338 (The City Parks Association of Philadelphia 1905– 1906). Local newspaper society pages showed that Harrison attended social events with Martin (The Philadelphia Inquirer 1899), Chew (The Philadel- phia Inquirer 1907), and Lundy (The Philadelphia Inquirer 1904). Furthermore, Chew and Lundy were members of the Pennsylvania Society of Colonial Dames along with Harrison. These stories from Phil- adelphia illustrate how tightly woven social circles of elite women were contributing to urban greening and city beautification during the Progressive Era. Cru- cially, these upper-class women who dedicated their time and efforts to conservation and advocacy for landscape planting were volunteers. As previously explained, these voluntary actions and projects were justified within the structure of the home during this era—with these women seen as expanding their domestic spheres to urban public spaces. Women vol- unteered their unpaid labor and were involved in urban greening projects from the start, yet men were hired as foresters. ELLEN HARRISON’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO URBAN GREENING Although not professionally trained as a botanist, horticulturalist, or forester, Harrison left an indelible mark on the University of Pennsylvania’s campus (The Pennsylvania Gazette 1917). Her sustained involve- ment in beautifying the campus is clear from her cor- respondence with Oglesby Paul, Landscape Gardener of the FPC, regarding the planting and design of Hamilton Walk (The University Archives and Records Center [date unknown]). A campus newspaper from 1910 when Charles resigned as provost stated: Mrs. Harrison has ably seconded the efforts of the Provost by her work in beautifying the cam- pus. Practically all of the shrubbery, the ivy, and the flowers which now add their beauty to the University are her personal gift, while the maintenance of the grounds has been carried on at her expense. It was largely through her influence that the Botanic Gardens have been so greatly beautified, memorials erected, and Hamilton Walk finished. (Old Penn Weekly Review 1910a) Upon her death, the university’s Alumni Register wrote: During the term of Mr. Harrison’s Provostship, Mrs. Harrison had charge of the entire University ©2022 International Society of Arboriculture McNulty and Roman: Forgotten Contributions Campus. Not only was all the planting done under her direction, but for these seventeen years, the trees and shrubs and grass and the roads were all kept in order by a head-gardener and his men, the funds being provided through Mrs. Harrison. The University was under no charge for the care of its grounds during Mr. Harrison’s term of service as Provost. Hamilton Walk from 39th Street to 34th Street, was entirely Mrs. Harrison’s work. ( The Alumni Register 1922) As the above quotes make clear, Harrison deserved credit for creating these core campus landscapes. Fur- thermore, Harrison was the leader and financier of greening efforts on the university’s campus, for which she established a Campus Fund (The University Archives and Records Center 1902a). Harrison requested contributions to the fund from her elite social circles (The University Archives and Records Center 1902b) and managed the fund directly with the university treasurer (The University Archives and Records Center 1902a). Ellen and Charles Harrison: Ancestry and Stature Ellen and Charles Harrison both hailed from elite Philadelphia families. Ellen Nixon Waln Harrison was born in Philadelphia on December 4, 1846, to Edward and Ellen Cora Nixon. She was the great -granddaughter of Robert Morris, a prominent financier of the Amer- ican Revolution, and great-great-granddaughter of John Nixon, the first President of the Bank of North Amer- ica, who read the Declaration of Independence on July 8, 1776, to Philadelphia residents (The Alumni Register 1922). Ellen Nixon Waln married Charles Custis Harrison in 1870, and they had 6 children together (Harrison 1932). The Harrisons both used their elite status to enhance the university. As a university archivist stated in a let- ter to the Harrisons’ granddaughter during Charles’ tenure, the Harrisons “together totally changed the face of the University” (The University Archives and Records Center 1977). The university experienced rapid growth during this time, and the Harrisons raised funds for dormitories and numerous academic buildings (Harrison family 2008). In 1889, before her husband’s provostship, Harrison became 1 of the first 3 women to be elected to the Board of Managers of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (Lloyd 2001). Harrison remained active with this board
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