Archives of American Gardens

Starr Ockenga Garden Photography Collection

Summary

Collection ID:
AAG.OCK
Creators:
Ockenga, Starr
Dates:
1995-2001
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
5.5 Cubic feet
photographic images; files
Repository:
The Starr Ockenga Collection includes materials generated or compiled by Ockenga for the writing of her books, 'Earth on Her Hands: The American Woman in Her Garden' (1998, Clarkson Potter) and 'Eden on Their Minds: American Gardeners with Bold Visions" (2001, Clarkson Potter).' Both books feature several individual chapters, each describing a garden owner and their garden.

Scope and Contents Note

Scope and Contents Note
The Starr Ockenga Collection includes photographic images, notes, correspondence, questionnaires, garden plans, planting lists, releases and drafts generated or compiled by Ockenga for the writing and illustrating of her books, 'Earth on Her Hands: The American Woman in Her Garden' (1998, Clarkson Potter) and 'Eden on Their Minds: American Gardeners with Bold Visions' (2001, Clarkson Potter). Both books consist of several individual chapters, each describing a garden owner and their garden and featuring a portrait of the garden owner in their garden. The 40 gardens included in the collection are located across the United States. In addition to the hundreds of images published in 'Eden' and 'Earth,' the Ockenga Collection includes thousands of additional images that, together with the research notes and garden descriptions in the books, provide a rich source of documentation. A number of the images show panoramic garden views.

Arrangement Note

Arrangement Note
The collection was organized into two major components by Starr Ockenga, representing materials generated for two books she authored and photographed, Earth on Her Hands: The American Woman in Her Garden and Eden on Their Minds: American Gardeners with Bold Visions. Within each of the two divisions, the garden files and book chapters, garden images, and garden owner portraits are arranged according to specific garden.

Biographical Note

Biographical Note
Starr Ockenga is a writer, photographer, and lecturer. Her photographs have been exhibited in museums and galleries and are included in both public and private collections. Her images and writings have appeared in numerous publications including Life, Esquire, Camera, and Horticulture. She is the author of several books including 'Earth on Her Hands: The American Woman in Her Garden,' 'Eden on Their Minds: American Gardeners with Bold Visions,' and 'Amaryllis.' Earth on Her Hands received the American Horticultural Society's Annual Book Award in 1999. Ockenga received her Master's degree in photography from the Rhode Island School of Design and has been awarded fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Massachusetts Artists Foundation. She is a former associate professor of photography at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Her studio is located in New York City.

Administration

Immediate Source of Acquisition Note
Collection of photographic images and garden files generated by Starr Ockenga during the course of writing and providing photography for her books, Earth on Her Hands: The American Woman in Her Garden and Eden on Their Minds: American Gardeners with Bold Visions, donated by Ockenga to the Archives of American Gardens in 2014.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access Note
Access to original archival materials by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Conditions Governing Use Note
Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Preferred Citation
Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, Starr Ockenga Collection.

Archives of American Gardens
P.O. Box 37012
Capital Gallery West, Suite 3300, MRC 506
Washington, DC 20013-7012
aag@si.edu