The 20th anniversary of the Elisabeth C. Miller Library at the UW鈥檚 Center for Urban Horticulture will be celebrated Sunday, May 22, with an evening of events featuring the first public lecture by David Mabberley, the new director of the center and the Washington Park Arboretum.
Mabberley will speak on the 鈥淭reasures of the Miller Library,鈥� at 7 p.m. in the Northwest Horticultural Society Hall at the center. An international expert in plant systematics and ecology who has written 14 books and more than 200 other scientific publications, Mabberley also has extensive knowledge, and a considerable personal collection, of early horticultural and botanical works.
Several of the library鈥檚 books featured in the talk will be on display before the lecture, starting at 6 p.m., and at a reception following Mabberley鈥檚 presentation. All events are open to the public with a suggested donation of $10 and those wishing to attend are asked to RSVP by calling 206-685-8033.
Those attending will receive Suzanne Kotz鈥檚 booklet Nature is Visible, Art Concealed about the library鈥檚 rare books, have opportunities to sponsor the repair of items in the collections in need of restoration and to purchase note cards 鈥� reproduced from the covers of the library鈥檚 collection of early 20th century nursery catalogs 鈥� that commemorate the library鈥檚 anniversary.
鈥淭he Miller library is grateful to the 91探花 Special Collections Division that housed the collections for the last four years during the rebuilding of Merrill Hall,鈥� says Jane St. Germain, acting manager of the library. The Miller library鈥檚 special collections are available by appointment for limited use by scholars, faculty, students and the general public by calling 206-543-0415 in advance.
The Center for Urban Horticulture is located at the corner of Mary Gates Memorial Drive and NE 41st Street. A part of the 91探花College of Forest Resources, the Center known for horticultural research and public education, the preservation of Washington鈥檚 endangered plants, and the restoration of urban landscapes.