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Wild Flower Preservation Society records

 Collection
Identifier: RA-008

Scope and Contents

The Wild Flower Preservation Society collection includes the organizational papers of the group: administrative records, incoming and outgoing correspondence, reference files, an extensive subject file including scientific, conservation, and sanctuary materials. Also included are copies of the publications edited by the Society and an extensive collection of photographs, negatives, and glass plate negatives.

Dates

  • 1917-1973

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

The Wild Flower Preservation Society, the successor to the Wild Flower Preservation Society of America founded at the New York Botanical Garden in 1902, was established in 1925 in Washington, D. C. The director for some forty years was Percy L. Ricker, retired Associate Botanist of the Plant Industry Station Society.

A non-profit educational society, its primary objective was to establish wild flower preserves, cultivate rare native plants, and develop appreciation of nature and conservation through lectures, exhibits, and educational programs. The Society prepared leaflets for teachers and students and responded to voluminous requests for information on wild flower study, conservation and cultivation.

A valuable collection of over 8000 photographs (mostly with negatives) of wild flowers, trees, and shrubs from all over the country were accumulated by the Society. The Society was responsible for publishing circulars, bulletins, and Wild Flower, a quarterly edited by the Cincinnati chapter. The Society ceased to exist in 1965 and was formally dissolved in 1972 when the organizational records and photographs were obtained by the New York Botanical Garden.

Extent

15.25 Linear Feet (26 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Collection consists of photographs, film and glass plate negatives, administrative records, manuscripts, correspondence, and catalogs.

Arrangement

The collection is organized into ten series:

  1. Series 1: Administrative records. 1918-1973. Alphabetically by subject.
  2. Series 2: Percy L. Ricker. 1917-1951. Alphabetically by subject.
  3. Series 3: Correspondence. 1960-1972. Arranged chronologically.
  4. Series 4: Subject Files. 1924-1962 and undated. Alphabetically by subject.
  5. Series 5: Publications. 1922-1960. Arranged by subject.
  6. Series 6: Manuscripts. Undated
  7. Series 7: Mounted photographs. Undated. Arranged alphabetically.
  8. Series 8: Photographs/Negatives. Undated. Arranged alphabetically.
  9. Series 9: Negatives. Circa 1920. Arranged alphabetically.
  10. Series 10: Undated. Miscellaneous Posters.

Physical Location

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

Other Finding Aids

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Although this collection was obtained by the New York Botanical Garden in 1972, the collection was retrospectivly accessioned on 19 January 1980 and 20 January 1980. Original acccession numbers were x44 and x45.

Related Materials

NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN:

WFPSA (RA)Records of the Wild Flower Preservation Society of America

Separated Materials

Series 8, Boxes 11 and 12, Photographs and Negatives, have been relocated to the NYBG film vault.

Series 9, Boxes 13-25, Negatives, are fragile and pending conservation work including refoldering and seperation of glass plate negatives. It is recommended that access to them be restricted.

General

Wild flower is the appropriate expression of the more commonly used term 'wildflower.'

Status
Completed
Author
Kathleene Konkle
Date
September 2005
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Sponsor
Processed September 2005 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