The collection includes newspaper clippings, photos, newsletters, yearbooks, member artwork, and information about the programs held by various organizations that make up the Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity. The bulk of the collection consits of scrapbooks created carefully by members of the Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity. Reports within the scrapbooks include information on horticultural and events concerning the Norfolk area, as well as social events and personal interests of members. Some of the scrapbooks are fragile and need to be handled with care.
The collection is organized into two series: Series I: Business Records; and Series II: Personal Papers.
Open to researchers without restrictions.
Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from Special Collections and University Archives, and the holder of the copyright, if not Old Dominion University Libraries.
Some of the scrapbooks are fragile and need to be handled with care.
Dolores Sabisky, President of Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity
Gift. Accession #A2013-14
[Identification of item], Box [insert number], Folder [insert number and title], Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
The collection was processed and the finding aid was created by Sonia Yaco, Special Collections Librarian, in 2013.
Since the end of the nineteenth century garden clubs in the U.S. have been an integral part of environmental and beautification achievement. Originally formed as a group for women to share plants, information, and advice about their gardens; garden clubs quickly spread to include educational pursuits and preservation of all aspects of wildlife. Separate garden clubs joined together in alliances and organizations to share ideas. The Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity, Inc. was formed as one such group in the Virginia Tidewater region.
In 1932 The Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity, Inc. was founded by the Garden Club of Norfolk.[1] Previously a separate organization, the Garden Club of Norfolk wished to include other clubs in the surrounding cities in order to broaden their span of work and influence. The mission of the Federation, as stated in their pamphlets is to "bring about a closer co-operation between the Garden Clubs belonging to the organization, form new clubs and work together for the beautification of our community, encouraging the knowledge and love of gardening. The Federation aids in the conservation and protection of our native trees, wildflowers, birds and fish, and strives to promote civic planting."[2] The Federation came together for Regular Meetings, Flower Shows, Schools concerning horticulture, and social events held by or decorated by the garden clubs.[3]
The Federation was a part of the Tidewater District of the Virginia Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc., Garden Club of Virginia, and the Garden Club of America.[4] As the Federation grew, members and officers began plans for a permanent location to ensure their collaboration with the community. In 1957, The Federation opened the Garden Center Educational building as its home and held the first Regular Meeting. In 1966 the mortgage of the building was paid off and the Federation held the Burning of the Mortgage on May 4th under the Federation President. Guest speaker Norfolk Mayor Roy B. Martin Jr. commented that due to the Federation, Norfolk "takes a back seat to no other city in beauty".[5]
Today, the Federation continues to aid in beautification and city planting. Other projects include contributing to youth programs, providing educational grants to students and workers in the horticultural field, holding conferences to address environmental concerns, and aiding in the preservation of memorial sites and parks. The Federation also provided funding for the healing garden in the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Richmond, VA.[13]
Sources
[1] Garden Club of Norfolk Homepage (accessed July 15, 2013).
[2] Pamphlet, Scrapbook, Mortgage Burning, 1966
[3] Scrapbooks, Minutes, 1932-1934; Minutes, 1941-1944
[4] "About Us." Virginia Federation of Garden Clubs (accessed July 15, 2013).
[5] Newspaper clipping, Scrapbook, Mortgage Burning, 1966
[6] Whichard, Rogers Dey.
[7] "About Us, Garden Club of Virginia." Historic Garden Week in Virginia (accessed July 15, 2013).
[8] "Homes & Gardens." Norfolk Home and Garden Tour (accessed July 15, 2013).
[9] "Plant Societies." Norfolk Botanical Garden (accessed July 15, 2013).
[10] "About." Norfolk NATO Festival (accessed July 15, 2013).
[11] "About Us." Virginia Federation of Garden Clubs.
[12] "Publications." Virginia Federation of Garden Clubs. http://www.virginiagardenclubs.org/VFGC/Publications.html (accessed July 23, 2013).
[13] "Tidewater District." Virginia Federation of Garden Clubs. http://www.virginiagardenclubs.org/VFGC/Tidewater.html (accessed July 15, 2013).
