Z 1818.000
NATCHEZ GARDEN CLUB RECORDS



Microfilm copy must be used.

History:

The Natchez Garden Club sponsored its first annual pilgrimage in 1932. The pilgrimage proved to be so successful that additional pilgrimages were planned. The tourism revenue generated by the Natchez Pilgrimage did much to revitalize the stagnant economy of Natchez during the Depression. The share of profits from pilgrimage tours distributed to the homeowners greatly assisted in the preservation, restoration, and maintenance of a number of historic properties, a number of which had fallen into disrepair.

The profits from the pilgrimage tours also enabled the club to purchase Connelly's Tavern, now known as the House on Ellicott's Hill, in 1934 and to begin its restoration shortly thereafter. The restoration was the first major historic preservation venture undertaken by the club. Connelly's Tavern subsequently became the headquarters for the club and was eventually designated a National Historic Landmark by the United States Department of the Interior in 1975. The work of the Natchez Garden Club has also resulted in the preservation and restoration of other historic properties, including the Priest's House, Lawyer's Lodge, and Magnolia Hall.

By 1936 the Natchez Pilgrimage had become the most important annual project sponsored by the Natchez Garden Club. Planning and hard work by the club had resulted in successfully coordinated pilgrimage tours, pageants, and balls. However, by that time a number of the homeowners on the pilgrimage tours complained that they were not receiving a large-enough portion of the receipts from the pilgrimage tours. The Natchez Garden Club felt that it could not justify granting a larger share of the proceeds to these homeowners and continue to fulfill its mandate as a civic-improvement organization. The dissenting members subsequently resigned their membership in the Natchez Garden Club and withdrew their homes from the pilgrimage. They organized instead the Pilgrimage Garden Club, essentially a homeowners' association, which was chartered in 1937. The next several years were characterized by fierce competition among the clubs, as each tried to garner its share of the ever-increasing revenue generated by the pilgrimage tours, pageants, and balls. For a number of years, each garden club conducted separate pilgrimages, pageants, and balls until both organizations realized that a united pilgrimage was in the best interest of both clubs and the community at large.

Scope and Content Note.

