1921/02/01: Joy Morton to Sterling Morton (3.92107)
Date: February 1 1921Creator: Morton, Joy
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Joy Morton to Sterling Morton. He is enjoying the service at the Hotel Ritz in Barcelona. "The more I have thought of the Arboretum, the better I like it." He shares his vision for spring plantings of trees. "Confine our efforts to trees, not flowers, and only a few shrubs for effect." Check catalogs from Everyman Nursery in Sturgeon Bay, and Van Oven in Naperville.
Extent: 3 sheets
1921/04/25: Sterling Morton to Joy Morton (3.92124)
Date: April 25 1921Creator: Morton, Sterling
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Sterling Morton to Joy Morton. He regrets that he won't be able to meet in Boston about the Arnold Arboretum visit. Carolyn is not doing well. He and Preston are at her bedside daily. He is hopeful for teletype orders from Western Union. Post Office is asking for a quote on a Multiplex, with 2 lines from Chicago to New York. Another teletype application is for car record work by Big Four. Also teletype on New York Central Railroad.
Extent: 3 sheets
1921/04/27; 1921/05/02; 1921/05/07: Sterling Morton to Joy Morton (3.92125)
Date: April 27 1921Creator: Morton, Sterling
Type: Document
Description:Letter, continued on 3 separate days, from Sterling Morton to Joy Morton. Carolyn's condition has not improved. Details about progress in tree planting. Unpaid rental bills from Pennsylvania Railroad. Discussion of patents and Kleinschmidt Electric and Western Union. He is very pleased with the library plans, which will "bring people to Thornhill for the architecture as well." Updates on various mutual acquaintances and projects. Carolyn's death and funeral were too sad to write about.
Extent: 7 sheets
1921/07/17: Sterling Morton to Joy Morton (3.92130)
Date: July 17 1921Creator: Morton, Sterling
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Sterling Morton to Joy Morton. He gives positive comments on a wide variety of previously discussed topics. He thinks incorporating a lake on the arboretum property will be attractive.
Extent: 3 sheets
1921/07/21: Sterling Morton to Joy Morton (3.92133)
Date: July 21 1921Creator: Morton, Sterling
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Sterling Morton to Joy Morton. In Paris he bought a car for their trip to Switzerland. He is upset with Western Union and their dealing with teletype machines. He is working with Brocard on the teletype.
Extent: 2 sheets
1921/08/01: Joy Morton to Sterling Morton (3.92135)
Date: August 1 1921Creator: Morton, Joy
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Joy Morton to Sterling Morton, in which he shares his thoughts on Sterling's and Sophy's European trip. He had a slight attack of gout. Based on this summer's drought he will expand the water system at Thornhill. Very pleased with Mr. Simonds work on the Arboretum. He plans to incorporate South Farm buildings into the Arboretum. There will be a black pony waiting for Sue when she next visits.
Extent: 2 sheets
1921/08/08: Joy Morton to Sterling Morton (3.92136)
Date: August 8 1921Creator: Morton, Joy
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Joy Morton to Sterling Morton. He hopes that Sterling will return soon to resume control of the Morkrum business. He describes in detail his current plans for the arboretum: the contract to build the lake, and a road around the new lake. He'll start tree propagation in the old hog barn. He shares family news.
Extent: 3 sheets
1921/08/10: Sterling Morton to Joy Morton (3.92138)
Date: August 10 1921Creator: Morton, Sterling
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Sterling Morton, in London. He's working with Murray on sales of teletype machines. He mentions Reid Brothers, Reagan, Broccard, Kleinschmidt, the Post Office, AT+T, and Western Union as potential buyers of teletype machines or printers. He discusses his family's recovery after Carolyn's death.
Extent: 13 sheets
1922/03/16: Sterling Morton to Joy Morton (3.92160)
Date: March 16 1922Creator: Morton, Sterling
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Sterling Morton to Joy Morton. Ragan will work to complete the lake, continue with roads and banks of the river. Plants are arriving but the ground is too wet to plant. George will be coming back as chauffeur. Much discussion of the large fire near the Burlington Building in Chicago.
