Charleston -- McGee Garden

Object Details

sova.aag.gca_ref12461
GUID
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/kb6b2a98599-09ef-4fc3-a2a2-ca4fdcf14e7c
General
The garden is located in the heart of Charleston's first suburb, Ansonborough. The present house was completed circa 1846, and reflects the Greek Revival architecture popular among Charleston's merchant class at that time. In 1969, the house was renovated; and the owner commissioned well-known Charleston landscape architect, Loutrel Briggs, to design the garden. Changes in the garden after 1992 included deepening the flower beds, the creation of a square lawn, and the addition of two square pools. In order to reduce the impact of the large driveway, double-paired parterre beds were created. The emphasis on an axial focus was achieved by large planters in line with the entrance from the loggia and the path connecting the front and rear gardens. The present owners use their garden as an extension of their house. The large plant inventory reflects the owners' interest in southern shrubs, which provide year-round color and texture.
Persons associated with the garden include: Elizabeth Kohne (former owner, 1846); Charles Leslie (former owner, 1904); Mrs. Amalia Walker (former owner, 1962); Rodney and Barbara Williams (former owners 1969-1992); Loutrel W. Briggs (landscape architect, 1969); Richard Hartledge (garden designer, 1992); Shelia Werlimer (landscape architect, 1996); Beverly Rivers (garden designer, 1992-present); Philip Simmons (iron worker, 1960s); and Rich Avert (iron worker, 1992).
Landscape architect
Briggs, Loutrel W.
Master iron worker
Simmons, Philip, 1912-2009
Former owner
Kohne, Elizabeth
Leslie, Charles
Walker, Amalia Mrs.
Williams, Rodney
Garden designer
Hartledge, Richard
Landscape architect
Werlimer, Shelia
Garden designer
Rivers, Beverly
Master iron worker
Avert, Rich
Provenance
The Palmetto Garden Club of South Carolina
Collection Creator
Garden Club of America
Place
McGee Garden (Charleston, South Carolina)
United States of America -- South Carolina -- Charleston County -- Charleston
Topic
Gardens -- South Carolina -- Charleston
Landscape architect
Briggs, Loutrel W.
Master iron worker
Simmons, Philip, 1912-2009
Former owner
Kohne, Elizabeth
Leslie, Charles
Walker, Amalia Mrs.
Williams, Rodney
Garden designer
Hartledge, Richard
Landscape architect
Werlimer, Shelia
Garden designer
Rivers, Beverly
Master iron worker
Avert, Rich
See more items in
The Garden Club of America collection
The Garden Club of America collection / Series 1: United States Garden Images / South Carolina
Sponsor
A project to describe images in this finding aid received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care Initiative, administered by the National Collections Program.
Archival Repository
Archives of American Gardens
Identifier
AAG.GCA, File SC087
Type
Archival materials
Collection Citation
Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, The Garden Club of America collection.
Collection Rights
Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Bibliography
Garden has been published in The Charleston Gardener, by Louisa Pringle Cameron, Wyrick & Company, 2001, pp. 36-43. Also in Keeper of the Gate: Designs in Wrought Iron by Philip Simmons, by Philip Simmons Foundation, Inc., 1993, p. 26.
Scope and Contents
The folder includes a work sheet, a plant list, garden plans, copies of photographs, newspaper articles, copied material from books, and narrative descriptions of the property and its development.
Collection Restrictions
Access to original archival materials by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Related Materials
McGee Garden related holdings consist of 1 folder (11 35 mm. slides)
AAG.GCA_ref12461
Large EAD
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/kb6b2a98599-09ef-4fc3-a2a2-ca4fdcf14e7c
AAG.GCA
AAG
Record ID
ebl-1643208220039-1643210186650-0
Charleston -- McGee Garden
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Related Content

