U.S. National Arboretum Records

Collection

Identifier: MS0186

Staff Only

Content Description

The U.S. National Arboretum Records consist of legislation, Advisory Council papers, correspondence, maps, photographs, field trip notes, herbarium index files, bound Service Lot Reports, plant indexes, staff files (specifically those of John L. Creech and Frederick G. Meyer), taxonomic information, and brochures from miscellaneous arboreta and botanical gardens. There are documents related to Fern Valley, including photographs, cards, programs, newspaper articles, and albums, which were collected by National Arboretum volunteer Margaret Donnald.

Dates

Creation: 1910-1985

Conditions Governing Access

Contact Special Collections for access.

Organizational History

Administered by the Agricultural Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. National Arboretum was established in 1927 to conduct research, provide education, and conserve and display trees, shrubs, flowers, and other plants to enhance the environment. Today's research includes trees, shrubs, turf, and floral plants; new technologies for the floral and nursery industries; development of improved plant characteristics through a program of testing and genetics; new methods of pest and disease detection and control; taxonomy and nomenclature of ornamental plants and their wild relatives; and collection and preservation of plant germplasm with ornamental potential.

John L. Creech Chronology

1920 Born in Woonsocket, Rhode Island

1941 Received a bachelor of science in Horticulture from Rhode Island State College (now the University of Rhode Island).

Commissioned as Second Lieutenant of Infantry, U.S. Army; called to active duty immediately

1943 Earned the Silver Star for heroic actions in World War II. As First Lieutenant of First Infantry Division of the U. S. Army, known as the “Big Red One”, during the Allied invasion of North Africa, he led a patrol deep into enemy lines.

1943-1945 Captured in North Africa by Erwin Rommel’s Afrika Korps and sent to the German-run prisoner of war camp for officers (OFLAG 64) in Poland. Ran a greenhouse as well as developed and maintained a two-acre garden plot used to feed 1, 500 men. Won a Bronze Star for his gardening efforts.

1947 Earned a master’s degree in Horticulture at the University of Massachusetts

Became an employee U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Plant Introduction Station (Glendale Plant Propagation Unit, Maryland)

Year unknown Joined the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of Foreign Plant Exploration. Read an article in The National Horticultural Magazine (now The American Gardener) about plant explorers with the U.S. Office of Foreign Plant Exploration and Expedition that changed his career path

1953 Received a doctorate in botany from the University of Maryland

1953-1956 Served as president of the American Horticultural Society (AHS)

Dates unknown. Conducted 10 plant exploration trips to Japan, Russia, Nepal, Taiwan and Yugoslavia

Date unknown. Became director of the USDA plant exploration office

1972 Received the Royal Horticultural Society’s Gold Veitch Memorial Medal

1973-1980 Appointed third director of the U.S. National Arboretum in January 1973; negotiated the gift of 53 bonsai and 6 viewing stones from the people of Japan for America’s bicentennial celebration. Gift expected to become the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum.

1980 Retired as the third director of the U.S. National Arboretum to Hendersonville, North Carolina; introduced American nurserymen to Japanese horticulture – led tours to Japan

Pre-1987 Established with others the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville, served as interim part-time director

1989 Received the Liberty Hyde Bailey Medal

2009 Died at age 89

Total Size of Collection

15 records_box

58 letter_document_box

1 flat_pamphlet_box

5 boxes (2 boxes, 15.5 x 10.5 x 3; 1 box, 18.75 x 15 x 3; 1 box, 19 x 14.5 x 3; 1 box, 8 x 12 x 6)

34.5 Linear Feet (78 boxes (total boxes from Access record does not agree with box breakdown total))

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Accruals

This is a growing collection.

Related Materials

The cherry tree files previously located in this collection have been placed in a separate collection, titled the United States National Arboretum Collection Cherry Tree Files, collection number MS 408.

Bibliography

Sources Used for Finding Aid: Amalie, Adler Ascher. "A Bonsai Collection from Japan for the Bicentennial Includes: A Rare Gift Centuries in the Making One Tree 150 Years Older than the United States in the Making." The Sun (1837-1994), Jul 18, 1976. https://search.proquest.com/docview/538530704?accountid=6126

---. "Bringing the World's Plants to Your Backyard: Dr. John L. Creech, Director of the National Arboretum, has Explored Asia and Europe to Benefit American Gardeners and Farmers." The Sun (1837-1994), Dec 02, 1979. https://search.proquest.com/docview/538269355?accountid=6126

Baker, Glady L. United States, Agricultural History Branch. Century of Service: The First 100 Years of the United States Department of Agriculture. Washington, DC: Centennial Committee, USDA, 1963.

"Doings of the Day." The Washington Post (1923-1954), Dec 01, 1948. https://search.proquest.com/docview/151999757?accountid=6126

"Garden Club Activities." The Washington Post (1923-1954), Jul 05, 1953. https://search.proquest.com/docview/152593387?accountid=6126

"Garden Notes." The Washington Post (1923-1954), May 15, 1949. https://search.proquest.com/docview/152170538?accountid=6126

Howard, Joseph H. “Archives of the National Arboretum: a finding aid, draft version.” Beltsville, Maryland: National Agricultural Library, 1995. https://archive.org/details/CAT30938087/page/18/mode/2up

"'Metasequoia Tree' Lecture Scheduled." The Washington Post (1923-1954), Oct 26, 1953. https://search.proquest.com/docview/152542015?accountid=6126

“Obituaries: John L. Creech.” Asheville Citizen-Times. Aug 8, 2009. https://www.newspapers.com/image/198591476/?article=c36c142e-4925-4eac-a3d8-1e7f01f6d484&focus=0.3721017, 0.06271692, 0.5234855, 0.24022985&xid=2378

“Remembering horticulture icon Dr. Creech.” Tryon Daily Bulletin. August 25, 2009. Accessed 3/26/20. https://www.tryondailybulletin.com/2009/08/25/remembering-horticulture-icon-dr-creech/

The University of Rhode Island. Military Science and Leadership (Army ROTC) College of Arts and Sciences. “John L. Creech” Captain, WWII, Biography.” https://web.uri.edu/rotc/meet/john-l-creech/

"2, 080 AT U. OF M. WILL GET DEGREES: EXERCISES ARE TO BE HELD AT COLLEGE PARK TODAY." The Sun (1837-1994), Jun 06, 1953. https://search.proquest.com/docview/541640855?accountid=6126

Related Collections at the National Agricultural Library: Agricultural Artifacts Collection (John L. Creech’s plant exploration bag). Manuscript Collection 217.

Collection of Expedition Photographs from the Office of Plant Exploration. Manuscript Collection 280.

Roland Maurice Jefferson Collection. Manuscript Collection 347.

https://www.nal.usda.gov/finding_aids/roland-maurice-jefferson-collection

U.S. National Arboretum Collection, 1910-1985. Manuscript Collection 186.

https://archive.org/details/CAT30938087/page/18/mode/2up

U.S. National Arboretum Collection Cherry Tree Files. Manuscript Collection 408.

https://www.nal.usda.gov/finding_aids/united-states-national-arboretum-collection-cherry-tree-files

Related Collections at Other Institutions: National Archives and Records Administration. Record Group 54.3.17.: Records of the Division of Plant Exploration and Introduction

https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/054.html#54.3.17

U.S. National Arboretum. Roland M. Jefferson Papers.

Contact the Museum Specialist for more information. 202-245-5766.

https://www.ars.usda.gov/northeast-area/washington-dc/national-arboretum/