Ernest Braunton Papers

Finding aid prepared by Stephanie Clayton.
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens
Manuscripts Department
The Huntington Library
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2191
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
© 2011
The Huntington Library. All rights reserved.


Descriptive Summary

Title: Ernest Braunton papers.
Inclusive Dates: 1889-1943
Bulk Dates: 1920-1937
Collection Number: mssBraunton papers
Creator: Braunton, Ernest
Extent: 69 items in 1 box
Repository: The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. Manuscripts Department
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2191
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
Abstract: This collection contains papers of horticulturist Ernest Braunton (1868-1945), an expert in the regional flora of Southern California and secretary of the Southern California Horticultural Society.
Language of Material: The records are in English.

Access

Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

Administrative Information

Publication Rights

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item]. Ernest Braunton Papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Provenance

In Library, 1981.

Biographical Note

Ernest Braunton (1868-1945), horticulturist and author of The Garden Beautiful in California, was born in London, England, in 1868. He immigrated with his parents to Iowa in 1872. He moved to Los Angeles, California, in 1887 and married Addie M. Kirkpatrick two years later. They had five children together.
Braunton's first agricultural project was Singleton Court, the home of mining millionaire John Singleton. The popularity of Singleton Court helped establish Braunton as a respected consultant of landscape design and horticulture. He planned the layout of the Bryant Botanical Gardens, designed the lily ponds for Henry Huntington and designed ornamental grounds for hundreds of homes in Southern California. Landscape design was just one of Braunton's interests. His knowledge of horticulture, especially the regional flora of Southern California, was extensive and based upon his own exploration of the area. At one point his collection of specimens numbered 1,281. He also had a hand in the development of the avocado industry in Southern California.
Positions held at various times include: Lecturer for the University of California Farmers' Institutes; Professor of Landscape Design, University of Southern California; Associate Editor of the California Cultivator 1901-32; Editor Garden Department, Los Angeles Times 1903-36; Garden Doctor, Los Angeles Times 1942-45; Southern California section in Bailey's Cyclopedia of Horticulture; Fellow, Royal Botanical Society of England; and Secretary, Southern California Horticultural Society. Braunton died in 1945.

Scope and Content

The collection contains 69 items. There are three manuscripts, including an essay about horticulturist Theodore Payne and a poem read before the Illinois Association of Los Angeles, California. The 40 items in the correspondence section are arranged by author. Most of the correspondence is composed of replies to Ernest Braunton's inquiries regarding various horticultural statistics and facts. Other letters, including those from Walter Raymond, are in regard to the operation and dissolution of the Southern California Horticultural Society. The 26 items in the ephemera section are arranged alphabetically by type. The majority of the ephemera are records and documents of the Southern California Horticultural Society. There is also a pamphlet on Point Lomos, California. Subjects in the collection include: history of agriculture in California; horticulturalists of California; and history of horticulture in California.
Notable participants include: H. M. Butterfield, Newton Drury, Gustavus Eisen, Francesco Franceschi, Theodore Lukens, Woodbridge Metcalf, Walter Raymond, Forrest Shreve, H. A. Spoehr, J. Harrison Wright, California Dept. of Parks and Recreation, Carnegie Institution of Washington's Division of Plant Biology, Los Angeles Time, Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, US Bureau of Plant Industry, US Forest Service, University of California's College of Agriculture and the University of Riverside's College of Natural and Agriculture Sciences.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged by genre: Manuscripts, Correspondence, Ephemera.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the Huntington Library's Online Catalog.  

Personal Names

Butterfield, H. M. (Harry Morton), 1887-
Braunton, Ernest
Drury, Newton Bishop, 1889-1978
Eisen, Gustavus A., 1847-1940
Franceschi, Francesco, 1843-1924
Lukens, Theodore Parker, 1848-1918
Metcalf, Woodbridge, 1888-
Payne, Theodore
Raymond, W. (Walter)
Shreve, Forrest, 1878-1950
Spoehr, H. A. (Herman Augustus), 1885-1954
Wright, J. Harrison

Corporate Names

California. Department of Parks and Recreation. Division of Resource Management and Protection
Carnegie Institution of Washington. Division of Plant Biology
Los Angeles Times (Firm), addressee
Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden
Southern California Horticultural Society
United States. Bureau of Plant Industry
United States. Forest Service
University of California (1868-1952). College of Agriculture
University of California, Riverside. College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences

Subjects

Horticulture -- California
Horticulturists -- California
Gardeners -- California
Gardening -- California

Geographic Areas

California, Southern -- History --20th century -- Sources
Los Angeles County (Calif.)

Genre

Ephemera -- California -- 20th century
Letters (correspondence) -- California -- 20th century
Manuscripts -- California -- 19th century


Box 1

Manuscripts, Correspondence, and Ephemera.

