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Garden Club of Kent records
Special Collections and Archives
Garden Club of Kent records
Special Collections and Archives
Garden Club of Kent records
- Repository: Kent State University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives.
- Title: Garden Club of Kent records
- Inclusive Date(s): 1946-2010
- Author: Finding aid prepared by Mikkala Wilcox
- Creation: Finding aid encoded by Mikkala Wilcox using the OhioLINK EAD Application in 2019
- Origination: Garden Club of Kent (Kent, Ohio)
- Extent: 4 cubic feet (4 record storage boxes)
- Physical Location: 11th Floor
- Finding Aid Identifier: OhKeUSC0207
- Abstract: This collection contains board meeting records, news clippings, correspondence, financial records, photographs, and subject files for the Garden Club of Kent, Ohio (formally called the Men's Garden Club of Kent). Included in this collection is Backyard Pests, the club's newsletter.
- Revision(s):
- November 2024 - Revised by Haley Antell Chan
- Language(s): The records are in English
History of the Garden Club of Kent
The Men's Garden Club of Kent (MGCK), a branch of the National Men's Garden Club America, was founded on April 28, 1947 by Ray Cheetham and Lawrence Bundy after several men started meeting in the "Old" Methodist Church in Kent, Ohio. The club was officially started on March 22, 1948, when the Kent club was chartered by the national club. On January 15, 1957 then Ohio Secretary of State, Ted Brown, issued the articles of incorporation. The first president of the MGCK was Charles Sumner. The club has held flower shows, plant sales, horticulture shows and other events for the community and club members with the aim of raising money for community projects. The club worked with the community, doing programs for youth gardeners and a community garden for the Kent area, as well as beautification projects for numerous Kent locations. The MGCK created a club newsletter titled Backyard Pests, which was published once a month, every year starting in 1951. The club started accepting female members in 1990 and changed its name from "Men's Garden Club of Kent" to "Garden Club of Kent" in 1998-1999.
Scope and Content
The Garden Club of Kent collection contains board meeting records, news clippings and photographs of various club related events and news, correspondence between members and other individuals/corporations, club related financial records, and subject files, which contain files on anything from club hosted program materials to membership information. This collection also contains the Garden Club of Kent produced club newsletter, Backyard Pests. The included issues range from 1951-2010, with some years and months missing.
Statement of Arrangement
This collection is divided into the following series.
- Series 1: Backyard Pests
- Series 2: Board Meeting Records
- Series 3: Clippings
- Series 4: Correspondence
- Series 5: Financial Records
- Series 6: Photographs
- Series 7: Subject Files
Preferred Citation
Garden Club of Kent records. Kent State University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives.
Controlled-Access Headings:
The following are found in this collection:
- Subjects:
- Men's Garden Club of Kent (Kent, Ohio) -- Archives
- Garden Club of Kent (Kent, Ohio) -- Archives
- Gardening -- Ohio -- Kent -- Societies, etc. -- History
- Men -- Ohio -- Kent -- Societies and clubs -- History
- Kent (Ohio) -- Societies, etc. -- History
- Clubs -- Ohio -- Kent -- History
- Persons:
- Cheetham, Ray
- Bundy, Lawrence
- Brown, Ted
- Sumner, Charles
- Functions:
- Clubs -- Management
- Places:
- Kent (Ohio)
- Occupations:
- Civic leaders
- Material Types:
- Handbooks and manuals
- Directories
- Business correspondence
- Business records
- Newsletters
- By-laws
- Constitutions
- Financial records
- Photographs
- Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
- Minutes (Records)
Detailed Description of the Collection
Series 1: Backyard Pests, 1951-2010
- Box 1 / Folder 1
- MGCK: Backyard Pests: Editors and Title Masthead, 1952-1986
- Box 1 / Folder 2
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 1951
- Box 1 / Folder 3
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 1952
- Box 1 / Folder 4
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 1953
- Box 1 / Folder 5
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 1954
