Pennsylvania Horticultural Society - Philadelphia Flower Show

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  • Subject = Flower shows -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia

About This Collection

This collection consists of documentation related to the Philadelphia Flower Show from 1829 to the present including tickets, advertisements, posters and high-quality photographs to exhibits and promotional events. Some of the images include buildings that no longer exist, such as Philadelphia's Commercial Museum and Civic Center.
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1829 Philadelphia Flower Show. First Flower Show in America
1829 Philadelphia Flower Show. First Flower Show in America
Philadelphia Flower Show (1829 : Philadelphia, Pa.), Flower shows -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society was founded in 1827 by a group of gentleman farmers, botanists and nurserymen. Monthly meetings included exhibitions among members. PHS held the first public flower show in America in June 1829 in the Masonic Hall on Philadelphia’s Chestnut Street. It was a one-day exhibition of fruits, flowers, and plants, and included the introduction of the Poinsettia, recently imported from Mexico, to the American public.
[1867-1881] Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's first Horticultural Hall. Interior view
[1867-1881] Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's first Horticultural Hall. Interior view
Flower shows -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Exhibition buildings -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
Interior view of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's first Horticultural Hall. Exhibitions were held in this building from 1867 until it was destroyed by fire in 1881. Building location described as Broad and Lardner Streets or Broad Street below Locust.
1871 Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's Floral Exhibition for May
1871 Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's Floral Exhibition for May
Flower shows -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Exhibition announcements
Dated May 9, 1871, this broadside advertises the Society's May exhibition, featuring cut flowers, bouquets, hanging baskets, ornamental foliage plants, roses and other flowers and fruits. Exhibits were so popular that tickets were sold to the public for 25 cents.
1874 Philadelphia Flower Show. Admission Ticket
1874 Philadelphia Flower Show. Admission Ticket
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Autumn Exhibition, Flower shows -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Admission tickets
The text of this admission ticket for 1874 reads, “Admit a Lady to the Weekly Meetings of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Held every Tuesday evening…. This will also serve for a single admission to a Lady or Gentleman at the Autumnal Exhibition.” Women were voted into membership in 1829, one and a half years after the society was founded.
1883 Dreer's Garden Calendar Catalog. Cover
1883 Dreer's Garden Calendar Catalog. Cover
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Henry A. Dreer (Firm) -- Catalogs, Dreer, Henry Augustus, 1818-1873, Dreer, William F., 1849-1918, Philadelphia Flower Show, Flower shows -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia
Henry Augustus Dreer started a seed business in 1838, offering bulbs, flower seeds, and vegetable seeds to an eager public. He served as treasurer of PHS from 1862 to 1873. His son William continued the business and was known for the premiums offered to competitors in flower shows of the 1900s. The H. A. Dreer Company exhibited at Philadelphia shows through the 1930s.
1888 Funeral Floral Design
1888 Funeral Floral Design
Philadelphia Flower Show, Flower shows -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Hugh Graham & Sons, Florists -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Funeral decorations
It was not uncommon for the floral competitions of the 1880s to include funeral designs. This illustration from J. Horace McFarland's 1888 book, Floral Designs: a Handbook for Cut-Flower Workers and Florists, featured a funeral design by longtime exhibitor Hugh Graham & Sons. This scroll with cross and crown is made of polished ivy leaves, with Perle roses outlining the edge.
1889 Chrysanthemum Show. Advertisment Card
1889 Chrysanthemum Show. Advertisment Card
Flower shows -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Chrysanthemum Show (1889), Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
Chrysanthemum shows were immensely popular from the last quarter of the 19th century through the 1920s, with multi-day shows held in the fall in major cities in the United States and Canada. The public was fascinated with the "wonderfully bizarre" Japanese forms introduced at this time. Exhibitors would graft different kinds and colors of chrysanthemums to one plant. Bigger flowers attracted attention; with the right coaxing, chrysanthemums could have dinner-plate-sized flowers.
1891 Grand Exhibition Chrysanthemums, Horticultural Hall Philadelphia
1891 Grand Exhibition Chrysanthemums, Horticultural Hall Philadelphia
Flower shows -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Chrysanthemums, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Chrysanthemum Show (1891), Exhibition catalogs
Cover of the catalog of Grand exhibition of Chrysanthemums, Horticultural Hall, Philadelphia, November 9 - 14, 1891.
1892 Grand Orchid Show and Exhibition of Spring Flowers
1892 Grand Orchid Show and Exhibition of Spring Flowers
Philadelphia Flower Show (1892 : Philadelphia, Pa.), Flower shows -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Pitcher & Manda, Siebrecht & Wadley, Orchids
Beginning in 1890, the Florists Club of Philadelphia handled the decorations for PHS's spring and fall shows, turning Horticultural Hall into "a veritable bower of grace and beauty," according to a review in The American Florist. Orchid displays from Pitcher & Manda of Short Hills, New Jersey, and Siebrecht & Wadley of New Rochelle, New York, were much admired.
1896 Scene at the Chrysanthemum Show in the Horticultural Hall
1896 Scene at the Chrysanthemum Show in the Horticultural Hall
Flower shows -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Day, Frank Miles, 1861-1918, Chrysanthemums, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Chrysanthemum Show (1895), Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Newspaper clippings
The 1896 Chrysanthemum Show and Exhibition of Flowers, Fruits, and Vegetables was a five-day event and the first major show held in PHS's new Horticultural Hall on Broad Street. The exhibition included chrysanthemums, orchids, foliage plants, palms, ferns, Japanese evergreens, ornamental grasses and bamboos, berry-bearing plants, crotons, dracaenas, carnations, caladiums, and roses. Awarded premiums totaled $1,491. This illustration, showing the interior of the new hall, appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer on November 11, 1896.
