Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Collection is open to research.

Use Restrictions

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred Citation

Henry   Yates Papers, Accession 10553-n, Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library

Acquisition Information

These papers were given to the Library by Henry N. Yates of Frostburg, Maryland, on January 16, 1989.

Funding Note

Funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities

Scope and Content

The papers of Henry   Yates (1912-1970) a rhododendron hybridizer from "Big Savage Mountain," Frostburg, Maryland , consist of ca. 350 items (1 Hollinger box), 1946-1982, and undated. They include correspondence, azalea and rhododendron inventories, printed material, references from the Gable Rhododendron Study , records of seed crosses, and talks and articles by Henry   Yates .

Yates was for many years a close friend and collaborator of Joseph B. Gable (1886-1972), a nurseryman and fruit grower of Stewartstown, Pennsylvania . Beginning in 1955, Yates grew many seedlings from Gable's crosses. Using Gable materials, Yates developed several fine azalea and rhododendron hybrids at Frostburg , some of which are just now beginning to be recognized and grown.

This collection has two folders of letters from Joseph and Mary Gable to Henry   and Maletta Yates , 1957-1968, most of which contain information about two of Gable's strongest interests, rhododendrons and hunting. Topics in these letters include: sowing seeds in different rooting mediums (1957 Jan 24); arborescens (1957 Oct 23 and 1965 June 22); Gable's request for Yates to continue his work with lepidotes (1960 Feb 17); a list and description of Gable hybrids (1961 Jul 20); a list and description of seedlings raised by Yates for Gable (1961 Aug 17); Gable's opinion of Dave Leach 's Rhododendrons of the World (1961 Dec 18); sterilization of transplanting and seed mediums (1962 Jan 31); Gable crosses (1962 May 23 and Jul 9); Gable's desire for a top-notch hardy red hybrid (1964 Feb 17 and 1966 Jul 11, 19, & 24); anomalies in Gable's rhododendrons (1965 May 21); a discussion of native azaleas and R. Japonicum (1965 Jun 30); and a list of seeds from the cooperative work of Gable and Yates (1965 Oct 26).

Correspondents in the general correspondence include:
Clement G. Bowers (1960 Nov 2; 1961 Feb 10, Mar 24)
Weldon [Delp] (1976 Mar 16)
Fred C. Galle (1969 May 8)
Velma Haag (n.y. Jan 3)
Mark Hatfield (1961 Dec 20)
E. A. Hollowell (1968 May 24)
David Goheen Leach (1961 Mar 26)
George T. Miller   (1975 Sep 24)
Guy G. Nearing (1964 Jan 27)
Ed Parker (1977 Feb 7, Jul 19, & Aug 22)
Alfred A. Raustein (1980 Jan 21, Mar 31)
George Ring (1975 Dec 9, [ca. 1975]; 1977 Oct 31; 1980 Aug 29; & 1982 Mar 3)
Henry   T. Skinner (1960 Aug 26, Oct 26; 1961 Apr 19; 1970 Jun 30, Aug 3 & 20)
Richard Steele (1967 Nov 9; 1968 Jan 23, May 29, Aug 19; 1969 Jan 24, Apr 17, Aug 18; [1976 Jun 26]; n.y. May 24)
Frank West (1976 Nov 22)
John C. Wister (1971 Aug 18)

Talks and articles by Henry   or Maletta Yates include: "Raising Seedlings with Help From Mother Nature," ["Gable Azaleas" ?], ["Mr. Rhododendron Joseph B. Gable" ?], and the reminiscences of Maletta Yates, including "Bakeri," "Mars," "Purple Crosses," "Calandulacum," "Yakusimanum," "How Henry   Met Joe Gable," and "Out West."