The Portsmouth Garden Club
Portsmouth, Rhode Island
Home: Our History/Our Goal
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The Portsmouth Garden Club
Portsmouth, Rhode Island
"The first garden club in America was
founded in January 1891 by The Ladies
Garden Club of Athens (Georgia). On
May 1, 1929 thirteen federated states
became charter members at an organizational meeting in Washington, D.C. Excerpt taken from the National Garden Clubs Website(http://www.gardenclub.org/
About/AboutNGC.aspx)."
Five (5) years after the thirteen federated states became charter members, the Portsmouth Garden Club was organized and became a member of the Rhode Island Federation of Garden Clubs organization. According to a local newspaper article (Newspaper is unknown), the following was reported:
“June 1934, Portsmouth. Women Organize Garden Club at Meeting Held at Glen Farm. On Monday afternoon a group of ladies met at the home of Mrs. Borden Anthony at Glen Farm to hear Mrs. Hamilton Fish Webster of Newport speak on the forming of a Garden Club in Portsmouth. After Mrs. Webster’s talk the ladies voted to organize the Portsmouth Garden Club and elected officers for the coming year, as follow: President: Mrs. Borden C. Anthony; Vice Presidents: Mrs. Norman Hall, Mrs. Peter Malone and Mrs. Arthur Smith; Secretary: Mrs. Alexander Boone; Treasurer: Miss Evelyn Chase; Librarian: Mrs. Jacob Menzi.The women attending were Mrs. Norman Hall, Mrs. Charles Clarke, Mrs. John Hargraves, Mrs. Alexander Boone, Mrs. Benjamin Barker, Miss Evelyn Chase, Mrs. Peter Malone, Mrs. Kenney, Mrs. Jacob Menzi, Mrs. Andrew Malone, Mrs. Arthur Smith and Mrs. Borden Anthony. The next meeting will be held on June 13 at the home of Mrs. Norman Hall, when Mrs. Hall’s gardens will be inspected and talks on the raising of flowers will be given.”
In 1934, there were 13 Members and of the 13 Members, there were 7 Officers. As of September 2015, The Portsmouth Garden Club now has 39 Members and 11 Honorary Members and today, our officers consist of President, Vice President, Second Vice President, Recording Secretary, Correspondence Secretary, Treasurer, and Ex-Officio. See Officers and Committee Members.
Our Goal
Our goal is to promote the love of gardening, floral and landscape design, and demonstrate civic and environmental responsibility by example.
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