Abstract
In April, 1937, Isabel Anderson donated the major portion of her husband’s bonsai collection (30 plants) to the Arnold Arboretum, along with the funds necessary to build a shade house for their display on the grounds of the Bussey Institution. In 1949, following her death, the remaining plants were donated to the Arboretum. While the majority of the holding is photographs that document the history of individual plants and the collection, the Records of the Larz Anderson Bonsai Collection also includes publications by Larz and Isabel Anderson, articles and photographs of Weld and the Bonsai Collection before it came to the Arnold Arboretum, and correspondence between Isabel Anderson and E.D. Merrill about the donation of the Bonsai Collection to the Arnold Arboretum.
Dates
- Creation: 1904-
General Physical Description note
(5 boxes)
Terms of Access
This collection is open for research. Researchers seeking to examine archival materials are strongly encouraged to make an appointment. The Director, or an office of origin, may place restrictions on the use of some or all of its records. The extent and length of the restriction will be determined by the Director, office of origin, and the Archivist and will be enforced equally for all researchers.
Terms of Use
The copyright is held by The President and Fellows of Harvard College for the Arnold Arboretum Archives of Harvard University. The copyright on some materials in the collection may be held by the original author or the author's heirs or assigns. Researchers are responsible for obtaining written permission from the holder(s) of copyright and the Arnold Arboretum Archives prior to publishing any quotations or images from materials in this collection.
Photocopies may be made at the discretion of the Arnold Arboretum Archives staff. Permission to make photocopies does not constitute permission to reproduce or publish materials outside the bounds of the fair use guidelines.
Extent
1.6 linear feetWhile the majority of the holding is photographs that document the history of individual plants and the collection, the Records of the Larz Anderson Bonsai Collection also includes publications by Larz and Isabel Anderson, articles and photographs of Weld and the Bonsai Collection before it came to the Arnold Arboretum, and correspondence between Isabel Anderson and E.D. Merrill about the donation of the Bonsai Collection to the Arnold Arboretum. Also included are articles about the Bonsai Collection at the Arnold Arboretum and its curators. Photographs include prints of the Bonsai houses, exhibits, maintenance, and other general subjects. Individual portraits of the plants over the years 1969-1989 are also included, along with some oversized prints.
Historical note
Larz Anderson (1866-1937) was born in Paris in 1866, while his parents were visiting Europe. In August 1888, after graduating from Harvard College in June, he embarked on a trip around the world which lasted two years and included his first exposure to Japan.
In 1897, Anderson married Isabel Weld Perkins (1876-1948) of Brookline, Massachusetts. She authored several books, including one about the Weld family entitled Under the Black Horse Flag. “Weld,” her family home in Brookline, served as the couple’s country home for many years while they made their primary residence in Washington, D.C. Located near Jamaica Pond in Brookline, the gardens at Weld were designed by Charles A. Platt. After Isabel Anderson’s death in 1949, “Weld” was donated to Brookline and is now called Larz Anderson Park. Part of the estate is now the Larz Anderson Auto Museum, the oldest automobile museum in the United States.
After serving in the military and holding a variety of diplomatic posts in Europe Larz Anderson returned to Japan in 1912 as “Ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary.” He resigned in March 1913 after the change of the Republican Taft Administration to the Democratic Wilson administration. This was Anderson’s last official diplomatic position.
Upon his return from Japan in 1913, Larz Anderson imported at least forty trees from the Yokohama Nursery Company. Following his death in April, 1937, Isabel Anderson donated the major portion of the collection (30 plants) to the Arnold Arboretum, along with the funds necessary to build a shade house for their display on the grounds of the Bussey Institution. In 1949, following her death, the remaining plants were donated to the Arboretum.
By 1969 the collection numbered only 27 plants, down from the original 39 due in part to death from winter damage, theft, and improper care. The maintenance situation improved in 1962, with the construction of a redwood lath house for display and a concrete-block cold-storage unit for winter protection. In addition, knowledgeable curation and proper care from Connie Derderian of Watertown, Massachusetts in the years 1969-1984 helped safeguard the remaining plants. In those years she also trained Peter Del Tredici as her replacement.
The theft of six plants in 1986 led to renovations of the bonsai house and a new security system. As of August 1989, fifteen plants of the original thirty-nine still remain.
Extracted from: Del Tredici, Peter. “The Larz Anderson Bonsai Collection.” Arnoldia 49(3): 2-36. Summer 1989.
Provenance
The material was compiled by the Archives from gifts of Isabel Anderson, journals, newspapers, and the photographs of staff.
Accruals note
Further accruals expected
Processing Information note
Compiled by Rebecca Anderson. Edited by Sheila Connor, Archivist, July 1997. Finding aid template applied by Kayleigh Hinckley, March 2011. Revised by Liz Francis, November 2011.
Topical
- Title
- IV B-2 LAB
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Lisa E. Pearson
- Language of description
- und
- EAD ID
- ajp00100
Repository Details
Part of the Arnold Arboretum Archives Repository
The Arnold Arboretum Horticultural Library is a specialized collection devoted to the study of temperate woody plants. We collect works on botany, horticulture, floras, urban forestry and taxonomy. The library contains more than 25,000 volumes and 40,000 photographs, and includes an archive that both documents the Arboretum's history and is a repository for 19th, 20th, and 21st century horticultural and botanical collections.