A Garden History & Design One Minute
Report from the Archives of American
Gardens (AAG)
Everyone has heard the expression “a picture is worth a thousand words.” While most
may agree, any words attached to a photograph which document invaluable factual
evidence like who, what, when, where and why are lost to the ages if not recorded
somewhere. Without captions or citations, it is easy to lose information or create
misinformation over time. That’s where repositories like the Archives of American
Gardens come in—they collect and preserve documentation for researchers today as
well as those who will come along decades from now.
Cite Lines: Capturing Information for Researchers
Since it was established in 1987, the Archives of American Gardens has compiled
documentation on over 8,500 gardens throughout the United States. That includes
over 150,000 images and an estimated quarter of a million pages of documentation!
While those are impressive figures, what’s even more notable is the data that’s
needed to safeguard their informational value over time.
Scragwood Garden, Willsboro, NY. Couple working in garden with
martin house on pole and corner of garden shed in background.
c. 1920. Unknown photog. From private collection of Hale Family.
Unidentified garden in unknown location.
1920s-1930s. Source of image is unknown.
While the historic image on the left lacks a definite date and photographer, it includes important information such as the
location, source and description. The image on the right has few identifiers and therefore lacks much informational value.
While images on their own often contain contextual clues, written information aids
immensely in their understanding and interpretation. Data such as name(s), date,
place, source, and description of an event or feature that’s depicted is critical to both
current and future researchers. When documenting a garden for the GCA Collection,
please be sure to provide captions and source citations for all images and clippings—
whether they be contemporary or historic. By adding thorough and factual
information--to the greatest extent possible--to all documentation submitted to the
Archives, each image will be worth well more than a thousand words.
Images from the Garden Club of America Collection at the Archives of American Gardens.
By Catherine Bell, GCA Garden History & Design Intern, Archives of American Gardens, October 2014.