Glen Ridge -- Westcott Garden

Object Details

General: The suburban property had enough land to plant roses and to treat them experimentally with pesticides and fungicides for the diseases that plagued American gardens. This property was the home of Cynthia Westcott, PhD., plant pathology. As a result of her work with private clients, as well as through her own publications, Westcott was known as the plant doctor. She noted that roses responded spectacularly to regular weekly care, making them good test subjects. Westcott wrote many books and articles on the care of roses and other garden ornamentals, she belonged to a number of professional societies, and she was honored for her work many times. Nurserymen Jackson and Perkins named the hybrid tea rose Cynthia for her.; Persons associated with the garden include: Cynthia Westcott (1898-1983) (former owner, circa 1933-1962).

Place: Westcott Garden (Glen Ridge, New Jersey); United States of America -- New Jersey -- Essex County -- Glen Ridge

See more items in: Maida Babson Adams American garden collection.; Maida Babson Adams American garden collection. / Series 1: Garden Images / New Jersey

Biographical / Historical: Dr. Cynthia Westcott earned the title "Plant Doctor" n 1932 after she learned few institutions hired women researchers, even ones like her with doctorates in plant pathology. Instead, wrote scholar R.K. Horst, Westcott conducted house calls like an old-fashioned doctor, helping prominent New Yorkers treat the diseases in their gardens. During World War II, the United States government asked Westcott to eradicate a fungus that decimated southern azaleas; she innovated a fungicide protocol in between lecturing on pest control in victory gardens. Although the nation knew her as a columnist for The New York Times and the author of The Plant Doctor and The Gardener's Bug Book, colleagues knew her as a Fellow of the American Phytopathological Society and garden clubs knew her as a prominent lecturer. New Jerseyans remembered her annual Rose Days, when she opened her Glen Ridge home to anyone seeking advice or a rose arrangement. She showed early researchers when the Jackson and Perkins Company named a hybrid tea rose "Cynthia" in her honor.

Collection Citation: Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, Maida Babson Adams American garden collection.

Collection Rights: Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.

Bibliography: This property is featured in "Plant Doctoring is Fun" by Cynthia Westcott, published in European Journal of Plant Pathology, Vol. 64, Nos. 5-6, pp. 379-382. This property is featured in "Pioneer Leaders in Plant Pathology: Cynthia Westcott, Plant Doctor" by R. Kenneth Horst, published in Annual Review of Phytopathology, 1984.

Scope and Contents: The folder includes worksheets, safety film negatives, prints, and copies of articles.

Collection Restrictions: Access to original archival materials by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.

Related Materials: Westcott Garden related holdings consist of 1 folder (8 safety film negatives; 2 prints); Additional archival materials such as the "Cynthia Westcott Papers, 1922-1983," are located at the Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, 2B Carl A. Kroch Library, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853.