Researchers may request copies of digital files. The Special Collections Research Center cannot guarantee that all files will open and will not in all cases have software available to read files.
The Azalea Society of America records contain administrative information, chapter information, correspondence to and from the Society, membership information, various publications, and research files. Although items in the collection date back to 1928, the bulk of information falls between 1979 and 2013. This is an ongoing collection with publications added once available.
Created in 1979, the Azalea Society of America's goals include the promotion of the knowledge of and interest in azaleas and proper description and registration of azaleas. These goals are met through conducting studies of azaleas and providing a forum for azalea enthusiasts to discuss hybridizing, propagation, and culture of azaleas.
In 1979, a number of azalea collectors and hybridizers interested in sharing and improving the knowledge of azaleas founded the Azalea Society of America as a non-profit educational and scientific society. The Society's goals are to promote knowledge of and interest in azaleas; provide a forum for the sharing of experiences and the dissemination of techniques of hybridizing, propagation and culture of azaleas; promote the proper description and registration of new azalea hybrids and selections; conduct studies; communicate with the members through publications and meetings; and bring together all those whose interest in and appreciation of azaleas form a bond of friendship.
The Society has national officers and committees for overall structure and direction, along with a number of chapters to provide meetings, lectures, seminars, plant sales, auctions and exchanges, and fellowship at the local level. National membership includes membership in one of the local chapters, with At-Large affiliation for those members not joining a local chapter. Each spring, one of the local chapters hosts an annual convention to immerse members and friends in a long weekend of azalea activities at the national level. They feature tours of local gardens during the day, renowned speakers each evening, and ongoing sales of azaleas and companion plants.
There have been seventeen chapters (four are now defunct) in thirteen states:
The programs of the Society are designed to 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 their observations on azalea culture, garden design, hybridization, propagation, new azaleas, and chapter activities.
The records of the Azalea Society of America document this organization, which is devoted to sharing and promoting the knowledge of azaleas, and date from 1928 through 2024. Included are materials documenting the founding of the horticulture society in 1979, its membership, and publications, as well as research on azalea culture, garden design, hybridization, propagation, and new azaleas.
The Administration series contains papers related to the administration of the Azalea Society of America. It includes the papers of the Board of Directors, Board of Governors, Executive Committee, by-laws of the national body, financial records, incorporation information, job descriptions, and procedures. The Chapters series is composed of materials, chiefly by-laws, relating to specific chapters.
Correspondence includes memoranda and electronic mail as well as postal mail sent to and from the Azalea Society of America. The early correspondence is chiefly among members of the Board of Governors concerning creation and amendments of the bylaws, incorporation of the society, formation of chapters, and the society's tax status. Throughout this series there are letters and memoranda about annual meetings, the society's finances, and membership. Also included are letters inquiring about membership in the society or requesting information about azaleas. Frequent correspondents are Ryon Page, William C. Miller, Robert Hobbs, Bob Stelloh, and William B. McIntosh.
The Members series contains materials related to the members of the Azalea Society of America. Members are broken down into groups: annual members, life members, new members, and overseas members. The Photographs series consists of photographs related to the society and includes about seventy photographs and six 35mm negatives of people, landscapes, and plants. People present include: Fred Galle, Betty Galle, George Harding, Joan Lerner, Milt Lerner, Ryon Page, Faith Page, and Ed Collins.
The Publications series contains issues of the journal of the Azalea Society of America, The Azalean, and related material; newsletters of the society's chapters; brochures distributed by the society; and publications of other organizations. The Research series consists of research notes documenting development of different hybrid varieties and correspondence related to this work. Also included are printed information regarding caring for azaleas, preparing azalea cuttings, different varieties of azaleas, garden design, and lists of azalea hybrids; surveys of and about azaleas; and scholarly articles about azaleas and rhododendrons, 1989-2002, most authored all or in part by Dr. Kathleen Kron.
