Carlton B. Lees records

Carlton B. Lees joined the New York Botanical Garden in 1972 as Vice President for Horticulture and became Second Vice President in 1977. He completed his tenure at NYBG by serving as the Garden's Acting Chief Executive Officer from July 1979 until September 1980.

After serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II and graduation from the University of Connecticut, Lees joined the staff of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Later, as a graduate student at Cornell University (1951-1952), Lees completed a survey of botanical gardens, arboreta, public parks and gardens, zoos, and similar institutions that showed that public education programs were practically non-existent where it seemed that public interest and demand having not yet been developed.

In 1959, Lees moved to Philadelphia to become Executive Secretary of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, where he initiated new programs, was part of the planning and management of the Philadelphia Flower Show, and worked closely with the President in moving the Society's headquarters to Independence Historical National Park.

Lees went on to become the Executive Secretary and Director of Exhibitions and Publications of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society in Boston in 1963. He was also responsible for the Society's renowned horticultural library, the educational and service programs, for editorial and graphic content of Horticulture magazine, and planning and staging the New England Spring Flower Show. While working with the Massachusetts society, Lees initiated formation of the national Council on Botanical and Horticultural Libraries (CBHL), the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society, and the Bonsai Study Group, working with many community garden groups and associations, and representing the Society at many national and regional functions. He also served on the Landscape Advisory Committee of Old Sturbridge Village, and worked with John Hancock Insurance Company officials in a vain attempt to bring together for public benefit functions of the Society, the Boston Center for Adult Education, and the Boston Children's Museum.

In 1970, Lees published the book Gardens, Plants, and Man. This book evolved from his attempts to answer the questions, "What is a garden?", a monthly magazine feature which he instigated. It was awarded the Helen Hull Certificate of Merit for Horticultural Literature by the National Council of State Garden Clubs, and embodies many of his convictions, especially that, as he wrote, "Gardens may be the last outposts of reality in an increasingly artificial world; they are necessary to our very existence."

Called to the New York Botanical Garden as Vice President in 1972, he became Senior Vice President in 1977, and in the absence of a President was acting chief executive officer form July 1979 through September 1980. While his duties in the Garden were many-fold, he is most recognized for sensitive restoration of the Garden's turn of the century conservatory in the Bronx. It was later named for its benefactor, Enid A. Haupt. Lees received an award from the Architectural League of New York for his role in fund raising, planning, helping supervise construction, and for the design and installation of the interior exhibition. Especially while the conservatory had to be closed to the public, Lees took part in, planned and staged many Garden events in association with the Metropolitan Opera, the Winter Antiques Show, Burke Rehabilitation Center (White Plains), the Museum of the City of New York, and the Bryant Park Flower Shows. Lees was also responsible for the early development of the Master Plan for land use at the Cary Arboretum in Millbrook, N.Y., at the time, managed by the New York Botanical Garden.

While at the Garden and in his first years of retirement, Lees continued to serve on advisory committees of the Smithsonian Institution and the American Association of Botanical Gardens and Arboreta (AABGA), and on the Board of Manitoga (industrial designer Russel Wright's property in Garrison, N.Y.) and of the Horticultural Society of New York, where he was instrumental in reviving the New York Flower Show.

Lees also participated in the 1982 organizational meeting of the National Wildflower Research Center founded by Lady Bird Johnson, was elected Vice President and Chairman of the Master Planning Committee, and worked directly with Mrs. Johnson and others throughout 1983 to establish a comprehensive structure and program upon which the Center would be built.

Lees also held the post of Director of the American Horticultural Society and became President of the Garden Writers Association of America. His work and philosophy have been recognized by nine awards, including the Distinguished Service Award (NYBG), Meritorious Service Award and later Citation for Contributions to Horticultural Teaching (American Horticultural Society), Award of Merit (American Association of Botanical Gardens and Arboreta), and election to the Hall of Fame (Garden Writers Association of America).