Subgroup Listing

Series Identification and Description

  • Subgroup 1: Records of the Natchez Garden Club
    •
    1. Bylaws. 1975–1977; n.d. 11 items. Bylaws and amendments to bylaws of the Natchez Garden Club. Arranged chronologically. Roll 1 (MF Roll # 36349).
    2. Minutes. 1929–1930; 1932–1978; n.d. 1,353 items. Minutes of Executive Board and general membership meetings of the Natchez Garden Club. Included are committee reports, budgets, financial statements, and resolutions. Arranged chronologically.
      • Roll 1 (MF Roll # 36349): 1929–1954
      • Roll 2 (MF Roll # 36350): 1954–1978; n.d.
    3. Correspondence. 1931; 1933–1944; 1946–1978; 1980; n.d. 2,948 items. Correspondence file documenting the Natchez Garden Club's sustained commitment to the preservation, restoration, and beautification of local historic buildings and gardens as well as its involvement in various other civic, cultural, historic, patriotic, philanthropic, and social activities. Areas of particular interest include the early history and development of the Natchez Pilgrimage and the impact the pilgrimage has had on the economic development of Natchez and Mississippi; the restoration of Connelly's Tavern, now known as the House on Ellicott's Hill, supervised by New Orleans architect Richard Koch; the restoration of various other Natchez Garden Club properties; the early history of the Natchez Trace Parkway project; the contributions of the Natchez Garden Club to the World War II effort; the long-standing rivalry between the Natchez Garden Club and the Pilgrimage Garden Club; reproduction-furniture designs adapted from Natchez originals; the Gorham Company's sterling flatware pattern, "Melrose," inspired by the historic antebellum Natchez mansion, Melrose; the national publicity that the Gorham Company generated on behalf of the Natchez Pilgrimage; and various political initiatives of the club. Arranged chronologically.
      • Roll 2 (MF Roll # 36350): 1931–1936
      • Roll 3 (MF Roll # 36351): 1936–1940
      • Roll 4 (MF Roll # 36352): 1941–1956
      • Roll 5 (MF Roll # 36353): 1956–1973
      • Roll 6 (MF Roll # 36354): 1974–1980; n.d.
    4. Resolutions. 1940; 1956; 1958; 1963; 1969; n.d. 7 items. Included are various resolutions, most of which were received by the Natchez Garden Club, officially recognizing the organization for its many contributions to Mississippi. Of additional interest is a copy of a resolution adopted by the Mississippi Press Association endorsing the construction of the Natchez Trace Parkway and an attached justification for the parkway drafted by Natchez Garden Club member Mrs. Ferriday Byrnes, an ardent supporter of the proposed Natchez Trace Parkway project. Arranged chronologically. Roll 6 (MF Roll # 36354).
    5. Annual Reports. 1934–1955; 1957–1962; 1964–1978; n.d. 81 items. Annual reports of the Natchez Garden Club containing narrative and statistical information about the activities and accomplishments of the club during each fiscal year. The club's fiscal year runs from June 1 through May 31. Arranged chronologically. Roll 6 (MF Roll # 36354).
    6. Yearbooks. 1935–1938; 1944–1947; 1951–1952; 1954–1956; 1963–1964; 1972–1982. 16 items. Yearbooks published by the Natchez Garden Club containing the constitution and bylaws of the club and amendments thereto; lists of officers, standing committees, club members, and pilgrimage kings and queens; significant accomplishments of the club; programs sponsored by the club; information about the Natchez Pilgrimage; poetry; and local advertising. Arranged chronologically.
      • Roll 6 (MF Roll # 36354): 1935–1955
      • Roll 7 (MF Roll # 36355): 1954–1982
    7. Legal Papers. 1937; 1941; 1948–1950; 1952–1953; 1963. 14 items. Contracts, deeds of trust, leases, ordinances, real estate appraisals, etc., pertaining to various Natchez Garden Club properties. Of additional interest are a copy of the bill of complaint filed with the Adams County Chancery Court seeking an injunction against the Pilgrimage Garden Club which had decided to extend its 1941 spring pilgrimage in conflict with that of the Natchez Garden Club's pilgrimage and a judicial memorandum explaining to both clubs why the injunction had been granted. This controversy has since been referred to as the "Battle of the Hoop Skirts." Arranged alphabetically by record subseries. Roll 7 (MF Roll # 36355).
    8. Natchez Pilgrimage Historical File. 1941. 22 items. A file documenting the history of the Natchez Pilgrimage from 1932 to 1941. The material was compiled in order to justify the Natchez Garden Club's bill of complaint filed with the Adams County Chancery Court (see Series 7). Arranged chronologically. Roll 7 (MF Roll # 36355).
    9. Accounting Ledgers. 1936–1941. 2 bound volumes. Accounting ledgers recording receipts and disbursements of Natchez Garden Club funds. Arranged chronologically. Volume 1 (1936–1938); Volume 2 (1938–1941); Roll 7 (MF Roll # 36355).
    10. Accounting Ledgers. 1932–1942. 3 bound volumes. Accounting ledgers recording receipts and disbursements of Natchez Pilgrimage funds. Arranged chronologically. Volume 1 (1932–1936); Volume 2 (1936); Volume 3 (1937–1942); Roll 7 (MF Roll # 36355).
    11. Accounting Ledger. 1948–1958. 1 bound volume. Accounting ledger recording receipts and disbursements of Natchez Garden Club swimming pool funds. Arranged chronologically. Roll 7 (MF Roll # 36355).
    12. Financial Papers (miscellaneous). 1934–1942; 1945–1958; 1960–1961; 1963–1968; 1970 1975; 1977; n.d. 683 items. A variety of miscellaneous financial records including canceled checks, check stubs, invoices, receipts, vouchers, federal income tax returns, and payroll records. Of interest are the invoices, receipts, and vouchers which document expenditures on the restoration of Connelly's Tavern, now known as the House on Ellicott's Hill, and other Natchez Garden Club properties. Invoices, receipts, and vouchers are grouped together as one subseries. Arranged alphabetically by record subseries and thereunder chronologically. Rolls 7 (MF Roll # 36355)–8 (MF Roll # 36356).
