Collection context
Summary
- Title:
- Ron Mandella Community Garden records
- Dates:
- 1971-2005, bulk Bulk, 2000-2003
- Abstract:
- The records of the Mandella Community Garden are the records of its neighborhood development and later of its legal battle to retain their undeveloped green space in the densely urban setting of downtown Sacramento, California. Interaction within the community and with other community gardens is documented. Numerous tutorials on organic gardening and environmental standards are retained in the records. Included in the collection are membership lists, correspondence and letters, city counsel minutes, CADA agency proposals and minutes, organic gardening publications, photographs and scrapbooks, maps, financial records, legal files relating to the campaign to save the garden, video speeches, newspaper articles, physical artifacts from the garden and various ephemera.
- Extent:
- 3.98 Linear feet (6 manuscript boxes and 1 flat box)
- Language:
- and Language is in English.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item including date], [Folder Title], MSS 2005/06, Ron Mandella Community Garden records, Department of Special Collections and University Archives, The Library, California State University, Sacramento.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The Ron Mandella Community Garden records consist of 4.0 linear feet and is organized into the seven series listed below:
Series 1: History, 1978-2004 (Bulk dates 1996-2004) Series 2: Correspondence and Letters, 1990-2003 (Bulk dates 2001-2003) Series 3: Business and Finance, 1980-2003 (Bulk 1996-2003) Series 4: Legal Files, 1995-2003 Series 5: CADA/Development, 1995-2004 Series 6: Community Gardens / Organic Gardening, 1987-2004 Series 7: Artifacts 1999-2003
The inclusive dates of the collection are 1971-2005 while the bulk of the documents date from 2000-2003. Within these series are correspondence and letters, legal, official, and financial documents, reports, news clippings, brochures, informational pamphlets, flyers and other printed material related to the operations, history and the court cases in which the Garden was involved in their attempts to save the garden for community members and from development by CADA. Also included in the collection are videos, photographs, a large garden banner and miscellaneous ephemera.
- Biographical / historical:
-
The Mandella Community Gardens was formed in 1971 as an endeavor in urban organic gardening and alternative energy experimentation. Established in Sacramento, California during an era of community activism, the Gardens promoted urban green space, organic gardening, air quality improvement, and ethnic harmony. The Garden was situated on state owned land under a renewable lease at a cost to the organization. Membership fees maintained any expenses incurred. The Garden was named in honor of Ron Mandella one of the original organizers, who died in 1978. Famous members of the Garden include Judge Lloyd Connelly. Infamous members include "Squeaky" Fromme, one of the followers of the notorious Charles Manson family.
When the state of California decided to sell the block to a private developer, in 200 a lengthy legal and political battle ensued between activist community members and state agencies. Protest rallies, sit-in demonstrations, speeches and news articles resulted in an effort to stop the sale. In 2001 after exhausting all legal resources, the Garden was closed and development of the parcel began. Today, the Garden has been developed into multi-family units. A portion of the original garden remains, but it no longer functions as a community green space.
The records of the Mandella Community Garden are primarily the records of its neighborhood development and later of its legal battle to retain their undeveloped green space in a densely urban setting. Interaction within the community and with other community gardens are documented. Numerous tutorials on organic gardening and environmental standards are retained in the records. Included in the collection are membership lists, correspondence, city counsel minutes, organic gardening publications, photographs and scrapbooks, financial records, legal files relating to the campaign to save the garden, video speeches, newspaper articles, physical artifacts from the garden and various ephemera.
- Acquisition information:
- The Ron Mandella Community Garden collection was given to the CSUS Special Collections and University Archives by Maria Kochis in 2005.
- Custodial history:
-
Members of the Ron Mandella Community Garden assembled these records over many years as part of their effort to document their involvement in organic gardening, air quality improvement, and ethnic harmony.
- Processing information:
-
Processed by Michelle Balaguy, Genevieve Beaufret, Rebecca Crowther, Miriam Hull, Lisa C. Prince, Kim Thompson, and Blythe Wilson. Completed May 2006.
- Accruals:
-
No additions are expected.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Indexed terms
About this collection guide
- Date Prepared:
- May 1, 2006
- Date Encoded:
- This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2012-11-02T10:40-0700
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
This collection is open for research. Some restrictions may apply.
- Terms of access:
-
Copyright is protected by the copyright law, Chapter 17 of the U.S. Code. Requests for permission to publish, quote, or reproduce from collections must be submitted in writing to the Head of the Department of Special Collections and University Archives. Permission for publication is given on the behalf of the Department of Special Collections and University Archives, Library, California State University, Sacramento as the owner of the physical item and is not intended to conclude permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item including date], [Folder Title], MSS 2005/06, Ron Mandella Community Garden records, Department of Special Collections and University Archives, The Library, California State University, Sacramento.
- Location of this collection:
-
University Library, MS 60396000 J StreetSacramento, CA 95819, US
- Contact:
- 916-278-6144