1 result(s)
  • The Garden Club of America collection
    sova.aag.gca
    GUID
    https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/kb617385372-1028-4cb7-b07d-04fea2e51c47
    Creator
    Garden Club of America
    Names
    New York Flower Show
    Topic
    Gardens -- France
    Gardens -- Italy
    Gardens -- Japan
    Gardens -- Mexico
    Flower shows
    Gardening -- United States -- societies, etc
    Gardens -- England
    Landscape architecture
    Gardens -- United States
    Gardens -- Spain
    Gardens -- Scotland
    Creator
    Garden Club of America
    See more items in
    The Garden Club of America collection
    Sponsor
    A project to describe images in this finding aid received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care Initiative, administered by the National Collections Program.
    Summary
    This collection contains over 37,000 35mm slides, 3,000 glass lantern slides and garden files that may include descriptive information, photocopied articles (from journals, newspapers, or books), planting lists, correspondence, brochures, landscape plans and drawings. Garden files were compiled by Garden Club of America (GCA) members for most of the gardens included in the collection. Some gardens have been photographed over the course of several decades; others only have images from a single point in time. In addition to images of American gardens, there are glass lantern slides of the New York Flower Show (1941-1951) and trips that GCA members took to other countries, including Mexico (1937), Italy, Spain, Japan (1935), France (1936), England (1929), and Scotland. A number of the slides are copies of historic images from outside repositories including horticultural and historical societies or from horticultural books and publications. The GCA made a concerted effort in the mid-1980s to acquire these images in order to increase its documentation of American garden history. Because of copyright considerations, use of these particular images may be restricted.
    Accruals note
    The GCA continues to document American gardens and submit images and documentation to the Archives of American Gardens. Further accruals are expected.
    Biographical/Historical note
    The Garden Club of America was established in 1913 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, when the Garden Club of Philadelphia and eleven other garden clubs met to create a national garden club. Its purpose is to foster the knowledge and love of gardening and to restore and protect the quality of the environment through educational programs and gardening and conservation efforts. The GCA was incorporated in Delaware in 1923, with its headquarters established in New York City. Today, local clubs are organized under twelve regional zones. The GCA continues its tradition of hosting flower shows and publishing material related to gardening in the United States. The GCA's glass lantern slides were used by The GCA for presentations and lectures about notable gardens throughout the United States dating back to colonial times. An effort was made in the late 1980s, in preparation of the 75th anniversary of the Garden Club of America's founding, to collect the disbursed slides. These slides were to eventually form the Slide Library of Notable American Parks and Gardens. The informational value of this collection is extensive since a number of images of the more than 4,500 gardens represented show garden designs that have changed over time or no longer exist. While the majority of images document a range of designed upper and upper-middle class gardens throughout the U.S., the scope of the collection is expanding as volunteers photograph and document contemporary gardens including community and vernacular gardens. The gardens illustrate the design work of dozens of landscape architects including Marian Coffin, Beatrix Farrand, Lawrence Halprin, Hare & Hare, Umberto Innocenti, Gertrude Jekyll, Jens Jensen, Warren Manning, the Olmsted Brothers, Charles Platt, Ellen Biddle Shipman, and Fletcher Steele. Because of their proximity to the gardens, works of notable architects and sculptors may also be featured in the images.
    Extent
    37,000 Slides (35mm slides)
    33 Linear feet ((garden files))
    3,000 Lantern slides
    37,000 Slides (35mm slides)
    33 Linear feet ((garden files))
    3,000 Lantern slides
    Date
    circa 1920-present
    Custodial History note
    The GCA's Slide Library of Notable American Parks and Gardens was donated to the Smithsonian Institution in 1992; this became the core collection of the Archives of American Gardens.
    Archival Repository
    Archives of American Gardens
    Identifier
    AAG.GCA
    Type
    Collection descriptions
    Archival materials
    Slides
    Lantern slides
    Plans (drawings)
    Brochures
    Articles
    Correspondence
    Clippings
    Slides (photographs)
    Citation
    Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, The Garden Club of America collection.
    Rights
    Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
    Genre/Form
    Plans (drawings)
    Brochures
    Articles
    Correspondence
    Clippings
    Lantern slides
    Slides (photographs)
    Restrictions
    Access to original archival materials by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
    AAG.GCA
    Large EAD
    https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/kb617385372-1028-4cb7-b07d-04fea2e51c47
    AAG.GCA
    AAG
    Record ID
    ebl-1562776092361-1562776095300-0
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