Agenda for the thirty eighth annual meeting of the Ecological Society of America held September 4 to 9, 1953 at Madison, Wisconsin under the sponsorship of the American Institute of Biological Sciences (3.100279)
Date: September 4 1953Type: Article
Description:Mr. Ware gave a presentation on samples of the woody vegetation of twenty stands of floodplain forest along the lower course of the Wisconsin River. The agenda includes a summary of his findings.
Extent: 31 pages
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
1953/04/27: Sterling Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk (3.101886)
Date: April 27 1953Creator: Morton, Sterling
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Sterling Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk. John Root will come to the Arboretum to see the site I have in mind for a permanent memorial to my sister. We are open to any suggestions you have. You shared that she always wanted to keep the Arboretum on an economical footing. This puzzled me, because she was never parsimonious. She wanted the best of everything." Mr. Zurcher will bring me to the Arboretum and we can pick up plants and visit before we go to Lake Forest to see the grandchildren.
Extent: 1 sheet
1953/05/04: Sterling Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk (3.101887)
Date: May 4 1953Creator: Morton, Sterling
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Sterling Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk. J. H. Smith would like to give a memorial tree or other item. He is Morton's cousin, Pauline's son. Forward any suggestions to Mrs. Zurcher.
Extent: 1 sheet
1953/05/11: Sterling Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk (3.101888)
Date: May 11 1953Creator: Morton, Sterling
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Sterling Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk. Request that Godshalk communicate with Mr. Smith about Smith's wish to "do something as a memorial to Mrs. Cudahy." Gather ideas until my return to Morton Arboretum. He shares his concerns about what the utility company could do along their right of way, especially in relation to the Jones property. He offers some suggestions for low plantings, but also raises some concerns about how it might all look.
Extent: 1 sheet
1953/05/04: Sterling Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk (3.101889)
Date: May 4 1953Creator: Morton, Sterling
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Sterling Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk. He requests some ideas for other uses of the former library in the Thornhill Building, rather than the "somewhat funereal, museum-like aspect of it and put it to active use." Mrs. Zurcher will join in the discussion. "The addition to the Redwood Building is most suitable." Morton Salt Company vacation policy is two weeks after 1 year, and 3 weeks after 15 years. You can adopt this policy, or even 3 weeks after 12 years.
Extent: 1 sheet
1953/07/08: Sterling Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk (3.101890)
Date: July 8 1953Creator: Morton, Sterling
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Sterling Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk. He met with Joy Morton II as the disposition of Morton Manor is progressing. Sid Hettinger, Mark Morton's secretary for many years, is living there and is in charge. He suggests that Godshalk go there are retrieve some of the books and pictures which should stay at the Arboretum.
Extent: 1 sheet
1953/08/03: Sterling Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk (3.101892)
Date: August 3 1953Creator: Morton, Sterling
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Sterling Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk to give him background on John Neal Campbell, the attorney for Northwestern University. Campbell worked on the change in interpretation to Mrs. Joy Morton's will. Instead of and addition to Passavant Hospital, the University wanted to use it for a medical and laboratory building. Mr. Campbell is a frequent visitor to Morton Arboretum. Morton suggested that Campbell contact Godshalk or Kammerer on his next visit. Another paragraph is crossed out in Morton's blue pen. It concerns a Mrs. DeLong of Nebraska City who is interested in some of the books at Morton Manor for the Nebraska City library. He will bring her to visit the Arboretum.
Extent: 1 sheet
1953/09/16: Sterling Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk (3.101893)
Date: September 16 1953Creator: Morton, Sterling
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Sterling Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk. He praised Godshalk for the talk he gave at the National Shade Tree Conference. It's consistent with Joy Morton's wishes for the Arboretum. He requests copies of the talk to distribute to Trustees with a cover letter describing the quality program that Godshalk has created. He would like something from Holabird and Root to present at the annual meeting. He enclosed a copy of a letter he sent to Trustees about committee assignments, hoping they will be active while he is away.
Extent: 1 sheet
1953/09/28: Sterling Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk (3.101895)
Date: September 28 1953Creator: Morton, Sterling
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Sterling Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk. He left plants at the Administration Building. He hopes Nordine can make them healthy again. He would like a dozen or more of the Red Pines brought to his Lake Forest home. Now that the old house is down, there is a new vision for the property.
