Council of the New York Botanical Garden records
Scope and Contents
The records of the Council of the New York Botanical Garden contain material relating to the Council’s history from its inception through the late 1980s and early 1990s. Included are correspondence, publicity materials, minutes, and financial records related to the Council’s social and fundraising activities. The Council’s early history is well documented in its minutes, but many other early records have not survived. The Council’s history from 1990 until its dissolution in 2013 is not represented in this collection.
Dates
- 1914 - 1990
- Majority of material found within 1953 - 1985
Creator
- New York Botanical Garden. Council (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
The Women’s Auxiliary Committee was established in 1915 to assist the Board of Managers with receptions, public functions, membership recruitment, and other duties supporting the Garden. In 1923, the name was changed to the Advisory Council, and the group began placing special emphasis on improving the Garden’s aesthetic appeal and increasing public interest through formal gardens and shows.
In 1966, the group was renamed the Women’s Council of the New York Botanical Garden. Its core mission was to support the development and progress of the Garden through various initiatives, to promote horticulture for public enjoyment and education, and to raise funds for needs such as scientific research, publicity, education, and hospitality. To achieve these goals, the Council organized theater benefits, the Downtown Lecture Series, Flower Market Day, luncheons, tours, and other events.
In 1975, the group was renamed the Council of the New York Botanical Garden, and its membership was expanded to include men. While the name and composition changed, its mission remained consistent. In 2013, the Council voted to dissolve, determining that doing so was in the best interest of its members and the Corporation.
Extent
6.5 Linear Feet (14 document boxes and 1 card file box)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
The collection is organized into six series:
- Series 1: Activities/Outreach, 1952-1990
- Series 2: Administrative Records, 1939-1985, bulk 1960-1985
- Series 3: Committees, 1943-1985, bulk 1964-1985
- Series 4: Correspondence, 1936-1985, bulk: 1953-1985
- Series 5: Fundraising, 1966-1985
- Series 6: Meetings, 1914-1985
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Council of the New York Botanical Garden records were transferred to the New York Botanical Garden archives in three separate accessions, occurring in 1980 and 1988.
Processing Information
Newspaper clippings were photocopied and discarded. A copy of The New York Botanical Garden Cookbook, which was produced by the Council to raise money, was removed. Copies are available in our general and circulating collections.
Creator
- New York Botanical Garden. Council (Organization)
- Anderson, Jean F. (Jean Ferris), 1915-2009 (Person)
- Cooper, Katherine Fenimore, 1920-2012 (Person)
- Corning, Elizabeth P. (Person)
- Cross, June C. (Person)
- Farnsworth, Mary (Secretary) (Person)
- Lafferty, Jane F. T. (Person)
- Mackenzie, Evelyn (Person)
- Montagne, Henry de la, 1888-1982 (Person)
- Scofield, Helen (Person)
- Williams, Henrietta McC. (Henrietta McCormick), 1872-1958 (Person)
- Title
- Council of the New York Botanical Garden records
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Serena D. Gomez in 1998 with further revisions by Nicole Font in 2025.
- Date
- February 2025
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Sponsor
- Originally processed by Serena D. Gomez, Reference Librarian / Archivist in May 1998. Reprocessed by Nicole Font, Shelby White and Leon Levy Processing Archivist, in February 2025 with funding from the Leon Levy Foundation.
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