The records of the Azalea Society of America are organized into seven series:
The NC State University Libraries generally claims only physical ownership of most Special Collections materials. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. Libraries staff are unable to advise on copyright and other legal matters; the user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Helpful resources for assessing copyright include Cornell Libraries' "Copyright Services: Copyright Term and the Public Domain" and copyright.gov. This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information about identifiable living individuals, which may be protected under federal or state laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that there may be legal ramifications for disclosing this information.
The University Archives operates in accordance with the State Public Records Act, with unrestricted access to records not covered by state and federal statutes and regulations.
[Identification of item], Azalea Society of America Records, MC 00348, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC
Received from John Bearden Brown, 2002, 2006, 2007, Frank Bryan, 2007; June 2011 (Accession 2011.0147); 2012 (Accession 2012.0016, 2012.0037, 2012.0091), and the Azalea Society of America, 2018 (Accession 2018.0083, 2018.0084); 2020 (Accession 2020.0103, 2020.0055); 2021 (Accession 2021.0044).
Processed by Erin Bradford, Lois Fischer Black, Linda Sellars, 2006 April
Encoded by Erin Bradford, Linda Sellars, 2006 April
Revisions: Finding aid updated in March 2007 by Dani Nation; December 2007 by Cate Putirskis; June 2011 by Judy Allen Dodson; November 2012 by Vivian Phinizy; 2012-2015 by Jennifer Baker; April and May 2014 by Jodi Berkowitz; 2015-2016 by Gwynn Thayer; February 2018 by Taylor de Klerk; November 2020 by Hannah Chapman; July 2022 by Shima Hosseininasab, November 2023 by Katelyn Cuomo; January 2024 by Katelyn Cuomo
The collection is organized into seven principal series:
This series contains papers related to the administration of the Azalea Society of America. It includes the papers of the Board of Directors, Board of Governors, Executive Committee, by-laws of the national body, financial records, incorporation information, job descriptions, and procedures. It is important to note that the Board of Governors changed in name to the Board of Directors in 1990. Additional incorporation files are housed in an oversized box.
14 archival boxes, 1flat box, 3 legal boxes
3 Cassette Tapes
Copies of these Cassettes must be made prior to patron use.
VHS Tape
Copies of this VHS tape must be made prior to patron use.
2 Canvas Tote Bags, 1 Canvas Hat, 1 ASA License Plate, 1 Note pad with ASA logo, 1 ASA grey cotton T-shirt, 1 ASA corporate seal
Book
Contains two sealed packets of azalea seeds: R. flammeum - Oconee azalea: Red-flowering seed parent o.p. from Jenkins Arboretum R. atlanticum - Coast azalea: Open pollinated from Natural Landscapes Nursery
3 CD's
Copies of these CD's must be made prior to patron use.
3 CD's
Copies of these CD's must be made prior to patron use.
CD
Copies of this CD must be made prior to patron use.
This series is composed of materials, chiefly by-laws, relating to specific chapters. Some papers are for chapters that no longer exist. However, not all remaining chapters are represented. Information about chapter membership may also be found in Series 3, Correspondence, or in Series 4, Members. Newsletters for the various chapters can be found in Series 6, Publications.
2 archival boxes, 1 archival half box
Correspondence includes memoranda and electronic mail as well as postal mail sent to and from the Azalea Society of America. Correspondence is arranged chronologically. Although some correspondence related to the society's journal, The Azalean may be found in this series, most correspondence directly related to the publication and distribution of The Azalean will be found in Series 6. The early correspondence in this series is chiefly correspondence among members of the Board of Governors concerning creation and amendments of the bylaws, incorporation of the society, formation of chapters, and the society's tax status. Throughout this series there are letters and memoranda about annual meetings, the society's finances, and membership. Also included are letters inquiring about membership in the society or requesting information about azaleas. Frequent correspondents are Ryon Page, William C. Miller, Robert Hobbs, Bob Stelloh, and William B. McIntosh.
7 archival boxes
This series contains materials related to the members of the Azalea Society of America. Members are broken down into groups: annual members, life members, new members, and overseas members. Also included are lists of members, membership rosters, and various types of reports about members. Correspondence to the Azalea Society of America asking for information to join and information about paying annual dues can be found in the Correspondence series.
