NNLA Article on Historic Books for Newsletter
The NNLA Board of Directors recently held an in-person board meeting in Omaha, NE. Terri James, extension education at UNL who sits as an advisor to the Board, brought some fascinating pieces of NNLA history to share with the group. Kim Todd discovered three books which hold both hand-written and typed annual meeting notes from between 1925 and 1958. During that time frame the Nebraska Nursery and Landscape Association was known as the Nebraska Association of Nurserymen. The covers and spines of the three books are aged and show signs of wear which is no surprise due to the fact they are all nearly 70 to 100 years old. The pages inside have begun to yellow and fray on the edges. However, the penmanship is as neat and legible as it was decades ago. The books possess that unique musty scent one can only find when visiting a library and pursuing through the classics section.
The book first dated January 6th, 1925 features a description of the very first field day. It was held on Friday, September 10th, 1926. It was hosted by the “nurseries of Plumfield and Marshall Brothers.” One of the sites they visited was “full of excellent trees, shrubs and delicious fruits of all kind.” They discussed writing articles on the planting of plant material and its care to the Nebraska Press Association to appear in the state newspapers. There is a note in the description of the January 19,1940 annual meeting that “attendance was cut short due to heavy snows and 20 degree below zero weather.” On the inside cover of the book which is dated as September 9th, 1941, there is a note listing the fees for membership to the group. The fees ranged from $5.00 for up to $15,000.00 in yearly business to a whopping $30.00 for up to $100,000.00 in business. The first page details the Fall Field Meeting which was held in Omaha at Marshall’s nursery on Center Street and there were almost 100 nurserymen and guests in attendance. The day included lunch as well as “refreshments and discussion.” The secretary mentioned a special thank you to the Omaha Police Force for a motorcycle escort! Turning the page, one finds the yearly record of the president, vice president, secretary-treasurer, and the location of that year’s field day from 1925 through 1958. Notably, Ernest Herminghaus served as secretary-treasurer for 14 consecutive years. A treasurer’s report from 1946 listed total expenses for the organization for the entire year as $115.85 which included hosting a meal for 35 members at the Cornhusker Hotel. The 1955 winter meeting featured several speakers over two days, a “Smorgasbord Style” banquet, as well as the showing of a few informational films all accompanied by question and answer sessions. They had updates from the Public Relations, Membership, Research and Spray committees with nothing to report from the Plant American or Legislative committees. There is no shortage of amusing anecdotes and notes held within these books as well as a wealth of knowledge and history.
These books serve as a wonderful time capsule for what it was like in the horticulture industry between 1925 and 1955. The NNLA Board hopes to display these books and many other pieces of memorabilia at the 100 year anniversary of NNLA in 2025. In the meantime, please reach out to a member of the Board of Directors with any interest in looking at the books.