Folder 1

Braunton, Ernest. "The Dragon Tree of Teberiffe:" essay. [undated]

1 item.
Folder 2

Hoyt, Ralph E. “A Tenderfoot’s Experience in Angel Town:” [poem]. (1889, Jan. 5)

1 item.
Folder 3

[unknown author]. “Theodore Payne: Pioneer Horticulturist, A Life Sketch:” [essay]. [undated]

1 item.
Folder 4

Backus, W. H. Letter to Gustavus A. Eisen, 1847-1940. (1891, Apr. 17)

Folder 5

Braunton, Ernest. Letter to W.S. Kienholz. (1934)

Includes one copy.
Folder 6

Braunton, Ernest. Letter to to Los Angeles (Calif.). Office of Municipal Court. Addressed to James R. Power. (1936, Jan. 13)

Folder 7

Braunton, Ernest. Letter to W.I. Holingsworth & Co. Addressed to W.I. Hollingsworth. (1922, Sep. 12)

Folder 8

Butterfield, H. M. (Harry Morton), 1887- Letter to Ernest Braunton. (1936, Feb. 21)

Folder 9

California. Dept. of Parks and Recreation. Division of Resource Management and Protection. Letter to to Ernest Braunton. Signed by Ernest B. Camper. Includes one statistical statement. (1937)

Folder 10

California. State Board of Equalization. Letter to Walter Raymond. Signed by M.D. Lack. (1922, Mar. 8)

Folder 11

Drury, Newton Bishop, 1889-1978. Letter to Ernest Braunton. (1937, June 21)

Folder 12

Franceschi, Francesco, 1843-1924. Letter to Ernest Braunton. (1905, Sep. 4)

Folder 13

Grelck, W.R. Letter to Ernest Braunton. (1943, Jan. 10)

Folder 14

Hockridge, Sidney. Letter to Ernest Braunton. (1937, Apr. 27)

Folder 15

Johnson, A.M. Letter to Los Angeles Times (Firm). (1935, Apr. 24)

Folder 16

Knight, E. E. Two letters to Ernest Braunton. (1932)

Folder 17

Los Angeles (Calif.). Office of the Municipal Court. Letter to Ernest Braunton. (1936, Jan. 10)

Signed by James P. Power.
Folder 18

Los Angeles County (Calif.). Agricultural Commissioner. Letter to Ernest Braunton. (1932, Feb. 3)

Folder 19

Lukens, Theodore Parker, 1848-1918. Letter to Ernest Braunton. (1906, Sep. 23)

Folder 20

Metcalf, Woodbridge, 1888-. Letter to Ernest Braunton. (1936, Jan. 31)

Folder 21

Metcalf, Woodbridge, 1888-. Letter to P. S. Bunker. (1935, Nov. 21)

Folder 22

Nash, Joseph P., Mrs. Letter to [unknown addressee]. (1937, Oct. 25)

Folder 23

Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden. Letter to Ernest Braunton. (1940, Jan. 30)

Signed by Carl B. (Carl Brandt) Wolf, 1905-.
Folder 24

Raymond, Walter. Two letters to Ernest Braunton. (1921-1922)

Folder 25

Raymond, Walter. Two letters to California. State Board of Equalization. (1922)

Folder 26

San Bernardino County (Calif.). Board of Supervisors. Letter to Ernest Braunton. (1934, Sep. 17)

Signed by H. L. Way.
Folder 27

Shreve, Forrest, 1878-1950. Letter to Ernest Braunton. (1937, June 11)

Folder 28

Spoehr, H. A. (Herman Augustus), 1885-1954. Letter to Ernest Braunton. (1937, June 21)

Folder 29

Stockton Chamber of Commerce (Stockton, Calif.). Letter to Ernest Braunton. (1932, Jan. 25)

Signed by Irez Henderson Pond.
Folder 30

United States. Bureau of Plant Industry. Letter to Ernest Braunton. (1936, Nov. 27)

Signed by C. S. Pomeroy.
Folder 31

United States. Postmaster General. Letter to Ernest Braunton. (1940)

Signed by W. W. Howes. Includes two lists.
Folder 32

University of California (1868-1952). College of Agriculture. Letter to Ernest Braunton. (1907, Feb. 21)

Signed by George Bishop Sudworth.
Folder 33

Ventura County (Calif.). Letter to Ernest Braunton. (1926, Apr. 22)

Folder 34

W.I. Hollingsworth & Co. Letter to Ernest Braunton. (1920)

Includes one copy of a letter.
Folder 35

Webber, Herbert John, 1865-1946. Letter to Ernest Braunton. (1934, Oct. 20)

Folder 36

Wright, J. Harrison. Four letters to Ernest Braunton. (1913-1936)

Folder 37

Ephemera: Miscellaneous. (1915-1941)

5 items.
Folder 38

Ephemera: Point Lobos, California. (1936)

1 item.
Folder 39

Ephemera: Southern California Horticultural Society. (1906-1922)

20 items.