Extent: 1 sheet
1953/10/07: Sterling Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk (3.101896)
Date: October 7 1953Creator: Morton, Sterling
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Sterling Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk. He gladly sends his check for $40 for the Christmas toy program. He appreciates the information on various plants for his Lake Forest property. He hasn't determined where the house will be, but he has in mind an area for plants. Ed Baker will have information on pensions for a decision at the next meeting. Based on his experience with the Salt Company and employee housing, it is more important to have housing for the manual workers than for the technicians and scientists. Also the two groups should not be housed together, not because of the employees themselves, but difficulties with the families. He likes the new Skil pruning saw and would like to borrow it for his firewood. The application from Rutgers is worth pursuing. Have your accounting ready for Arthur Andersen before the next meeting. He noticed many changes along Butterfield Rd.
Extent: 2 sheets
1953/10/12: Sterling Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk (3.101897)
Date: October 12 1953Creator: Morton, Sterling
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Sterling Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk. He sends a plot of his Lake Forest property with some indications of house and driveways. He further details his plans and asks for landscaping recommendations. Also he requests that arrangements be made with Mr. Wagstaff for someone to bring over larger tees from some nursery.
Extent: 2 sheets
1953/10/23: Sterling Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk (3.101898)
Date: October 23 1953Creator: Morton, Sterling
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Sterling Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk. You will be interested in the enclosed letters from Mr. Blum and Dr. Avery. Thanks for installing the forest of sticks to mark planting locations. He tried the new saw and was a little stiff afterwards.
Extent: 1 sheet
1953/10/30: Sterling Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk (3.101899)
Date: October 30 1953Creator: Morton, Sterling
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Sterling Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk. You can order the post hole digger before the Trustees approve of it. Rather than adding more men, I want you to add other labor saving machinery. As housing developments get nearer, we will need to fence the entire Arboretum. Draw up an annual fencing plan to submit to the Trustees, using your new post hole digger and your existing crew. For the housing project, ask Mr. Steinbrecher to run a survey of the two locations we have tentatively decided on, giving contours at 25 ft. intervals. You could then sketch in houses, drives, sanitary arrangements before inviting in the architects. Also check with Steinbrecher about the cost of updating our 20 year old general plot of the Arboretum. He is pleased with the preliminary layout of the laboratory building and he thinks something very good will develop out of it.
Extent: 2 sheets
1953/11/16: Sterling Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk (3.101900)
Date: November 16 1953Creator: Morton, Sterling
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Sterling Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk, dictated on 3 different dates. He would like additional copies of the report to give to Mr. Hamill and Wirt. He feels the Holabird & Root plan for the gallery has too much glass and would be hard to heat. He will talk with Mrs. Zurcher about other ideas. He would like the Trustees to get more involved to lighten the load on himself and Godshalk. He remarks that he and Wirt are the only two left from the beginning of the Arboretum, and Wirt is inactive. He is looking for recommendations for a new Board Member. On 12/08/1953, he discusses in great detail a Skilsaw chainsaw as well as a pneumatic tree trimmer.
Extent: 2 sheets
1953/11/17: Sterling Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk (3.101901)
Date: November 17 1953Creator: Morton, Sterling
Type: Document
Description:The budget for next year needs to provide for additional scientists and technicians, assuming the building is completed. He talked with Mr. Ward about changes to the classroom. He is returning the most interesting letter to Mrs. Watts.
Extent: 1 sheet
1953/11/20: Sterling Morton to Clarence Godshalk (3.101902)
Date: November 20 1953Creator: Morton, Sterling
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Sterling Morton to Clarence Godshalk. I'm sorry I wasn't able to go to Louisiana, the first time I've missed that meeting since 1934. If there are matters to discuss prior to the meeting, let me know. [Pencilled in the margin: Sat. off, Travelling Exp, Pension, Salaries, Picnic Shelter, Equip.] The School Board is requesting 20 acres, which seems like a lot. Morton proposes a long-term lease, with complete control over plantings and structures. He does not want to assign too much of Warrenville Road frontage, nor land in back of the proposed power line. He offers opinions on various locations of the power line. He wants to see this settled so other real estate proposals can go forward.
