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John Wister lantern slide collection

Notifications

Held at: Pennsylvania Horticultural Society [Contact Us]McLean Library, 100 N. 20th Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19103

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

John Casper Wister (1887-1982) devoted his life’s work to horticulture. He was a noted author, editor, speaker, organizer, hybridizer, designer, planter and all around flower lover. Wister was closely affiliated with numerous horticultural organizations including the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, the American Rose Society, the John Bartram Association, the American Daffodil Society and the American Iris Society. He also served as director of Swarthmore College’s Arthur Hoytt Scott Horticultural Foundation and the Tyler Arboretum in Media, Pennsylvania.

John Casper Wister was born in 1887. He was raised in Germantown, Philadelphia, on his family’s farm (now a public park called Wister Woods Park), where he first learned about growing plants. He studied at Harvard University, graduating in 1909. After graduation, he enrolled in Harvard’s School of Landscape Architecture and, after that, studied at the New Jersey Agricultural College. Wister also served in World War I in France.

In 1929, Wister became director of the Arthur Hoyt Horticultural Foundation at Swarthmore College. There, “…he transformed the campus into something of a botanical wonderland” ( Philadelphia Inquirer, December 29, 1982). Of note, were the rhododendron hybrids that he developed, which he named “Swarthmore Hybrids.” Wister’s private garden at Swarthmore was also open to the public. In 1942, Swarthmore honored Wister with an honorary doctorate for his work on the campus.

Among many other administrative appointments, he served from 1930 to 1957 as vice-president and then president of the John Bartram Association. He also helped found the American Association of Botanical Gardens and Arboretum in 1940. He went on to serve as president of that organization from 1954 to 1955 and on the board of directors. He was a member of the American Rhododendron Society, contributed to the American Rhododendron Society Quarterly and in 1961, spoke at the first International Rhododendron Conference. In 1946, Wister also became director of the John J. Tyler Arboretum (Media, Pennsylvania).

Wister wrote or edited dozens of books on horticulture including, The Iris; Four Seasons in Your Garden; Lilac Culture; Bulbs For American Gardens; Plants and Gardens, which was published by the Brooklyn Botanical Garden; Lilacs for America; The Peonies; and The Woman’s Home Companion Garden Book. He also wrote countless articles and gave innumerable lectures around the country. As a result of all this work, he was honored by many horticultural groups, including the New York Botanical Garden, the Horticultural Society of New York, the Royal Horticultural Society of Great Britain, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, and the Garden Club of America.

John Casper Wister married Gertrude McMasters Smith, a noted horticulturist in her own right, in 1960. She worked with Wister as assistant director of the Scott Foundation and Tyler Arboretum. In 1982, she received the gold medal from the American Rhododendron Society, making them the first husband and wife to receive a gold medal from [any] plant society based on their own merits.

John Casper Wister died in 1982. In his obituary, the Philadelphia Inquirer aptly described him as “the dean of American horticulturists.”

Bibliography:

Van Atta, Burr, “John Casper Wister, known as the dean of horticulture in U.S,” Philadelphia Inquirer, December 29, 1982.

Skidmore, Arden, “Dr. John C. Wister Decides to Retire at 81,” Delaware County Daily Times, March 29, 1968.

“He’s all thumbs – green ones,” The Bulletin, August 3, 1980, 5.

This collection consists of 220 lantern slides dating from 1930 to 1940. The first series consists of 109 slides of different gardeners from the Philadelphia area. The second series consists of 111 slides and depicts different flowers and gardens from around Philadelphia, the surrounding areas, and Europe. This is a very rich collection that researchers interested in Philadelphia gardens or 1930s gardens and horticulture would wish to consult. It is a visually compelling collection, useful for exhibits, publications and online productions.

The creation of the electronic guide for this collection was made possible through generous funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, administered through the Council on Library and Information Resources’ “Cataloging Hidden Special Collections and Archives” Project.

Finding aid entered into the Archivists' Toolkit by Garrett Boos.

Publisher
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
Finding Aid Date
2010.11.08
Sponsor
The creation of the electronic guide for this collection was made possible through generous funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, administered through the Council on Library and Information Resources’ “Cataloging Hidden Special Collections and Archives” Project. Finding aid entered into the Archivists' Toolkit by Garrett Boos.
Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research use.

Use Restrictions

Copyright restrictions may apply. Please contact the Archives with requests for copying and for authorization to publish, quote or reproduce the material.

