NCSU Libraries Focus Online

Volume 25 number 3 - Spring 2005

Azaleas Bloom in the Special Collections Research Center

By Lois Fischer Black Special Collections Research Center

During 2004, as azaleas flowered on campus, the Special Collections Research Center had the opportunity to bring some azalea blooms indoors, with the acquisition of the Azalea Society of America's papers. Receipt of this collection increases Special Collections' holdings relating to horticulture and scientific societies. Initial discussions with Donald Moreland, NCSU professor emeritus, brought the collection to the attention of curators in Special Collections, who actively pursued this noteworthy acquisition.

Founded in 1979 by a group of azalea collectors and hybridizers interested in disseminating and improving the knowledge of azaleas, the Azalea Society of America works to achieve many goals. The society promotes knowledge of and interest in azaleas; provides a forum for sharing experiences and the dissemination of techniques of hybridizing, propagation and culture of azaleas; promotes the proper description and registration of new azalea hybrids and selections; conducts studies and communicates with members through publications and meetings; and brings together those with an interest in and appreciation of azaleas.

The society elects and appoints managing officers and committees, along with a number of chapters to provide meetings, lectures, seminars, plant sales, auctions, exchanges, and fellowship at the local level. Its programs meet the needs of home gardeners, collectors, and horticultural students, as well as nurserymen, hybridizers, and landscape architects. Publications include an annual roster of members and a quarterly journal, The Azalean, which is the society's forum for members and others to share observations on azalea culture, garden design, hybridization, propagation, new azaleas, and chapter activities. All of these activities are documented in the archive.

Thanks to the interest and enthusiasm of several society members and officers, the history of this important organization will be preserved. Records in all formats--ranging from correspondence to photographs to memorabilia--were solicited from the membership-at-large via announcements on the society's Web site and in The Azalean. The response was overwhelming, and John Brown, secretary of the Azalea Society of America, assembled seventeen boxes of material. Thanks to the generosity of Brown and Bob Stelloh, chairman of the society's Web site committee, the collection was transported safely from South Carolina to the NCSU Libraries.

Acquiring a collection is only the start of the process that ultimately preserves and makes important records available for research. Historic documents must be flattened, housed in acid-free archival enclosures, and cataloged. Thanks to the generous support of an anonymous donor, the NCSU Libraries has received funding that will allow it to begin the process of rehousing and cataloging the Azalea Society of America Collection. With these funds, the Libraries has been able to employ a graduate student in NC State University's public history program who will prepare a guide to the collection. Once completed, the guide will be mounted on the Special Collection's Web site where scholars worldwide will be able to access it.

Those interested in contributing to the NCSU Libraries' horticultural or other collections should call either the library's Development office at (919) 515-3339 or the Special Collections Research Center at (919) 515-2273.