Special Collections Department
403 Parks Library
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-2140

RS 5/7/4
Reiman Gardens (Ames, Iowa)
Administrative Records, 1968-[ongoing]


Descriptive summary

creator:

Reiman Gardens (Ames, Iowa)

title:

Administrative Records

dates:

1968-[ongoing]

extent:

7.49 linear feet (10 document boxes, 2 oversized boxes, 2 map case folders, and 1 shelf in RS oversized range)

collection number:

RS 5/7/4

repository:

University Archives, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University.

 

Administrative information

access:

Open for research

publication rights:

Consult Head, Special Collections Department

preferred citation:

Reiman Gardens (Ames, Iowa) Administrative Records, RS 5/7/4, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

 

Historical note

Iowa State University has managed a horticulture garden since 1914. The first location was north of the Farm House at the Horticulture Research Station. In the early 1960s, the gardens were moved to a site on the northeast corner of the Iowa State University campus north of the power plant. This particular site offered little room for expansion and was surrounded by the campus's industrial zone.

In the early 1990s, faculty in the Horticulture department and university administrators discussed the possibility of moving the gardens to a larger, more visible location to beautify the entrance to the city of Ames and Iowa State University. In 1993, alumnus Roy Reiman and his wife Bobbi generously gave $1.3 million to initiate Phase One of the new gardens. Construction began in 1994 at a location immediately south of Jack Trice Stadium along Elwood Drive (University Boulevard), and Reiman Gardens was officially dedicated in 1995. At its opening, Reiman Gardens covered just five acres, which included the entry court, herb garden, rose garden, campanile garden, Mahlstede Horticulture Learning Center, and a maintenance building. The Gardens have continued to grow over the last eight years to cover fourteen acres. The most recent addition is the Conservatory Complex and Christina Reiman Butterfly Wing, which opened in November 2002.

Rodney Robinson Landscape Architects, a landscape architecture firm in Wilmington, Delaware, designed the Gardens. Robinson was selected because of his experience at other public gardens including Longwood Gardens and the Washington Mall. ISU faculty and staff were also active in the development of the Gardens' master and planting plans.

Daryl Metzger, of Architects Smith Metzger in Des Moines, designed the buildings within the Gardens. The architecture reflects a Midwestern style, inspired by the state's agricultural traditions.

 

Collection description

This collection (1968-[ongoing]) contains a variety of administrative and planning documents pertaining to Reiman Gardens and to previous Iowa State University horticulture gardens as well. Included in the collection are planting plans, plant lists, construction documents, design proposals, correspondence, newspaper clippings, traveling exhibits, oversized blueprints, and framed, oversized landscape drawings.

 

Organization

The collection is arranged in chronological order.

 

Container list

Box

Folder

Title

Dates

1

1

Garden Improvements and Repairs

1968-1994

1

2

Garden Staffing

1972-1993, undated

1

3

Horticulture Garden Perennial Bed Plans

1973-1987, undated

1

4

Rose Garden Plans

1978-1992, undated

1

5

Correspondence

1983-1992, undated

1

6

Horticulture Department – Interoffice Communication

1983-1996, undated

1

7

Annual Bed Plans

1985

1

9

Copy Masters

1985-1998

1

8

Project Proposals (13- 5x7" color photographs)

1985-1998

1

11

Annual Bed Plans

1986

1

10

All-America Rose Selections – Information and News Releases

1986-1996

2

1

Annual Bed Plans

1987

1

12

Perennial Plant Lists

1987, undated

2

2

Printed Material

1987-1997

2

3

Annual Beds Plans

1988

2

5

Newspaper Clippings

1988-2002, undated

2

4

Certificates – All-America Rose Selections

1988-2003

2

6

Annual Bed Plans

1989

2

7

Annual Bed Plans

1990

2

8

Presentation – Plant Propagation

1990-1992

2

9

Annual Bed Plans

1991

2

10

Horticulture Garden Newsletters by Nancy Agnew

1991-1994

2

11

Budget Reports

1991-1995

2

12

Annual Bed Plans

1992

2

15

Herb Garden Plans

1992

2

13

Perennial Bed Plans

1992

2

14

Rose Bed Plans

1992

3

2

Annual and Perennial Planting Plans

1993

3

1

Annual Bed Plans

1993

3

5

Landscape Architect Selection Committee – Design Proposals (1 of 2)