Extent: 2 sheets
1923/03/07: Sterling Morton to Joy Morton (3.92164)
Date: March 7 1923Creator: Morton, Sterling
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Sterling Morton to Joy Morton. He and Simonds surveyed "the farm" after the first winter. Roads and plants had minimal damage. Teuscher is mounting specimens in the herbarium. VonGommert is propagating plants, especially willows. Clarence's house is almost ready. Library work is slowed because of the weather. Some discussion of Morkrum clients and issues. Preston is feeling better.
Extent: 2 sheets
1926/07/28: Joy Morton to Sterling Morton (3.92168)
Date: July 28 1926Creator: Morton, Joy
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Joy Morton to Sterling Morton, who is in France. Based on the amounts for vacation rentals in France, Joy proposes the idea to Sterling to build and rent vacation cottages on the Puffer Farm area. That would bring in more money than farming. Updates him on the construction of the Morton Building, with the Telephone Company as a prospective tenant on 6-8 floors. Three employees have new baby boys, with one named after Joy Morton. His horses, Tangerine and Big Boy are growing.
Extent: 3 sheets
1926/08/09: Sterling Morton to Joy Morton (3.92169)
Date: August 9 1926Creator: Morton, Sterling
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Sterling Morton to Joy Morton. He suggests other possible tenants for the Morton Building, with the idea that the entire building be identified with the electrical communication industry. On a family vacation in southern France, they enjoy horseback riding. Extensive details and ideas in response to his father's idea of vacation cottages on the Puffer Farm area (Letter : 1926/07/28).
Extent: 4 sheets
1927/03/10: Joy Morton to C. E. Godshalk (3.101450)
Date: March 10 1927Creator: Morton, Joy
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Joy Morton to C.E. Godshalk wishing him success with his turkeys. They are enjoying the mild weather, but it is too hot during the day. They expect to be home in early April. He hopes they get a reasonable price for the cows. Sterling and his wife visited them, and they had a nice visit. They would both like to be home at Thornhill now; there is no place like it.
Extent: 1 sheet
1928/02/14: Joy Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk (3.101490)
Date: February 14 1928Creator: Morton, Joy
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Joy Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk, from Palm Beach. He thinks they will get a lot of good out of Teuscher's trip. He's hoping the trial of the mowing machine will prove to save money on mowing. "Don't overlook the fact that I want all forest plots you can add to our private collection. That is my hobby, so be governed accordingly." Pleased you like the new gardener. Looking forward to fine gardens this summer. Sterling and his wife were here before their trip to Nassau and we had a good visit.
Extent: 1 sheet
1935/09/29: Mrs. Sterling Morton to Clarence Godshalk (3.84709)
Date: September 29 1935Creator: Morton, Preston Owsley
Type: Document
Description:Postcard from Mrs. Sterling Morton to Clarence Godshalk concerning arrangements for getting horse.
Extent: 1 page
1935/10/02: Clarence Godshalk to Mrs. Sterling Morton (3.84710)
Date: October 2 1935Creator: Godshalk, Clarence E.
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Clarence Godshalk to Mrs. Sterling Morton letting her know that arrangements have been made to have horse picked up.
Extent: 1 page
1937/09/17: Mrs. Sterling (Preston Owsley) Morton to C. E. Godshalk (3.84878)
Date: September 17 1937Creator: Morton, Preston Owsley
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Mrs. Sterling (Preston Owsley) Morton to C. E. Godshalk requesting he send for her horse, so she can ride on September 28 and asking him to confirm the arrangements. Includes envelope.
Extent: 2 sheets
1937/09/22: C. E. Godshalk to Mrs. Sterling (Preston Owsley) Morton (3.84879)
Date: September 22 1937Creator: Godshalk, Clarence E.
Type: Document
Description:Letter from C. E. Godshalk to Mrs. Sterling (Preston Owsley) Morton confirming her horse will be picked up the afternoon of September 28. He requests that he keep her horse at South Farm for a month or so this fall, so he could ride her occasionally to accompany his young daughter on her pony.
