The Guelph Horticultural Society was organized in December 1851, and began operation in 1852. The major impetus for establishing the society was the desire to replant trees in urban areas cleared for road and building construction. At the same time, the Society was to help make the pioneer community a beautiful place to live by encouraging the development of gardens and conservatories through seed exchanges.
By 1854, horticultural societies became eligible for grants under an Act passed to facilitate the development of agriculture and agricultural societies in Upper Canada. It was not until 1868, however, that the Guelph Horticultural Society received its first grant. The Society was provincially active, nevertheless, and was first represented at the annual meeting of the Agriculture Association in 1864.
In 1900 the Guelph Horticultural Society received its first Charter, six years before the Ontario Horticultural Association formed in 1906. At this time, the "aims and objectives of the Society" were to "promote the love for horticulture in all its branches and to educate citizens to beautify their houses." The Society was active in such projects as developing the grounds of the Ontario Agricultural College, the Reformatory, Woodlawn Cemetery, and Homewood.
After 1900, the society continued to grow and initiated numerous tree-planting projects, participated in official city events, and promoted many horticulture competitions, including those directed at the cultivation of interest among juniors.
The 1968 Ontario Horticultural Societies Act established the legal and organisational framework within which today's Society operates. The Act required the establishment of a board, a president and an executive, committees to carry out activities within the Society's mandate, as well as standard meeting, voting, and membership protocols.
The aims of the Guelph Horticultural Society remain true to the founding philosophy, and include: a) To encourage a love for Horticulture in all its branches; b) To encourage the cultivation of home gardens and vacant lots, and to promote conservation in all its phases; c) To promote and assist in carrying out plans for civic improvement and beautification; d) To interest juniors in Horticulture by holding garden and other competitions.
Published
The fonds consists of records generated in the pursuit of the Guelph Horticultural Society's mandate, and document the Society's involvement within the community over time. Also included are records and published items related to the Guelph Horticultural Society's relationship with the Ontario Horticultural Association and its agricultural predecessors.
The fonds is arranged into eleven series.
Further accruals of records are expected.
There are no restrictions on access.
Copyright for these records is not held by the Guelph Public Library. Please contact the Guelph Public Library archivist about how to obtain the necessary copyright permissions.
See series descriptions for more details on available listings for these records.
Published
This series consists of records related to the general administration of the Guelph Horticultural Society and its programs. Included are records related to membership, annual events, and the Society's constitution and by-laws. Also included are records generated during the course of the administration of the Junior Gardeners' program, civic planting, as well as general tree planting activities.
Records consist of junior program and competition announcements, junior contest requirements, names of program participants, prize lists, membership records, bylaws, together with related notes correspondence, and reports.
These records are arranged by subject.
No further accruals of records are expected.
There are no restrictions on access.
Copyright for these records is not held by the Guelph Public Library. Please contact the Guelph Public Library archivist about how to obtain the necessary copyright permissions.
To view these records, consult file list F3-0-1 to narrow down your search. Order the desired box(es) from the Guelph Public Library archivist.
Published
This series consists of minutes and proceedings of the Guelph Horticultural Society Board. The records document the Board's stewardship of the Society's internal finances, as well as various programs initiated by the Society, including those related to civic government, conservation, and community service. Also included are reports and records relating to the activities of various committees responsible for Society programs. The records consist of minutes, newspaper clippings, reports, and other documents.
The minutes are arranged chronologically by year.
No further accruals of records are expected.
There are no restrictions on access.
Copyright for these records is not held by the Guelph Public Library. Please contact the Guelph Public Library archivist about how to obtain the necessary copyright permissions.
To view these records, consult the file listing F3-0-2 to narrow down your search. Order the desired box(es) from the Guelph Public Library archivist.
Published
This series consists of annual financial statements, activity reports, budget reports, and correspondence produced by the Guelph Horticultural Society. The records document budgetary matters, including both revenue and expenditures, activities funded by the organisation, grants from external sources, scholarships, and awards.
The records are arranged chronologically by year.
No further accruals of records are expected.
There are no restrictions on access.
Copyright for these records is not held by the Guelph Public Library. Please contact the Guelph Public Library archivist about how to obtain the necessary copyright permissions.
To view these records, please consult File List F3-0-3 to narrow down your search and to identify specific file(s) for retrieval. Please order the boxes from the Guelph Public Library archivist.
Published
This series consists of incoming and outgoing correspondence relating to all aspects of the Guelph Horticultural Societies activities, as well as to individuals within the organisation.
The records are arranged chronologically by year.
No further accruals of records are expected.
There are no restrictions on access.
