The Newport Horticultural Society was organized in Newport, Rhode Island, on January 8, 1890, by Richard Gardener, gardener for Pierre Lorillard; John T. Allen, gardener for Levi P. Morton; Alexander MacLellan, gardener for J. W. Ellis; David Gordon, gardener for August Belmont; and Arend Brandt, florist. The purpose of this society was to give gardeners and other interested individuals an opportunity to discuss gardening and to display their work at flower shows organized by the society. On January 28, 1890 the first official meeting of the Newport Horticultural Society was held and the following officers were elected: Michael Butler as present, Richard Gardener as vice president, Robert Christie as treasurer, and James Galvin as secretary. Executive, auditing, and finance committees were also established. The society maintained this structure or a variation of such throughout their duration.
The Newport Horticultural Society typically held summer and autumn flower shows for amateur or private gardeners or a combination of both. They also organized these exhibitions with other organizations such as the Newport Garden Club, the Rhode Island Horticultural Society and the South County Garden Club. Exhibitors in the flower shows gave their entry into one or more of the classes being judged — plants, cut flowers, fruits, vegetables, and school gardens — to the Newport Horticultural Society’s secretary three days before the opening of the exhibition. Judges, most likely from other garden and horticultural societies outside of Newport, appraised the entries and oftentimes awarded a small cash prize or trophy to the top competitor in each class. Besides flower shows, the society met twice a month and held an annual ball with dinner and special guest speakers. It is not apparent from these records when the Newport Horticultural Society came to an end.
Access is open to members and researchers at the Redwood Library and Athenaeum.
This collection is owned by the Redwood Library and Athenaeum. Permission to publish materials must be obtained in writing from the Special Collections Librarian of the Redwood Library and Athenaeum.
Newport Horticultural Society records, RLC.Ms.023, Redwood Library and Athenaeum.
This collection consists primarily of records kept by judges at the summer or fall flower shows organized by the Newport Horticultural Society from 1921-1936. These records, kept in bound volumes, typically include the exhibition class number for the flower or vegetable judged and the top ranking exhibitors in each class. Also included are printed lists of the exhibition class numbers to be displayed and judged at their Amateur Flower shows in 1935-1948, individuals’ entry forms for the August 16, 1932, combined flower show, and a dinner program with a brief history of the society from 1940.
This collection is arranged in alphabetical order by title.
Gift of Joanne Taddei, September 2003
This collection was initially processed in 2003.
Newport Garden Club collection on gardens and gardening, RLC.Ms.022, Redwood Library and Athenaeum.