Series II. Library & Archives Files, 1926-circa 2010
Extent
Scope and Contents Note
The series includes records concerning the development and administration of the Hort's Library. Among the most important of these records are the Library's accession registers from 1926-1989 and the minutes of the Library Committee from 1936-1974, with related Committee files continuing to 1988. In addition there is a set of Library administration files dating primarily from the 1990s through early 2000s and that generally appear to be those of Librarian Katherine Powis. These administrative files also include some Library Committee and accession documents, as well as files on Library resources, funding, programs, and other matters. The series also includes files related to the Hort's initiative in the 1990s and 2000s to compile their historical records into an archive; these files include both working files about the archive itself and reference files with photocopies, and some originals, of historical documents.
Arrangement Note
Series II. Library & Archives Files, 1926-circa 2010 is divided into the following subseries:
Subseries II.A. Accession Records, 1926-1989
Subseries II.B. Library Committee, 1936-1988
Subseries II.C. Librarian Files, 1970s-2008
Subseries II.D. Archives Files, 1930s-circa 2010
Subseries II.A. Accession Records, 1926-1989
Extent
Scope and Contents Note
The subseries includes the Library's ledgers recording its accessions from the 1920s through 1989.
Arrangement Note
The five ledgers in the subseries are arranged in accession number order.
Accessions Ledger 1. #1-5000, 1926-1941
Accessions Ledger 2. #5001-10,000, 1935
Scope and Contents Note
All entries relate to the Kenneth K. Mackenzie accession.
Accessions Ledger 3. #10,001-15,000, 1935, 1941-1961
Scope and Contents Note
Includes continuation of Mackenzie 1935 accession (10,001-11,000; 14,401-15,000).
Accessions Ledger 4. #15,001-20,024, 1961-1980
Accessions Ledger 5. #20,025-21,748, 1981-1989
Subseries II.B. Library Committee, 1936-1988
Extent
Scope and Contents Note
The subseries primarily includes documents related to the periodic meetings of the Library Committee. These documents include the agendas and minutes of the meetings from the 1930s through the late 1980s. Most of these minutes were found in well-ordered binders, into the 1970s. Subsequent to 1974, the files are a mix of minutes and working files related to the meetings. Some of these later files also include documents related to the Library, but not clearly to the Committee. For at least some of the years, the files include summaries of library usage and of accessions.
Arrangement Note
The subseries is arranged in roughly chronological order. The first seven folders include the relatively well-focused contents of binders that held meeting minutes from 1936 to 1974. The later folders are somewhat less focused, with a mix of minutes and working files, often from overlapping years.
Library Committee Files (16 folders), 1936-1988
Subseries II.C. Librarian Files, 1970s-2008
Extent
Scope and Contents Note
The subseries includes the subject files of Hort Librarian Katherine Powis. Powis joined Hort in January 1989, and she remained as Librarian into the early 2000s; the files in this subseries date primarily from the 1990s to approximately 2005. Powis previously worked as an Assistant Science Librarian at St. John's University, after earning her Masters degree in Library Science from Queens College in 1986.
Powis's files primarily include various Library administrative matters, especially Library Committee meetings, Library usage statistics, funding (e.g., benefits, grants), donations of books, planning, and bibliographies and other Library resource lists. Some of these administrative files relate to the Library's Archives project (see Subseries II.D) and some concern general Hort administration, such as a copy of an employee handbook and membership lists. The files also include some records related to programs and events, such as the Library's outreach at the annual "New York is Book Country" event, hand-outs for events, program progress reports, and other material.
Arrangement Note
The subseries is arranged in alphabetical order by subject matter, which follows the original order. The documents remain in their original folders. Most of the folders in the subseries were found together as a set by the processing archivist, who integrated related folders found separately into the basic set. Some subject matter can be found filed under different headings.
Subjects. A: General (3 of 5 folders), 1990s-2000s
Scope and Contents Note
Includes acknowledgements to Library of assistance rendered, Librarian activities, and annual reports of the Library.
Subjects. A: General (2 of 5 folders), 1990s
Scope and Contents Note
Includes files concerning the Hort's Archives Project, including a conservation survey of the Library's photograph collections.
