Library, Art and Archives blog

Recent events in the Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art have included the end of our first selling exhibition, new exhibition installation and gallery event with artist Masumi Yamanaka.

Botanical art demonstration

To mark the end of our exhibition ‘From Eye to Hand’, we invited Kew artist Masumi Yamanaka to the Gallery to provide visitors with a free botanical art demonstration. Masumi brought along several examples of her work to demonstrate the different techniques and skills involved in botanical illustration and spent the day painting a live specimen. Despite the weather, the event was well attended by those keen to observe and learn more about this beautiful and specialised art form.

This is part of a wider series of gallery events; we are currently planning events for later in the year so look out for further details on the gallery web pages.

Masumi at work

A successful first selling exhibition

In June we installed our latest exhibition ‘Plants in Peril’ in the Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art. Since the Gallery opened in April 2008, we have hosted a changing programme of exhibitions featuring works from the historic Kew Collection, the contemporary Sherwood Collection as well as collaborations with solo artists and societies. This was our seventh installation after the end of a successful first selling exhibition, which featured works from associated Kew artists alongside artists from Hampton Court Florilegium Society and the Leicestershire Society for Botanical Illustrators. Everyone involved with the planning and execution of ‘From Eye to Hand’ has been very pleased with its popularity, which was confirmed by the positive feedback we received from visitors. 

Wrapped paintings, awaiting collection

Exhibition changeover

Each installation process follows a similar structure; depending on the number of components to an exhibition, the out-going paintings are prioritised, removed from the walls and are prepared for packing. The condition of each painting and its frame are checked, with the reports prepared on original arrival into the Gallery, and only then can they be collected or couriered back to their owners. Every wall requires repairing, cleaning and repainting and there are the large amounts of vinyl lettering that has to be picked off by hand.

Removing vinyl lettering

The new paintings will arrive, usually from more than one source, such as Kew’s library, Dr Sherwood’s Collection (held off-site) or from an external institution. On their arrival the collections are catalogued and condition reports are collated before the exhibition layout is determined. Considerations such as size, colour and style of the paintings are key factors when arranging the layout. Once the paintings are hung, the final elements are completed which includes labelling them, applying the vinyl wall text and information panels, as well as installing the showcase material primarily from Kew’s Library Art and Archives and the Economic Botany Collection. Finally, a specialist lighting company is brought in to ensure that the light levels are customised to each exhibition and are set to a level of 50 lux to protect the artwork on display.

Attaching mirror plates to new paintings

For details on our gallery events or current exhibition please visit our webpage or contact us on 020 8332 3622 or email us.

- Joanne -

Further information

• The Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art
• Plants in Peril Exhibition
• Library, Art and Archives webpages

What is #AskArchivists Day?

#AskArchivists Day is an international twitter event happening on 9 June 2011, in which Kew's archivists will be taking part. The event encourages the public to use twitter to ask archivists questions and is similar to the #askacurator day held in September 2010. This is the first #AskArchivists Day to be held and many archives from all over the world will be taking part.

The day gives you the chance to ask archivists anything! You can ask questions about items held in the collection, the history of an organisation, how to become an archivist, what an archivist does etc. Remember though, as you will be using twitter to ask these questions, you will need to limit them to 140 characters! 

How to ask Kew's archivists questions

First, you will need a twitter account. You can sign up to twitter here. It’s free and easy to use. 

Once you have signed up, you will need to tweet us, using the @ sign e.g. "@KewGardens – How big are your archives? #AskArchivists". If you already follow @KewGardens on twitter, you can click the 'mention' or 'reply' options to tweet us.

If you include the #AskArchivists tag, everyone following the event can see your question and the answer.

What subjects will be covered?

You can ask us anything you want about our collections or about what we do in the Library, Art and Archives here at Kew. Examples include: 

• What we hold in our collections
• Tracing your botanist/horticulturalist ancestor
• What an archivist does
• How you can access our collections
• Our digitisation project
• How you can find out about the history of Kew Gardens

We look forward to hearing from you on Thursday 9 June!

-Kiri-
 

Further Information

• The #AskArchivists webpage
• Join Twitter
• Follow  Kew on Twitter
• Learn more about Kew's Library, Art and Archives Collections  

What is oral history?

Oral history is fast becoming a means of recording past memories which would otherwise be lost forever. Many people have led interesting lives, professional and personal, often intertwined, and whereas Kew staff have often published papers on their work, or spoken casually about it, many have memories which they do not think of sharing with others. Oral history can also supplement the written historical record or fill in the gaps of the archive.