This series contains business records of the Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity. The bulk of the series consists of scrapbooks kept by the organization of events, such as garden shows, as well as publications and reports.
This sub-series contains scrapbooks that include all clubs and publicity for the Federation within each book.
Federation Scrapbook, 1940, Box 1, Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Federation Scrapbook, 1942-1943, Box 1, Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Federation Scrapbook, 1944-1945, Box 1, Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Federation Scrapbook, 1945-1946, Box 2, Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Federation Scrapbook, 1949-1950, Box 3, Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Federation Scrapbook, 1950-1951, Box 4, Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Federation Scrapbook, 1951-1952, Box 5, Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Federation Scrapbook, 1952-1953, Box 5, Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Federation Scrapbook, 1953-1954, Box 6, Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Federation Scrapbook, 1954-1955, Box 6, Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Federation Scrapbook, 1955-1956, Box 7, Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Federation Scrapbook, 1956-1957, Box 7, Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Federation Scrapbook, 1962-1963, Box 7, Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Federation Scrapbook, 1965-1966, Box 8, Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Federation Scrapbook, 1966-1967, Box 9, Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Federation Scrapbook, 1969-1971, Box 10, Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Federation Scrapbook, 1975-1977, Box 11, Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Federation Scrapbook, 1977-1979, Box 12, Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Federation Scrapbook, 1978-1979, Box 13, Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Federation Scrapbook, 1979-1981, Box 14, Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Tidewater District Virginia Federation of Garden Clubs, 1995, Box 15, Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
This sub-series contains minutes, program reports, publicity press books, charters, newsletters, and a scrapbook concerning the mortgage of the Educational building. Publications contain Old Dominion and National Gardeners, Virginia Federation of Garden Clubs yearbooks, and show brochures.
Hands Program Report, 1962-1963, Box 15, Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Minutes, 1932-1934, Box 16, Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Minutes, 1941-1944, Box 16, Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Mortgage Burning, 1966, Box 16, Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 17, Folder 1, Christmas Memories Brochures, 1959, Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 17, Folder 2, National Gardener, 1958-1959, Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 17, Folder 3, Old Dominion Gardener, 1959-1988, Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 17, Folder 4, Princess Anne Plaza Conservation Award, 1975-1976, Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 17, Folder 5, Publicity Pressbook, 1994, Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 17, Folder 6, Virginia Federation of Garden Clubs Yearbook, 1957-1961, Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Schools and Attendance, 1937-1938, Box 18, Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Defense and Harvest Show, 1951, Box 18, Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
This sub-series contains scrapbooks concerning specific shows held by the Federation's clubs.
[Identification of item and date], Box 19, Folder 1, Season's Greetings Flower Show, 1984, Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 19, Folder 2, Christmas Wonderland Flower Show, 1990, Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 19, Folder 3, Spring Scenes in Tidewater District Show, 1995, Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Flower Show, 1936-1937, Box 20, Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Marion Crosby Carousels, 1971-1975, Box 20, Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
This sub-series contains scrapbooks kept by individual clubs within the Federation. It includes the Academy Terrace, Bayhaven, Devon Manor, and Marion Crosby garden clubs.
Academy Terrace Secretarial Book, 1938-1945, Box 21, Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Academy Terrace, 1939-1949, Box 22, Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Academy Terrace, 1949-1955, Box 22, Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Bayhaven, 1985-1986, Oversize Box 23, Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Bayhaven, 1986-1987, Oversize Box 23, Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Devon Manor, 1985-1987, Oversize Box 23, Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Marion Crosby, 1960-1989, Box 24, Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
This series includes personal scrapbooks and photos kept by Mrs. Albert V. Crosby, Odelle Holland, and Charles C. Day. Some of the scrapbooks have unknown authorship.
Album, undated, Box 24, Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Lights O'Day, Letters and Columns Pertaining to Charles Day, 1937-1938, Box 25, Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Lights O'Day, Letters and Columns Pertaining to Charles Day, 1938-1939, Box 25, Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Mrs. Albert V. Crosby, 1938, Box 25, Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Odelle Holland, 1995, Oversize Box 26, Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Photo Album, 1977-1989, Oversize Box 26, Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk and Vicinity Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.