Overview of Collection
Watnong Garden Club
Watnong Garden Club Collection, HM 2 Morr MSS Watn
1928-2005
8 boxes, 4 linear feet
Historical Note
The Watnong Garden Club of Morris Plains spent seventy-seven years beautifying the region and educating citizens on horticulture. Organized in July 1928 and fully incorporated the following November the club boasted an involved and motivated membership. Watnong's members devoted their club time and effort into promoting knowledge of gardening, touring local gardens, hosting guest speakers and beautifying public property. The first meeting was held in July 1928 at the Morris Plains Boro School, with President Mr. Fear presiding. There were nineteen people present at the second meeting and twenty-two members present at the third meeting. Average attendance at meetings by the end of the year was forty members. Within the close of the first year the club boasted seventy members. That first year the club joined the Federated Garden Clubs of New Jersey joining forty-two other clubs with similar interests and goals.
The first few decades of the Watnong Garden Club saw substantial growth in members, so much so that the club amended the constitution to limit the number of members to seventy in order to accommodate meetings in member houses. Membership was also restricted to residents of Morris Plains. The club held nine meetings a year, avoiding the summer months, at both the Boro School and members' houses. The focus of the club's energies went into developing its own gardens and presenting at flower shows, both its own and those of other organizations. The members enjoyed frequent trips to local, state and regional gardens, public and private. Photographs from many of these trips can be found in the collection.
Aside from their internal projects the club sponsored many public initiatives including forming a 4H club for local youths, flower shows, and providing landscaping for local schools and Morristown Memorial Hospital. The Watnong Garden Club devoted a great deal of time, effort and treasure to these public projects. In its seven decade history the club contributed beauty and knowledge in the county's schools, parks, hospitals and streets.
The Watnong Garden Club disbanded in May 2005 due to a decreasing membership and a lack of volunteers to serve as officers of the Board.
Scope and Content Note
The Watnong Garden Club collection documents the administration, finances, events and projects, and educational outreach of a Morris Plains horticultural organization. The collection dates from the club's organization in 1928 to its dissolution in 2005.
Arrangement Description
Series I. Administrative, 1934-2005, N.D.
This series covers the administrative records of the Watnong Garden Club to include the constitution and bylaws, annual programs, relationships with county and state organizations, press releases, awards, letterhead stationary, organizational histories, and information on topics presented at monthly meetings.
Series II: Financial management, 1951-2005
The Watnong Club kept extremely accurate records of their financial history as evidenced by the abundance of materials in this series. Items include budgets, balance sheets, and ledger books, bank records, cancelled checks, bills and receipts and the final check written by the club in 2005.
Series III: Executive board, 1928-2002, N.D.
The club was governed by an executive board composed of a President, Vice President, Treasurer, Recording Secretary, and members at large. This series contains those records created by or about the board including lists of board members and past presidents, meeting agendas and minutes, committee reports and letters of resignation from the board.
Series IV: Meeting minutes and agendas, 1928-2005, N.D.
The club met monthly and minutes were kept for every meeting though the collection does not hold the entire run. For the 1930's many of the minutes are combined with annual reports, annual meeting minutes, etc. The annual reports containing annual meeting minutes are included in this series of meeting minutes and agendas. One exception being the 1934 minutes and report, which is in the annual report file folder of the Executive Board series.
Series V: Treasurer's reports, 1945-2005
This series contains the Treasurer's reports given at the monthly meetings and the annual Treasurer's reports given each year at the November meeting.
Series VI: Membership, 1948-2005, N.D.
Maintaining strict records of club membership was a crucial aspect of the Watnong Garden Club's administration. This series contains applications, membership lists, correspondence, renewal forms, membership cards, information on dues, and membership directories.
Series VII: Correspondence, 1932-2005, N.D.
This series contains general correspondence to and from the Watnong Garden club. It includes many letters of thanks and appreciation for the club's programs. Also notable is the letter from the club President informing its members of the club's dissolution.
