HISTORY OF THE SELMA, ALABAMA GARDEN CLUB, AS DEPICTED IN THREE SCRAPBOOKS CONTAINING NEWS CLIPPINGS, PHOTOGRAPHS, AND EPHEMERA FROM THE CLUB'S HISTORY, 1932-1939

Three scrapbooks with fabrikoid covers, each bound with cord at the left margin; gilt illustration of a garden arbor with a gate, enclosing the cover title “Selma Garden Club,” on front board, each also bearing the simple gilt title "Scrap Book." Gilt on the first and third scrapbook rubbed; several leaves loose in the second; a few items detached from their mountings. The three scrapbooks are housed in a custom blue cloth clamshell box, with a gilt stamped black morocco label. The albums contain news stories (many probably clipped from the Selma Times-Journal) (truncated) laid down on approximately 77 leaves of stiff buff paper. The articles report on the founding of the club organized on January 20, 1932, with Mrs E.P. Russell as temporary chairman, its stated purpose of city beautification and the promotion of gardening, its decision to join the Alabama Federation of Garden Clubs in March 1932, various garden columns, etc. There are also 47 original black & white photos of varying sizes, from 8 x 10 in. to 3 1/2 x 2 1/2 in., identified with manuscript caption titles, showing private gardens belonging to members of the club, photos from the club's flower shows, and views of Christmas lighting. In addition, there are a dozen pieces of ephemera from the early years of the club, and several color illustrations of flowers and flower arrangements, birds and other small decorations carefully clipped from magazines and other publications laid down and scattered throughout the pages of the albums. The following ephemera is included in the albums:
1. “Program of the Selma Garden Club of Selma, Alabama, 1932-1933.” Printed buff paperwraps. 5 ½ x 3 ½ in. (6) pp. listing officers, plus events planned for monthly meetings, from Oct. – June, culminating in the flower show.
2. “The Selma Garden Club, Selma, Alabama, 1933-1934.” Printed grey paperwraps. 5 ½ x 4 in. (4) pp. listing officers, members, and programs for monthly meetings, Oct.-May.
3. “The Selma Garden Club Year Book, 1934-1935.” Blue paperwraps, title in typescript on front wrap. 5 ½ x 4 ¼ in. (4) pp. typescript, listing officers and members, and programs for monthly meetings from Oct. to May.
4. [“Selma Garden Club, 1935-1936”] 6 ½ x 4 ½ in. Front wrapper lacking. (4) pp. typescript list of officers and members and programs from Oct.-May.
5. Blueprint floor plan of room in north-east corner of City Hall Bldg.. Selma, 15 x 15 in., with ms. note: “Drawing made by Mrs. D.C. Russell showing floor space of flower show. Flower arrangement planed [sic] by J.W. Kesler, Florist.”
6. “Selma Garden Club,” 1936-7. Printed grey paperwraps, bound with ribbon. Illus. of garden arbor & gate on front wrap. 6 ½ x 4 ½ in. (4) pp. typescript listing officers and members, and programs for monthly meetings from Oct. to May.
7. “Autumn Board Meeting. October 1, 1936, Selma, Alabama. The Garden Club of Alabama.” Single sheet, folded to 6 x 5 in., printed on stiff card stock. (2) internal pages print the program and the luncheon menu.
8. “Classification List and Rules for The Garden Club Flower Show, 1937.” Stapled typescript. 11 x 8 ½ in. (2) pp. of typescript text.
9. “The Selma Garden Club Year Book 1937 and 1938.” 6 x 4 ½ in. 6 pp. printed typescript , listing officers and members, and programs for monthly meetings from Oct. to May.
10. “Early Bulbs.” By Mrs. Mortimer Ames. Stapled typescript, 11 x 8 ½ in., (9) pp. of advice.
11. “Selma Garden Club” Printed grey paperwraps, stapled. Illus. of garden arbor and gate on front wrap. 6 1/4 x 4 1/4 in. (4) pp. typescript listing officers and members, and programs for monthly meetings from Oct. to May, 1938-9. [2 copies]
12. “Control of Common Insects of the Flower Garden,” by F.S. Arant, Assoc. Entomologist, Agricultural Experiment Station of the Alabama Polytechnic Institute, Auburn, AL. A (3) pp. typescript.

According to a brief history of garden clubs in the "Ag Illustrated," published in their Fall 2006 issue, the Garden Club of Alabama was established in 1932 with 17 clubs and grew to 51 clubs and 1161 members by 1935. (Inventory #: 61080)