Collection Inventory

Billings, Mrs. Packard [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 1 Item 1 - 3
Billlings, Mrs. [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 3 Item 9
Boericke, Mrs. Gideon [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 3 Item 10
Boericke, Mrs. Gideon [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 1 Item 4 – 7
Bullitt, Mrs. Orville H. [35 mm].
Box Wister Box Z #49-97 Item 95
Bullock, Mrs. Benjamin [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 3 Item 11 & 12
Bullock, Mrs. Benjamin [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 1 Item 8 -12
Cadwalder [35 mm].
Box Wister Box Z #49-97 Item 67
Cadwalder [35 mm].
Box Wister Box Z #49-97 Item 70
Cadwalder [35 mm].
Box Wister Box Z #49-97 Item 88
Caldwell, Mrs. J. E. [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 1 Item 13 - 17
Cheston, Jr., Mrs. Radcliff [35 mm].
Box Wister Box Z Item 1
Clothier, Mrs. Isaac H., Jr. [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 1 Item 18 - 22
Clothier, Mrs. Isaac, Jr. [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 3 Item 13-14
Clothier, Mrs. Isaac, Jr. [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 3 Item 33-36
Clothier, Mrs. Isaac, Jr. [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 3 Item 43
Colton, Mrs. Sabin W. [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 1 Item 23
Conway.
Box Wister Box Y - Box 2 Item 81
Cooke, Mrs. L., Studio & Arbor, New Hope.
Box Wister Box Y - Box 1 Item 18 - 20
Crawford, "Ury" Foxchase, PA.
Box Wister Box Y - Box 1 Item 14 - 17
Detail: Rock Garden.
Box Wister Box Z #49-97 Item 98
Downs, Mr. Donald V.L. [35 mm].
Box Wister Box Z Item 11
Dreshman, Mrs. C.H.
Box Wister Box Z #49-97 Item 93
Earle, Mrs. Ralph [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 3 Item 16
Earle, Mrs. Ralph [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 1 Item 24 - 25
Elliot, Mrs. William T. [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 1 Item 26 - 27
Fife, Mrs. Chas. A. [35 mm].
Box Wister Box Z #1-48 Item 33
Fife, Mrs. Chas. [35 mm].
Box Wister Box Z #49-97 Item 58
Fisher, Mrs. Philip B. [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 1 Item 28 - 29
Frances, Miss [35 mm].
Box Wister Box Z Item 13
Frazier, Mrs. W. W., III [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 3 Item 15
Gilbert, Mrs. John [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 3 Item 17
Gilbert, Mrs. John [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 1 Item 30 - 41
Glendenning, Mrs. Percival [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 3 Item 37
Hacker, Mrs. Caspar W. [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 3 Item 18-19
Hacker, Mrs. Caspar W. [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 1 Item 42 - 44
Haughton [35 mm].
Box Wister Box Z #1-48 Item 47
Haughton [35 mm].
Box Wister Box Z #49-97 Item 77-79
Harris, Mrs. Frazer [35 mm].
Box Wister Box Z #1-48 Item 34
Heckscher, Mrs. Ledyard [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 3 Item 20
Heckscher, Mrs. Ledyard [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 1 Item 45 - 48
Heckscher, Mrs. Ledyard [35 mm].
Box Wister Box Z #1-48 Item 31
Hodge, Mrs. Edward B. [35 mm].
Box Wister Box Z Item 14
Hoffman, Mrs. Benjamin [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 3 Item 21
Hoffman, Mrs. Benjamin [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 1 Item 49 - 51
Huey, Mrs. Arthur B. [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 1 Item 52 - 55
Huey, Mrs. Arthur B. [35 mm].
Box Wister Box Z Item 9
Huey, Mrs. Arthur [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 3 Item 22
Hutchinson, Mrs. Sidney.
Box Wister Box Z #49-97 Item 89
Janey, Mrs. & Mrs. Walter [35 mm].
Box Wister Box Z #49-97 Item 61-62
Jenkin, Mrs. George B. [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 1 Item 56
Keith, Mrs. Sidney W. [35 mm].
Box Wister Box Z Item 12
LaBoiteaux, Mrs. Isaac [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 3 Item 29
LaBoiteaux, Mrs. Isaac [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 3 Item 32
LaBoiteaux, Mrs. Isaac [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 3 Item 44
