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Guide to the Ron Mandella Community Garden records, 1971-2005 (2000-2003)
MSS 2005/06
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Title: Ron Mandella Community Garden records
Identifier/Call Number: MSS 2005/06
Contributing Institution:
California State University, Sacramento Special Collections & University Archives
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
3.98 Linear feet
(6 manuscript boxes and 1 flat box)
Date (bulk): Bulk, 2000-2003
Date (inclusive): 1971-2005
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.
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.
The Ron Mandella Community Garden collection was given to the CSUS Special Collections and University Archives by Maria Kochis
in 2005.
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.
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.
Processed by Michelle Balaguy, Genevieve Beaufret, Rebecca Crowther, Miriam Hull, Lisa C. Prince, Kim Thompson, and Blythe
Wilson. Completed May 2006.
[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.
Biographical / Historical Note
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.
No additions are expected.
This collection is open for research. Some restrictions may apply.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Connelly, Lloyd G.
Fromme, Lynette Alice, 1948-
Kochis, Maria
Mandella, Ron
Community gardens
Environmental standards and studies
Organic gardening.