The Kate Sessions Papers contain one box of archival material, mostly manuscript notes, drafts, and typescripts relating to horticulture and landscaping. Includes notebooks, news clippings, and a small amount of correspondence.

Kate Sessions was a horticulturalist and landscape architect. Born Katherine Olivia Sessions in San Francisco, California on November 8, 1857, she attended the University of California, Berkeley (A.B. 1881), and moved to San Diego, teaching briefly at the Russ School before purchasing a nursery in 1885. She contracted with the city of San Diego to lease property in Balboa Park in exchange for tree planting in the park, ultimately becoming known as the "Mother of Balboa Park." She co-founded (with Alfred D. Robinson) the San Diego Floral Association in 1907. Sessions died on March 24, 1940 in San Diego.

1 Linear Feet

Copyright may be reserved. Consult the San Diego Natural History Museum Research Library Director for more information.

The collection is open to researchers by appointment. Contact the Research Library Director, San Diego Natural History Museum.