1993

3

6

Landscape Architect Selection Committee – Design Proposals (2 of 2)

1993

3

4

Reiman Gardens Groundbreaking Ceremony (26- 3x5" color; 1- 5x7" color; 1- 8x10" color photographs)

1993

3

3

Rose Bed Plans

1993

Oversized

Walker Metzger Architects, P.C., Design Development Drawings (2- 16x12" color), Floor Plan Design Development (42x30", sheets one and two, laminate on foam core)

1993

3

8

Education Building Design Information

1993-1994

3

7

Garden Advisory Committee

1993-1994

3

11

Fundraising

1993-1995

3

9

Reiman Garden Planting and Garden Design

1993-1995

3

10

Garden Art

1993-1995, undated

11

1

Reiman Gardens Development Articles

1993-1995, undated

3

12

Garden Budget Information and Management Report

1993-1997, undated

4

1

Correspondence

1993-2002, undated

Map Case

Blue Prints – Pedestrian Bridge

1994

Map Case

Blue Prints – Rose Garden Foundation – Site Details

1994

Map Case

Electrical Site Plan

1994

4

2

Horticulture Department Newsletter

1994

Oversized

 

Schematic color design of John P. Mahlstede Learning Center (18x12", framed)

1994

Map Case

Tree and Shrub Planting Plans

1994

4

4

Donation Requests

1994, undated

4

3

Perennial Planting Plans – AutoCAD Drawings

1994, undated

4

5

Plant Wish List and Needs

1994, undated

4

6

Construction Documents and Correspondence (1 of 4)

1994-1995

4

7

Construction Documents and Correspondence (2 of 4)

1994-1995

4

8

Construction Documents and Correspondence (3 of 4)

1994-1995

4

9

Construction Documents and Correspondence (4 of 4)

1994-1995

4

12

Internships

1994-1995

4

10

Perennial Plant Lists

1994-1995, undated

4

11

Rose and Perennial Plant Inventory

1994-1995, undated

4

13

Printed Materials

1994-1997, undated

5

7

Annual and Perennial Bed Plans

1995

5

6

Annual Bed Plans

1995

Map Case

Blue Prints – Reiman Garden Campanile

1995

5

5

Irrigation Report (1- 3x5" color photograph)

1995

Map Case

Perennial Bed Plan (preliminary)

1995

5

2

Reiman Garden Campanile Project Manual

1995

5

4

Reiman Garden Dedication Ceremony

1995

5

1

Reiman Garden Signage

1995

11

2

Reiman Gardens Dedication Programs, Itinerary, and Speech Transcripts

1995

5

3

Gifts

1995-1997

5

8

CoHorts – Constitution, By-Laws, and Miscellaneous

1995-1997, undated

5

9

Phase Two – Children's Garden

1995-1999

Map Case

Exhibit Materials – Banners

1995-2003

5

11

Annual Bed Plans

1996

5

12

Salad Bowl Garden Plans and Information

1996

5

13

Rose Bed Plans

1996, undated

5

10

Special Event – Art in the Garden

1996, undated

6

1

Special Event – Garden Gala (2- 3x5" color photographs)

1996-1998, undated

6

4

'Jonadel' Apple Trees / H.L. Lantz

1997

6

2

All-America Rose Selections Public Garden Publicity Kit (Includes one 3.5 inch floppy disk)

