James M. Hester Executive records

The James M. Hester Executive records document his NYBG career, as well as the institution's activities during his term (1980-1989). The records have been arranged into eleven series.

Series 1, Correspondence, includes subject and individual correspondence that document several of the major activities in which Hester was involved throughout the 1980s.

Series 2, Administrative Records, includes NYBG's administrative records from Hester's Presidency. This series is divided into five subseries. Sub-Series A, General Administrative Records, covers the day-to-day operation of the Garden. Sub-Series B, Botanical Gardens and Arboreta--Future Options--An International Working Meeting, contains records from the meeting held on October 6, 1980, to define a plan for the future of botanical institutions. Sub-Series C, Plans and Reports, covers the action plans, master plans, and associated reports from this period. Sub-Series D, McKinsey Evaluation, focuses on NYBG’s consultation with McKinsey and Company. Sub-Series E, James M. Hester, contains records relating specifically to Hester, such as biographical information and letters of congratulations for his appointment as President.

Series 3, Financial Records, documents a portion of NYBG's financial activity, such as grant requests and fundraising.

Series 4, Education, documents NYBG's role as an educational institution. Records contain information about cooperative programs with Brazil and China, as well as the Plant Information Service and children's educational outreach.

Series 5, Publications, includes records of books and periodicals published by NYBG. Specific works represented include Garden magazine and “New York Botanical Garden: An Illustrated Chronicle of Plants and People.”

Series 6, Public Relations, contains records of NYBG's publicity and event activities. Included are the Bryant Park restoration, Conservatory shows, the Founders’ Award Dinners, news clippings and correspondence with reporters, and Kiku-Ka Ten, the Japanese Chrysanthemum exhibition.

Series 7, Staff, includes personnel records, as well as information on salaries, job descriptions, hiring committees, and health and other benefits. In addition, it contains the records of the security department.

Series 8, Buildings and Grounds, documents major construction throughout the 1980s. Specific projects include the International Plant Science Center, the Jane Watson Irwin Memorial Garden, and the removal of asbestos in the Harding Laboratory.

Series 9, Institute of Economic Botany, covers the newly created institute intended to focus on applied botany. More information can be found in the Records of the Institute of Economic Botany.

Series 10, Institute of Ecosystem Studies, contains records of the institute created within the Mary Flagler Cary Arboretum, including financial correspondence with the Mary Flagler Cary Trust and the papers of founder Gene E. Likens. This institute has since been absorbed into the Cary Arboretum.

Series 11, Institute of Urban Horticulture, documents the institute intended to examine how plants and animals could thrive in urban ecosystems. This institute is now defunct.

Overall, the series listed above document Hester's NYBG career. As a result of the restructuring and re-distributing of administrative activity during Hester's presidency, detailed documentation of many activities cannot be found in these records. For more detailed records, see the collections of contemporary administrative figures, listed in the Related Materials section. While these records appear to be lacking in detail, they do provide an overall sketch of NYBG activities from the 1980s and contain valuable information for directing further research.