Mission Statement of the International Bulb Society
Established in 1933, the International Bulb Society is the only international, non-profit, educational and scientific organization devoted to the dissemination of information on
the growing, conservation and botany of all geophytic plants (commonly referred to as "bulbs")
The International Bulb Society is singular in that it serves all interest and knowledge levels from novices to professional growers and scientists, and covers bulbs—both species
and hybrids—of all climates and habitat types.
Bulbs are uniquely adapted for long term survival in specialized environments, and they are valuable as sources of food, medicines, perfumes, pesticides and visual beauty. But they
are also being destroyed in the wild at alarming rates. It is important to save these plants from extinction so future generations will be able to benefit from their unique qualities
and their beauty.
The International Bulb Society aims to:
- disseminate information about bulbs via a variety of media.
- educate and encourage the general public, gardeners, horticulturists, conservationists, scientists and educational and botanical institutions to take an interest in bulbs and
become actively involved in their culture, preservation, advancement and enjoyment.
- encourage and sponsor research on bulbs.
- promote the conservation of bulbs (both in habitat and in cultivation) and preservation of bulb habitats, and facilitate propagation and distribution of bulbs and their seeds
to further bulb conservation and enjoyment.
- propagate, maintain and distribute rare bulbs for reintroduction into their native habitats.
- facilitate communication between individuals interested in bulbs.
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The International Bulb Society: Our History
The INTERNATIONAL BULB SOCIETY began as the American Amaryllis Society on May 21, 1933. The society published its first yearbook in 1934, the low point of the great, worldwide depression.
It was called, appropriately enough, YEAR BOOK, AMERICAN AMARYLLIS SOCIETY, Volume 1. Sixty one years later the society published its Golden Anniversary Volume 50 issue of Herbertia
in 1995.
Dr. Hamilton P. Traub, one of the founders of the society, and the yearbook's first editor, tells us why a new Amaryllis Society was began on page 2 of the 1934 Yearbook in the
first two sentences of an article he called "Editorial Comment". "Some correspondents have wondered why the period of economic readjustment [the Great Depression] was
chosen for the launching of the American Amaryllis Society. As a matter of fact, the event was probably in a great measure a coincidence since the interest in plants is only indirectly
affected by economic upheavals". In other words, why not start a plant society? People love plants, will grow plants and will seek information about them whether or not times
are tough.
Dr. Traub continues, "The number of persons interested in Amarylleae is undoubtedly great enough to support a thriving organization—not the largest but surely a high
quality association."
According to Dr. Traub, "The response [to the new society] was spontaneous and was not only confined to America but was worldwide. The roster of Charter Members speaks for
itself."
From these words, we learn that the Society had an "international flavor" from the very beginning, as people from countries throughout the world signed up to become a
part of the newly organized American Amaryllis Society.
Dr. Traub neatly sums up the editorial policy of the Society's yearbook by writing, "The editorial policy of the Year Book is to publish timely articles but without too much
formality. The Year Book will be at all times of, for and by the members of the Society. However, when necessary to establish fundamental facts, entirely technical papers will be
published."
That was, has been and is still our basic editorial policy.
Among the eighty charter members of the American Amaryllis Society were members from many states and the District of Columbia, as well as Mr. Basil N. Ikeda of Japan; Mrs. Frank
Joyce of Kenya, East Africa; Mr. E. H. Krelage of Holland; Mr. Kanjiro Okamoto of Japan; The Honorable Henry McLaren of Great Britain; Messrs. F. Ryynveld & Zonen of Holland;
the Messrs. C. G. Van Tubergen, Ltd. of Holland; and Mr. A. Worsley of England. Distinguished American names included Mr. Gordon Ainsley, Mr. Henry Buxton, Mr. Richard Diener, Mr.
E. G. Duckworth, Messrs. H. F. and Pierre S. Du Pont, Mr. J. N. Giridlian, Mr. Wyndham Hayward, Mr. Cecil E. Houdyshel, Mr. E. A. and Mrs. Rufus Mcllhenny, Mr. Theodore L. Mead, Dr.
Hamilton P. Traub himself, Mr. Thomas W. Whitaker, as well as the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.
Other distinguished names are listed as charter members of the society on pages 4 and 5 of that 1934 yearbook, but those mentioned will give you an idea of the enthusiasm generated
among the gardening elite of that generation over sixty years ago.
Since January 28, 1934, the date Dr. Traub wrote the editorial comment quoted from above, the Society has gone from being called the American Amaryllis Society to the American Plant
Life Society, to its present name: the International Bulb Society. We still love the Amaryllids, but all bulbous plants including bulbs, tubers, corms and rhizomes are now included
in our pages as a reflection of our membership interest.
The name of our yearbook has changed, too. What used to be the American Amaryllis Society Yearbook was changed after only two years of publication to HERBERTIA. Then PLANT LIFE,
another publication, came along in 1945 and was published during four years as a separate journal distinct from HERBERTIA. PLANT LIFE became the Society's only publication in l949.
In 1984 the name was changed back to HERBERTIA.
The name HERBERTIA is derived from that of Mr. William Herbert (1778-1847), among whose many pursuits was the hobby of growing, observing, hybridizing, grouping, and writing about
bulbous plants, especially the Amaryllidaceae. Mr. Herbert compiled his thoughts on this aspect of his plant hobby in AMARYLLIDACEAE which was first published in 1837. Although he
wrote extensively throughout his life, his book AMARYLLIDACEAE remains William Herbert's major opus.
The International Bulb Society at the seasoned age of sixty-five years and growing, is still here, standing proud and tall and with a Board of Directors eager to serve you even
better in the months and years ahead. There will be more articles and more news about bulbs, tubers, corms and rhizomes from distinguished bulb people around the world as your Editorial
Board works to expand the contents and quality of HERBERTIA and BULBS.
The society and its publications have changed in the past and they will continue to change in the future to reflect the needs and interest of it membership.
May each person reading these words take a moment to pay a special tribute to the memories of all the bulbophiles who preceded us in the work with bulbs, tubers, corms and rhizomes
which we are now carrying forward.
May each of us pause for a moment and reflect on the rich heritage of seventy-four years of our Society's work with bulbous plants both rare and common.
To you, William Herbert, and to you, Dr. Hamilton Traub, thank you both. The torch you lit and kept alive so many years ago still burns brightly.
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