1997

6

3

Annual Bed Plans

1997

Map Case

General Services Plan

1997

6

5

Garden Extravaganza Bus Tour of Eastern Iowa (4- 3x5" color photographs)

1997, undated

6

6

Work Pending

1997-1998

6

7

Ames Chamber of Commerce – Business After Hours

1998

Map Case

Annual Bed Planting Plan

1998

6

10

Ben Vance Memorial Dragon Garden Plans

1998

Map Case

Blue Prints – Children's Garden (95% Construction Documents)

1998

Map Case

Blue Prints – Corn Crib Barn (Children's Garden)

1998

Map Case

Children's Garden Plant Schedule and Irrigation Plan

1998

6

11

Facilities Planning and Management Work Requests

1998

Oversized

Facilities Planning and Management: Reiman Children's Garden Plant Schedule (36x23", black and white, loose sheet)

1998

Map Case

Irrigation Plan

1998

6

12

Phase Two Construction

1998

6

9

Planting Information

1998

Oversized

Rodney Robinson Landscape Architects: Revised Master Plan (40x30", hand colored on foam core)

1998

Oversized

Rodney Robinson Landscape Architects: Town and Country Garden (40x29", hand colored on foam core)

1998

6

8

Rose Garden Planting Plan

1998

11

5

Visions, Iowa State University Alumni Association

1998, 2003

6

13

Town and Country Gardens Project Manuals

1998-1999

7

1

Conservatory Design (1 of 2)

1998-1999, undated

7

2

Conservatory Design (2 of 2)

1998-2000

11

3-4

Binder – Minutes, Budget, Member Information, and Special Events

1998-2001

7

3

Town and Country Gardens

1998-2001

7

4

Administration Change

1998-2001, undated

7

5

Phase Three – Conservatory

1998-2002

Map Case

Blue Prints – Town and Country Gardens Planting Plans

1999

Oversized

Design Development/Construction Documents: Town & Country Garden (42x30", Schematic design on foam core)

1999

Oversized

Design Development/Construction Documents: Town & Country Garden (42x30", hand colored on foam core)

1999

Oversized

Design Development/Construction Documents: Woody Plant Arboretum (41x29", hand colored on foam core)

1999

7

7

Herbaceous Perennial Saturday

1999

7

6

Order Bed Plans

1999

Oversized

Rodney Robinson Landscape Architects: Town and Country Garden (41x29", hand colored on foam core)

1999

Oversized

Smith Metger: Concept A Schematic "DFR" original and photocopy (34x22" color; 34x22" B&W)

1999

Oversized

Smith Metzger: ISU Reiman Gardens Planned Projects, (36x24" B&W)

1999
12 1 Financial Reports and Budgets 1999-2000

7

8

Special Events – Miscellaneous

1999-2001, undated

Oversized

Smith Metzger: Reiman Gardens Conservatory Floor Plan (35x24" B&W on foam core)

2000

Oversized

Smith Metzger: Reiman Gardens Conservatory Floor Plan (35x24" B&W on foam core)

2000

Oversized

Smith Metzger: Reiman Gardens Conservatory Site Plan (35x24" B&W on foam core)

2000

8

1

Woody Plant Arboretum

2000

Map Case

Blue Prints – Conservatory and Butterfly Wing

2000-2001

8

2

Academic Advisory Team

2001
12 7 Comparative Study 2001

8

4

Grounds Maintenance

2001, undated

8

3

Planting Plans

2001, undated
12 2 Executive Summary and Conservatory Budget 2001-2002

8

5

Conservatory Construction Documents

2001-2002, undated

8

7

Conservatory Equipment

2002

8

6

USDA Containment Guidelines for Butterflies and Moths

2002

8

9

Planting Plans

2002-2003

8

8

Soil Mitigation Project

2002-2003
12 3 Financial Reports, Budgets, and Busines Plan 2003-2004

11

6

Images of Children's Garden Scarecrow

2004 circa
12 8-9 Operational Records and Activity Reports 2004-2005

11

13-14

Report of Staff Accomplishments and Activities – Administration, Education, Marketing, etc.

