100 Years Bold: Our Centennial of Irises & People

by Heather Haley

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the American Iris Society (AIS), members received five fantastic supplements to copies of the quarterly bulletin IRISES. Their publication was a labor of love for the managing editor James (Jim) W. Morris and assistant editor Janis Shackleford. Three years of research, writing, and editing produced over 470 pages to delight novice and veteran iris enthusiasts alike.

These supplements are available for purchase through the AIS Storefront, and have recently been published in a single bound volume titled 100 Years Bold! This work contains many wonderful stories and remembrances of the irises and people that will delight any iris enthusiast. The following outlines the contents of each supplement and the addendum that comprise the bound volume.

Supplement One: The Early Years

• Forward: Looking Forward by Jody Nolin, AIS President
• Managing Editor's Introduction by Jim Morris
• Founder's Wall (partial list only)
• Prologue to 1920 by Bob Pries
• A New York Story by Anner Whitehead
• Dr. John Caspar Wister by Andy Gwiazda, La Salle University
• The American Iris Society Seal by Anner Whitehead
• The Tall Bearded Iris: A Manufactured Marvel by Phil Edinger
• The Schreiner Iris Garden Story by Liz (Schreiner) Schmidt, Steve & Ben Schreiner
• Isabella Preston---The Grand Lady of Canadian Horticulture by Edwinna von Baeyer
• The Sass Family by Gary White
• American Iris Society Humor compiled by Jim Morris
• Long's Gardens, Boulder, Colorado by Everett Long, Catherine Long Gates & Dennis Gates
• Connecticut Iris Society & Elizabeth Park Conservancy by Ruth Bennett

  

Supplement Two: The Early Years Continued Through Golden Jubilee 1970

• Historic Iris Images
• Founder's Wall (partial list only)
• Managing Editor's Preface by Jim Morris
• Errata
• Starting a Backyard Business by Miriam (Cooley) Ernst, Judy Nunn, and Georgie Johnson
• Eden at the End of the Oregon Trail Introduction from the Cooley's 1993 Catalog
• The Origins of the American Iris Society Checklists by Anner Whitehead
• St. Louis and Iris History by Jim Morris
• The Nashville, Tennessee Story: Remembering "Iris City" by Robert Strohman
• Miss Grace Sturtevant of Wellesley Farms by Corinne Danforth
• William Mohr and Sydney Mitchell by Anne Lowe
• Fun Fact: USPS Hybridizers by Jim Morris
• The Sex Doctor Alfred C. Kinsey, Indiana University compiled by Jim Morris
• Rudolph E. Kleinsorge: A New Color Class---Brown by Anne Lowe
• Phillip A. Loomis: "Irises don't come in that color..." by Anne Lowe
• Evaluating A Little Iris History by John T. Black
• The Japanese Iris by Currier McEwen, Eleanor Westmeyer, W. E. Ouweneel, and Clarence Mahan
• Japanese Iris Come to America by Kathleeen Sonntag
• The Median Iris Movement by Geddes Douglas
• Greig Lapham: Nearly All Reds Traced to His Irises by Anne Lowe
• Melba Bills Hamblen by Perry Dyer
• Bee Warburton---Her Life in the World of Irises by Lynn Markham
• AIS Humor compiled by Jim Morris
• Spotlights 
• Mrs. Anson Stiles Blake by Jody Nolin, Ohio
• Mrs. Lewis Jones (Louise) Blake by William J. McKee
• U.S. Grant by Jody Nolan, Ohio
• Dr. Samuel Stillman Berry by Mary Ann Campbell, Missouri
• Mrs. Horatio Gates Lloyd by Jody Nolin, Ohio
• Benjamin Yoe Morrison by Jim Morris, Missouri
• Jesse Ely Wills by Jim Morris, Missouri
• Professor Manton Copeland
• William Jon Krasting art compiled by Jim Morris, Missouri
• George C. Bush as told by Dennis Hager

