Records of the American Iris Society
Scope and Contents
This collection consists primarily of the correspondence files of Robert Swan Sturtevant, the first Secretary of the American Iris Society. Principal correspondents include John C. Wister and Harry H. Everett. Also included are minutes, bulletins, a scrapbook, and photographs of various members and specific Society events. There are loose seed catalogs devoted entirely to the Iris as well as an index of seed catalog pages created by a member of the AIS.
Dates
- 1913-1934
Creator
- American Iris Society (Organization)
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
Founded in 1920 and incorporated in 1927, the American Iris Society was established for the purpose of promoting and sharing information about Iridaceae . The Society's bulletin provided its members with specific information about cultural and historical issues, proposed projects, and identified various officers and directors. At the time, it's members included nurserymen, horticulturists, and avid gardeners, and botanists.
The New York Botanical Garden acted as sponsor in establishing the Society and received assistance from Dr. A.C. Beal, head of the Department of Horticulture for NYBG, in drafting a constitution for AIS that provided a framework for the establishment of six regional groups with their own Vice Presidents. Others involved in this drafting included Robert Swan Sturtevant, the first Secretary of AIS, and Professor A.P. Saunders, a chemistry teacher from Hamilton College.
Extent
10 Linear Inches (3 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
The collection is organized into four series:
- Series 1: Seed Catalogs. Circa 1913- 1921.
- Series 2: Correspondence. 1928-1934.
- Series 3: Subject Files. 1920-1933.
- Series 4: Photographs/Scrapbooks. 1919-1922.
Physical Location
Archives, The LuEsther T. Mertz Library, New York Botanical Garden.
Other Finding Aids
Please note that the legacy finding guide is outdated and may contain incorrect information.
Legacy finding guide
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The records of the American Iris Society were accessioned on 30 January 1980 (Accession # x66)
Processing Information
Processed August 2005 by Kathleene Konkle under a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) PA-50678-04.
- Albums (Books)
- American Iris Society
- Black-and-white photographs
- Botany -- Societies, etc.
- Catalogs (documents)
- Correspondence
- Everett, Harry H. (Harry Harding), 1875-1949
- Horticulture -- Societies, etc.
- Iridaceae
- Manuscripts (documents)
- New York Botanical Garden
- Seeds -- Catalogs and collections -- North America
- Sturtevant, Robert Swan, 1892-1955
- Wister, John C. (John Caspar), 1887-1982
Creator
- American Iris Society (Organization)
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Kathleene Konkle
- Date
- August 2005
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Sponsor
- Processed August 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
New York Botanical Garden, Mertz Library
2900 Southern Boulevard
Bronx NY 10458 United States
ssinon@nybg.org