Lewis, Mrs. Clifford [35 mm].
Box Wister Box Z Item 8
Lloyd, Mrs. H. G., garden of.
Box Wister Box Y - Box 1 Item 9 - 10
Lloyd, Mrs. H.G. [35 mm].
Box Wister Box Z #49-97 Item 66
Lloyd, Mrs. H.G. [35 mm].
Box Wister Box Z #49-97 Item 74-76
Lloyd, Mrs. H.G., garden of [35 mm].
Box Wister Box Z Item 10
Lloyd, Mrs. H.G., garden of [35 mm].
Box Wister Box Z Item 5
Lloyd, Mrs. H.G. [35 mm].
Box Wister Box Z #1-48 Item 39
Lloyd, Mrs. Horatio G. [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 1 Item 57
Lloyd, Mrs. [35 mm].
Box Wister Box Z #1-48 Item 28
Ludington, Mrs. C. Townsend [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 1 Item 58 - 59
Marquis of Bath.
Box Wister Box Z #1-48 Item 27
McFadden, G.H. [35 mm].
Box Wister Box Z #1-48 Item 45 - 46
McFarland, Dr. J. Horace [35 mm].
Box Wister Box Z Item 18
Mrs. Lippincott’s [35 mm].
Box Wister Box Z #49-97 Item 52
Newbold, Mrs. Trenchard E. [35 mm].
Box Wister Box Z #49-97 Item 87
Oakley, Mrs.: driveway, studio, house.
Box Wister Box Y - Box 1 Item 11 - 13
Packard, Mrs. George [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 2 Item 1
Packard, Mrs. George [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 3 Item 23
Packard, Mrs. George [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 3 Item 25
Packard, Mrs. George [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 3 Item 45
Packard, Mrs. George, 3rd [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 3 Item 38
Page, Mrs. Louis R. [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 2 Item 10-12
Page, Mrs. Robert H. [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 2 Item 13
Page, Mrs. Robert H.
Box Gardeners Box 2 Item 14
Page, Mrs. Robert H. [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 2 Item 15 - 19
Parson, Mrs. Lewis H. [35 mm].
Box Wister Box Z #49-97 Item 59-60
Pratt, Mrs. Henry S. [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 2 Item 20
Rauch, Mrs. R. S. [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 3 Item 30
Rauch, Mrs. R. S. [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 3 Item 39-40
Rauch, Mrs. Rudold S. [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 2 Item 21
Robinson, Mrs. W.
Box Gardeners Box 3 Item 46
Rosengarten, Mrs. J. C. [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 3 Item 26
Rosengarten, Mrs. J. C. [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 3 Item 31
Rosengarten, Mrs. J. C. [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 3 Item 41
Rosengarten, Mrs. J. C. [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 3 Item 47-50
Rosengarten, Mrs. J. Clifford [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 2 Item 22
Rosengarten [35 mm].
Box Wister Box Z #49-97 Item 96-97
Saltus, Mrs. R. S., Jr.
Box Gardeners Box 3 Item 24
Saltus, Mrs. R. S., Jr. [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 2 Item 23 - 28
Scull, Mrs. William C. [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 2 Item 29 - 31
Scull, Mrs. Wm. C. [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 3 Item 27
Scull, Mrs. Wm. C. [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 3 Item 51
Sellers, Mrs. Howard.
Box Gardeners Box 2 Item 32
Sewell, Mrs. Robert [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 2 Item 33 - 39
Sloan, Mrs. Burrows [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 2 Item 40 - 42
Smith, W. Hinckle, Timberline.
Box Wister Box Y - Box 1 Item 5
Smith [35 mm].
Box Wister Box Z #1-48 Item 48
Stengle, Mrs. A. Garden.
Box Wister Box X Item 12
Thayer, Mrs. Edmund [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 2 Item 43 - 46
Toogood, Mrs. E.T. [35 mm].
Box Wister Box Z Item 20
Wainright, Francis King [35 mm].
Box Wister Box Z #49-97 Item 50-51
Williams, Mrs. David E. [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 3 Item 28
Williams, Mrs. David E. [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 3 Item 42
Williams, Mrs. David E. [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 3 Item 52-53
Williams, Mrs. David [35 mm].
Box Gardeners Box 2 Item 47
Wister, Rock garden at home [35 mm].
Box Wister Box Z #49-97 Item 92
Woodward, Dr. George [35 mm].
Box Wister Box Z Item 6 - 7

