Greene, Henry Dart, 1900-1978

Henry Dart Greene (1900-1978) was born on September 20, 1900 in Pasadena, California. He was the son of noted Architect Henry Mather Greene. Henry Dart Greene's professional life spanned several careers: he was the Executive Manager of the Feather River Project Association; conducted public relations campaigns for the American Fruit and Produce Auction Association; ran his own film production company; and tried his hand at ranching. After initial studies in architecture at Throop College (later California Institute of Technology), Greene enrolled in the University of California, Berkeley in 1919 and graduated in 1923 with a degree in Agriculture. After graduation, Greene worked for the Federal-State Shipping Point Inspection Service, part of the California State and US Department of Agriculture. Greene was stationed in both Northern and Southern California between 1923 and 1928. In 1924, while in the Sacramento region, Greene met Ruth Haight (1907-?); they were married on June 29th, 1926. Greene accepted a position in 1928 with the Argentine Fruit Distributors to supervise the building and operation of packing houses for fresh fruit in the Rio Negro River Valley of Argentina. Henry and Ruth Greene lived and worked in Cipolletti, Argentina from 1928 to 1931. Upon return to the United States, Greene had several temporary jobs before being hired to do public relations for the American Fruit and Produce Auction Association (AFPAA) in 1933. Greene's publicity work for the AFPAA promoted understanding between the Western fruit growers and the Eastern Fruit Markets in cities such as New York, Chicago, and Boston. In 1935, the AFPAA sent Greene to Cuba as part of a tomato deal and to examine fruit production. Greene's work with the AFPAA ended in 1941. Subsequently, Greene worked for the Food Machinery Corporation (FMC) between 1941 and 1945, promoting their Flavorseal process for fruit and vegetables. The Greenes' daughters, Nancy Ruth Greene and Virginia Dart Greene, were born in Pasadena, California on April 6, 1934 and on June 3, 1939. During 1941, Greene ran a hog ranch in Buttonwillow in the San Joaquin Valley but the business lost money and was abandoned. While working with the AFPAA and FMC, Greene had made publicity films and in 1945 he formed his own production company, Henry Dart Greene Productions, to make industrial films. Greene produced films for Sunkist and the Los Angeles Harbor, but found it difficult to compete with larger companies. He ended the venture in 1948. From 1949 to 1951, Greene was the Executive Secretary for the Pacific Dairy and Poultry Association (PDPA), covering eight Western States. In 1952, Greene then ran his own cotton ranch in Roll, Arizona. Ultimately, the low price of cotton did not make the ranch profitable and Greene returned to California in 1956. Greene became Executive Manager for the Feather River Project Association (FRPA), later called the California Water Resources Association (CWRA), in 1957. His position oversaw public relations for the FRPA in bringing together the elements necessary in Northern and Southern California to build the Oroville Dam and the California aqueduct system. During his tenure, Greene produced two films, Waterama and Water For You, and worked on bond passage. Greene retired from the FRPA/CWRA in 1970 after being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Henry Dart Greene passed away in Pasadena on June 29th, 1978.

From the description of Henry Dart Greene papers, 1914-1993. (University of California, Davis). WorldCat record id: 40681171

Biography

Henry Dart Greene (1900-1978) was born on September 20, 1900 in Pasadena, California. He was the son of noted Architect Henry Mather Greene. Henry Dart Greene's professional life spanned several careers: he was the Executive Manager of the Feather River Project Association; conducted public relations campaigns for the American Fruit and Produce Auction Association; ran his own film production company; and tried his hand at ranching. After initial studies in architecture at Throop College (later California Institute of Technology), Greene enrolled in the University of California, Berkeley in 1919 and graduated in 1923 with a degree in Agriculture. After graduation, Greene worked for the Federal-State Shipping Point Inspection Service, part of the California State and US Department of Agriculture. Greene was stationed in both Northern and Southern California between 1923 and 1928. In 1924, while in the Sacramento region, Greene met Ruth Haight (1907-?); they were married on June 29th, 1926.

Greene accepted a position in 1928 with the Argentine Fruit Distributors to supervise the building and operation of packing houses for fresh fruit in the Rio Negro River Valley of Argentina. Henry and Ruth Greene lived and worked in Cipolletti, Argentina from 1928 to 1931. Upon return to the United States, Greene had several temporary jobs before being hired to do public relations for the American Fruit and Produce Auction Association (AFPAA) in 1933. Greene's publicity work for the AFPAA promoted understanding between the Western fruit growers and the Eastern Fruit Markets in cities such as New York, Chicago, and Boston. In 1935, the AFPAA sent Greene to Cuba as part of a tomato deal and to examine fruit production. Greene's work with the AFPAA ended in 1941. Subsequently, Greene worked for the Food Machinery Corporation (FMC) between 1941 and 1945, promoting their Flavorseal process for fruit and vegetables. The Greenes' daughters, Nancy Ruth Greene and Virginia Dart Greene, were born in Pasadena, California on April 6, 1934 and on June 3, 1939.

During 1941, Greene ran a hog ranch in Buttonwillow in the San Joaquin Valley but the business lost money and was abandoned. While working with the AFPAA and FMC, Greene had made publicity films and in 1945 he formed his own production company, Henry Dart Greene Productions, to make industrial films. Greene produced films for Sunkist and the Los Angeles Harbor, but found it difficult to compete with larger companies. He ended the venture in 1948. From 1949 to 1951, Greene was the Executive Secretary for the Pacific Dairy and Poultry Association (PDPA), covering eight Western States. In 1952, Greene then ran his own cotton ranch in Roll, Arizona. Ultimately, the low price of cotton did not make the ranch profitable and Greene returned to California in 1956. Greene became Executive Manager for the Feather River Project Association (FRPA), later called the California Water Resources Association (CWRA), in 1957. His position oversaw public relations for the FRPA in bringing together the elements necessary in Northern and Southern California to build the Oroville Dam and the California aqueduct system. During his tenure, Greene produced two films, Waterama and Water For You, and worked on bond passage.

Greene retired from the FRPA/CWRA in 1970 after being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Henry Dart Greene passed away in Pasadena on June 29th, 1978.

From the guide to the Henry Dart Greene Papers, 1914-1993, (University of California, Davis. General Library. Department of Special Collections.)