Woman's National Farm & Garden Association (U.S.)

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The Woman's National Farm & Garden Association (WNF&GA) is an American non-profit organization dedicated to promoting agriculture and horticulture. Membership is open to men and women; chapters are active in the Northeastern United States and the East North Central States.

The WNF&GA was founded in 1914, as the Women's National Agricultural and Horticultural Association, "to promote agricultural and horticultural interests among women, and to further such interests throughout the country." In 1916, the name was changed to Woman's National Farm & Garden Association, using the singular form to reflect the importance of the individual, as well as to accommodate the name of a similar organization in England. The founders included Jane Bowne Haines, Louisa King, Elizabeth Price Martin, Elizabeth Leighton Lee, and Hilda Loines. King served as its first president from 1914 to 1921.

During World War I, with Loines as a key organizer, WNF&GA joined other groups in organizing the Woman's Land Army of America: women agricultural volunteers replaced men called into military service. The temporary workers were known as "farmerettes."

In 1940, the organization opened a shop in 30 Rockefeller Plaza, offering for sale items supplied by members: produce, preserves, crafts, needlework, and items for children. At their peak in the 1940s, there were nine Farm and Garden Shops, with four more locations in New York State, as well as shops in Boston; Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Gary, Indiana; and Ann Arbor, Michigan. The retail program was still active in 1960, but had ended by 1984.

Membership is open to any person interested in the organization's objectives. Within three months of its establishment, the group had 300 members. By 1924, the number of members had risen to 4,400, and 30 years later there were 7,000. Membership peaked in 1962, at approximately 9,000. Thereafter, the size of the organization declined; by the mid-1980s, there were approximately 5,900 members. Membership in 2020 stood at 1,469.

Over its history, the organization set up branches in more than twenty states across the country, from Maine and Florida in the east to Alaska, Washington, and California in the west. Today, WNF&GA consists of various branches in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York, plus members at large. The Michigan branches comprise a division.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Additional records of the Woman's National Farm and Garden Association, (inclusive), (bulk), 1913-2008, 1934-1998 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Records of the Woman's National Farm and Garden Association, 1913-1980 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Woman's National Farm and Garden Association. Maine Division. Records, 1951-1993. Raymond H. Fogler Library
creatorOf Woman's National Farm and Garden Association (U.S.). Records, 1913-1980 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Woman's National Farm and Garden Association. Additional records of the Woman's National Farm and Garden Association, 1913-2008 (inclusive), 1934-1998 (bulk). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Woman's National Farm and Garden Association (U.S.). Records, 1913-1980 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn New England Farm and Garden Association. Records, 1926-1977 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Associated Country Women of the World. corporateBody
associatedWith Bailey, Henry Turner, 1865-1931. person
associatedWith Barbier, Mrs. Truman person
associatedWith Barbier, Truman, Mrs. person
associatedWith Country Women's Council of America. corporateBody
associatedWith Eisenhower, Mamie Doud, 1896-1979. person
associatedWith Ford, Clara Bryant, 1866-1950. person
associatedWith Frysinger, Grace E person
associatedWith Frysinger, Grace E., ca. 1885-1973. person
associatedWith Frysinger, Grace Elizabeth, 1885- person
associatedWith Gilbreth, Lillian Moller, 1878-1972. person
associatedWith King, Francis, Mrs., 1863-1948. person
associatedWith King, Louisa Yeomans, 1863- person
associatedWith Loines, Hilda person
associatedWith Miller, Elizabeth C. person
associatedWith New England Farm and Garden Association corporateBody
associatedWith New England Farm and Garden Association. corporateBody
associatedWith New England Farm and Garden Association. corporateBody
associatedWith New England Farm and Garden Association. corporateBody
associatedWith Nolan, Martha. person
associatedWith Roberts, J. C., Mrs. person
associatedWith Roberts, Mrs. J C person
associatedWith Tyson, Sarah Bradley person
associatedWith Tyson, Sarah Bradley. person
associatedWith U.S. Liaison Committee (see Country Women's Council of America) corporateBody
associatedWith Vosler, Earl, Mrs. person
associatedWith Vosler, Mrs. Earl person
associatedWith Ware, Charlotte Clement (Barrell) person
associatedWith Ware, Charlotte Clement Barrell. person
associatedWith Warren, Gertrude L. person
associatedWith Wilson, Matilda R., 1883-1967. person
associatedWith Woman's Land Army of America. corporateBody
associatedWith Woman's National Farm and Garden Association. Maine Division. corporateBody
associatedWith Woman's National Farm and Garden Association (U.S.) corporateBody
associatedWith Women's National Agricultural and Horticultural Association, 1914-1919 corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
United States 00 US
Subject
Agriculture
Agriculture
Education of women
Gardeners
Gardening
Horticulture
Women
Women
Women farmer
Women gardeners
Women in agriculture
Occupation
Activity

Corporate Body

Active 1913

Active 2008

Female

Americans

English

Information

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