Detail - Rock Garden.
Box Wister Box Z Item 25
Flower: Alpenrosen (slide cracked).
Box Wister Box Y - Box 2 Item 77
Flower: Androsace alpina.
Box Wister Box Y - Box 2 Item 61
Flower: Androsace glacialis, aretia group.
Box Wister Box Y - Box 1 Item 41
Flower: Androsace helvetica, aretia group.
Box Wister Box Y - Box 1 Item 40
Flower: Anemone vernalis, 1932.
Box Wister Box X Item 9
Flower: Anemones.
Box Wister Box Y - Box 2 Item 75
Flower: Bellidiastrium [cassini].
Box Wister Box Y - Box 2 Item 66
Flower: Carlina acaulis.
Box Wister Box Y - Box 1 Item 43
Flower: Cypripedium calculous.
Box Wister Box Y - Box 2 Item 58
Flower: Daphne cneorum phlox.
Box Wister Box Z #98-121 Item 101
Flower: Dianthus sylvestris.
Box Wister Box Y - Box 2 Item 59
Flower: Dryas octopetala.
Box Wister Box Y - Box 2 Item 50
Flower: Edelweiss.
Box Wister Box Y - Box 2 Item 65
Flower: Erica carnea.
Box Wister Box Y - Box 2 Item 60
Flower: Eritrichium nanum.
Box Wister Box Y - Box 2 Item 62
Flower: Field of narcissi.
Box Wister Box X Item 7
Flower: Gentiana verna, 1932.
Box Wister Box X Item 8
Flower: Illegible.
Box Wister Box Y - Box 2 Item 52
Flower: Iris.
Box Wister Box Z Item 16
Flower: Landkarlen flechte.
Box Wister Box Y - Box 2 Item 48
Flower: Leontopodium alpinum.
Box Wister Box Y - Box 2 Item 55
Flower: Lilium martagon, Polemonium c.
Box Wister Box Y - Box 2 Item 57
Flower: Multiple plants (Swiss).
Box Wister Box Y - Box 2 Item 67
Flower: Papaver alpina.
Box Wister Box Y - Box 2 Item 76
Flower: Petrocallis pyrenaica pilatus.
Box Wister Box Y - Box 2 Item 63
Flower: Phlox.
Box Wister Box Z #98-121 Item 111
Flower: Phyteum carnosum.
Box Wister Box Y - Box 1 Item 42
Flower: Potentilla canescens.
Box Wister Box Y - Box 2 Item 46
Flower: Potentilla nitada.
Box Wister Box Y - Box 2 Item 49
Flower: Primrose field.
Box Wister Box Z #1-48 Item 43
Flower: Primula auricula.
Box Wister Box X Item 10
Flower: Primula hirsuta.
Box Wister Box Y - Box 2 Item 47
Flower: Rhododendron ferrugineum.
Box Wister Box Y - Box 2 Item 54
Flower: Salix reliculata.
Box Wister Box Y - Box 2 Item 78
Flower: Salix retusa, dwarf willow, 1932.
Box Wister Box Y - Box 1 Item 38
Flower: Salix retusa.
Box Wister Box Y - Box 2 Item 51
Flower: Saxifraga calsia, 1932.
Box Wister Box Y - Box 1 Item 39
Flower: Saxifraga cotyledon.
Box Wister Box Y - Box 1 Item 44
Flower: Saxifrage [froides].
Box Wister Box Y - Box 2 Item 53
Flower: Sempervivum arcadium.
Box Wister Box Y - Box 2 Item 56
Flower: Sieversia reptans.
Box Wister Box Y - Box 2 Item 64
Flower: Soldanella alpina.
Box Wister Box Y - Box 1 Item 45
Flower: Unlabeled.
Box Wister Box Y - Box 2 Item 68
Flowers at Lake.
Box Wister Box Z #1-48 Item 40
Haughton’s garden [35 mm].
Box Wister Box Z #1-48 Item 44
Historic: Old house [35 mm].
Box Wister Box Z #49-97 Item 64
Historic: Powel house.
Box Wister Box Z #49-97 Item 68-69
Pyreford Court Wolsing, England.
Box Wister Box Y - Box 2 Item 79
Site: Arnold Arboretum: Azalea kaempferi (2).
Box Wister Box Y - Box 2 Item unnumbered
Site: Arnold Arboretum: Azalea vaseyi.
Box Wister Box Y - Box 2 Item unnumbered
Site: Arnold Arboretum: Crataefus punctata.
Box Wister Box Y - Box 2 Item unnumbered
Site: Arnold Arboretum: Kalmia.
Box Wister Box Y - Box 2 Item unnumbered
Site: Arnold Arboretum: Pyrus.
Box Wister Box Y - Box 2 Item unnumbered
