Community gardens--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia--History, Contact sheets, Flower shows, Gardens--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia, Kellett, Anne B, Land use, Urban, Mills, J. William, (Justin William), III, Negatives (Photographs), Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Pepper, Jane G., Philadelphia Flower Show, Philadelphia Green (Program), Photographs, Slides (Photographs), Strawberry Mansion (Philadelphia, Pa.), Street, John F. , (John Franklin), 1943-, Trees, Urban beautification, Urban gardening, Yeh, Lily
This collection consists of miscellaneous images of the Philadelphia Flower Show, Harvest Show, and various Philadelphia Green and Community Garden projects.
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Preliminary Inventory of the Awards Files Ephemera, 1971-2013
Brochures, Chanticleer (Wayne, Pa.), Decals, Ephemera, Foster, J. Gordon, Frederick, William H., (William Heisler), 1926-, Howard, Nancy Putnam, Miller, Everitt L., Neukrug, Howard M., Off, Walter, Olin, Laurie, Postcards, Styer, J. Franklin , (John Franklin), 1900-, Vail, June M.
This Awards ephemera collection includes brochures, meeting pamphlets, award winner testimonials, postcards, broadsides connected with the Gold Medal Plant Award program and the orgianization's highest honor, the PHS Distinguished Achievement Medal. The Distinguished Achievement Medal has been presented by PHS since the 1960s to an individual or organization that has made outstanding contributions to the field of horticulture or has used horticulture as an avenue to create positive social change in the Greater Philadelphia region. Since its inception in 1978, the Gold Medal Plant Award program of The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society has recognized trees, shrubs and woody vines of outstanding merit. The program was originally conceived by noted nurseryman Dr. J. Franklin Styer, who realized homeowners and gardeners needed to learn about superior woody plants for their landscapes.
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Preliminary Inventory of the Development Department Ephemera Files
Announcements, Brochures, Invitations, Pepper, Jane G.
The Development Office ephemera files consists of donor lists, special events and party invitations and membership materials associated with the "1827 Society" "Elizabeth S. Schaffer Society for Planned Giving" "Annual Fund" "Legacy Landscapes Campaign" "Friends of the Azalea Garden" and the "President's Circle."
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Preliminary Inventory of the Files and Ephemera of the Junior Flower Show, 1975-2010
Announcements, Awards, Brochures, Flower shows, Gardening -- Study and teaching, Horticulture, Horticulture -- Study and teaching, Invitations, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Junior Flower Show, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Kids Grow Expo, Posters, Urban gardening
A collection of Junior Flower Show announcements, brochures, posters, award certificates, and invitations. An ongoing initiative, the Junior Flower Show is a free program for students from pre-school through high school that fosters an awareness of horticulture and the natural environment among youth and encourages active participation in growing, gardening, and sustainable practices.
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Preliminary Inventory of the Green Scene Files and Ephemera
Announcements, Gardening -- Delaware River Valley (N.Y.-Del. and N.J.) -- Periodicals, Gardening -- Middle Atlantic States -- Periodicals, Gardening -- Periodicals, Horticulture -- Delaware River Valley (N.Y.-Del. and N.J.) -- Periodicals, Horticulture -- Middle Atlantic States -- Periodicals, Horticulture -- Periodicals, Periodical indexes, Press kits, Reports
Financial files, press kits, subscription announcements and indexes for the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society journal titled "Green Scene." First published in 1972, it ceased publication in 2014, and was succeeded by Grow (Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. A benefit of Society membership, Green Scene focused on "gardening, design, the Philadelphia International Flower Show...".
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Preliminary Inventory of the Marketing and Publicity Department Clippings Files
African Violet Society of Philadelphia, American Community Gardening Association, American Horticultural Society, American Ivy Society, Bastianich, Lidia, Becher, Drew, Bonham, J. Blaine, Branas, Charles C., City Harvest (Program), Community development corporations, DeVito, Danny, Edens lost & found (Television program), Enterprise zones, Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania, Green City Strategy (Program), Lenfest, H. F. , (Harold FitzGerald), Lindemann, Edward, Meadowbrook Farm (Jenkintown, Pa.), Midler, Bette, Neighborhood Gardens Trust, Pepper, Jane G., Philadelphia Flower Show, Philadelphia Green (Program), Philadelphia Zoological Garden, Rendell, Edward G., (Edward Gene), 1944-, Republican National Convention (37th : 2000 : Philadelphia, Pa.), Roots to Re-Entry (Program), Ryerss Museum and Library, Stewart, Martha, Temple University (Ambler Campus), Tree Tenders (Program), TreeVitalize (Program), University of the Arts (Philadelphia, Pa.), Wharton School, White House Conference on Cooperative Conservation (2005 : Saint Louis, Mo.), Williamson College of the Trades (Media, Pa.)
This collection contains press releases and international, national, regional and local news coverage of the activities of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's campaigns and programs, for example, Philadelphia Green, City Harvest, Tree Tenders, Roots to Re-Entry and the Society's work with community gardens and parks. It also includes clippings files and albums created for coverage of the Philadelphia Flower Show. The collection was formed by the Publicity and Marketing Department and transferred to storage in 2013 during the PHS building renovation and post-renovation retrieved and stored in McLean Library.
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