- Box 1 / Folder 6
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 1955
- Box 1 / Folder 7
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 1956
- Box 1 / Folder 8
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 1957
- Box 1 / Folder 9
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 1958
- Box 1 / Folder 10
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 1959
- Box 1 / Folder 11
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 1960
- Box 1 / Folder 12
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 1961
- Box 1 / Folder 13
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 1962
- Box 1 / Folder 14
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 1963
- Box 1 / Folder 15
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 1964
- Box 1 / Folder 16
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 1965
- Box 1 / Folder 17
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 1966
- Box 1 / Folder 18
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 1967
- Box 1 / Folder 19
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 1968
- Box 1 / Folder 20
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 1969
- Box 1 / Folder 21
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 1970
- Box 1 / Folder 22
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 1971
- Box 1 / Folder 23
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 1972
- Box 1 / Folder 24
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 1973
- Box 1 / Folder 25
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 1974
- Box 1 / Folder 26
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 1975
- Box 1 / Folder 27
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 1976
- Box 2 / Folder 1
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 1977
- Box 2 / Folder 2
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 1978
- Box 2 / Folder 3
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 1979
- Box 2 / Folder 4
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 1980
- Box 2 / Folder 5
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 1981
- Box 2 / Folder 6
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 1982
- Box 2 / Folder 7
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 1983
- Box 2 / Folder 8
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 1984
- Box 2 / Folder 9
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 1985
- Box 2 / Folder 10
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 1986
- Box 2 / Folder 11
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 1987
- Box 2 / Folder 12
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 1988
- Box 2 / Folder 13
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 1989
- Box 2 / Folder 14
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 1990
- Box 2 / Folder 15
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 1991
- Box 2 / Folder 16
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 1992
- Box 2 / Folder 17
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 1993
- Box 2 / Folder 18
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 1994
- Box 2 / Folder 19
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 1995
- Box 2 / Folder 20
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 1996
- Box 2 / Folder 21
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 1997
- Box 2 / Folder 22
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 1998
- Box 2 / Folder 23
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 1999
- Box 2 / Folder 24
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 2000
- Box 2 / Folder 25
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 2003
- Box 2 / Folder 26
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 2004
- Box 2 / Folder 27
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 2006
- Box 2 / Folder 28
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 2007
- Box 2 / Folder 29
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 2008
- Box 2 / Folder 30
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 2009
- Box 2 / Folder 31
- MGCK: Backyard Pests, 2010
Series 2: Board Meeting Records, 1959-2002
- Box 3 / Folder 1
- MGCK: Board Meeting Records, September 1959
- Box 3 / Folder 2
- MGCK: Board Meeting Records, May 1964-August 1965
- Box 3 / Folder 3
- MGCK: Board Meeting Records, September 1965-December 1966