2004-2005

Map Case

Blue Prints – Home Show

2005
12 4 Financial Reports, Budgets, and Correspondence 2005

8

10

Hardscape – Planter Boxes, Birthday Cake, Dry Garden, Home Show Plans

2005, undated
12 5 Financial Reports, Budgets, and Correspondence 2006

8

18

Correspondence (e-mail)

2007

8

19

Printed Materials

2007-2008
12 6 Financial Reports and Budgets 2007-2009

8

16

Annual and Perennial Planting Plans

undated

8

15

Annual Bed Plans (Reprints)

undated

9

 

Architectural Design of Mahlstede Center, Color Copies, 1 Framed (12x18")

undated

Map Case

Blue Prints – Entry Gate Concept

undated

Map Case

Blue Prints – Entry Gate Concept – With Details

undated

Map Case

Blue Prints – Reiman Garden and Stadium Site Plans

undated

8

13

Building Rental Contract

undated

8

11

Children's Garden Photographs (9- 7x5" color)

undated

Oversized

Coe Lee Robinson Roesch, Inc/Civil Engineering Plus, Inc: Phase I Development (17x12" B&W), Color photographs (2- 17x12"), color photographs of: Education Building, Wetland Garden, Rose Garden, Misc. Fountain Gardens, Wilbur's Garden for Children, Phase I Development, and Town and Country Homeowner's Garden

undated

11

9

Construction Techniques Binder

undated

11

8

Garden Plans

undated

11

3

Images (Digital) – Printouts, Schematic and Aerial

undated

9

 

Japanese Garden Proposal – Portfolio and Framed Plan (12x17")

undated

Oversized

Landscape Drawing: Master Plan, "Scheme A" (63x68", framed, hand colored on foam core)

undated

Oversized

Landscape Drawing: Town and Country Homeowner's Garden (32x40", framed, hand colored on foam core)

undated

Oversized

Landscape Drawing: Wilbur's Garden for Children (34x25", framed, hand colored on foam core)

undated

11

10

Master Plan Slides (7 color)

undated

11

4

Master Plan Transparencies (2 color)

undated

11

10

Master Plan Transparencies (3 color)

undated

Oversized

Master Plan: Framed (26x24" color)

undated

Oversized

Master Plan: Hand Colored (36x30" rolled)

undated

11

11

Photograph Prints of master plans (23- 8x10" color)

undated

10

 

Photographic Contact Prints of Garden (2- 11x14" color)

undated

8

12

Photographs of Landscape Plans (6- 3x5" color, 3- 8x10" color)

undated

8

17

Presentation – Iris

undated

Oversized

Proposed Japanese Garden, Drawing, Framed (17x24")

undated

Oversized

Reiman Garden Map with Legend, Framed (24x25")

undated

11

7

Reiman Gardens Architectural Concepts and Plaque

undated

Oversized

Reiman Gardens Landscape Plan, Drawing, Framed (63x68")

undated

Oversized

Rodney Robinson Landscape Architects: Children's Garden Corn Crib Barn, (41x30" B&W on foam core)

undated

Oversized

Rodney Robinson Landscape Architects: Children's Garden Covered Bridge (41x30" B&W on foam core)

undated

8

14

Scarecrow Restoration Project

undated

Oversized

Smith Metzger: Site plan including Elwood Drive and Stadium Parking (36x24" B&W with marked colors)

undated

Oversized

Town and Country Garden, Drawing, Framed (32x40")

undated

Oversized

Traveling Exhibit: 9 Photographs and 4 Text Labels

undated

9

 

Traveling Exhibits

undated

10

 

Various Oversized Landscape Drawings

undated

Oversized

Wilbur's Garden for Children, Drawing, Framed (34x25")

undated