Sheila Connor
Horticultural Research Archivist,
Arnold Arboretum Horticultural Library
Archivist, Harvard Forest
125 Arborway
Boston, MA 02130
Phone: 617.384.5324
Fax: 617.524.1418
Website
Email
Education
BFA Painting and Illustration (1969) Massachusetts College of Art
As Horticultural Research Archivist, I manage the Arboretum’s library and archival collections in Jamaica Plain. My goal is to make the depth and breadth these extraordinary resources easily available and accessible through both historic and contemporary means. I have served as principal investigator for grants awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Institute of Library and Museum Services, and Harvard’s Library Digital Initiative. Most recently I have been involved with the digitization of the Arboretum’s photographic archives. My own interests are centered on the the role landscape plays in our lives and the cultural history of New England’s trees. Working with the staff and the exceptional collections at the Harvard Forest has enabled me to learn more about New England’s native flora.
I have had the pleasure of serving as president of the Council on Botanical and Horticultural Libraries, an international organization dedicated to the development, maintenance, and use of libraries of botanical and horticultural literature. I currently serve as chairman of the Town of Hull’s Conservation Commission and, as a founding member of the Straits Pond Watershed Association, I find myself a student of an entirely new environment—the geology and flora of the coast. In summer I garden and explore Hull’s coastline by kayak and I have rowed these same waters year-round in wooden, 30 foot long, ocean-going pilot gigs. I diligently try to capture both land and seascapes in watercolor.
Saving the dunes in Hull, PatriotLedger.com (video)
Publications and Projects
- Connor, S. 2009. Bird’s-eye views: Aerial photographs of the Arnold Arboretum. Arnoldia 67(1):10-19.[pdf]
- Connor, S. 2008. Googling the collection: The Google Books Library Project. Silva Spring/Summer:7-8.[pdf]
- Connor, S. 2008. Century flower: 100 years of Lilac Sunday. Silva Spring/Summer:4. [pdf]
- Connor, S. 2008. Autumn Leaves by Elizabeth Russell: A bibliographic mystery. Silva Fall/Winter: back cover.
- Connor, S. 2007. Cultivating knowledge: Digitizing Arnoldia and The Bulletin of Popular Information. Silva Spring/Summer:7.[pdf]
- Connor, S. 2005. Polly Wakefield. Silva Fall/Winter:40.
- Connor, S. 2005. The nature of eastern Asia: Botanical and cultural images from the Arnold Arboretum archives. Arnoldia 63(3):34-42.[pdf]
- Connor, S. 2004. In the Library: Hortus Nitidissimis. Arnoldia 63(1):32. [pdf]
- Connor, S. 2003. Shrubs and vines at the Arnold Arboretum: A history. Arnoldia 62(2):3-15.[pdf]
- Connor, S. 2003. A picture is worth… The Public Garden 18(4):39-41. [pdf]
- Connor, S. 2003-2006. Project Manager, Harvard Library Digital Initiative Grant The Nature of Eastern Asia; Botanical and Cultural Images from the Arnold Arboretum’s Archives. Online exhibit.
- Connor, S. 1999-2002. Project Manager, Harvard Library Digital Initiative Grant Western China and Tibet; Hotspot of Diversity. Online exhibit.
- Connor, S. 2002. The Arboretum through time: Historic views of our landscape. Online exhibit.
- Connor, S. 1999. Historical background on the journal Garden and Forest. Garden and Forest: A Journal of Horticulture, Landscape Art, and Forestry (1888-1897): A joint project of the Library of Congress Preservation Reformatting Division, the University of Michigan Making of America project, and the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University. [link]
- Connor, S. 1996. Project Manager, National Endowment for the Humanities, Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities Science in the Pleasure Ground. Arnold Arboretum Visitor Center Exhibit.
- Connor, S. 1996. Mystical, medicinal witch hazel. Arnoldia 55(3): 20-21.[pdf]
- Connor, S. 1994. New England Natives: A Celebration of People and Trees. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
- Connor, S. 1993. Project Manager, Renovation of the Hunnewell Visitor Center, Arnold Arboretum.
- Connor, S. 1992. The flying dogwood shuttle. Arnoldia 52(4):17-22.[pdf]
- Connor, S. 1990. The Arnold Arboretum: an historic park partnership. Arnoldia 48(4):26-28.[pdf]
- Connor Geary, S. and B. June Hutchinson.1980. Jackson Thornton Dawson, Plantsman. Arnoldia 40(2):51-75.[pdf]