Copyright for these records is not held by the Guelph Public Library. Please contact the Guelph Public Library archivist about how to obtain the necessary copyright permissions.
To view these records, please consult the File List F3-0-4 to narrow down your search and to identify specific file(s) for retrieval. Please order the boxes from the Guelph Public Library archivist.
Published
This series consists of exhibition committee reports and announcements; order sheets; prize lists and prize distribution related records; publicity material; and correspondence and notes relating to the holding of exhibitions and seasonal shows. Also included are records pertaining to significant horticultural exhibitions staged in Guelph such as the International Peony Exhibition in 1948.
The records are arranged by subject.
No further accruals of records are expected.
There are no restrictions on access.
Copyright for these records is not held by the Guelph Public Library. Please contact the Guelph Public Library archivist about how to obtain the necessary copyright permissions.
To view these records, please consult File List F3-0-5 to narrow down your search and to identify specific file(s) for retrieval. Please order the desired boxes from the Guelph Public Library archivist.
Published
This series consists of annual summary reports on publicity received by the Guelph Horticultural Society, including editorials, advertisements, and miscellaneous news. The series also includes newspaper clippings and pamphlets.
The records are arranged by subject and then by year.
No further accruals of records are expected.
There are no restrictions on access.
Copyright for these records is not held by the Guelph Public Library. Please contact the Guelph Public Library archivist about how to obtain the necessary copyright permissions.
To view textual records in this series, please consult File List F3-0-6 to narrow down your search and to identify specific boxes for retrieval. Please order the boxes from the Guelph Public Library archivist. To access photographic records, consult the item listing of photographs.
digital image - cropped, rotated, mid-tone correction, "unsharp mask" used
Published
This photograph shows a group of men standing beside a freshly planted tree, perhaps as part of a Remembrance Day ceremony.
D-1-1
digital image - cropped, rotated, mid-tone correction
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Photograph shows Drumon and Brown sitting together on couch.
D-1-2
Published
This series consists of historical essays, research, and notes compiled by members of the Guelph Horticultural Society for various occasions. Also included are records relating to the history of the Ontario Horticultural Association, and Ontario Horticultural Association member societies.
The records are arranged by subject.
No further accruals of records are expected.
There are no restrictions on access.
Copyright for these records is not held by the Guelph Public Library. Please contact the Guelph Public Library archivist about how to obtain the necessary copyright permissions.
To view these records, please consult File List F3-0-7 to narrow down your search and to identify specific boxes for retrieval. Please order the boxes from the Guelph Public Library archivist.
Published
This series consists of newspaper clippings relating to the Guelph Horticultural Society, Ontario Horticultural Association, other societies, as well as horticulture news and garden tips.
These records are arranged chronologically by year.
No further accruals of records are expected.
Copyright for these records is not held by the Guelph Public Library. Please contact the Guelph Public Library archivist about how to obtain the necessary copyright permissions.
To view the records, please consult File List F3-0-8 to narrow down your search and to identify specific boxes for retrieval. Please order the boxes from the Guelph Public Library archivist.
Published
This series consists of Guelph Horticultural Societies annuals from 1952 until 1999. Also included is an International Exhibition of the American Peony Society pamphlet from 1948 and the annual for the Home Gardener annual (1960).
Records are arranged chronologically by year of publication. There are gaps in the years covered.
No further accruals of records are expected.
There are no restrictions on access.
Copyright for these records is not held by the Guelph Public Library. Please contact the Guelph Public Library archivist about how to obtain the necessary copyright permissions.
To view the records, please consult File List F3-0-9 to narrow down your search and to identify specific files for retrieval. Please order the boxes from the Guelph Public Library archivist.
Published
This series consists of annuals of the Ontario Horticultural Societies published by the Government of Ontario, as well as annual publications of various horticultural and horticulture related societies. Included is a history of the Canadian National Exhibition.
These records are arranged by horticultural society and then by year. There are gaps in the years covered.
There are no restrictions on access.
Copyright for these records is not held by the Guelph Public Library. Please contact the Guelph Public Library archivist about how to obtain the necessary copyright permissions.
To view these records, please consult File List F3-0-10 to narrow down your search and to identify specific files for retrieval. Please order the boxes from the Guelph Library archivist.
Published
This series consists of one scrapbook compiled by Mabel Stewart between 1938 and 1958 that documents her involvement in the Society during these years, as well as the broader activities of the Society. Included are programmes, post cards, newspaper clippings, correspondence, as well as memorabilia such as ribbons and awards.
The photographs in this series remain attached to the scrapbook.
There are no restrictions on access.
Copyright for these records is not held by the Guelph Public Library. Please contact the Guelph Public Library archivist about how to obtain the necessary copyright permissions.