Series VIII: Fund raising, 1933-1997
Card parties were held to raise money for different reasons, 1) to pay membership dues in the Federated Garden Clubs of New Jersey, 2) to pay for Christmas work, 3) to fund the school grounds planting program. The club also held annual plant sales, the proceeds of which went mainly to the Morris Junior Museum for the purchase of new shrubs and the upkeep of the trees and shrubs on the premises.
Series IX: Frelinghuysen Arboretum, 1971-2004, N.D.
As a friend of the Frelinghuysen Arboretum the Watnong Club enjoyed many privileges including use of the Arboretum's classrooms, the receiving of its newsletter, and invitations to all Arboretum events. This series contains programs, correspondence and information on events.
Series X: Public Projects, 1963-1996, N.D.
Public projects played a crucial role in the history of the Watnong Garden Club. This series contains records from the club's Christmas wreath project, the Morris Junior Museum planting project, and the George Washington School project.
Series XI: Annual luncheons, events and shows, 1928-1984
This series contains records that document the club's annual events including parties, flower shows, exhibits, and meetings.
Series XII: Education and outreach, 1947-2005, N.D.
The club sought to educate its members as well as the general public about horticulture. This series contains material related to the club's trips, correspondence with public speakers, brochures from pubic and private gardens, and newspaper articles referencing gardening techniques and information.
Series XIII: Correspondence RE: Environmental legislation, 1971-2004, N.D.
One of the club's missions was environmental activism and this series provides reports and correspondence giving a glimpse into its related initiatives. The club's interest was local, national and global but most of its efforts were rooted in New Jersey projects.
Series XIV: Publications, 1955, 1987-1988, N.D.
This series contains the title page of a landscaping book written by Garden Club member Alice L. Dunstan in 1955, as well as two other titles. The other titles are club publications written by and for its' members. One is an undated and untitled booklet and the other is the club's newsletter,
Garden Notes, from 1987-1988.
Series XV: Garden Club of New Jersey, 1948-1999, N.D.
This series contains records that document the Watnong Club's membership in the Garden Club of New Jersey including correspondence, participation in flower shows, and membership items. This series also contains items from other local garden clubs that the Watnong Garden Club either cooperated with or were aware of.
Series XVI: Photographs, 1972-2001, N.D.
This series contains photographs from tours, gardens, flower shows and other events that the Watnong Garden Club participated in. There are also negatives and slides of photographs.
Series XVII: Oversized material, 1978, N.D.
Items in this series include a matted photograph, an audio tape of a speech given at the 50th Anniversary, and a stamp.
Important Information for Users of the Collection
This material is open for research without restriction under
the conditions of the North Jersey History Center archives access policy. Records may be copied for use in individual scholarly or personal research, however, as with all materials in the History Center, researchers are responsible for obtaining copyright permission to use material from the collection. Material in the Watnong Garden Club Collection may be photocopied, but because this material is a permanent part of the History Center's collections, researchers are advised to photocopy with care, using only the edge copier for bound material.
Acquistion Information
This collection was donated to the North Jersey History Center with the approval of the Watnong Garden Club members by the club president, Marty Koblish, in February 2005.
Preferred Citation
Watnong Garden Club Collection. North Jersey History Center, The Morristown and Morris Township Library.
Processing Information
Processed by Lawrence T. Greene, Winter 2006 and Anne Trepcos, Summer 2006.
Container List
Series I: Administrative, 1934-2005, N.D.
11-3 Constitution and bylaws, 1934-1993
14Annual program schedule, 1939-1967
15-7Annual program, 1939-2001
18Letterhead stationary, N.D.
19New Jersey government, 1948
110 Organization histories, 1978
111Awards received, 1984
112Meeting guest register, 1994
113Morris County Park Commission, 1994-1998
114National Park Service, 1994, N.D.