Subjects. Benefits (7 folders), 1999-2006
Subjects. Board (2 folders), 1990s-2008
Scope and Contents Note
Includes Librarian reports to the Board, some Executive Committee meeting material (1990s), and Board retreats (1995, 2008)
Subjects. Book Lists (2 folders), 1990s-2000s
Scope and Contents Note
Includes bibliographies, book recommendations, and other plant-related reference material.
Subjects. Book Talks (2 folders), 2000s
Scope and Contents Note
Includes Booked for Lunch, Booked for Dinner, and other talk programs, including one by Raymond J. Evison. The Evison material includes a set of stamps from the Bailiwick of Guernsey picturing clematis bred or developed by Evison.
Subjects. Budget (2 folders), 1990s-2000s
Subjects. Collection Development Policy; Collection Size, 1990s
Subjects. Community Gardens, 1999-2001
Scope and Contents Note
Includes a table "Green Thumb Group Tracking information" identifying gardens by location and name in the five New York City boroughs.
Subjects. C: General (2 folders), 1970s-2000s
Scope and Contents Note
Includes files on children's books, arrangements for a meeting of the Council on Botanical & Horticultural Libraries (1991), and a program from the Hort's Centennial Celebration Dinner Dance (16 November 1999).
Subjects. D: General, 1999-2003
Scope and Contents Note
Includes book donation information (see also Gifts below), most specifically those of Ruth Classen, of Thomas Powell, and of Denise Otis, disaster recovery, information about the Dyckman Farmhouse Museum (including color snapshots of the building and grounds), and information about Hort's earlier connections with the Doris Duke Foundation and gardens.
Subjects. Employee Handbook, 2001
Subjects. Exhibits, 1990s-2000s
Subjects. Flower Show Manual, 1998, 2002
Scope and Contents Note
Includes two manuals, both from the Garden Club of America's Flower Show Committee.
Subjects. Funding (4 folders), 1990s-2000s
Subjects. Gardens, 1970s-1990s
Scope and Contents Note
Includes reference material including, among others, Hort's "Walking Tour of Selected Atriums, Plazas, and Vest Pocket Gardens in Midtown Manhattan" and brochures for "Gardens in New York City" (1972), "A Fifth Avenue Walking Tour," "Directory of Community Gardens in New York City" (1976), and the D'Ag (D'Agostino Grocers) map of "great picnic places, parks and undiscovered spots in Manhattan."
Subjects. Gifts (7 folders), 1989-2005
Scope and Contents Note
Includes primarily lists, correspondence and acknowledgements related to donations of books to the Library. Also includes some financial donations.
Subjects. G: General, 1990s
Scope and Contents Note
Includes strategic goals for the Library (1996) and related documents, images from glass slides, and reference material on the Garden Conservancy.
Subjects. Hand-Outs, 2000s
Scope and Contents Note
Includes topical bibliographies, reading recommendations, event announcements, and Library signage.
Subjects. H: General, 1990s-2000s
Scope and Contents Note
Includes records of Hort's donation of books from the Clarence and Alice Hay library to the Garden Conservancy (1996) and reference material on horticulture therapy.
Subjects. I: General (3 folders), 1990s-2000s
Scope and Contents Note
Includes records of income received by the Library for used books, photocopies, etc. (2004-06); research inquiries (2000s); an intern program outline (1990s); and lists for insurance (ca. 2000).
Subjects. Job Description, 1990s-2000s
Subjects. Library Committee (4 of 8 folders), 1990s-2006
Subjects. Library Committee (4 of 8 folders), 1990s-2006
Subjects. Library General (3 folders), 1990s-2000s
Subjects. Membership, 1998
Scope and Contents Note
Includes the 1998 member list.
Subjects. New Books List, 1990s
Subjects. New York is Book Country (4 folders), 1991-2003
Subjects. N: General, 1995-2007
Scope and Contents Note
Includes a New York Times article about Powis and the Library (2007), working files for the Hort newsletter, and reference material on Ninfa.
Subjects. On-Line Catalog Project (2 folders), 1998-2005
Subjects. Press/Promotional, 1988-2003
Scope and Contents Note
Includes a Hort development packet of program/membership information (2003).
Subjects. Programs, 1995-2002
General Note
Includes Apple Seed curriculum (1995); Newsday article regarding the GreenHouse program at Rikers Island (2000) and reflections of a horticultural therapist intern with the GreenHouse and GreenTeam programs (2003); program updates (1998-2002); and other material.
