Wild Flower Preservation Society of America facts for kids

The Wild Flower Preservation Society of America was an important group in the United States that worked to protect native plants. It was a non-profit organization, meaning it didn't aim to make money but instead focused on a good cause. The Society was active for many years, helping people understand why it's important to save wild flowers and plants.

History of the Wild Flower Preservation Society

The Wild Flower Preservation Society of America started in 1902. It was created with a special gift of $3,000 from Olivia Stokes and Caroline Phelps Stokes, which they gave to the New York Botanical Garden. This money helped get the new organization up and running.

The first meeting of the Society happened on April 23, 1902. At this meeting, leaders were chosen. Frederick Vernon Coville became the first president, and Charles Louis Pollard was chosen as the secretary. Elizabeth Gertrude Britton joined the Board of Managers, which was like the main leadership team. Other important people on the board included Alice Eastwood.

The Society grew quickly and set up many local groups across the country. These local groups helped spread the message of plant protection in different areas. In 1915, the Society officially became a corporation in New York. This meant it was legally recognized and could do more work.

For a while, the Society published a magazine called The Plant World. This magazine started in 1897 and shared information about plants and conservation. By 1924, the Society's work mostly focused on the state of New York, even though it had once been a national organization. The Society eventually stopped its work in 1933.