Selected resources on the history of The Morton Arboretum

A frequent question that we receive in the Sterling Morton Library is about the history of The Morton Arboretum. In the Library, we've purposefully gathered a number of resources detailing the Arboretum's history. In addition to our institutional archives containing letters, photographs and other documents, I've listed some selected resources highlighting the foundation, development and growth of the Arboretum:

• Ballowe, James. A great outdoor museum : the story of The Morton Arboretum, 2003. [REF QK73.M6 B3]
• Doty, Carol. The Arboretum’s architectural heritage: Part I in The Morton Arboretum Quarterly, v. 26, no. 4 (Winter 1990), p. 49-59.
• Doty, Carol. The Arboretum’s architectural heritage: Part II in The Morton Arboretum Quarterly, v. 27, no. 1 (Spring 1991), p. 1-9.
• Doty, Carol. The Arboretum’s architectural heritage: Part III in The Morton Arboretum Quarterly, v. 27, no. 4 (Winter 1991), p. 58-64.
• Larkin, Joseph. The developing landscape: The Morton Arboretum comes of age, Anthony Tyznik, 1953-1993 in The Morton Arboretum Quarterly, v. 31, no. 3 (Autumn 1995), p. 39-43.
• Mehaffey, Scott. Laying the foundation : landscape architecture at The Morton Arboretum, O.C. Simonds and Clarence Godshalk, 1922-1953 in The Morton Arboretum Quarterly, v. 31, no. 3 (Autumn 1995), p. 33-38.
• Planning the arboretum in The Morton Arboretum Quarterly, v. 1, no. 3 (Autumn 1965), p. 10-12.
• Schulenberg, Ray. The Arboretum landscape – a sesquicentennial perspective in The Morton Arboretum Quarterly, v. 4, no. 4 (Winter 1968), p. 49-61.
• Simonds, O.C. The Morton Arboretum in 1925: some of the landscape features in The Morton Arboretum Quarterly, v. 26, no. 4 (Winter 1990), p. 60-64.

The next time you're visiting the Arboretum, stop by the Sterling Morton Library and learn more about our remarkable history. Not able to visit us in the near future? Please email me and I will be happy to assist you in pursuit of all things historical!