Guide to the Jean-Marie Consigny Putnam Collection
MS 304
Finding aid prepared by Samantha Mills
San Diego History Center Document Collection
1649 El Prado, Suite 3
San Diego, CA, 92101
619-232-6203
August 22, 2016
Title: Jean-Marie Consigny Putnam Collection
Identifier/Call Number: MS 304
Contributing Institution:
San Diego History Center Document Collection
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
1.0 Linear feet
(2 boxes)
Date (bulk): Bulk, 1937-1982
Date (inclusive): 1937-2004
Abstract: This collection contains books on gardening written by Jean-Marie Consigny Putnam, as well as an additional manuscript on
trees and correspondence with historian Carol Greentree.
creator:
Putnam, Jean-Marie Consigny
Biographical / Historical Notes
Born in 1911 as Jean-Marie Consigny Putnam was a San Diego resident who wrote about gardening with particular interest in
the Southern California region. She wrote four books on the subject. Putnam was married three times. In the early 1940s she
was married to George Palmer Putnam, grandson of the founder of the publishing firm bearing their name who was previously
married to Ameila Earhart. During the early war years, Jean-Marie worked for an aircraft manufacturer in Pasadena and published
books about gardening. After Putnam, she married economist George Asp.
Scope and Content
The collection contains books on gardening written by Jean-Marie Consigny Putnam as well as a manuscript on La Jolla trees
written for a history class. Additionally, there is correspondence between her and her friend, Carol Greentree, a historian
of California gardens. Included in the correspondence is a copy of a letter Putnam wrote to botanist David Fairchild in 1938.
The collection includes all four books written by Jean-Marie Consigny Putnam, and one book on Death Valley written by her
ex-husband, George Palmer Putnam.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in two series:
Series I: Personal Papers and Writings;
Series II: Published Books.
Preferred Citation
Jean-Marie Consigny Putnam Collection, MS 304, San Diego History Center Document Archives, San Diego, CA.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
The San Diego History Center (SDHC) holds the copyright to any unpublished materials. SDHC Library regulations do apply.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The bulk of the collection was donated by Carol Greentree, who received the materials from Jean-Marie Consigny Putnam. Ms.
Putnam also donated a copy of “La Jolla’s Parks.” Ms. Greentree donated the collection, along with her own files and those
of Helen Chamlee, to the San Diego History Center as all three focus on botany and gardening.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Frank Sweeney in 2014.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Fairchild, David, 1869-1954
Backyard gardens
Death Valley (Calif. and Nev.)
Flowers
Gardening
La Jolla (San Diego, Calif.)
Parks
Rose gardens
Trees
Vegetable gardening
Victory gardens
Series I:
Personal Papers and Writings
Box-folder 1:1
Biographical Information,
2004
Box-folder 1:2
California History Nugget—“Four California Gardens,”
1937
Box-folder 1:3
Correspondence with Carol Greentree,
1982
Box-folder 1:4
La Jolla’s Parks (original),
1982
Box-folder 1:5
La Jolla’s Parks (copy),
1982
Series II:
Published Books
Box-folder 1:6
Gardening for Fun in California,
1940
Box-folder 1:7
Science in the Garden,
1941
Box-folder 2:1
Who’s Zoo in the Garden,
1941
Box-folder 2:2
Gardens for Victory,
1942
Box-folder 2:3
Death Valley and Its Country,
1946
