Description Summary
Creator: Mrs. Mary Harris and Mrs. A. E. Moore
Title: Siena Vista Graden Club Collection
Dates: 1948 – 1984
Quantity: 0.25 Cubic Feet
Abstract: Contains one scrapbook, one year book, miscellaneous loose newspaper clippings, magazine articles, and photographs.
Accession: 08-08-477

Biographical Note
Siena Vista is a suburb of Mobile Alabama, and on November 22, 1948, residents formed the Siena Vista Garden Club (SVGC). The club offered a social outlet for many residents of the neighborhood. Members agreed to maintain their properties, take necessary steps to preserve trees, and promote beautification in the city of Mobile. They met monthly to discuss yard care, exchange tips on gardening, and plan neighborhood activities during holidays and local events. In their efforts, members of the SVGC planned trips to various gardens throughout the southeast. The most popular one was an annually visit to Bellingrath Gardens in Theodore, Alabama. In 1948 the club had fifteen members, which grew to twenty-one by 1949, when members elected Mrs. Alvin A. Johnson as their first president. They also created a constitution, club prayer, membership requirements, and environmental rules to preserve their neighborhood. One thing garden club members did was to to decorate their homes and yards during the Christmas season, which drew streams of Mobilians each year.

Scope and Content
The collection consists of newspaper articles, photographs, art clippings, magazine articles, ads, and postcards.

Arrangement Note
This collection originally consisted of a scrapbook and a year book. The items affixed to those were removed and the pages destroyed. The scrapbook appears to have been created in 1952 and covers the club’s 1951 Christmas events. The material in it is filed chronologically by page number. The year book dated to 1949-1950. It consisted of photographs, newspaper clippings, contact information, art clippings, magazine articles on gardening, the club’s constitution, membership requirements, by-laws, a membership list, the club prayer, and ribbons awarded to various members. The year book is filed chronologically by page number. Several loose newspaper articles also came with the collection. They examine the prior achievements of the club and its influence in Mobile. They are filed chronologically.

Access Restrictions
This material is open for research.

Prefered Citation
Siena Vista Garden Club Collection, The Doy Leale MCall Rare Book and Manuscript Library, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama

Box Inventory
1. Scrapbook Photocopy, 1952 (13 Pages)
2. An Introduction to the Photographs
3-8. Photographs and song sheet
9. Press Clippings (May 17, 1982 and November 28-29, 1984)
10. Mobile Directory For 1867

Club Year Book, 1949-1950
11. 1948 Member List
12. Table of Contents compiled by A. E. Moore
13. Constitution and By Laws
14. Club Prayer
15. Club Officers
16. Charter Membership
17. Federated Garden Clubs of Mobile County Booklet
18-22. Newspaper Clippings, 1949-50
23. B/W Photos (Home of Mrs. Moore and Mrs. Herrin)
24. B/W Photos (Home of Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Parker)
25. B/W Photos (Home of Mrs. Harris and Mrs. Stein)
26. B/W Photos (Home of Mrs. Ladnier and Mrs. Schottgen)
27. B/W Photos (Home of Mrs. Harrison and Mrs. Lambenthal)
28. B/W Photos (Home of Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Groom)
29. B/W Photos (Home of Mrs. Carroll and Mrs. McCoy Jr.)
30. B/W Photos (Home of Mrs. Crow and Mrs. Crongeyer)
31. B/W Photos (Home of Mrs. Carroll, Mrs. Tucker, and Mrs. May)
32. B/W Photos (Home of Mrs. Perry and Mrs. Whatley)
33. Letter (Edward Greenlee to Mrs. Alvin A. Johnson)
34-37. Newspaper Clippings, 1949-50
38-39. B/W Photos (Mrs. Herbert Johnson and Mrs. C H. White)
40. Brochure and Newspaper Clippings
41. Newspaper Clippings
42. B/W Parade Photo
43. Newspaper Clippings
44. Brochure "Spring Flower Show"
45. Newspaper Clippings
46. Ribbons
47. Newspaper Clippings and B/W Photo
48. Magazine Garden Photos
49. Newspaper Clippings
50. Postcards
51. Brochure, "Bellingrath Gardens"
52. Magazine Clipping. "Gardens in Different Parts of Florida"
53. Magazine Clipping, "Ravine Gardens"
54. Magazine Clipping, "McKee Jungle Gardens"
55. Magazine Clipping, "Eagles Nest Japanese Gardens"
56. Magazine Clipping, "Oriental Gardens"
57. Magazine Clipping, "Azalea Time at Cypress Gardens"
58. Magazine Article, "Natural Methods of Soil Care"
59. Magazine Clippings, Postcard, and a Christmas card
60. Magazine Article, "Select Your Daffodils"
61. Magazine Article, "The Basic Principles of Naturalizing Daffodils"
62. Magazine Article, "Glades are Easy"
63. Magazine Article, "Eleven Basic Points in the Gardening of a Rose"
64. Magazine Article, "Question about Roses"
65. Magazine Article, "Miniature Arrangement of Flowers"
66. Magazine Article, "The Most Beautiful Rose of the Century"
67. Magazine Article, "Lilies for Accent"
68. Magazine Clipping, "Wisterias"
69. Magazine Clipping, "Violas"
70. Magazine Article, "Sound Pruning Makes Sound Shapely Plants"
71. Magazine Clipping, "Shasta Daisy"
72. Magazine Article, "Named Varieties of Painted Daisies"
73. Magazine Article, "Oriental Poppies"
74. Magazine Article, "Chrysanthemums"
75. Magazine Article, "Dahlias"
76. Magazine Article, "Good Varieties in Ten Blossom Types and the Dahlia Color"
77. Magazine Article, "Geraniums"
78. Magazine Article, "Everybody’s Orchids"
79. Magazine Article, "Growing Healthy Iris"
80. Magazine Article, "Tulips"
81. Magazine Article, "For a Greener Spring, Put Our Lawn to Bed"
82. Magazine Article, "Choosing the Home Trees"
83. Magazine Article, "When You Buy Plants, Get Your Money’s worth"
84. Correspondence (September 2, 1949 – April 26, 1950)