William Hertrich Papers: Finding Aid
Processed by Huntington Library staff; supplementary encoding and revision supplied
by Brooke Dykman Dockter and Diann Benti.
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
© 2020
The Huntington Library. All rights reserved.
Overview of the Collection
Title: William Hertrich Papers
Dates (inclusive): 1904-1966
Collection Number: mssHHH 1-1802
Creator:
Hertrich, William,
1880-
Extent:
2,734 pieces in 24 boxes (23.39 linear feet)
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 the papers of horticulturist William Hertrich (1878-1966), superintendent of the Huntington Library
grounds and buildings, and
consists of papers, dating from 1908 to 1966, related to the development of
the San Marino Ranch and the Huntington Botanical Gardens, the construction of the
Huntington residence and of the Huntington Library, and the city of San Marino, California.
Language: 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]. William Hertrich Papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino,
California.
Provenance
In library, 1983.
Biographical Note
William Hertrich (1878-1966) was born in Baden, Germany, in 1878, and studied horticulture
in Austria. By 1904 he was in California, where he began to work on the San Marino Ranch,
then known as Los Robles Ranch, purchased by Henry Edwards Huntington the previous year.
Hertrich would remain with Mr. Huntington, progressing from gardener to superintendent of
grounds and buildings, until his employers' death in 1927, remained until his retirement in
1948, then continued in an advisory capacity until his own death in 1966.
Hertrich was responsible for the development of the ranch property into specialized areas:
stables, dairy barn, milk house, vegetable and fruit areas, orance and avocado groves. He
built lily ponds, palm garden, desert garden, rose garden, the cycad collection, the north
vista. The unsightly canyon area was converted into the Japanese garden. Greenhouses for
rare orchids and ornamentals, and for fruits and vegetables during winter months were
established, as were an aviary, a deer park, and camellia gardens. Hertrich was a dedicated
worker himself, demanding yet fair with subordinates. He also planned and supervised the
construction of a road system and fences, an irrigation network, living quarters for
employees. Mr. Huntington quite early realized Hertrich's capabilities, and trusted him with
supervision of all work on the ranch, as well as on the other properties in the immediate
area, including the remodeling, enlargement and development of the grounds of the Huntington
Hotel, formerly the Wentworth Hotel.
Throughout almost 20 years, beginning in 1908, Hertrich wrote regular reports to Mr.
Huntington relative to work on the ranch, development of new plants, progress of building
projects, costs, profits or produce, weather, staff affairs, etc. The reports were usually
sent weekly whenever Mr. Huntington was away, and continued until Mr. Huntington returned to
reside permanently in California. At the same time as work continued and reports were made,
Hertrich kept records, wrote articles, gave talks to civic and horticultural groups, carried
out plant experiments and plant exchanges on an international level, participated in
community affairs, made trips in connection with his work, made photographs of plants and of
construction in various stages.
Hertrich was married in 1906 to Margarete Stritzinger, and the couple lived on the ranch,
first in a small cottage, then from 1910 in a fine house built for them by Mr. Huntington.
They remained childless. After his retirement in 1948, Hertrich retained his office, where
he continued his writing and research until 1963, when his failing sight no longer permitted
him to work, yet he continued his daily walks in the gardens until his death in 1966 at age
eighty-eight.
Scope and Content
This collection contains the papers of William Hertrich, superintendent of the Huntington Library grounds and buildings, and
consists of correspondence and other papers related to the development of
the San Marino Ranch and the Huntington Botanical Gardens, the construction of the
Huntington residence and of the Huntington Library, and the city of San Marino, California.
There are also articles related to botanical gardens and specific plant species. Of note in
the collection is correspondence between William Hertrich and Henry Edwards Huntington
relative to the ranch and library. Box 24 consists of photographs and negatives related to Hertrich on the Huntington Library
gardens and a luncheon in April 1951.
Processing Information
Processed by Huntington Library staff, 1983. In 2019, 40 photographs and 7 negatives were transferred from the Huntington
Institutional Archives (HIA). Gina C Giang added the photographs and negatives (Box 24) and updated the finding aid in 2020.
Arrangement
Arranged in the following order: 1. Correspondence and documents (Boxes 1-17); 2. Register
of plants (Boxes 18-20); 3. Register of plants, correspondence and photographs (Box 21); 4.
Camellia photographs (Boxes 22-23); 5. Photographs and negatives (Box 24).
Indexing Terms
Subjects
Hertrich, William,
1880-
Huntington, Henry Edwards,
1850-1927 -- Correspondence.
Henry E. Huntington Library and
Art Gallery.
Henry E. Huntington Library and
Art Gallery -- History -- Sources.
Botanical gardens -- California -- San Marino --
History -- Sources.
Camellias -- Pictorial works.
Horticulturists -- California, Southern --
Archives.
Huntington Botanical Gardens --
History -- Sources.
San Marino (Calif.) -- History
-- Sources.
Forms/Genres
Letters (correspondence) -- California -- San
Marino -- 20th century.
Photographs -- California -- San Marino -- 20th
century.
Alternate Authors
Huntington, Henry Edwards,
1850-1927.
Correspondence and documents
3
1913 November-1914 August
7
1916 October-1917 October
10
1919 December-1920 October
17
1938-1966; Hertrich articles, talks, and notes (1935-1958)
Register of plants; miscellaneous correspondence; photographs
18
Register of plants (HEH 1593 (1-18)
19
Register of plants (HEH 1593 (19-36)
20
Register of plants (HEH 1593 (37-52)
21
Register of plants (HEH 1593 (53-55); correspondence and miscellany re:
Hertrich; photographs
Photographs and negatives
24
Photographs and negatives of Hertrich and 1951 luncheon
