The Garden Club of Allegheny County (GCAC), originally based in Sewickley, Pennsylvania, was founded in 1914 by a group of civic-minded women interested in the benefits of public and private gardening. The GCAC is committed to its mission of promoting knowledge of horticulture, interest in conservation and historic preservation, environmental education and civic planning and planting programs throughout Allegheny County. The club's preamble to the first meeting states its mission is "...to promote an interest in gardens, their design and management; to cooperate with the protection of wild flowers and native plants; and to encourage civic planting." During both World Wars, the group became active in the war effort by promoting Victory Gardens, aligning with the Women's Land Army, and contributing heavily to the American Red Cross War fund. The GCAC joined the Garden Club of America (GCA) in 1916 to become more involved with the national gardening community. The GCAC has since hosted GCA annual meetings in Pittsburgh, Pa. The GCAC's civic duties have expanded from the retention of natural beauty in urban areas to developing landscape restoration projects and protecting natural landscapes. However, the GCAC has never relinquished its commitment to civic planting and has contributed gardens to several Pittsburgh neighborhoods. The GCAC maintains a close relationship with Phipps Conservatory, a botanical garden center located in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh. The GCAC headquarters were originally located across the street from the Conservatory but later moved to an office within Phipps which hosts many flower shows. The GCAC often uses Phipps Conservatory as a venue for its many flower shows. Other notable projects are the 1951 establishment of a master plan and formal rose garden in Mellon Park, along with the 1961 restoration of the kitchen garden at Old Economy Village. The GCAC shows its continued dedication to education, preservation, and the restoration of Pittsburgh gardens.
From the description of Records of Garden Club of Allegheny County (Pa.), 1913-2005. (University of Pittsburgh). WorldCat record id: 311554390
