Special Collections Research Center
William & Mary Special Collections Research CenterFinding Aid Authors: Anne T. Johnson.
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Frances R. Gillette Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
Gift.
Processed by Anne Johnson in 2011.
Frances R. Gillette was originally from Emporia, Kansas, but also lived in Williamsburg, Virginia during the late 1940's to 1950's. Her parents were Almerin and Chloe Eugenia Gillette. She had a twin sister, Katherine M. Gillette. Further information about this individual or organization may be available in the Special Collections Research Center Wiki: .
Papers of Frances R. Gillette. Early Gillette Family material, particularly poetry, and material about the Williamsburg Garden Club.
Collection arranged alphabetically by subject.
Two address books with addresses and notes. Invitations for events from John Stewart Bryan in 1947 and Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Cheek, Jr. (Undated). Application for membership in The Colony Club in Richmond, Virginia.
Notebook with handwritten and printed poems by members of the Gillette Family and others. Includes an 1862 poem written by Frances R. Gillette's mother. Also includes two obituaries of Eugenia Gillette, the mother of Frances and an 1883 Christmas card to her "Mamma." Items removed from notebook.
Notebook with practice letters, probably by Frances R. Gillette.
Three small notepads which include historical notes, poems, addresses and observations.
Series of photographs of a robin on her nest, the eggs and finally the mother feeding the babies. Photographed by Eugenia C. Gillette, the mother of Frances R. Gillette. Photograph of boxwood in snow and a field of flowers.
Notes that tell when a plant or bulb was first planted and following its history. Appear to concern plantings at different locations, such as Berkeley's Plantation. Other handwritten gardening notes.
Handwritten and printed poetry, some signed by Frances R. Gillette. Includes notes on plants and a photocopy of a score of "Mount Vernon Bells."
Small notebook of handwritten and published poetry and a larger notebook with handwritten and published poetry. The larger notebook includes an 1889 note from Mrs. E. Warner about a study group. Some of the poems are by Eugenia Chapman Gillett, the mother of Frances.
Includes Ferns of Florida by John Kenkel Small, Ville Toscane guidebook to gardens, Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University Bulletin (1936), Notes on the Restoration of Williamsburg Gardens (1933), Our Wild Flowers, A Plea for Protection by Frank Morris (1939), Bulletin of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute - The Willows of Virginia (1944), Man's Attitude to Nature by Frank Morris, Lily Year-Book 1938 of the Royal Horticultural Society, Wisconsin Horticulture (1926), Virginia State Commission on Conservation and Development - Perennials and Evergreens, European pamphlets and Golden Anniversary Horticulture Magazine (October 1954).
1935 letter from Frances R. Gillette about expenses, 1936 letter to Mrs. C.G. Milhum from Donald Wyman of the Arnold Arboretum, Undated letter from Emma G. Gourd (written in French) about Narcissa, beginning of a notebook about a Williamsburg Garden Club Study Group with list of programs for 1939-1940, small notebook with expenses for the 1940's with notes and a list of plants for a nature trail.
Clipping from a column, Books to Own, with a review of A Williamsburg Scrapbook compiled by the Williamsburg Garden Club and other newspaper clippings about Williamsburg Garden Club events.
Folder with Place Ribbons cards with ribbons for the 1936 Second Narcissus Show sponsored by The Garden Club of Williamsburg.
Gardening brochures, invitations and other publications of garden clubs around Virginia. Programs from Norfolk, Nansemond River, Williamsburg, Franklin, Hampton Roads, Augusta, Virginia Beach, Petersburg, Huntington, Princess Anne, Alexandria and Gloucester from 1938 to 1959. Programs for Historic Garden Week in Virginia (1932-59), Register of The Garden Club in Virginia (1947-1959), pamphlets for annual Daffodil, Camellia, Narcissus, Dahlia and Rose Shows in Virginia (1935-1953), Williamsburg Yearbook (1954-1958), Historic Garden Week in Williamsburg pamphlets (1932-1959), home and garden tour brochures for Maryland, Florida, West Virginia, California, Woodstock and Westmoreland County, tourist brochure "Carry me back to Old Virginia" and a 1930 map of Virginia with places of interest marked. Includes a program Live Better Electrically Kitchen Tour, a tour in Williamsburg at the homes of Keilocker, Davis, Carr, Richardson, Thomas and Hickman families (Undated).