Introduction

This finding aid was digitized with funds generously provided by the Smithsonian Institution Women's Committee.

Descriptive Entry

John A. Stevenson was archivist of the BSW from 1939 until 1975, when the Society's records were given to the National Fungus Collections. In 1978 the collection came to the Smithsonian Archives. These records include constitutions and by-laws, materials from predecessor botanical groups, minutes, membership records, correspondence, financial papers, publications of members, records of special activities, photographs, negatives, and lantern slides.

Historical Note

The Botanical Society of Washington (BSW) was established on November 23, 1901, by a union of the Botanical Seminar and the Washington Botanical Club. The aim of the BSW is the promotion of botanical activity in the Washington, D.C., area. Most of its members are botanists of the United States Department of Agriculture, the Smithsonian Institution, local universities, and other government agencies. The Society holds eight meetings a year and is affiliated with the Washington Academy of Sciences.