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Carl A. Totemeier Jr. records

 Collection
Identifier: RG-07-03
Carl August Totemeier
Carl August Totemeier

Scope and Contents

The materials were transmitted to the NYBG Archives from Totemeier's office in January 1993. The collection includes primarily correspondence, memoranda, and background information for Garden projects during his tenure.

Also present are materials from prior years produced in large part by Carlton B. Lees who held several high ranking positions at NYBG (1972-1980), including Senior Vice President of Horticulture.

In addition to general administrative records, a majpr portion of this collection concerns the restoration of and major exhibits held at the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory.

Dates

  • 1971-1993
  • Majority of material found within 1985-1991

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research with permission from Mertz Library staff.

Conditions Governing Use

Requests for permission to publish material from the collection should be submitted in writing to the LuEsther T. Mertz Library of the New York Botanical Garden.

Biographical / Historical

Carl A. Totemeier, Jr., served as vice-president for Horticulture at the New York Botanical Garden from May of 1985 until his retirement in 1990. He received his horticulture degree from Iowa State University in 1952 and conducted graduate studies in horticulture and education at the University of California, Los Angeles and Ohio State University.

Totemeier we responsible for overseeing the design, development, and maintenance of living exhibits at the Garden in addition to managing the department's propagation facilities.

Totemeier came to the Garden after a decade as director of Old Westbury Gardens, an historical estate located in Westbury, Long Island, that was noted for its formal gardens. A highly respected horticulturalist and educator, he was founding director of the Du Page Horticultural School, West Chicago, Illinois, and coordinator ofa two-year technical program at the University of Minnesota, Waseca, Minnesota. For a time, Totemeier had written a weekly garden column for the suburban editions of the New York Times, and held a number of posts in the fields of horticulture and education, including director of the Bayard Cutting Arboretum in Oakdale, New York (1973-1974) and Coordinator of Education at Planting Fields Arboretum in Oyster Bay, New York.

Extent

5.42 Linear Feet (7 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Collection consists of incoming and outgoing correspondence, telephone logs, reports, budgets, memoranda, brochures, catalogs, surveys, studies, architectural renderings, meeting minutes, inventories, photographs, and newspaper clippings. All materials pertain to the administrative functions of the Department of Horticulture.

Arrangement

The collection is organized into eleven series:

  1. Series 1: Biographical. 1985-1992. Arranged alphabetically by subject.
  2. Series 2: Calendars. 1986-1991. Arranged chronologically.
  3. Series 3: Correspondence. 1984-1990. Arranged alphabetically by subject.
  4. Series 4: Telephone Logs. 1990-1992. Arranged chronologically.
  5. Series 5: Planning. 1977-1989. Arranged alphabetically by subject.
  6. Series 6: Finances. 1985-1991. Arranged alphabetically by subject.
  7. Series 7: Custodial, Horticulture, Operations, Security (CHOPS). 1986-1992. Arranged chronologically.
  8. Series 8: Reports. 1981-1989. Arranged chronologically.
  9. Series 9: Subject Files. 1979-1991. Arranged alphabetically by subject.
  10. Series 10: Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. 1971-1993. Arranged alphabetically by subject.

Physical Location

Archives, The LuEsther T. Mertz Library, New York Botanical Garden.

Other Finding Aids

Immediate Source of Acquisition

This collection was transferred to the NYBG Archives from Totemeier's office in January 1993.

Related Materials

NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN:

(RG7)-- Records of Carlton B. Lees

(RG7)-- Records of Dennis A. Brown

Verticle File--Carl A. Totemeier

Separated Materials

A series of documents pertaining to the personnel files of NYBG staff has been removed from this collection to the Human Resources (RG17) collection of the New York Botanical Garden; access is restricted. [Documents; Personnel Files; Horticulture Department, 1982-1991. Removed 6 April 2006 by Kathleene Konkle.]

Processing Information

Processed April 2006 by Kathleene Konkle under a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) PA-50678-04.

Title
Carl A. Totemeier Jr. records
Status
Completed
Author
Kathleene Konkle
Date
April 2006
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Sponsor
Processed April 2006 by Kathleene Konkle under a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) PA-50678-04.

Repository Details

Part of the The Archives of the New York Botanical Garden Repository

Contact:
New York Botanical Garden, Mertz Library
2900 Southern Boulevard
Bronx NY 10458 United States