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Ralph S. Peer correspondence archive
mssPeer  
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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Descriptive Summary
  • Administration Information
  • Biography
  • Scope and Content
  • Indexing Terms

  • Descriptive Summary

    Title: Ralph S. Peer correspondence archive
    Inclusive Dates: 1947-2002
    Bulk Dates: 1948-1960
    Collection Number: mssPeer
    Collector: Peer, Ralph Sylvester, 1892-1960
    Extent: Approximately 20,000 items in 48 boxes
    Repository: The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens
    Manuscripts Department
    1151 Oxford Road
    San Marino, California 91108
    Phone: (626) 405-2191
    Fax: (626) 449-5720
    Email: reference@huntington.org
    URL: http://www.huntington.org
    Abstract: The Ralph S. Peer correspondence archive consists of letters and printed matter to and from Peer concerning multiple events and personages related to the local, national, and international expansion and growth of camellia-related activities through the many efforts of Peer.
    Language of Material: The records are in English.

    Administration Information

    Access

    Collection is open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, please go to following web site .

    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

    Ralph S. Peer correspondence archive, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

    Acquisition Information

    Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Peer II, January 2017 and July 2017.

    Biography

    Ralph Sylvester Peer (1892-1960) was an American talent scout, recording engineer, record producer, music publisher, and camellia expert. He had a long, productive and successful career in music publishing and promotion, as he built Southern Music Publishing into a major international firm. Park Hill was Peer's first permanent home and had over 3 acres of land. In 1948 Ralph Peer formed the Los Angeles California Camellia Society, drafted organizational guidelines and served as its first President. By 1949 Peer had acquired around 300 camellia plants for his Park Hill Estate. He also used his horticultural knowledge, and strong business ethic to lead and promote local and national camellia societies. In 1957, Peer became president of the American Camellia Society. The number of camellias at Park Hill grew to over 2,600 by the time of Peer's death on January 19, 1960. -Eugene L. Vigil, Ph.D., appraisal, 2016

    Scope and Content

    The archive consists of approximately 20,000 typed and handwritten letters from 1948 through 1960. There are a small number of original signed letters that appear to be duplicates or letters not sent. The archive also contains some ephemera: copies of original and published articles, camellia journals, pamphlets, photographs, and other printed matter.
    Most of the typed letters from Peer are carbon copies of those sent to various persons, nurseries, and organizations. These letters were sent to and from different parties including: members of The American Camellia Society; horticulturalists and botanist; plant explorers; lawyers; government employees; and nursery owners in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Hong Kong, Indochina, India, Japan, Africa, and South America. Peer used his business travels and correspondence to contact any person having a horticultural or other interest in camellias. He was tireless in his pursuits and the magnitude of his efforts is evident in the archive.
    Peer corresponded with numerous individuals including: Charles Puddle from the Bodnant Estate; Arthur C. Brown, secretary-editor of the American Camellia Society; George J. Hall and W.H. Hall from Camellia Hall Nursery; Alfred and Ivy Clarke; Ralph E. Dean from the Gardens Department in Hong Kong; David L. Feathers from the Northern California Camellia Society; Gilbert E. Fisher from the Men's Camellia Society of Birmingham, Alabama; Frank Griffin from the South Carolina Camellia Society; K. Wada from Hakoneya Nurseries; G.H. (George Horace) Johnstone, 1882-1960; Jessie W. and Sigmund J. Katz; Jean Mahaux from Cercle du Camellia; Charles Melville McLaren [Lord Aberconway] from the Royal Horticultural Society; Eikichi Satomi from the Japanese Camellia Society; and William E. Woodroof from California Camellia Gardens.
    The topics in this archive range from Peer’s camellia quest and contact with domestic and foreign nurseries; quarantine and fumigation of imported camellia plants; his personal and horticultural relationships, particularly with William Hertrich and Eikichi Satomi; the pursuit of the yellow camellia species from Yunnan Province; camellia growers at different tea plantations; nomenclature for camellias; and involvement with numerous camellia societies. - Eugene L. Vigil, Ph.D., appraisal, 2016
    Cataloger's notes
    Throughout the collection, there may be several copies of one letter. According to Ralph Peer's "Procedures" document:
    • Original (as indicated by Peer)
    • Yellow copy (Peer's with correspondence attached)
    • White copy (Monique Peer's copy)
    The cataloger attempted to combine the white copy with the original and yellow copy, when possible.
    If the association, group, or society is listed, the person(s) writing on behalf of that entity will be in bold and bracketed. For example, American Camellia Catalog [Erdman, Robert Park, 1898-] is filed in Box 1 (8). However, Albert Fendig was also part of American Camellia Catalog and the note underneath the folder title contains a See reference to Fendig, Albert.
    Though some stapled pages appeared to have been detached, the majority remain stapled together.
    A copy of Peer’s “Procedure” document has been placed at the front of each box for reference.

    Arrangement

    Arranged alphabetically.

    Indexing Terms

    Personal Names

    Arnold-Foster, W. (William), 1886-1951
    Erdman, Robert Park, 1898-
    Griffin, Frank
    Hertrich, William, 1880-
    Hume, H. Harold (Hardrada Harold), 1875-1965
    Lammerts, Walter E. (Walter Edward), 1904-
    Lawrence, George H.M. (George Hill Mathewson), 1910-1978
    Londonderry, Edith Helen Vane-Tempest-Stewart, Marchioness of, 1879-1959
    Metcalf, Edwards H. (Edwards Huntington)
    Peer, Ralph Sylvester, 1892-1960
    Satomi, Eikichi, 1898-
    Seddon, T.E.Y. (Thomas Edward Youd), 1884-1972
    Seibert, Russell J. 1914-2004
    Wheeldon, Thomas, 1892-

    Corporate Names

    American Horticultural Council
    Armstrong Nurseries (Ontario, Calif.)
    American Camellia Society
    Huntington Botanical Gardens
    Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium
    Los Angeles Camellia Society
    Magnolia Gardens and Nurseries
    Royal Horticultural Society (Great Britain)
    South Carolina Camellia Society, Inc.
    Southern California Camellia Society
    Southern Music Publishing Co.

    Subjects

    Botanical gardens
    Camellias
    Gardens
    Horticulturists
    Nurseries

    Geographic Areas

    Los Angeles (Calif.)

    Genre

    Letters (correspondence)
    Printed ephemera
    Typescripts