1905 Philadelphia Flower Show. Schedule of Prizes
1905 Philadelphia Flower Show. Schedule of Prizes
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Spring Exhibition (1905), Flower shows -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia
Schedule of Prizes offered by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society at its Spring Exhibition to be Held in Horticultural Hall Broad Str., Below Locust, Philadelphia March 28th, 29th and 30th, 1905.
1908 Schedule of Prizes Offered by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
1908 Schedule of Prizes Offered by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
Flower shows -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Philadelphia Flower Show (1908 : Philadelphia, Pa.)
Wealthy estate owners, called "private growers," and commercial growers such as florists and seed and nursery businesses offered prize money, called a "premium," to winners. Private growers competed with other private growers; commercial growers did likewise. Premiums would be for a specific class, such as "cut flowers, chrysanthemums, or, group of foliage and flowering plants, arranged for effect." At the 1908 exhibition, prize money amounted to $1,152, roughly $30,000 today.
1916 National Flower Show Philadelphia
1916 National Flower Show Philadelphia
Fourth National Flower Show (1916 : Philadelphia, Pa.), Society of American Florists, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Flower shows -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia
The National Flower Show was held in Philadelphia from March 25 through April 2, 1916, at Convention Hall, Broad and Allegheny Avenues. This was a large show organized by the Society of American Florists in cooperation with PHS, the Florists Club of Philadelphia, and several trade, professional, and educational groups. Its success convinced local organizers that the public was interested in large spring flower shows. Many participants in this show reunited in the mid 1920s to organize the spring event, the Philadelphia Flower Show.
1921 Annual Exhibition and Chrysanthemum Show. Advertisment Card
1921 Annual Exhibition and Chrysanthemum Show. Advertisment Card
Flower shows -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Chrysanthemum Show (1921), Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
To promote PHS's 1921 show, held November 7 to 9 at the Academy of Music, a pilot flew over Philadelphia's downtown and, according to newspaper accounts, "pelted pedestrians with roses, orchids, carnations and chrysanthemums," together with 50,000 flyers promoting the show. Debutantes served tea every afternoon of the three-day show, and music and dancing were scheduled for the afternoons and evenings.
1922 Catalogue of the 94th Annual Flower Show
1922 Catalogue of the 94th Annual Flower Show
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Autumn Show (1922), Flower shows -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia
When flower shows were held at the Academy of Music, a temporary wooden floor was placed on top of the seats in the main hall. The 1922 November show's main attraction was chrysanthemums, but the show also featured collections from estate greenhouses, including vegetables, orchids, roses, and sweet peas. For the first time, the public was asked to assist in the judging by filling out ballots distributed at the door.
1922 Philadelphia Flower Show. Poster
1922 Philadelphia Flower Show. Poster
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Autumn Show (1922), Flower shows -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Posters
Flyer for autumn show held November 7-9, 1922, Academy of Music, Philadelphia
1925 Philadelphia Flower Show. Ticket
1925 Philadelphia Flower Show. Ticket
Flower shows -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Philadelphia Flower Show (1925 : Philadelphia, Pa.), Admission tickets, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
Ticket to the Philadelphia Flower show held under the auspices of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and the Florist’s Club of Philadelphia held at the Commercial Museum, 34th Street below Spruce, Philadelphia. Note that the 1925 Show ran for 4 days only, with opening day hours ( March 17) 6 - 10 pm and remaining days 10 am - 10 pm. Ticket No. K00061. 4.5 x 2.5 inch paper ticket. Printed materials, 1925.
1927 Philadelphia Flower Show. Burpee Catalog Cover
1927 Philadelphia Flower Show. Burpee Catalog Cover
Philadelphia Flower Show (1927 : Philadelphia, Pa.), Flower shows -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, W. Atlee Burpee & Co., Sweet peas
Shows commonly featured floral introductions, such as Burpee's "Mrs. Calvin Coolidge" sweet peas shown for the first time at the 1927 Show. Sweet Pea displays from Burpees were a regular feature of shows at this time. W. Atlee Burpee, Jr. was one of the 6 original directors of Flower Show, Inc. and was for years the public face of the Philadelphia Flower Show.
1927 Philadelphia Flower Show. Florist's Exhibit with Refrigerators
1927 Philadelphia Flower Show. Florist's Exhibit with Refrigerators
Florist shops, Refrigerators, Flower arrangements, Wicker furniture, Flower shows -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Philadelphia Flower Show (1927 : Philadelphia, Pa.), Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Baxter & Green (Firm)
This exhibit shows the latest improvements in refrigeration in florist shops. Words on sign on left: “Flowers exhibited by Baxter & Green.” Signs above refrigerator in center of photograph: “Frigidaire, 1637 Chestnut Street” and "Standard Refrigerator Co., 2543 Germantown Ave., Phila." Sign on right, above the other refrigerator reads “Your Corsage will look better and last longer -- Frigidaire." Photographer’s number 625-19 in lower right corner.
1927 Philadelphia Flower Show. Flower Show Organizers
1927 Philadelphia Flower Show. Flower Show Organizers
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Philadelphia Flower Show Incorporated, Philadelphia Flower Show (1927 : Philadelphia, Pa.), Flower shows -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia
From the mid 1920s to 1964, the Flower Show was held at the Commercial Museum in West Philadelphia. To manage this show, a group of florists and growers created a separate entity called the Philadelphia Flower Show, Incorporated. The "Incorporators" handled the show design, operations, and commercial entries. PHS organized the show's amateur and garden club classes, educational exhibits, and lectures.