Ex Libris
John and Andrea each spoke for an historical and horticultural and educational seminar on a summer’s day in Orefield, PA
I have drawn upon the wisdom found in many books for the notes that you find on these pages. It is from standing on the shoulders of giants that I am able to publish such considered opinions and cast a much longer shadow. I acknowledge these many authors and authorities from across the globe and time for all of the help that they have given to me. More information may be obtained by following a few links to their own locations on the web.
The Brother Gardeners: Botany, Empire and the Birth of an Obsession. Andrea Wulf http://www.andreawulf.com/andrea-wulf/about-the-brother-gardeners.html One of the best books on the era of plant discovery. So good that I should have written it myself.
The Founding Gardeners: How the Revolutionary Generation Founded an American Eden. Andrea Wulf http://www.andreawulf.com/andrea-wulf/founding-gardeners-the-revolutionary-generation-nature-and-the-shaping-of-the-american-nation.html Very local in its habitat and all about the Bartrams of Philadelphia. See which, what and how many of John’s discoveries were used in the estate gardens of our founding fathers.
The following is a collection of reading material that I’ve used along the way as I’ve developed and deepened the knowledge of my world through the eyes of other authors. This collection is also a group of books that offer mostly “light” evening’s entertainment.
Primary Biographical Research Material:
Adams, Denise Wiles. Restoring American Gardens: An Encyclopedia of Heirloom Ornamental Plants, 1640-1940. Hong Kong: Timber Press, Inc., 2004
Bartram, John. Observations on the Inhabitants, Climate, Soil, Rivers, Productions, Animals and other matters worth of Notice. London: J. Whiston & B. White, 1751.
Bartram, William. Travels through North & South Carolina, Georgia, East and West Florida. Philadelphia, PA: James and Johnson, 1791.
Berkeley, Edmund, and Dorothy Smith Berkeley. The Life and Travels of John Bartram: From Lake Ontario to the River St. John. Gainesville, Florida: University Presses of Florida, 1982.
Berkeley, Edmund, Ed. and Dorothy Smith Berkeley, Ed. The Correspondence of John Bartram: 1734-1777. Gainesville, Florida: University Presses of Florida, 1992
Franklin, Benjamin. Poor Richard’s Almanac. Philadelphia, PA: B. Franklin, Printer, 1732-1758.
Hoffmann, Nancy E., Ed. and John C. Van Horne, Ed. America’s Curious Botanist: A Tercentennial Reappraisal of John Bartram 1699-1777. Philadelphia, PA: American Philosophical Society, 2004.
Isaacson, Walter. Benjamin Franklin: An American Life. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2004.
Nichols, Ann. The Golden Age of Quaker Botanists. Ambleside, Cumbria: Quaker Tapestry Collection, 2006.
O’Neill, Jean, and Elizabeth P. McLean. Peter Collinson and the Eighteenth-Century Natural History Exchange. Philadelphia, PA: American Philosophical Society, 2008.
Sanders, Brad. Guide to William Bartram’s Travels: Following the Trail of America’s Fist Great Naturalist. Athens, GA: Fevertree Press, 2002.
Slaughter, Thomas P. The Natures of John and William Bartram. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1996.
Sternberg, Guy, and Jim Wilson. Native Trees for North American Landscapes. Portland, OR: Timber Press, Inc., 2004.
Secondary Historical Research:
McCullough, David. John Adams. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2001.
Bernstein, R. B. Thomas Jefferson. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003.
Franklin, Benjamin. Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. London: J. Parsons, 1793.
McCullough, David. 1776. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2005.
Randall, Willard Sterne. George Washington, A Life. New York: Henry Holt and Co, LLC, 1997.
Randall, Willard Sterne. Thomas Jefferson, A Life. New York: Henry Holt and Co, LLC, 1993.
Secondary Horticultural Research:
Dirr, Michael. Manual of Woody Landscape Plants: Their Identification, Ornamental Characteristics, Culture, Propagation and Uses. Champagne, IL: Stipes Publishing, LLC, 1998
Hinkley, Daniel J. The Explorer’s Garden: Rare and Unusual Perennials. Hong Kong: Timber Press, Inc., 1999.
Meyer, Jeffrey G. America’s Famous and Historic Trees: From George Washington’s Tulip Poplar to Elvis Presley’s Pin Oak. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2001.
Schama Simon. Landscape and Memory. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1995.
Still, Steven. Manual of Herbaceous Ornamental Plants. Champagne, IL: Stipes Publishing, LLC, 1994.
John Bartram Lives! 
Good Day John Bartram,
I live in Marshallton PA a historic village and home to Humphry Marshall, your cousin.
Are you still doing programs on John Bartram? I am part of the Marshallton Conservation Trust and we always look for programs related to the village. We are also trying to source a Bartram Oak Quercus Heterophylla Thank you, Erica Young younger@comcast.net 215-485-9237
I continue to walk the country as John Bartram. I have many engagements on and into 2022. Currently I reside in Charleston SC and work as National Outreach Coordinator for Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. John and his son William traveled through here in the mid 1700’s so we remain in touch with our 300 year old roots and walking shoes. America’s oldest garden that’s still privately owned by the original family began its ornamental gardens in the 1680’s–a full generation before Bartrams. We opened to the public in the 1870’s. Can talk about dates. Email me at vista6211 AT verizon.net.
Quercus heterophylla: you’re close to one of the largest in existence at Westchester University. There is some liklihood that it was, in fact, planted by Henry Marshall. His herbarium resides in the collection of that university. I’m sure you knew that, but it’s a likely place to check. There are probably seedlings all over campus!