From the Archives

By: Hannah Barton, Archivist

Hello, Ironwood readers. I’m Hannah Barton, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden’s new archivist, and I’m so happy to be here!

You might be asking yourself, “What is an archivist and why does the Garden need one?” Simply put, an archivist manages and preserves records of historical and enduring value. For the Garden, that means overseeing all collections of nonliving materials that contribute to the history and cultural significance of the institution. Our archives include such materials as maps, photographs, artwork, architectural drawings, oral histories, and even historical scientific tools. The Blaksley Library collection also now falls under the direction of the archivist.

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden site in Mission Canyon, looking south to entrance boulders and the Blaksley Boulder, circa 1926 (Photographer unknown)

Don Meadows, “Santa Barbara Island,” paint and ink on wood, 1939

Historic Blaksley Library cabinet and the Geology Exhibit on display 1930s (Photographer unknown)

Beyond being the manager of these collections, as the archivist, I also help to tell the story of the Garden and preserve its history. It is with this task in mind that I aim to make our collections as accessible as possible, both to our staff and to the general public. But more about that later.

I came to the Garden in a roundabout way, as most of my professional experience lies within the greater art world. I received my masters’ degrees in library and information science and history of art and design from Pratt Institute in New York, and during that time I worked in several art libraries such as The Frick Collection, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Whitney Museum of American Art. After graduating, I began work for a digital art book publisher, where I edited two comprehensive and definitive digital publications. Most recently, I held the position of archivist and senior permanent collection researcher at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, where I supported the curatorial department with important research and was the steward of the museum’s 80-year history.

I still have a deep appreciation for art and the lasting impacts it can have, but I found myself drawn to the opportunity to support a greater and more urgent cause, and the Garden’s mission to conserve native plants and habitats for the betterment of the planet is one that I can wholeheartedly get behind. Even though I’m not working in a lab or outside conducting important fieldwork or digging my hands into the earth (though sometimes my hands do get very dirty — archival work is not always what one might expect), I do feel as though I’m making a difference at the Garden by being able to support the important research and public-facing education that is taking place here. Also, I was born and raised in Santa Barbara, so I feel a close connection to this community and want to do my best to contribute to its well-being in any way that I can. Having grown up visiting the Garden (and even participating as a Summer Camp counselor in high school), I know how important it is to preserve the Garden’s institutional history while also moving the mission forward.

Early view of the Blaksley Boulder, 1920s (Photographer unknown)

Gardening hat of Lutah Maria Riggs

Herbertia journal, 1941

The Blaksley Boulder and oak today

There are a lot of exciting developments on the horizon for the Archives and Blaksley Library. We are embarking on the Archives Accessibility Project, jump-started by a very generous benefactor who wishes to remain anonymous. With their gift, we will be installing compact shelving in the basement of the Education Office and transforming that space into one that is dedicated to the storage, organization, and accessibility of our archival collections. The basement is the perfect location to house these valuable collections; it served previously as the Clifton Smith Herbarium, so it is inherently secure, stable, and fire-safe. With ongoing help from donors, we hope to continue to evolve this space so it can also function as a reading room and study area for Garden staff and outside researchers.

There are so many aspects of this project that I am looking forward to, but I am especially excited about the opportunity to really dig into the content of our historical collections as I begin to appraise and organize them. I’ve read plenty about all the wonderful resources we have, but I have yet to really be able to assess and document the majority of them.

That said, since I started work at the Garden in November 2021, I have come across a tremendous amount of fascinating material, and I’ve so enjoyed learning about the history of such a touchstone to our community. Some of my favorite things I’ve encountered so far include beautifully illustrated journals from the 1930s and 1940s, a hand-carved three-dimensional rendering of Santa Barbara Island from 1939, and the gardening hat of Lutah Maria Riggs, the architect of our 80-year-old Blaksley Library building.

In addition to uncovering bits and pieces of the Garden’s documented history, I love the times I get to explore the grounds and observe the way the landscape has changed, or not, in the almost 100 years since our founding. As you are walking around the Garden, have you taken the time to observe the majestic coast live oaks (Quercus agrifolia) that line the trails? The tree next to the Blaksley Boulder is easily over 100 years old and can be spotted in very early photos of the Garden property — as far back as the 1920s. Take a look at the above photographs of the Boulder from the 1920s and current day. The oak to the Boulder’s left is the same one that stands there today.

I’m so excited to be here to help preserve the Garden’s institutional history and make our archival collections more accessible to people like you. The next time you’re at the Garden, please pop into the Library to say hi. I would love to know if there are any resources you want to know more about and how I can best help you access them as our reorganization project progresses. O