Extent: 1 sheet
1938/10/03: Sterling Morton to C.E. Godshalk (3.84927)
Date: October 3 1938Creator: Morton, Sterling
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Sterling Morton to C.E. Godshalk asking him to make arrangements to have Mrs. (Preston Owsley) Morton's horse picked up at Knollwood stables and taken to Lisle for the winter as she is suffering from lumbago and won't be able to ride for several weeks.
Extent: 1 sheet
1941/10/21: P. O. Morton to Clarence Godshalk (3.84724)
Date: October 21 1941Creator: Morton, Preston Owsley
Type: Document
Description:Postcard from P. O. Morton to Clarence Godshalk inquiring about a box spring and mattress in cottage from the house.
Extent: 1 page
1942/06/29: Sterling Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk (3.85087)
Date: June 29 1942Creator: Morton, Sterling
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Sterling Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk, discussing various plant purchases (list attached) and their locations at Lake Forest. Mrs. Morton has been ill with back issues, but he issues an early invitation for a visit to Lake Forest.
Extent: 1 sheet
1952/01/04: E. L Kammerer to Sterling Morton (3.84448)
Date: January 4 1952Creator: Kammerer, E. Lowell
Type: Document
Description:Letter from E. L. Kammerer to Sterling Morton providing another source (Glecklers Seedsmen, Metamora, Ohio) for the Brazilian Tree Tomato, offering a choice of three colors: red, gold, and yellow. They have had 47 inches of snow and are getting another deluge.
Extent: 1 sheet
1952/04/10: Henrietta Riedy to Mr. and Mrs. Sterling Morton (3.84460)
Date: April 10 1952Creator: Riedy, Henrietta
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Henrietta Riedy to Sterling Morton asking for assistance in establishing a high school in Lisle, Illinois. She is also writing to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Cudahy with the same request.
Extent: 1 sheet
1952/04/11: Sterling Morton to C. E. Godshalk (3.84459)
Date: April 11 1952Creator: Morton, Sterling
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Sterling Morton to C. E. Godshalk saying he is encouraged about Godshalk's information on the sequoia; he will watch it closely. Their house was on the Garden Club tour. Mr. Berens wrote Morton about his plans; they seem complete. He hopes the governor will be able to come as they are old friends.
Extent: 1 sheet
1953/04/20: Sterling Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk (3.101885)
Date: April 20 1953Creator: Morton, Sterling
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Sterling Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk. Your letter of April 16 was a "most interesting and understanding letter and really makes me more willing to assume the responsibilities than I had before." It is all right to charge the roof bill of $200, the tank bill of $300, and the underground cable bill of $275 to the Chairman's Fund. In the future as emergencies arise and I'm not available, you may use this fund. You have employed the 15 regular men during the winter. I will add $1000 to the labor budget for the summer schoolboys to clean up. "The Arboretum will be receiving additional income from my sister's estate to go into the general fund." He is in favor of the forestry plots, perhaps using some of the farmland that is less productive, to demonstrate not only good practices but bad uses. This would be useful if they undertake plant pathology. It should include hardwood, softwood and conifers, with each plot having several acres. Mrs. Morton hopes to be well enough for their trip abroad. He details his flight when the pilot flew them down into the Grand Canyon.
Extent: 2 sheets
1953/12/21: Sterling Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk (3.101904)
Date: December 21 1953Creator: Morton, Sterling
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Sterling Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk. Mrs. Morton has been asked to write an article for the local [Santa Barbara] Garden Club. He knows there must be several in a file, especially dealing with Mrs. Cudahy's incumbency. [Pencilled at the top: Sept. 1952, p.3, Bull. Garden Club of America]. Or, the article could talk of future plans for maintenance, research, etc. Or would this be premature? What is the cost of the Skilsaw and generator? He has 600-700 feet of hedge that is currently cut by hand and that equipment would help. He wishes everyone a Merry Christmas.