Extent: 2 sheets
1953/12/08: Sterling Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk (3.101903)
Date: December 8 1953Creator: Morton, Sterling
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Sterling Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk. The Board of Trustees decided to make Mrs. Zurcher a joint Vice President along with Mr. Peterkin. Because of Sterling Morton's long absences, it would be good to have both available. He is pleased that she is showing increasing interest in the Arboretum. She is as efficient and resourceful as her late aunt [Jean Morton Cudahy]. She was a favorite of her grandfather [Joy Morton]. Because of Mr. Hamill's move to Asheville, he is willing to resign from the Board. There is already a vacancy on the Board, so Morton is asking what other tasks could be assigned to Hamill, perhaps researching and reporting on Biltmore Forest.
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
1953/12/29: Sterling Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk (3.101905)
Date: December 29 1953Creator: Morton, Sterling
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Sterling Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk. Mrs. Zurcher told him of the party. He hopes there will be future parties where the Trustees get to know the staff. The organization needs to look to younger people, as he is beginning to feel his years. He details his needs for delivery of a Winpower generator in California. He is glad to see that Tyzink is work well. He is "enormously interested in the maintenance research program." He wants a copy of the outline, and he might have some suggestions to add. In new construction, changing grade around trees can be a serious problem, as happened in Lake Forest. It hardly seems like Christmas with the sun and flowers. Happy New Year.
Extent: 2 sheets
Residential street lined with American elms (3.104901)
Date: 1950sCreator: Ware, George
Type: Photographic image
Description:Black and white photograph of a residential street lined with American elms prior to destruction by Dutch elm disease. This image was used in an article for The Morton Arboretum Quarterly, volume 29, number 4 (December 1993), titled "Developing Better Elms: The Plant-resistance Component of Integrated Pest Management." The caption for the image reads:
Before the late 1950s, the streets of many American cities, like the one shown here, were lined with American elms. The beautiful cathedral-like avenues were devastated by Dutch elm disease.
Berberis circumserrata (C.K.Schneid.) C.K.Schneid. (cut-leaved barberry), leaves (3.105215)
Date: October 1953Type: Photographic image
Description:Berberis circumserrata (C.K.Schneid.) C.K.Schneid. (cut-leaved barberry), young leaves with serrated margins
Extent: 1 slide
Berberis ×mentorensis L. M. Ames (Mentor barberry), close-up of leaves on stem (3.105237)
Date: November 1953Type: Photographic image
Description:Berberis ×mentorensis L. M. Ames (Mentor barberry), several laves on stem, leaves have short spines on the margins, some leaves are blue-green, some are reddish-pink
Berberis thunbergii ‘Atropurpurea Nana’ (Crimson Pygmy Japanese barberry), habit (3.105257)
Date: July 1953Type: Photographic image
Description:Berberis thunbergii ‘Atropurpurea Nana’ (Crimson Pygmy Japanese barberry), red purple leaved shrub in landscape, surrounded by stake, wood chip mulch, and other plants including turfgrass
Berberis thunbergii ‘Atropurpurea Nana’ (Crimson Pygmy Japanese barberry), young stems with leaves (3.105258)
Date: July 1953Type: Photographic image
Description:Berberis thunbergii ‘Atropurpurea Nana’ (Crimson Pygmy Japanese barberry), two young stems with red green leaves, red stems, leaves alternately arranged in clusters at nodes
Betula pubescens Ehrh. (moor birch) leafless tree (3.105457)
Date: February 1953Type: Photographic image
Description:Betula pubescens Ehrh. (moor birch) leafless tree
Extent: 1 slide
Betula pubescens (moor birch), leafless tree, white bark (3.105458)
Date: May 1953Type: Photographic image
Description:Betula pubescens (moor birch), leafless tree, white bark, evergreens in background
Extent: 1 slide
Letter from Alfred Caldwell to Mertha Fulkerson (3.1628)
Date: November 8 1953Creator: Caldwell, Alfred, 1903-1998.
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Alfred Caldwell to Mertha Fulkerson
Two covers for portfolio of 12 paintings (3.17809)
Date: 1953Creator: Ehret, Georg Dionysius, 1708-1770.
Type: Artifact