The term "posting group" refers to accumulated member changes entered into the society's database at one time. The treasurer accumulated member renewals and new member applications until month-end or until he received thirty or forty of them and then posted them into the database at one sitting, thus creating "posting groups." He then printed some reports about the group.
6 archival boxes, 1 archival half box
This series consists of photographs related to the Azalea Society of America. Included in this series are about seventy photographs and six 35mm negatives of people, landscapes, and plants. People present include: Fred Galle, Betty Galle, George Harding, Joan Lerner, Milt Lerner, Ryon Page, Faith Page, and Ed Collins. Some photographs were taken at the 1990 Brookside Azalea Sale.
Included is 185 JPEG files, 10 MIDI files, 2 WAV files, and 9 additional text and image files of various formats.
Access to digital copies will be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room upon request.
File count of digital media may exclude system files; hidden, deleted, or excluded files; and duplicate files.
Retrieved from a CD-R.
This folder contains 24 3x5 photographic prints of a landscape. These prints were produced in 1993.
This folder contains six 35mm negatives of Fred and Betty Galle planting azaleas outside a house in December 1995. Prints of four of these images can be found in the Photographs: People folder, Folder 18 in Half Box 17.
This folder contains 40 photographs (3x5, 4x6, and 5x7 prints). Most are identified and dated on the verso side. People present include: Fred Galle, Betty Galle, Bob Stewart, Nancy Swell, George Harding, Joan Lerner, Milt Lerner, Sue Switzer, George Switzer, Margaret Church, Tony Dove, Della Dove, Bobby Jones, Joe Blackwell, Philabell Blackwell, Ryon Page, Faith Page, Ed Roth, Thais Spencer, Bob Stelloh, Weldon Delp, and Ed Collins. Some photographs were taken at the Brookside Azalea Sale of 1990.
This folder contains three items: 4x6 photographic prints of an azalea and a rhododendron luteum, and a drawing of a bonsai.
The Publications series contains three subseries: The Azalean, Other Publications of the Azalea Society of America, and Publications of Other Organizations. The first and largest subseries consists of issues of the journal of the Azalea Society of America, The Azalean, and related material. The issue production files contain correspondence related to The Azalean, as well as draft copies of articles and other material used in publishing each issue. The second subseries contains newsletters of the various chapters of the society and brochures distributed by the Azalea Society of America. The last subseries contains publications of other organizations.
29 archival boxes and 1 archival half box
The research series consists of materials related to various research projects sponsored by the Azalea Society of America or independent research of various members. Research notes documenting development of different hybrid varieties and correspondence related to this work comprises the bulk of the series. Also included are printed information regarding caring for azaleas, preparing azalea cuttings, different varieties of azaleas, and lists of azalea hybrids; surveys of and about azaleas; and scholarly articles about azaleas and rhododendrons, 1989-2002, most authored all or in part by Dr. Kathleen Kron.
3 archival boxes
Correspondence, reports on azalea breeding.
Correspondence.
Researchers may request copies of digital files. The Special Collections Research Center cannot guarantee that all files will open and will not in all cases have software available to read files.
For more information contact us via mail, phone, or our web form.
Mailing address:
Special Collections Research Center
Box 7111
Raleigh, NC, 27695-7111
Phone: (919) 515-2273
[Identification of item], Azalea Society of America Records, MC 00348, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC
The NC State University Libraries generally claims only physical ownership of most Special Collections materials. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. Libraries staff are unable to advise on copyright and other legal matters; the user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Helpful resources for assessing copyright include Cornell Libraries' "Copyright Services: Copyright Term and the Public Domain" and copyright.gov. This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information about identifiable living individuals, which may be protected under federal or state laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that there may be legal ramifications for disclosing this information.
The University Archives operates in accordance with the State Public Records Act, with unrestricted access to records not covered by state and federal statutes and regulations.