Subjects. R-T: General, 1990s-2000
Scope and Contents Note
Includes renovation work in the Library (1997) and equipment, reference information on rooftop gardens, copies of tax exemption certificate, and a photograph/slide of Webster Hall.
Subjects: Staff (2 folders), 1990s-2002
Scope and Contents Note
Includes staff lists, staff meeting notes, photographs of some staff, and other documents.
Subjects. Strategic Planning/Mission Statement, 1990s-2006
Subjects. Usage (Library), 1992-2000
Subjects. Volunteers (2 folders), 1990s-2005
Scope and Contents Note
Includes programs from volunteer appreciation events, photographs from the February 2000 event, applications and requests for volunteers, some correspondence from volunteers, assignments, obituaries for Volunteer Coordinator Verdalee Tombelaine (2005), and other material.
Subjects. W-Z, 2000, 2008-2010
Scope and Contents Note
Includes print-outs of Hort's website (2008) and book recommendations from Abbie Zabar (2000).
Subseries II.D. Archives Files, 1930s-circa 2010
Extent
Scope and Contents Note
The subseries includes files related to projects from the 1990s-early 2000s during which time archival material was compiled by the Hort and used to create ready reference resources for internal and external inquiries about the organization. The name Joan Nichols appears often in these files; Joan appears to have been the volunteer primarily responsible for implementing the archives initiative, under the direction of Librarian Katherine Powis. During processing of the collection at N-YHS in 2017, much of the original material compiled was sorted into various series (e.g., Flower Show, Print Matter, etc.). However, some material could not be readily sorted and so was kept together in this subseries. Consequently, the subseries includes a wide range of documents related to Hort's programs and administration. Most of the original material in the subseries dates from the 1980s-2000s, though there are a few earlier original pieces. Much of the subseries includes photocopies of historical documents (e.g., officer lists from annual reports of various years). The date range used in the container list refers to original documents, not the dates of photocopied material.
Several of the folders in the subseries with original documents relate to the Hort's public education programs of the 1980s-2000s. Among these were Greenworks (later, GreenHouse), which was vocational training for inmates at Rikers Island; Green Team, which trained at-risk youth in greening projects in public spaces; GreenBranches, which installed gardens around selected branch libraries; Apple Seed, which was an environmental and science education program for the third through sixth grades; and other urban horticulture, community gardening, and related educational programs.
The subseries also holds many files concerning administrative matters. Although much of this is photocopied material, there are several useful original documents, especially from the 1980s, including budget and financial statements, a long range plan, and the results of a member survey.
The latter part of the subseries includes many files related to the archives project itself. These include drafts and notes related to the development of a historical timeline for the Hort, as well as general notes concerning the project and the development of the archives. These files also include preliminary partial finding aids and inventories of records created during the project.
Arrangement Note
The subseries is roughly arranged by subject. Program-oriented files open the subseries, followed by files related to general publicity and then administration. The subseries closes with working files from the Hort's archives and historical research initiatives.
Pilgrimages/Tours (5 folders), 1930s-2000s
History of Exhibits at Monthly Meetings, 1944-1945
Scope and Contents Note
Includes lists of winners of awards for horticulture exhibits at the monthly meetings and at annual shows (e.g., narcissus, gladiolus).
Photograph "Method of Carrying Prize Stickers", 1935 November
Flower Shows (4 folders), 1980s-1990s
Exhibitions (6 folders), 1999-2000s
Scope and Contents Note
Includes folders concerning Hort exhibitions (other than Flower Shows) primarily from the early 2000s. At least one folder has related articles/print matter from the 1930s.
Transcriptions of Taped Lectures, 1967-1968
Scope and Contents Note
Includes George Tamoulis on pot gardening outdoors, Helen Whitman on growing herbs, C. Roy Boutard on the Berkshire Garden Center, and Harry B. Kuesel on irises.
Horticultural Therapy Training Program (6 folders), 1975-1977, 2007
"A Tree for New York" Program, 1968-1971
"Food for Life" Program, 1983-1984
"Green Team" Program, 1995-2006
Community Garden Programs (3 folders), 1969-1980s
Scope and Contents Note
Includes Tree Corps, including photographs, and Harvest Festival.
Urban Gardening, 1980-1981
Scope and Contents Note
Includes a mission statement for the Neighborhood Open Space Coalition, photocopies of letters to the Parks Department concerning the proposed installation of Gates in Central Park by the artist Christo, Hort's recommendations for city plants and window boxes, and Hort's wish list for plants for its house plants exhibit at 58th Street.
