The Garden Club of America 1913 – 2013: 100 Years of a Growing Legacy
Renowned historian and preservationist William Seale has authored a book to capture the extraordinary 100-year history of the Garden Club of America. Entitled The Garden Club of America 1913 – 2013: 100 Years of a Growing Legacy, the book is more than just a collection of memories. It is a stirring account of the contributions GCA has made to the political, historical and cultural fabric of our nation. In 1904, Elizabeth Price Martin founded the Garden Club of Philadelphia. In 1913, twelve garden clubs in the eastern and central United States signed an agreement to form the Garden Guild. The Garden Guild would later become the Garden Club of America (GCA), now celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2013. GCA is a volunteer nonprofit organization comprised of 200 member clubs and approximately 18,000 members throughout the country.
Comprised of all women, GCA has emerged as a national leader in the fields of horticulture, conservation, and civic improvement. As an example, in 1930, GCA was a key force in preserving the redwood forests of California, helping to create national awareness for the need to preserve these forests, along with contributing funds to purchase land on which they stood. The Garden Club of America Grove and the virgin forest tract of Canoe Creek contain some of the finest specimens of the redwood forests.
The Garden Club of America is a centennial celebration of strong women who nurtured the country, helped spread the good word of gardening, and continue to plant seeds of awareness.You may order the book online at http://www.gcamerica.org/images/FCKUploads/file/Centennial%202013/GCAHistoryBookOrderForm19Aug2012.pdf. It is also available from Amazon in both a hardcopy and Kindle edition.