Extent: 1 sheet
1954/02/20: Sterling Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk (3.101914)
Date: February 20 1954Creator: Morton, Sterling
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Sterling Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk. He approves of the planting and research project. He suggests that for demonstrations the Barberry and Amur Privet hedges are more affordable than the superior Japanese yew. Seeding new farmland will help when visitors eventually walk the property. Delay of an equipment demonstration is a good idea. He suggests a nursery of plants and seedlings that could be cultivated by mechanical means that would provide replacements and for future land planting at an economical price. He is waiting for information from Winpower about the problems he is having with the motor. He is enclosing a dollar and requests a package of the note card with Mrs. Watt's sketches. He is charmed by them and will use them for short notes and maybe Christmas cards. He and Mrs. Morton have suffered with a virus infection. Because of that they cancelled their trip around the world. They will come to Chicago in March and then go to Europe, and then to the International Chamber of Commerce meeting in Tokyo in the spring.
Extent: 2 sheets
1955/07/26: C. E. Godshalk to Sterling Morton (3.84490)
Date: July 26 1955Creator: Godshalk, Clarence E.
Type: Document
Description:The weather in Lisle has been hot and humid. He gives details on the progress on the construction of the new building. He's delighted Morton and his wife will attend the AABGA meeting. He provides the biographical information that Morton requested including date of birth, his formal education, his gratitude to his (Godshalk's) father for the practical training given, and his path to becoming director of the Arboretum. He sees his job at the Arboretum as keeping everything coordinated and the big picture in view. Godshalk will visit Morton's place in Santa Barbara on his upcoming trip. He discusses possible plans for the Monday after his arrival. He invites Morton to drive to Pasadena with him to see Earhart Laboratory and the Pasadena location of the Foundation for Agricultural Research.
Extent: 3 sheets
1955/08/08: Sterling Morton to C. E. Godshalk (3.104957)
Date: August 8 1955Creator: Morton, Sterling
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Sterling Morton to C.E. Godshalk saying he ran into Pearl Chase, and she had kind things to say about her visit with Godshalk. He encloses the article from the News-Press about Godshalk's talk; Morton thought it was excellent. The response to the talk makes Morton believe they are on the right track with their approach of sharing research that is applicable to the everyday homeowner. He hopes Godshalk had a successful trip up north. Morton is glad he was able to attend a few sessions at the conference and see the equipment. He went by Ott's hardware store to see the Gravely tractor they have for sale. It is in excellent shape. He will test it out to make sure it is working properly, and if so, will gift it to the Arboretum. If there is an infinite delay in shipping, they will go ahead and get a new machine. He says it was a pleasure having Godshalk with them, and he particularly enjoyed their drives. The record includes the newspaper clippings along with a short handwritten note.
Extent: 6 sheets
1955/08/15: C. E. Godshalk to Sterling Morton (3.84491)
Date: August 15 1955Creator: Godshalk, Clarence E.
Type: Document
Description:Letter from C. E. Godshalk to Sterling Morton describing his trip after the AABGA convention. He traveled to San Jose stopping at the Calif. Poly. Tech. Inst., the redwoods in Big Sur, and Mr. Hartman's nurseries in San Jose. The next day he visited the Saratoga Foundation seeing the work being done on improving plants. Mr. Raven took Godshalk to Stanford where they saw the plant physiology work being done there. He went on to San Francisco to the Agricultural Research Laboratories where the Arboretum has sent soil and plant samples to be analyzed. He spent the next day in Placerville where they are doing splendid work in hybridizing. On Wednesday, he went to the University of California fruit experiment station in Davis. He talks about the flame photometer being used there; Godshalk would like to get one for the Arboretum which they could use to compare Dutch elm trees. He suggests possibly using unused money in Morton's chairman's fund to purchase it. If they purchase the machine, he will send Mr. Crowley to Davis to learn how to best use it. He briefly updates him on work being done around the Arboretum. He's glad Morton and Mrs. Morton enjoyed his talk. He's grateful to the two of them for their hospitality in California. He'll get busy on testing the crawling sprinklers.
Extent: 4 sheets
1956/04/03: C. E. Godshalk to Sterling Morton (3.84515)
Date: April 3 1956Creator: Godshalk, Clarence E.
