If you have ever wondered what went on in AHS fifty years ago, you can now find out thanks to Sharon Cusick of the Archives and History Committee. She has written a fascinating review of the highlights of 1961. This can be accessed from the newly revamped Archives Main page on the AHS web site. (Special thanks go to Tim Fehr for not only formatting the article, but for revising the look of the Archives Main page which is now clear and concise.)
This was a significant year when the word "tetraploid" became the new buzz word at the Chicago Convention. True, induced tets go back to the mid to late 1940s, but Orville Fay declared that all daylilies would be tets in ten years and others were also touting them as well. Did you know that at least one tet was selling for $500 in that year! I am not going to spoil it by telling you what it was or who hybridized it. Willard King, commented on all the hoopla about tets and dips, by adding that he was "just getting around to calling them Hemerocallis instead of 'Lilies'." Yes, the old L word was being incorrectly applied even then.
I think some of us senior citizens can understand why we are in the age demographic that did not become members in 1961. The photo of all the guests at the convention banquet is priceless. As a twenty-something then, I think I would have died before getting all gussied up to attend that event with all those "old" people. Check it out!
A sad note of that year was the passing of Dr. Ezra Kraus. The AHS Yearbook was dedicated to him. The covers of that issue, front and back, were unique. Do you know why? A large part of the article discusses this man and his importance to AHS.
I recommend this quick read as a way to get to know something about those upon whose shoulders we stand today. Sharon has done a superb job of bringing that year back to life for us.
Ken Cobb
AHS Archivist/Historian
This was a significant year when the word "tetraploid" became the new buzz word at the Chicago Convention. True, induced tets go back to the mid to late 1940s, but Orville Fay declared that all daylilies would be tets in ten years and others were also touting them as well. Did you know that at least one tet was selling for $500 in that year! I am not going to spoil it by telling you what it was or who hybridized it. Willard King, commented on all the hoopla about tets and dips, by adding that he was "just getting around to calling them Hemerocallis instead of 'Lilies'." Yes, the old L word was being incorrectly applied even then.
I think some of us senior citizens can understand why we are in the age demographic that did not become members in 1961. The photo of all the guests at the convention banquet is priceless. As a twenty-something then, I think I would have died before getting all gussied up to attend that event with all those "old" people. Check it out!
A sad note of that year was the passing of Dr. Ezra Kraus. The AHS Yearbook was dedicated to him. The covers of that issue, front and back, were unique. Do you know why? A large part of the article discusses this man and his importance to AHS.
I recommend this quick read as a way to get to know something about those upon whose shoulders we stand today. Sharon has done a superb job of bringing that year back to life for us.
Ken Cobb
AHS Archivist/Historian
No comments:
Post a Comment