I'm looking for information on the Robert Craig Nursery -- do you have anything?

I'm doing research on certain varieties of plants. One of the plants I'm researching is the Janet Craig Dracaena which was propagated at the Robert Craig Nursery and introduced in 1935. I would like to research further the history of the Robert Craig Nursery, as well as Robert Craig and his family (the plant is actually named after his daughter Janet). I was told that the McLean Library at PHS has a booklet published in 1956 to celebrate the nursery's 100th anniversary. I am interested in that booklet and also am wondering if you have any other materials about the Robert Craig Nursery in your library.

Answer

Yes, we have the 1856-1956: A Century of Growing booklet in the catalogue collection, along with catalogues for the Robert Craig Company  for  1910, 1911, and 1916.  There is quite a bit of nursery history in the booklet, as well as family history.

See the accompanying uploaded scan of A Century of Growing.

Perhaps in your online research you saw this blog post mentioning Robert Craig in the Growing History blog.

There are several mentions of Robert Craig in  James Boyd’s  A history of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, 1827-1927 since he was at various times a Vice President, on Council, gave lectures, served on committees, and was elected an honorary member.  See pp. 329, 349, 353, 356, 376-77, etc. in this digitized copy.

The introduction of the Janet Craig Dracena is mentioned here:

http://www.fshs.org/proceedings/password%20protected/1997%20vol.%20110/104-107%20(griffith).pdf

According to the 1956 booklet A Century of Growing, Janet was the daughter of Robert A. Craig who was the son of the Robert Craig mentioned in Boyd.

We have a very brief newspaper obituary of William Patterson Craig (brother of Robert A. Craig); he's also mentioned in the 1956 booklet.

Since Robert Craig was also  active in the Philadelphia Florists' Club, the American Dahlia Society, and the Society of American Florists, there may be more information about him available online. – Elinor Goff

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  • Last Updated Jan 14, 2021
  • Views 253
  • Answered By Janet Evans

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  1. I live in a house in Drexel Hill that Robert A. Craig (1878 - 1945), son of Robert Craig, and father of Phyllis and Janet Craig, built.
    by John on Mar 31, 2020