- Box 3 / Folder 4
- MGCK: Board Meeting Records, January 1967
- Box 3 / Folder 5
- MGCK: Board Meeting Records, January 1968
- Box 3 / Folder 6
- MGCK: Board Meeting Records, September 20, 1973
- Box 3 / Folder 7
- MGCK: Board Meeting Records, September 1974-December 1976
- Box 3 / Folder 8
- MGCK: Board Meeting Records, 1980-1996
- Box 3 / Folder 9
- MGCK: Board Meeting Records, 1998
- Box 3 / Folder 10
- MGCK: Board Meeting Records, 1999
- Box 3 / Folder 11
- MGCK: Board Meeting Records, 2000
- Box 3 / Folder 12
- MGCK: Board Meeting Records, 2001
- Box 3 / Folder 13
- MGCK: Board Meeting Records, 2002
- Box 3 / Folder 14
- MGCK: Board Meeting Records, Undated
Series 3: Clippings, 1947-2009
- Box 3 / Folder 15
- MGCK: Clippings: Award Ceremonies, 1954-2009
- Box 3 / Folder 16
- MGCK: Clippings: Award Ceremonies, Undated
- Box 3 / Folder 17
- MGCK: Clippings: Club News, 1947-2008
- Box 3 / Folder 18
- MGCK: Clippings: Club News, Undated
- Box 3 / Folder 19
- MGCK: Clippings: Events, 1954-2009
- Box 3 / Folder 20
- MGCK: Clippings: Events, Undated
- Box 3 / Folder 21
- MGCK: Clippings: Obituaries, 1975-2001
- Box 3 / Folder 22
- MGCK: Clippings: Obituaries, Undated
Series 4: Correspondence, 1952-1999
- Box 3 / Folder 23
- MGCK: Correspondence, 1952-1999
- Box 3 / Folder 24
- MGCK: Correspondence, Undated
- Box 3 / Folder 25
- MGCK: Correspondence: Thank You Notes, 1973-1997
- Box 3 / Folder 26
- MGCK: Correspondence: Thank You Notes, Undated
Series 5: Financial Records, 1980-2004
- Box 3 / Folder 27
- MGCK: Financial Records: Audit Committee Records, 1980-1986, 2002
- Box 3 / Folder 28
- MGCK: Financial Records: Budgets, 1996-2004
- Box 3 / Folder 29
- MGCK: Financial Records: Club Project Budgets, 1983, 2000-2002
- Box 3 / Folder 30
- MGCK: Financial Records: Dues Notices, 2002-2003
- Scope and Content
- The club had yearly dues that had to be payed to the club in order to continue to be a member.
- Box 3 / Folder 31
- MGCK: Financial Records: Expense Reports and Statements, 1983-2001
- Box 3 / Folder 32
- MGCK: Financial Records: Investment Account History, 2001-2003, Undated
- Box 3 / Folder 33
- MGCK: Financial Records: Plant Sale Summary, May 22, 1999
- Box 3 / Folder 34
- MGCK: Financial Records: Treasurer's Report, 1980-2002
Series 6: Photographs, 1946-1992
- Box 3 / Folder 35
- MGCK: Photographs: Award Ceremonies, 1951-1985
- Box 3 / Folder 36
- MGCK: Photographs: Award Ceremonies, Undated
- Box 3 / Folder 37
- MGCK: Photographs: Club Members and Activities, 1946-1992
- Box 3 / Folder 38
- MGCK: Photographs: Club Members and Activities (Folder 1 of 4), Undated
- Box 3 / Folder 39
- MGCK: Photographs: Club Members and Activities (Folder 2 of 4), Undated
- Box 3 / Folder 40
- MGCK: Photographs: Club Members and Activities (Folder 3 of 4), Undated
- Box 3 / Folder 41
- MGCK: Photographs: Club Members and Activities (Folder 4 of 4), Undated
- Box 3 / Folder 42
- MGCK: Photographs: Fred Fuller Park, Undated
- Scope and Content
- The beautification of Fred Fuller Park was one of MGCK's civic projects in 1954.
- Box 3 / Folder 43
- MGCK: Photographs: The SEH Poster Awards, 1979
Series 7: Subject Files, 1947-2004
- Box 4 / Folder 1
- MGCK: Subject Files: Awards: Beautification and Landscape, 1981-1998, Undated
- Box 4 / Folder 2
- MGCK: Subject Files: Awards: Certificates, 1955-1981
- Box 4 / Folder 3
- MGCK: Subject Files: Awards: Award Winner Records, 1951-2001, Undated
- Scope and Content
- This folder contains lists of people who won various MGCK awards.
- Box 4 / Folder 4
- MGCK: Subject Files: Awards: Member Award Files: Fletcher Simpson, 1967
- Box 4 / Folder 5
- MGCK: Subject Files: Awards: Member Award Files: Harley G. Lappin, Undated
- Box 4 / Folder 6
- MGCK: Subject Files: Awards: Member Award Files: Ira Overholt, 1990
- Box 4 / Folder 7
- MGCK: Subject Files: Awards: Member Award Files: James Arthur Herrick, Undated
- Box 4 / Folder 8
- MGCK: Subject Files: Awards: Member Award Files: Jim Chalfant, 1990
- Box 4 / Folder 9
- MGCK: Subject Files: Awards: Member Award Files: Milfred W. (Biff) Staples, 1979-1981
- Box 4 / Folder 10
- MGCK: Subject Files: Awards: Member Award Files: Ray Cheetham, 1983, Undated
- Box 4 / Folder 11
- MGCK: Subject Files: Club Red Book (Folder 1 of 2), Undated
- Scope and Content
- The Red Book was a standardized handbook for all Men's Garden Club chapters.