Oral historians largely use a set of interviewing techniques to elicit and record people talking about their memories of past experiences. This is not a new practice; we should never forget that long before the term ‘oral history’ was used, people in various cultures and societies have used and perpetuated oral traditions and oral histories as a part of their daily lives.

Diana and Roger Polhill, retired Herbarium Botanists, recount their experiences of an African Expedition.

The history of Kew's project

In 1975, a series of ad hoc audio interviews of ex members of staff and prominent botanists was started. The very first was Eric Court’s ‘Reminiscences of the buildings of Kew for which he worked as a carpenter for 42 years’, as interviewed by John Simmons. Others followed in the 1980s and 1990s.

Since 2007, I have continued this project of interviewing ex-members of staff across the Gardens, from as varied a background as possible, but this time switching to film as opposed to sound recordings. Our photographer, Andrew McRobb, looks after the technical side of the project, carrying out filming, editing and taking care of sound issues.

The aim of the project is not just historical; I wish to make the public aware of the variety of tasks carried out by the staff at Kew, as well as the work carried out behind-the-scenes, in a way that is easily understood by all. 

Researching interview questions

Any interview always involves a certain amount of research, and I rely on a variety of sources such as the Kew Guild Journal, a publication created by the Kew Guild, which is an association for staff and students, established in 1893. This records trips and publications of staff throughout the years, as well as other items of news. I also rely on other members of staff; many will remember facts and anecdotes about their colleagues which they themselves might have forgotten, or are too modest to relate! Another good source of information are the Archives themselves, which sometimes contain papers deposited by the interviewee providing a good insight into their past activities, as well as the Library catalogue for publications. 

An example of interviewees

Interviewees have come from varied backgrounds and include retired botanists from the Herbarium, who have recounted a number of fascinating stories. For instance, there is the story of the husband and wife team, who whilst on a botanical expedition to Africa in the 1970s were held at gunpoint and in their interview they explain the stratagem they used to get themselves out of this delicate situation. There is also the story of one of our retired Gardeners, now a Volunteer Guide, who left his homeland in France to come and work at Kew in 1964 aged 17 and spent the next 43 years looking after the Arboretum.

Pat Smallcombe, retired Gardens Supervisor, and now Volunteer Guide, tells how he left his French homeland to become a Kew Gardener in the 1960s.

If you are interested in coming to view these fascinating stories and many others, or would simply like more information on the project, please contact the Archives.
 

- Michele -

Further Information

• Discover Kew's Archives.
• The Making of Oral History – How Oral History developed in Britain and abroad.
• Find out about the Oral History Project at the Natural History Museum ‘ Museum Lives’.

Harry Veitch and Chelsea

The Director's Correspondence contains letters from several members of the Veitch family, famed for the Veitch & Sons Nurseries, a name synonymous with horticulture for much of the 18th century, when it enjoyed a reputation as the leading plant nursery in the world. It is especially fitting to remember  Sir Harry Veitch this month ahead of that most anticipated of horticultural events: the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Sir Harry was instrumental in establishing the show at its current home in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea. From 1862, the RHS held a 'Great Spring Show' at their garden in Kensington, and from 1888 to 1911 the show moved to Temple Gardens. In 1912, the show was cancelled to give precedence to the Royal International Horticultural Exhibition, which by the offices of Harry Veitch was held at Chelsea. This proved to be such a successful site that the RHS still holds its show there today. 
 

Sir Harry James Veitch (1840-1924). Knighted in 1912 for services to horticulture.

John Gould Veitch in Japan

As we continue to digitise the Directors' Correspondence concerning Asia, we have come across letters from John Gould Veitch, Sir Harry's brother. J. G. Veitch was one of the first plant collectors to visit Japan. Foreigners were not admitted into Japan until 1853 and just seven years later, at the age of 21, J.G. Veitch arrived in Nagasaki determined to collect new and exotic plants to send back to his family's internationally renowned nursery. His movements within Japan were highly restricted so he began by gathering plants from the owners of private gardens in the area. However, he soon received an invitation from the Consul General of Japan, Rutherford Alcock, to join the first British ascent of Mount Fuji.