Site: Arnold Arboretum: Sambucus.
Box Wister Box Y - Box 2 Item unnumbered
Site: Arnold Arboretum: Syringa (2 slides).
Box Wister Box Y - Box 2 Item unnumbered
Site: Arnold Arboretum: The Order.
Box Wister Box Y - Box 2 Item unnumbered
Site: Artist's Studio.
Box Wister Box Z #98-121 Item 99
Site: Autun.
Box Wister Box Z #98-121 Item 120
Site: Cloisters.
Box Wister Box Z Item 4
Site: Correvain (Correvon).
Box Wister Box X Item 13
Site: Crane's Garden.
Box Wister Box Z #98-121 Item 109
Site: Duluth - upper parkway.
Box Wister Box X Item 1
Site: English.
Box Wister Box Z #98-121 Item 114
Site: English.
Box Wister Box Z #1-48 Item 41
Site: Forests of Ecnerwal.
Box Wister Box Z #98-121 Item 100
Site: French.
Box Wister Box Z #98-121 Item 118
Site: Garden of Monet.
Box Wister Box Z #98-121 Item 115
Site: Gravetye Manor.
Box Wister Box Z #1-48 Item 35
Site: Hermana Villa.
Box Wister Box Z #98-121 Item 108
Site: Hershey Rose Garden.
Box Wister Box Z #49-97 Item 94
Site: Highland Park, Evergreens (2 slides).
Box Wister Box Y - Box 2 Item unnumbered
Site: Highland Park, Rochester New York, Syringa.
Box Wister Box Y - Box 2 Item unnumbered
Site: Morris Arboretum [35 mm].
Box Wister Box Z Item 17
Site: Naples.
Box Wister Box X Item 5 - 6
Site: Nevada Desert.
Box Wister Box Z #49-97 Item 104
Site: Orbec.
Box Wister Box Z #98-121 Item 121
Site: Path along Wissahickon [35 mm].
Box Wister Box Z #49-97 Item 90
Site: Rittenhouse Square [35 mm].
Box Wister Box Z #49-97 Item 65
Site: Rittenhouse Square [35 mm].
Box Wister Box Z #49-97 Item 71
Site: Rittenhouse Square [35 mm].
Box Wister Box Z #49-97 Item 73
Site: S. Fork Creek, Inyo, California.
Box Wister Box Z #98-121 Item 102
Site: School of Horticulture [35 mm].
Box Wister Box Z #49-97 Item 80-86
Site: Schynige Platte, A.B.W. (Ann Wertsner?).
Box Wister Box X Item 11
Site: Stenton Garden [35 mm].
Box Wister Box Z #1-48 Item 30
Site: Stenton [35 mm].
Box Wister Box Z #49-97 Item 63
Site: Swarthmore - Winter.
Box Wister Box Y - Box 1 Item 26 - 37
Site: Swaylands.
Box Wister Box Y - Box 2 Item 80
Site: Swiss Scenery.
Box Wister Box Y - Box 2 Item 69 - 74
Site: The Avon.
Box Wister Box Z #49-97 Item 53
Site: The Wissahickon [35 mm].
Box Wister Box Z #49-97 Item 49
Site: Villa Borghese.
Box Wister Box X Item 2 - 3
Site: Villa Medici.
Box Wister Box X Item 4
Site: Wallace Nursery, Bed of Iris.
Box Wister Box Z Item 15
Site: Wissahickon at Gypsy Lane [35 mm].
Box Wister Box Z #49-97 Item 91
Site: Wissahickon Path [35 mm].
Box Wister Box Z Item 21
Site: Wissahickon, 2 views.
Box Wister Box Y - Box 1 Item 21 - 22
Site: Woman’s City Club [35 mm].
Box Wister Box Z #49-97 Item 72
Unlabeled - Falls.
Box Wister Box Y - Box 2 Item 82
Unlabeled - view.
Box Wister Box Y - Box 1 Item 1 - 4
Unlabeled.
Box Wister Box X Item 14 - 15
Unlabeled.
Box Wister Box Z Item 2 - 3
Unlabeled.
Box Wister Box Z Item 22 - 24
Unlabeled.
Box Wister Box Y - Box 1 Item 23 - 25
Unlabeled.
Box Wister Box Z #1-48 Item 26
Unlabeled.
Box Wister Box Z #1-48 Item 29
Unlabeled.
Box Wister Box Z #1-48 Item 32
Unlabeled.
Box Wister Box Z #1-48 Item 36 - 38
Unlabeled.
Box Wister Box Z #1-48 Item 42
Unlabeled.
Box Wister Box Z #49-97 Item 54
1930.
Box Wister Box Z #49-97 Item 112-113
1931.
Box Wister Box Z #98-121 Item 103

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