Mission Valley Nursery Records, 1892-1947

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Summary

Title:
Mission Valley Nursery Records
Dates:
1892-1947
Creators:
Mission Valley Nursery.
Abstract:
This collection contains business records for the Mission Valley Nursery, run by the Benard family from 1888 to 1945.
Extent:
0.5 Linear feet (2 boxes)
Language:
and Collection materials are in English and French.
Preferred citation:

Mission Valley Nursery Records, MS 57, San Diego History Center Document Collection, San Diego, CA.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains business records for the Mission Valley Nursery, run by the Benard family from 1888 till 1945. Business records include a daily account books kept by Ernest Benard, receipts and invoices detailing regular expenses for stock and gardening supplies, and correspondence regarding several landscaping projects. Additionally there are nurseryman licenses, a horticultural census form, and brochures listing available merchandise from the Mission Valley Nursery and other companies.

Biographical / historical:

Ernest Benard was born in Orleans, France in 1859. He came to San Diego in 1887 as a foreman for the California Nursery Company in charge of landscaping at the Hotel Del Coronado. In 1888 he began to develop the Mission Valley Nursery, the first nursery in San Diego. On August 11, 1891, he married Margaretha Herkert. Margaretha was born September 17, 1868 in Calhoun County, Illinois, and came to San Diego in 1889. They lived at 732 Cerro Gordo Ave. and ran the nursery sales yard at Sixth and D Streets. Ernest died in 1928. Margaretha continued to run the business until her retirement due to ill health in 1945. She died November 24, 1947. They had two daughters: Mrs. Rosa B. Becker and Mrs. Lily C. Colt.

The Mission Valley Nursery was responsible for introducing many varieties of roses and olive trees to San Diego. The Benards provided ornamental planting throughout the City of San Diego, Point Loma, and Balboa Park. They worked with many notable local figures including Madame Katherine Tingley of the Theosophical Society, Kate Sessions, and George Marston.

Acquisition information:
Accession number 971217.
Processing information:

Collection processed by Samantha Mills on March 18, 2013.

Collection processed as part of grant project supported by the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) with generous funding from The Andrew Mellon Foundation.

Arrangement:

Collection is arranged by subject.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid prepared by Samantha Mills
Sponsor:
Collection processed as part of grant project supported by the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) with generous funding from The Andrew Mellon Foundation.
Date Prepared:
March 18, 2013
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2013-04-05T14:15-0700

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

The San Diego History Center (SDHC) holds the copyright to any unpublished materials. SDHC Library regulations do apply.

Preferred citation:

Mission Valley Nursery Records, MS 57, San Diego History Center Document Collection, San Diego, CA.

Location of this collection:
1649 El Prado, Suite 3
San Diego, CA 92101, US
Contact:
(619) 232-6203
Website