Supplement Three: The Middle Years Through To The Millennium 2000

• Managing Editor's Preface by Jim Morris
• Errata & Unique Gardening Practice
• AIS Regions Through the Decades by Jody Nolin
• Reflections of Region 19 and Garden State Iris Society by Stephen Szmuriga
• David F. Hall - The Flamingo Pinks by Anne Lowe
• Farr's Catalogue of Hardy Plant Specialties
• My Life With Irises by Philip Edinger
• Hybridizer Joe Ghio: Tuscan/Genovese Hybrid by Joe Ghio
• Region 14's Heritage, Part One by Roy Oliphant
• My Life in the Iris World by Keith Keppel
• Siberians---Milestones and Stepping Stones by Jan Sacks
• Evolution of the Morgan-Wood Medal
• History of the Washington Iris Club of Region 18 by Cindy Rust
• Historic Pictures of Iris People Part One
• AIS Region 4 Celebrated 60 Years in 2019 by Douglas H. Chyz
• Bet You Didn't Know... John C. Wister Award by Jim Morris
• Sutton's Iris Gardens by Mike Sutton
• Fredericksburg Area Iris Society by Lois Rose
• Wichita Area Iris Club - 71 Years of Beauty & Friendship by Patricia Ardissone
• History of the Aril Society International by Tom Waters
• Central Virginia Iris Society --- A Brief History by Kathy Huneycutt and Lois Rose
• AIS Youth Program 
• Founding of Francis Scott Key Iris Society from Society Records
• Dykes Medal Winners Part One
• AIS Humor compiled by Jim Morris
• Historic Pictures of Iris People Part Two
• Dykes Medal Winners Part Two
• Spotlights 
• Tell Huhlestein by Jim Morris
• F. Cleveland Morgan by Judy Hollingworth

Supplement Four: The Millennium Through to 2020

• Managing Editor's Preface by Jim Morris
• Rare Edition --- A Pleasant Surprise by Joe Gatty
• Comanche Acres: The Gilbert Wild's Buyout by Jim Hedgecock
• Show Me Iris Society by Eric Tankesley-Clarke
• History of Region 14, Part Two by Bryce Williamson and Jean Richter
• Central Arkansas Iris Society by Robert Treadway
• AIS History of the Last Twenty-five Years compiled by Janis Shackelford
• Southern Illinois Iris Society by Marylyn J. Redenbo
• White Country Iris Society History In the Natural State by Alice Jewell
• American Iris Society 2020 Centennial Iris Winners by Jim Morris
• Tall Bearded Iris Society History by Judy Keisling
• Tall Bearded Iris Society Hall of Fame by Jerry Preston James
• The Class The Stars Fell On by Jim Morris
• The Spuria Iris Society by Darol Jurn
• The Historic Iris Preservation Society (HIPS) by Cathy Egerer
• Reflections from the Prairie State Region 9, Illinois, "The Illini" compiled by Debra & Dave Miller
• AIS Humor compiled by Jim Morris
• Society for Pacific Coast Native Irises by Ken Walker
• British Columbia Iris Society: A Brief History by Ted Baker
• Clara B. Rees Iris Society by Nancy Mirabella
• The Early History of SIGNA by Will Plotner
• 2020 Ackerman Essay Winner by Darby Redman
• Historic Images of Iris People
• Random Images
• AIS Benchmarks of an Era 1995-2020 compiled by Jim Morris and Janis Shackelford
• Presidents of the American Iris Society
• Gold Medal Recipients
• Hybridizer's Medal Recipients
• Warburton Medal Winners
• AIS Conventions and Themes
• AIS Convention Themes and Logo Artwork
• Distinguished Service Medal Recipients

Supplemental Addendum (5): The Rest of the Story . . . Continues On

• Managing Editor's Preface by Jim Morris
• Errata
• Poetry Ban by Ann Branch Dasch
• Prelude to New York 2020: Looking back at Tall Bearded Iris History by Jim Morris
• Mr. Hybridizer Ben Hager (1915-1999) by Keith Keppel, Phil Edinger, and Jim Morris
• Shoulders by Ben R. Hager as related by Jim Morris
• Minute Man National Park, Concord, MA by Barbara Schmieder
• Region 6 Iris History by Jean Kaufmann
• AIS Round Robin Program by Jim Morris
• Region 13 Affiliate History by various authors
• Personalities in Iris Heaven, Region 13 by Jim Morris
• East Tennessee Iris Society and Greeneville Iris Society, Region 7 by Kim Bowman
• Mid-America Iris Garden by Paul Black
• Texoma Rainbow Iris Society - A Brief History by Martha McDowell
• Heart of Iowa Iris Growers by Pam Messer
• Iris Chronicles from AIS Bulletins
• The Santa Fe Iris Society by Barbara Mann
• Ontario Iris Society by Terry Laurin and Kate Brewitt
• History of Region 18 by Riley Probst and Dave Niswonger
• Enchanted Vista Iris Society by Patricia Randall
• South East Missouri (SEMO) Iris Society by Charles Pickett
• Missouri's Mr. Hybridizer Dave Niswonger by Charles Pickett and Nyla Hughes
• Fire Fighter's Memorial Gardens by Dennis Luebkin
• Society for Louisiana Irises by Patrick O'Connor
• History of the Sun Country Iris Society by Jenine Cook
• A Look Back in Time: WWII Effect on AIS by Fred Cassebeer
• Mesilla Valley Iris Society by Ann Colwell, Fern Gold, and Scarlett Ayres
• Red Iris by Kelly D. Norris
• World of Irises, the Blog of The American Iris Society by Andi Rivarola
• Albuquerque Aril and Iris Society History by Rae Phillips and Helen Crotty
• The Greater Kansas City Iris Society by Debbie Hughes
• AIS Humor compiled by Jim Morris
• Delaware Valley Iris Society: A Look Back by Ron Thoman
• Sharlot Hall Museum Historic Iris Gardens by Kathleen Shaffer and Dennis Luebkin
• The iGenerations and AIS by Jim Morris
• A Bit of History From the Tulsa Area Iris Society by Jerry James
• Region 15, Southern California and Arizona by Jim Morris and Phil Edinger
• North Plains Iris Society Golden Anniversary (2019) by Dawn Boyer
• Scent in Irises by Jim Morris
• The Next 100 Years of Irises by Kelly D. Norris
• Historic Images of Iris People
• Random Images
• AIS Benchmarks of an Era 1995-2020 compiled by Jim Morris and Janis Shackelford
• Bennett C. Jones Award for Outstanding Median Hybridizing
• Editors of the American Iris Society Bulletin IRISES
• Foster Memorial Plaque awarded to AIS members by the British Iris Society for the advancement of the genus Iris