- Box 4 / Folder 12
- MGCK: Subject Files: Club Red Book (Folder 2 of 2), Undated
- Scope and Content
- The Red Book was a standardized handbook for all Men's Garden Club chapters.
- Box 4 / Folder 13
- MGCK: Subject Files: Committees, 1981-1985, undated
- Box 4 / Folder 14
- MGCK: Subject Files: Community Gardens, 2001
- Box 4 / Folder 15
- MGCK: Subject Files: Constitution and By-Laws, 1976, 1985
- Box 4 / Folder 16
- MGCK: Subject Files: Guest Speaker Materials, 1980-1984, Undated
- Box 4 / Folder 17
- MGCK: Subject Files: History of MGCK, Undated
- Box 4 / Folder 18
- MGCK: Subject Files: KentFest, 1984-1988, Undated
- Box 4 / Folder 19
- MGCK: Subject Files: Kent Free Library Memorial Books, 1980-1999
- Scope and Content
- For many years, MGCK donated a book to Kent Free Library about gardening or plants in general in memory of a recently deceased member.
- Box 4 / Folder 20
- MGCK: Subject Files: Kent Free Library Memorial Books, Undated
- Box 4 / Folder 21
- MGCK: Subject Files: Member Sketches, 1978-1985
- Box 4 / Folder 22
- MGCK: Subject Files: Member Speeches, 1985-1986, Undated
- Box 4 / Folder 23
- MGCK: Subject Files: Membership: Life Time Members, 1980-1987
- Box 4 / Folder 24
- MGCK: Subject Files: Membership: Membership Applications, 1987-1990, Undated
- Box 4 / Folder 25
- MGCK: Subject Files: Membership: Brochures, Undated
- Box 4 / Folder 26
- MGCK: Subject Files: Membership: Membership Directory, 1985-2002
- Box 4 / Folder 27
- MGCK: Subject Files: Membership: Membership Lists, 1954- 1991
- Box 4 / Folder 28
- MGCK: Subject Files: Membership: Membership Roster, 1988-1990
- Box 4 / Folder 29
- MGCK: Subject Files: Officers, Chairmen, and Past Presidents, 1947-1985
- Box 4 / Folder 30
- MGCK: Subject Files: Officers, Chairmen, and Past Presidents: Installation of New Officers, 1986, 2001, Undated
- Box 4 / Folder 31
- MGCK: Subject Files: Pamphlets, Undated
- Box 4 / Folder 32
- MGCK: Subject Files: President's Message, 1984, Undated
- Box 4 / Folder 33
- MGCK: Subject Files: Programs: Annual Plant Sale Material, 1967-1993, Undated
- Box 4 / Folder 34
- MGCK: Subject Files: Programs: Annual Plant Sale Material: Pre-Plant Sale, 1982-1997, Undated
- Box 4 / Folder 35
- MGCK: Subject Files: Programs: Assorted Programs, 1955-1997, Undated
- Scope and Content
- This folder contains materials from an array of programs and events hosted by MGCK that did not pertain to events in other Programs folders.
- Box 4 / Folder 36
- MGCK: Subject Files: Programs: Flower Show, 1951-1979
- Box 4 / Folder 37
- MGCK: Subject Files: Programs: Horticulture Show, 2002-2004
- Box 4 / Folder 38
- MGCK: Subject Files: Programs: President's Banquet, 1962-2004
- Box 4 / Folder 39
- MGCK: Subject Files: Programs: Service Through Gardening, 1978-1992
- Box 4 / Folder 40
- MGCK: Subject Files: Proposal to Establish Scholarship, Undated
- Box 4 / Folder 41
- MGCK: Subject Files: Youth Gardeners, 1974-1985, Undated