Type: Document
Description:Letter from C. E. Godshalk to Sterling Morton telling him of the work they have done at Morton's home pruning plants and moving a viburnum and a Washington thorn. Godshalk marked the locations for the new hemlocks and bigleaf wintercreepers. He updates him on the progress of the construction at the Arboretum. The new toll road has been restaked in the position the Arboretum wanted. He includes a bill for work done on Morton's property, explaining the specifics. Also included is the cost for freight and attachments for a tractor. The tractor looks and runs like new. He asks Morton if he would give an illustrated talk of his trip on their picnic or field day at the Arboretum.
Extent: 4 sheets
1956/04/26: C. E. Godshalk to Sterling Morton (3.84516)
Date: April 26 1956Creator: Godshalk, Clarence E.
Type: Document
Description:Letter from C. E. Godshalk to Sterling Morton telling him the hemlocks and bigleaf wintercreepers are planted, and it is finally raining. At the Arboretum new wells are being dug, the new buildings are completed at South Farm except for some finishing, things on the research wing are progressing slowly, and the work rooms of the greenhouse are pretty well done except for finishing and some floors that need to be poured. The lawn east of the Administration Building is cleaned up where the septic tank was installed. They created a terrace around the rotunda. They are adding many plants to their group planting and are clearing out the old nurseries and started the new nurseries next to the toll road site. He will have many interesting things to show him and the trustees when they come out.
Extent: 2 sheets
1956/08/11: Sterling Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk (3.104993)
Date: August 11 1956Creator: Morton, Sterling
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Sterling Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk. He is sorry that Godshalk has been held up by a strike. He hopes the fire door between the old and new buildings will be installed for the dedication. The lobby, general office, curved hall and lecture room are important to be finished for viewers. He is sorry for the overhead door trouble at South Farm. He had to install a motor and remote control for Mrs. Morton to open their door at Lake Forest, but that shouldn't be needed at South Farm. What should be done with the Jaffray house? He likes the idea of having independent contractors [Price] do the tree trimming as opposed to the full wages of an employee [Sharpless]. Ask the Salt Company to donate an addressograph machine that they no longer are using rather than buy one for the Arboretum. He is surprised that the Dutch elm disease has taken hold in the Arboretum, but is assured that Godshalk will identify, remove and burn them as quick as possible. He questions how the beetles can travel so far so fast. Mrs. Zurcher is working on plans for the September 27 dedication. He is pleased that she is getting so energetically involved. He hopes that Morton family member stay involved for years to come.
Extent: 3 sheets
1956/11/06: Sterling Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk (3.105000)
Date: November 6 1956Creator: Morton, Sterling
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Sterling Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk. He is sending a Contaflex camera, carrying case and instructions. It has a sky filter, and should take excellent black and white photos. For larger projects he suggests that Godshalk talk with other camera experts. The workmen that Godshalk has assigned to the Morton's Lake Forest installation have been excellent. He suggests they take out the only-good soil in the beds and replace it with black dirt to be ready for Morton's planting ideas. Compared with the other problems they have had in the construction of the house, he and Mrs. Morton have been very pleased with the landscapers. Mr. Synnestvedt will continue working on Monday, planting the euonymus. Morton will visit the site on Saturday.
Extent: 2 sheets
1956/11/24: Clarence E. Godshalk to Sterling Morton (3.105002)
Date: November 24 1956Creator: Godshalk, Clarence E.
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Clarence E. Godshalk to Sterling Morton. He suggests having the Christmas Party on Thursday afternoon, December 13, "unless your recent upset amounts to much." Mrs. Morton and the Zurchers are invited, as well as any Trustees available. They would have the meal at noon, followed by Morton's program. He will wait to hear from Morton before proceeding with plans.
Extent: 1 sheet
1957/01/23: Sterling Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk (3.105013)
Date: January 23 1957Creator: Morton, Sterling
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Sterling Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk. Mrs. Morton will be giving a talk on the Arboretum to the Santa Barbara Garden Club. He requests a large variety of 35 mm slides, showing Thornhill and other buildings, in all seasons, the hedge garden, a map of the grounds, and some forestry plots. He will return the slides afterward. He suggests wording for the slides "A great outdoor museum" "Founded in 1922" "by Joy Morton". He has used Title-Craft in Chicago for word slides in the past, but he thinks that Godshalk has equipment and expertise to create these slides for the presentation instead.
Extent: 2 sheets