Archives of American Gardens

Roche collection, circa 1954-1970

Summary

Collection ID:
AAG.ROC
Creators:
Roche, John P.
Roche, Mary Alice
Dates:
circa 1954-1970
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
0.5 Cubic feet
28 Transparencies
col.
4 x 5 in.
62 Photographic prints
b&w
8 x 10 in.
1 Photographic print
col.
2.5 x 3.5 inches
3 Transparencies
col.
120mm
Repository:
The Roche Collection documents some of the work of John and Mary Alice Roche, garden photographers who photographed numerous gardens throughout the United States. Several of the Roches' images appeared in popular gardening magazines and books on flower arranging from the 1950s and 1960s.

Scope and Contents note

Scope and Contents note
The Roche Collection includes twenty-five private gardens dating from the 1950s and 1960s photographed by John and Mary Alice Roche in California, Maine, Missouri, New York, and New Jersey. The Roches typically indicated the garden owner name, location, plant varieties and special features on the backs of many of the color transparency mounts and black and white photographs. Some images are labeled as to which publication they appeared in. All images are stamped on the back with original licensing information.

Biographical/Historical note

Biographical/Historical note
John and Mary Alice Roche opened a studio for horticultural photography in Caldwell, New Jersey, in 1945. Together they photographed gardens and flower arrangements for numerous publications including House Beautiful, House and Garden, Horticulture, Popular Gardening, Flower Grower, Farm Journal, American Home, Family Circle, McCall's, and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden Bulletin as well as for several books. Images by the Roches in newspapers and magazines were credited to 'Roche.'
Both Roches graduated from the Clarence H. White School of Photography in New York City; John Roche later went on to teach there. He was an associate of the Photographic Society of America and a member of the Royal Photographic Society. His work was exhibited in a number of one man shows.
Mary Alice Roche wrote about gardens for a number of magazines and newspapers. She and her husband also lectured on nature photography.
The Roches co-wrote a book, Photographing Your Flowers; a Practical Guide for Indoor and Outdoor Use.
According to the Sensory Awareness Foundation, Mary Alice Roche and Charlotte Selver established the Sensory Awareness Foundation in 1971. Roche was its managing secretary and bulletin editor for many years. She was also a director of The Lifwynn Foundation.

Administration

Author
Beth Page
Immediate Source of Acquisition Note
Mary Alice Roche donated the collection of images to the Archives of American Gardens in 2003.
Custodial History note
The Roche Collection was sorted and arranged by a member of the Garden Club of America prior to its being donated to the Archives of American Gardens.

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.

Related Materials
The Center for Creative Photography at the University of Arizona, Tucson, includes photographs taken and/or developed by John P. Roche in its Photograph Collection.

More Information

Bibliography

Bibliography
Roche, Mary Alice and John P. Photographing Your Flowers; a Practical Guide for Indoor and Outdoor Use. 1955.
Berrall, Julia S. Flowers in Glass. Studio Publications, in association with Crowell, 1954.
Berrall, Julia S. History of Flower Arrangements. London, New York: Studio Publications, in association with Crowell, 1953.
Berrall, Julia S. Flowers and Table Settings. New York: Studio Publications, in association with Crowell, 1951.
Brooks, Myra J. with Mary Alice and John P. Roche. The Magic World of Flower Arranging. New York: Morrow, 1967.
Brooks, Myra J. with Mary Alice and John P. Roche. New Horizons in Flower Arrangement. New York: M. Barrows and Company, 1956.
Brooks, Myra J. Flower Arrangement Work Books. New York: M. Barrows, 1953-. Cutler, Katherine N. Junior Flower Arrangements. New York: M. Barrows, 1954.
Gannon, Ruth Tuttle. Decorating With House Plants. Studio Publications, in association with Crowell, 1952.
Gannon, Ruth Tuttle. Winter Bouquets with Color. Studio Publications, in association with Crowell, 1951.
Hull, Helen S. Wild Flowers for Your Garden. New York: M. Barrows, 1952. Wilson, Adelaide B. Color in Flower Arrangement. New York: M. Barrows, 1954.


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Gardens -- Missouri Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Gardens -- Maine Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Gardens -- California Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Gardens -- United States Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Gardens -- New Jersey Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Gardens -- New York (State) Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographic prints Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Transparencies Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Slides (photographs) Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Archives of American Gardens
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Washington, DC 20013-7012
aag@si.edu