Fred Winter Scholarships Announced
Since 2013 our society has been able to give financial scholarships to students completing their horticultural degree courses at local universities and who are committed to a career in one the many branches of horticulture. This was made possible by a very generous donation by Barbara Winter in honor of Dr. Fred Winter, her husband who created their highly esteemed garden at their home.
In 2018 two scholarships, each for $2,500, were awarded by the Education Committee to two students with outstanding academic records and an obvious real commitment to horticulture. Nora Palmer, Delaware Valley University has a clear desire “to inspire and motivate people…and make a difference in the world” by teaching people about the value of horticulture in providing healthy food and a happier environment. Parker Strand, Penn State University, is committed to helping people understand the value of public institutions in providing environments of aesthetic and sensory beauty.
PSPA Member Database Updated
The Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture’s Memoirs VI, printed in 1939, contains a consolidated list of PSPA members from 1785 to 1939. In it, the Committee on Activities details the sources from which the names were gathered, notably the Germantown Telegraph, which provided “a number of names elected” in the second half of the nineteenth century.
One of the current projects of the Historical and Library Committee has been to list names of members elected since 1939. An initial start was made by simply typing a list, but Lynne Farrington, who curates the Society’s collections at the University of Pennsylvania, saw the limits of such activity. Instead, Lynne designed a spread sheet that would list name, city, date of election, type of membership, and office held. Then she assigned the project to a student, Ryan Morgan, who in a short period of time completed a consolidated list of all PSPA members since 1785.
The Society expresses its appreciation to Lynne and Ryan for a project that will be of great use in the years to come.
How to Use the PSPA Library Online
Last year the Historical and Library Committee worked on some reorganization of the online access to the PSPA Library and set-up some clear directions for use. On www.pspaonline's website, click “Resources,” then “
Library and Archive
.” You will see a collection of options. Click “
How to Search the Penn Libraries Online Catalog
” and the instructions for use will come up. If you wish to learn more about the collections, on the website, click “Resources,” then “Library and Archive,” then “
Introduction
."