115Newspaper articles RE: Morris County Park System Management, 1997-2002
116Press releases, 1989-1996
117Gardening topics presented at monthly member meetings, 1999-2002
118Landscape architects, 2001
119Donation of records to Library, 2005
Series II: Financial management, 1951-2005
120Balance sheets, 1951-1960
121Budgets, 1964-1984
122First National Iron Bank of New Jersey, 1964-1987
123Tax exempt status, 1968
124-25Bank statements, 1979-2005, N.D.
126Receipts from florists, 1981-1986
127Ledger books, 1985-2005
128Bills, 1988
129-30 Cancelled checks, 1997-2001
131Monetary donations to regional public gardens, 1998
132Purchase receipts, 1998-2005
133Postage costs, 1998-2005
134Deposit receipts, 1999-2001
135Final check written by club, 2005
Series III. Executive Board, 1928-2002, N.D.
136-37Annual reports, 1928-1955
138Past presidents, 1928-1984
139Board members, 1940-1968, N.D.
140Committee reports, 1948-1976
141-42Board of Governors meeting minutes, 1963-1994
143Board letters of resignation, 1975-1996
144Board of Governors meeting agendas, 1997, N.D.
145Quentin C. Schlieder, 2002
Series IV: Meeting minutes and agendas, 1928-2005, N.D.
146-49Regular member meeting minutes, 1928-1937
21-2Annual meeting minutes, 1932-1997
23-25Regular member meeting minutes, 1938-2005
226Meeting attendance sheets, 1954-1955, N.D.
227Special meeting minutes, 1975
228Meeting schedules, 1993-1999
229Meeting agendas, 1995-1997
Series V: Treasurer's reports, 1945-2005
230Treasurer's annual reports, 1945-1960
231-38 Treasurer's reports, 1946-1976
31-13Treasurer's reports, 1976-2005
Series VI: Membership, 1948-2005, N.D.
314 Correspondence RE: membership, 1948-2001, N.D.
315Dues, 1951-2005, N.D.
316-20 Membership lists, 1961-1997
321-23 Membership applications, 1963-2000, N.D.
324-29 Directory, 1975-2005
41Membership renewal, 1984
42Membership card, 19__-2001, N.D.
43Membership drives, 2002-2005
44Misc., N.D.
45Blank membership applications, N.D.
Series VII: Correspondence, 1932-2005, N.D.
46Misc., 1932-1995
47 Organizations' responses to Garden Club donations, 1950-1999
48 Correspondence to members, 1953-1956
49Morris County Park Commission, 1990-1996
410 Reimbursement for purchases made by members, 1998-2003
411 Fees and charges, N.D.
412Correspondence received RE: donations from Garden Club, 2005
413Demise of the club, 2005
Series VIII: Fund Raising, 1933-1997, N.D.
414Card party, 1933-1947
415Garage sales, 1979-1980
416Raffles, 1996
417Gifts, donations, charities, fund raisers, 1997, N.D.
Series IX: Frelinghuysen Arboretum, 1971-2004, N.D.
418Programs, 1971, N.D.
419 Fund raiser, 1985
420-21Friends of Frelinghuysen Arboretum, 1977-2004
422Friends of Frelinghuysen Arboretum newsletter, 2004
Series X: Public projects, 1963-1996, N.D.
423-26Annual flower show fund raiser, 1963-1978
427Morris Junior Museum, 1965
428Annual bulb sale fund raiser, 1979-1984
429Christmas wreath making project, 1984-1996, N.D.
430George Washington School, N.D.
Series XI: Annual luncheons, events and shows, 1928-1984
431Annual exhibit brochures, 1928-1929
432-34Annual flower show, 1928-1969
435Annual picnic and meeting minutes, 1962-1975
436Annual picnics administration, 1963-1975
437 40th Anniversary luncheon, 1968
438Annual dinner, 1973-1981
439Annual fall exhibit, 1983-1984
Series XII: Education and outreach, 1947-2005, N.D.
440 Correspondence with speakers/presenters, 1947-2005, N.D.
441Training and education, 1948-1953
442 Tours, trips, 1951-2002,
443Newspaper articles RE: Watnong Garden Club, 1953-2003, N.D.