Harlem Project Proposal, 1992
West Harlem Group Assistance, Inc. Project, 1993
Scope and Contents Note
Includes documents for intergenerational programs at Mannie L. Wilson Towers, Harriet Tubman Family Living Center, and Convent Avenue Family Living Center.
"Greenways" Programs (2 folders), 1990s-2000s
Scope and Contents Note
Includes GreenWorks and GreenHouse (Rikers Island programs) and GreenBranches (library gardens).
"Apple Seed" and "Read & Seed" Programs, 1995-2008
Awards (4 folders), 1941, 1960s-2005
Scope and Contents Note
Includes Certificate of Award from the New York Employing Printers Association (1941); American Association of Museums Award of distinction for Posters (1992); Association for a Better New York award for the "Gardens of the Worlds" Flower Show (1995); booklet for the New York City Art Commission's Annual Awards for Excellence in Design (1998) that included recognition of Hort's GreenBranches program; photographs of distinguished service award recipients (1960s-70s); and a description of the New York City school system's gardening program (1969-70).
Awards. Oversize, 1965-1971
Scope and Contents Note
Includes three awards presented to Henrietta E.S. Lockwood: New York Botanical Garden's Distinguished Service Award, City Gardens Club of New York City's Citation for creating the Bryant Park Flower Show, and from the Hort for the Bryant Park Show.
Annual Awards Luncheon Reservation Cards, 1971-1972
Press Kits (2 folders), 1980s-1990s
Publicity. Cippings (2 folders), 1930s-2000s
Scope and Contents Note
Includes, among other documents, press clips of 1999 compiled by GBR Communications for Hort.
Publicity. Miscellaneous, 1998-1999
Scope and Contents Note
Includes consideration of a logo design.
Garden Magazine Survey Results, 1981
Scope and Contents Note
Includes the results of a survey of Hort members.
Charles Webster's "Potpourri" and Other Writings, 1969-1980s
Garden Shop, 1980s-2000s
Scope and Contents Note
Includes advertisements and other ephemera related to the Hort store.
Programs. Miscellaneous, 1980s-2000s
Library, 1930-1980s
Scope and Contents Note
Includes a letter to the Library about judging daffodils (1930), acquisition statistics (1956-1958), bindery costs (1949-1956), reference statistics (1981-1983), bookplates, and Library information ephemera.
Long Range Plans, 1960s-1990s
Scope and Contents Note
Includes, among other documents, an original of the Master Plan Committee's Long Range Plan for 1983-1992.
Officers (6 folders), 1980s-2000s
Scope and Contents Note
Includes a few original documents from the Board/Executive Director/President office of the 1970s-90s. Most documents are photocopies of historical documents identifying past officers.
Staff, 1947-2004
Scope and Contents Note
Includes a small number of job descriptions, organization charts, volunteer lists, and other documents. A 1947 document relates to the possibility of creating an employee pension fund.
Membership (3 folders), 2000s
Scope and Contents Note
Includes photocopies of historical documents concerning members.
Linnaean Fellows Dinner, 1972
Scope and Contents Note
Includes invitations, lists and related correspondence concerning the dinner, held jointly with trustees of the Pacific Tropical Botanical Garden.
Financial (2 folders), 1980s
Scope and Contents Note
Includes preliminary and final financial statements, and correspondence with accountants Davies & Davies.
Fundraising/Revenue (2 folders), 1965-2000s
Scope and Contents Note
Includes documents related to a financial legacy from John B. Turner (1965), lists of potential benefactors (1985), and various appeals and solicitations (1990s-2000s).
Historical Timeline Notes (4 folders), 2000s
Scope and Contents Note
Includes notes and photocopies related to identifying key events in Hort's history. The files include some original documents but these are generally copies of print matter or handouts likely also found elsewhere in the collection.
Historical Timeline Cards, 2000s
Scope and Contents Note
Includes a small box of index cards and small notes recording milestone events in chronological order and other useful historical facts.
Archives Project Work Files (6 of 10 folders), 1990s-2000s
Archives Project Work Files (4 of 10 folders), 1990s-2000s
Scope and Contents Note
Includes preliminary inventories and partial finding aids, in rough form, for the records.