If you are new to AIS, or irises in general, don't miss this exciting opportunity to read and celebrate the people and plants that have brought us together.

2020 AIS Centennial News - November 13, 2015

They are almost indescribable, the exhilarating feelings that accompany the preparation for a very special celebration taking shape within the team getting ready for 2020, the Centennial founding of The American Iris Society. We hope that you will join us not only in the celebration itself but also in every step we take to get ready for the Anniversary. Please join us as a volunteer, as a contributor of ideas, or simply by sharing all of our communications regarding the festivities with your friends and family.

It is with great pleasure that we start communicating with you by announcing the winner of the 2020 AIS Centennial Logo Contest. You will be seeing the winning logo (above) from now on in all of our communications regarding the AIS Centennial, be it online or via printed material. It was chosen unanimously by all committee members, and we particularly enjoyed it because it contains all the many types of irises we all enjoy.

We also want all of those who entered the Logo Contest to know how grateful we are, and how much we appreciate them. The AIS 2020 Centennial Committee members who chose the winner felt  thrilled to have viewed the different ways all of you expressed your creativity and love for irises.

And, the winner is Lori Galletti!

A bit camera shy Lori Galletti

Since there's nothing better than letting the person introduce themselves, well, here it is, in her own words:

I currently live in  , PA and I belong to The American Iris Society, HIPS, Delaware Valley Iris Society, and I have irises on the brain. For the last 4 years I have slept, dreamt and daydreamed irises.

I moved from Long Island, NY to Wyomissing, PA approximately 8 years ago.  When I bought my home, my mother shared with me her purple irises, which my father gave to her when they bought their first home. Because they were NOID's, I began investigating their origins and during my research I came across Bertrand Farr.  I found that the home I am living in, and the entire surrounding development, is on the land that was originally Farr Nursery. From that moment on, I have been actively collecting irises and Farr Nursery memorabilia.

In 2013, I purchased a collection of all the remaining artifacts from Farr Nursery and donated it to the New York Botanical Gardens. Included in the donation were Victorian era Dutch Boy and Girl costumes which were used in advertising Tulip Time at the Nursery. Two children would dress in full costume and greet customers as they arrived. It was so romantic and charming, it showed me the world through Mr. Farr's eyes.  His spirit lives on in his irises and his enthusiasm can still be felt and is quite infectious.

In February of this year, part of the collection went on exhibit at the Reading Public Museum. The museum generously hosted a Bertrand Farr exhibit, celebrating his 1915 gold medal win for his irises at the Panama Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco. Quaker Lady garnered special attention at the PPIE and was Mr. Farr's personal favorite. She is my muse as well.  And as an artist,  I tend to sketch and photograph her more than any other iris in my garden.

When I first moved to Pennsylvania, I never expected to go on this journey, and I have to say, it has been exhilarating.  Having my design chosen for the AIS Centennial Celebration is an incredible honor and a highpoint in my love and obsession with all things iris.

Many thanks to Lori Galletti for her wonderful work!

Andi Rivarola

On behalf of the 2020 AIS Centennial Committee 

PS: Special Centennial email address: ais2020centennial@gmail.com