444-45Public, institutional gardens, N.D.
51Planting tips provided by the club, 1996, N.D.
52General planting leaflets and articles, N.D.
53Plant descriptions/identifications, N.D.
Series XIII: Environmental conservation, 1971-2004, N.D.
54Land conservation, 1971-2004
55Wildlife management, 1991-2002
56 Wetland conservation, N.D.57Correspondence RE: environmental legislation, 1996
58Environmental legislation, report on Rockaway River, 1996
59"Environment Jersey," 1997
Series XIV: Publications, 1955; 1987-1988, N.D.
510Landscaping Your Own Home; Dunstan, Alice, 1955
511Garden Notes, 1987-1988
512Club publications, N.D.
Series XV: Garden Club of New Jersey, 1948-1999, N.D.
513Road side beautification, 1948-1949
514 Correspondence, 1948-1949, N.D.
515 Local garden clubs, 1948-1949, N.D.
516Blue Star Drive, 1949
517Flower show, 1949, N.D.
5 18Administration, 1949-1985, N.D.
519Correspondence RE: Watnong membership in Garden Club, 1971-1985
520Garden Club of New Jersey conferences, 1984
5 21 Gardening societies, 1992-1999, N.D.
5 22Newsleaf publication, 1996, N.D.
Series XVI: Photographs, 1972-2001, N.D.
523Shows, events, N.D.
524YMCA, 1972-1973
525Lyons Veterans Center, 1972-1973
526Flower shows, N.D.
527Christmas party, Elaine Lang, 1980
528Christmas party, N.D.
529Spring Dinner, Cultural Club, 1981
530The Scoffs, Fall, 1982
531Christmas party at Acorn Hall, 1982
5 32-34Christmas wreath making, 1982-1999
535Acorn Hall, 1983
536September meeting at Bamboo Brook, 1983
537October meeting, Arboretum, 1983
538Annual luncheon, Spring Brook Club, 1984
539Fall/spring in Morristown, 1984
540Christmas workshop, 1985
541Betty Knapp, 198_
61McCullough Hall, N.D.
62Club dinner, 1989
63Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, 1989
64-5Tours, 1989-1993
66Landscapes, 1994-1998, N.D.
67Frelinghuysen Arboretum, 1996
68St. Elizabeth's Shakespear Gardens, 1996
69Luncheon at Willowwood, 1997
610-15Gardens, patios, N.D.
6 16Presby Gardens Montclair, 1997
617Raptor Trust, 1997
618 Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center, 1997
619-21Tours, 2000-2001, N.D.
622Massachusetts, N.D.
623Landscapes and natural settings, N.D.
624 Cityscapes, N.D.
71-3Scrap book photos, N.D.
74 Post cards from scrap book, N.D.
75-11Slides, 1968-1997, N.D.
712-15 Negatives, unidentifiedN.D.
716 Negatives, overseas1975, N.D.
717 Negatives, Cedar Key, FL, Chincoteague, VA, Okracoke, NC, Cape Henlopen, DE, N.D.
718 Negatives, Massachusetts - Cape Duxbury, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, N.D.
719 Negatives, New Jersey - Barnegat Bay, Harding Brooks, Vorhees, Great Swamp, N.D.
720 Negatives, New Jersey - Brigantine, 1973-1974, N.D.
721 Negatives, New Jersey - Cape May, Island Beach, N.D.
722 Negatives, New Jersey - Pine Barrens, Hackensack Meadowlands, N.D.
723 Negatives, birds, N.D.
724 Negatives, flowers and nature scenes, N.D.
725 Negatives, Dismal and Harmony swamps dedication, 1965, N.D.
Series XVII: Oversized material, 1978, N.D.
81Audio cassette tape, speech given by Art Gemmill on the 50th Anniversary celebration, 1978
82Stamp reading "For Deposit Only Watnong Garden Club of Morris County," N.D.
83Matted photo, N.D.