    13. Publicity and Promotion File. 1930; 1933–1934; 1936–1944; 1947–1951; 1955–1956; 1962; 1970; 1972–1977; 1981; n.d. 303 items. File documenting the public relations and promotional activities of the Natchez Garden Club including the pilgrimages and other civic, cultural, and preservation activities sponsored by the club. Included are artwork, broadsides, brochures, essays, graphic images, maps, photographic negatives, photographs, paint samples, pilgrimage tour itineraries, poetry, press releases, printed matter, programs, radio broadcasts, sheet music, speeches, term papers, transparencies, and resumes. Arranged alphabetically by record subseries and thereunder chronologically. Rolls 8 (MF Roll # 36356)–9 (MF Roll # 36357).
    14. Kings, Queens, and Pages of the Natchez Pilgrimage. 1957–1969. 1 item. List of former Natchez Garden Club kings, queens, and pages of the Natchez Pilgrimage. Roll 9 (MF Roll # 36357).
    15. Membership Correspondence. 1969–1977; n.d. 218 items. Correspondence pertaining to membership in the Natchez Garden Club. Arranged chronologically. Roll 9 (MF Roll # 36357).
    16. Membership Rolls. 1932–1933; 1937–1940; 1942–1943; 1946–1950; 1975–1976; n.d. 46 items. Lists of active, guest, honorary, and life members of the Natchez Garden Club and prospective members under consideration for active membership. Arranged chronologically. Rolls 9 (MF Roll # 36357)–10 (MF Roll # 36358).
    17. Plans and Elevations. 1949. 2 items. Plans and elevations of the Natchez Garden Club Recreation Building designed by New Orleans architect Richard Koch in 1949. Roll 10 (MF Roll # 36358).
    18. Specifications. 1949; n.d. 5 items. Specifications for the restoration of Connelly's Tavern, now known as the House on Ellicott's Hill. New Orleans architect Richard Koch worked closely with the Natchez Garden Club in completing the restoration of the structure in 1936. Also included are specifications for the construction of the Natchez Garden Club Recreation Building designed by Richard Koch in 1949 (see Series 17). Roll 10 (MF Roll # 36358).
    19. Philately. 1948. 12 items. Canceled commemorative stamps celebrating Mississippi's territorial sesquicentennial, 1798–1948. Souvenir programs of the sesquicentennial ceremony at Connelly's Tavern, now known as the House on Ellicott's Hill, on April 7, 1948, are also provided. Roll 10 (MF Roll # 36358).
  • Subgroup 2: Records of Natchez Garden Club-Sponsored Youth Groups.
    •
    1. Junior Garden Club Yearbook. 1972–1973. 1 item. One yearbook documenting the activities of the Natchez Junior Garden Club, a Natchez Garden Club-sponsored group of young girls dedicated to the conservation and beautification of the environment and the community at large. Roll 10 (MF Roll # 36358).
    2. Natchez High School Gardeners Yearbooks. 1972–1974. 2 items. Two yearbooks documenting the activities of the Natchez High School Gardeners, a Natchez Garden Club-sponsored group of young girls dedicated to the preservation of historic architecture; the conservation of the environment; and the beautification of neighborhoods, streets, and highways. Roll 10 (MF Roll # 36358).
  • Subgroup 3: Records of United Pilgrimages.
    •
    1. United Pilgrimage Minutes. 1936–1937; 1956; n.d. 12 items. Minutes of meetings of Natchez Garden Club and Pilgrimage Garden Club representatives responsible for exploring the feasibility of conducting one pilgrimage co-sponsored by both garden clubs. Arranged chronologically. Roll 10 (MF Roll # 36358).
    2. United Pilgrimage Questionnaires. n.d. 69 items. Questionnaires polling various Natchez Garden Club members on their attitudes toward a united pilgrimage co-sponsored by the Natchez Garden Club and the Pilgrimage Garden Club. A recapitulation of the questionnaires is provided. Arranged alphabetically by last name of club member. Roll 10 (MF Roll # 36358).
  • Subgroup 4: Records of the Pilgrimage Board.
    •
    1. Pilgrimage Board Bylaws. 1936. 3 items. Bylaws and drafts of bylaws of the Pilgrimage Board, a governing body composed of representatives of the Natchez Garden Club and the Homeowners' Association (Pilgrimage Garden Club) responsible for planning and coordinating the fifth annual Natchez Pilgrimage of 1936. Roll 10 (MF Roll # 36358).
    2. Pilgrimage Board Minutes. 1949; 1957; 1959–1965; 1969; n.d. 49 items. Minutes of the Pilgrimage Board, a governing body composed of representatives of the Natchez Garden Club and the Pilgrimage Garden Club, responsible for planning and conducting the Natchez Pilgrimage. Arranged chronologically. Roll 10 (MF Roll # 36358).
  • Subgroup 5: Records of the Pilgrimage Tour Association.
    •
    1. Pilgrimage Tour Association Minutes. 1970–1975. 10 items. Minutes of the Pilgrimage Tour Association, a governing body composed of representatives of the Natchez Garden Club and the Pilgrimage Garden Club responsible for planning and coordinating Natchez Pilgrimage tours. Arranged chronologically. Roll 10 (MF Roll # 36358).
  • Subgroup 6: Miscellaneous Natchez Pilgrimage Records.
    •
    1. Society for the Preservation and Maintenance of Aged Monarchs (SPMAM) Minutes. 1962–1963. 2 items. Minutes of the Society for the Preservation and Maintenance of Aged Monarchs (SPMAM), a group of former queens of the Natchez Pilgrimage who meet socially to entertain the reigning pilgrimage queens. Former queens of the Natchez Pilgrimage are automatically inducted into SPMAM after their respective reigns. Roll 10 (MF Roll # 36358).
    2. Queens of the Natchez Pilgrimage. 1932–1969. 1 item. List of former queens of the Natchez Pilgrimage. Roll 10 (MF Roll # 36358).