Archives of American Gardens

Lois W. Poinier slide collection, circa 1950-1993

Summary

Collection ID:
AAG.PNR
Creators:
Poinier, Lois W.
Wodell, Helen Page
Cottrell, Lois Page
Dates:
circa 1920-1999
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
154 Lantern slides
1 Album
2,243 Color slides
2.25 Cubic feet
Repository:
The Lois W. Poinier Collection documents the work of Lois W. Poinier, a self-taught garden designer who designed scores of gardens, most of them in New Jersey.

Scope and Contents note

Scope and Contents note
The Lois W. Poinier Collection contains 1,089 35mm slides documenting before-and-after images of almost 100 gardens designed by garden designer and Garden Club of America member Lois W. Poinier of New Jersey. Most gardens are located in New Jersey, but there are some in California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. The collection includes some gardens designed by Poinier's mother, Helen Page Wodell, and aunt, Lois Page Cottrell, who practiced under the firm name of Wodell & Cottrell. The collection is particularly helpful as it shows the evolution of gardens under construction and in their 'finished' state.
The collection also includes an album of images documenting gardens owned by Lois W. Poinier and her mother, Helen Page Wodell in New Jersey and Connecticut as well as an extensive slide lecture and script compiled by Poinier entitled "Ninety Years in a Garden" that documents the story and evolution of three of those gardens in New Jersey. Another series of glass lantern slides of numerous gardens dating from the 1920s and 1930s was used extensively for garden lecture purposes by both women. Finally, there are images by Lois W. Poinier of numerous private and public gardens throughout the United States and the United Kingdom that she visited.

Biographical/Historical note

Biographical/Historical note
Lois W. Poinier is a self-taught garden designer who began her career in association with her mother, Helen Page Wodell. Wodell, along with her sister, Lois Page Cottrell, established the garden design firm of Wodell & Cottrell, in Short Hills, New Jersey in 1931. The majority of Lois W. Poinier's design work was in New Jersey. She was a longtimestanding member of the Short Hills Garden Club in New Jersey and lectured on gardens and garden design.

Administration

Author
CEG
Custodial History note
Materials in the Lois W. Poinier Collection were generated or compiled by Lois W. Poiner during the course of her garden design career.
Immediate Source of Acquistion note
Lois W. Poinier donated materials to the Archives of American Gardens in 2003, 2011, 2012, and 2014. The 2003 donation was facilited by Catha Rambusch of Wave Hill in Bronx, NY.

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 note
Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, Lois W. Poinier slide collection.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Slides (photographs) Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Landscape gardening Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Gardens -- United States Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Gardens -- Rhode Island Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Gardens -- Pennsylvania Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Gardens -- New York Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Gardens -- New Jersey Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Gardens -- Massachusetts Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Gardens -- Connecticut Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Gardens -- California Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Archives of American Gardens
P.O. Box 37012
Capital Gallery West, Suite 3300, MRC 506
Washington, DC 20013-7012
Business Number: Phone: 202-633-5840
Fax Number: Fax: 202-633-5697
aag@si.edu