Diagram by J.G. Veitch showing the predominant vegetation on Mount Fuji [DC 57 f.4]

The Directors' Correspondence collection contains several letters from Rutherford Alcock, including one from July 1860 in which he anticipates the arrival of J.G. Veitch who he hopes will help him with his botanical collections (Alcock was already sending plants to England for both RBG Kew and the Queen) [DC 57 f.3]. Later that year Alcock writes: "By a piece of great good fortune just as I was about to start on an expedition to ascend the far famed Fusiyama [Mount Fuji]...to learn something of the botany of the mountains of Japan, a son of Mr Veitch of Chelsea arrived, and I immediately attached him to my suite". [DC 57 f.5]

This was also a piece of great good fortune for Veitch as it allowed him to be the first to collect and send back valuable seeds and cones from the conifers of Mount Fuji for Veitch & Sons to raise for commercial purposes. For example, the consignment he sent back to his family's nursery contained Larix kaempferi, the Japanese larch, which has remained popular in Europe, and is used as a material for bonsai. The Directors' Correspondence also contains Veitch's own list of 'The more striking trees and shrubs' observed on their journey as well as Veitch's notes on the agricultural crops, vegetables and fruits of Japan, which were sent to RBG Kew by Alcock [DC 57 f.4].

The Veitch legacy

J.G. Veitch introduced many new plant species from Japan, but by that time, the Veitch nursery was already famous for the introduction of new and rare plants. 'Hortus veitchii' records that the House of Veitch introduced: 232 orchids, nearly 500 greenhouse plants, 118 exotic ferns, about 50 conifers, 153 deciduous trees, 72 evergreen and climbing shrubs, 122 herbaceous and 37 bulbous plants from all corners of the world!
 

Herbarium label from a specimen of Aglaonema commutatum var maculatum in the Kew collection. The label is from Veitch's Royal Exotic Nursery, King's Road, Chelsea and records that the specimen was collected by 'Veitch' in 'Manilla'.

This year, from the 24 to 28 May, the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea will once again be resplendent with the world's finest blooms and ambitious show gardens - including Kew's own garden in partnership with the Times. We can't wait to see what new delights the nurserymen and growers will have on display, following in the footsteps of the pioneering Veitch & Sons.
  

- Ginny -
 

Find Out More...

• If you have a subscription you can view the Directors' Correspondence content as it goes online at JSTOR plant science
• Search Kew's Herbarium Catalogue for plant specimens collected by various members of the Veitch family all over the world
• Check out some of the other recent posts on the Library, Art & Archives blog
• Find out more about Kew at the Chelsea Flower Show

The Illustrations Team care for Kew’s collection of over 200,000 botanical illustrations. This world class resource includes the work of 18th century masters such as Georg Dionysius Ehret, 19th century illustrators, such as the prolific Walter Hood Fitch, and contemporary artists contributing to current publications.

The team also have responsibility for Kew’s historical images, its portrait collection of eminent botanists, and its many art and artefacts – including the ingenious folding chair reputedly used by Sir Joseph Banks aboard the Endeavour, and collection of wax orchids beautifully crafted by the 19th century artist Edith Blackman.

Tulip ‘Baquet Rigaux optimus’, by Georg Dionysius Ehret (1708-1770)
 

Marilyn, Illustrations Curator, manages the section of staff, and is assisted by Lynn, Assistant Curator, Julia and Marie, Illustrations Assistants, and Trishya, Library and Illustrations Assistant. The team is also fortunate to receive help from its volunteers, who play a crucial role in assisting with the many tasks required to maintain the illustrations and identify material, in order to respond to the numerous enquiries generated by this resource.

The section deals with a wide range of queries – from botanists studying an illustration for identification purposes, to authors and artists researching a particular illustrator or plant. Some illustrations are the first cited reference for a named plant, and serve as type illustrations in much the same way as the type specimens in Kew’s Herbarium. We all feel privileged in our work and never know what treasures we will uncover when researching the next enquiry!

Appointments can be made to access the illustrations collection, for those with a genuine research need; members of the public can see examples on exhibition in Kew’s Shirley Sherwood Gallery, which opened in 2008. The gallery provides a fantastic showcase for Kew’s artworks as well as the many beautiful illustrations which form the private collection amassed by Dr. Sherwood.

Kew’s illustrations collection continues to grow with purchases made through its modest acquisitions budget and through bequests and the sponsorship of artworks.

If you have any queries about the illustrations collection please contact the team at illus@kew.org 

- Julia -

Further information

• Find out more about Kew's illustrations collection
• Discover Kew's Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art
  
• Give now - help Kew look after art and heritage
• Discover Kew's Library, Art and Archives collections