50 Years with the African Violet Society of America

1cover.gif (34200 bytes)The cover of the 50th Anniversary Book 50 Years with AVSA was designed by Georgene Albrecht. This beautiful publication gives a detailed history of The African Violet Society of America's first fifty years. It contains original photos and articles printed in the African Violet Magazine. Over 100 beautiful color photographs of African violets are included in this limited edition. Fifty Years with AVSA will not be reprinted, so order your copy today.
While typing in the index to this publication, I could not help but to wonder what some of the article titles referred to, I was particularly intrigued by the title "Harvey", while I won't spoil the surprise by telling you what "Harvey" is all about, I will tell you that something white does disappear.
 

Table of Contents


Greetings from:
AVSA Past Presidents
AVSA Hall of Fame
Remembering the Early Days
AVSA Honorary Life Members
AVSA Bronze Medal Winners
The Beginning - 1946 - 1956
  • The Homing Pigeon
  • Your Hint Hunter
  • The Question Box
  • First Report of Classification Committee
  • Harvey
  • The First Convention
  • National African Violet Show
  • Potting Soil: Just in Brief
  • Convention Highlights
  • African Violet Fever
  • Supplemental Artificial Light
  • Rooting Existing Leaves Out of Doors
  • Growing African Violets Under Florescent Light
  • Calling All Men
  • Let's Visit
  • Make Mine Eggshells for Watering!
  • Blossoms to Boost the Buddies

A Decade of Continued Growth - 1956 - 1966
  • Transparent Plastic Pots
  • Colchicine and African Violets
  • Plant Propagating Machine
  • Sea Kelp for African Violets
  • Grower's Express Optimism
  • Report on Diazinon for Mites
  • Saintpaulia Gourmand
  • Proverbs and Saintpaulias

A Decade or Reassurance - 1966 - 1976
  • Not Guilty
  • My Adventure With African Violets
  • Commercial Growers Discuss Problems
  • Spray Can Caps
  • Off Limits
  • She Doesn't Like the "Monsters" Either

Further Growth - 1976 - 1986
  • Then a Violet Grew
  • Rooting Your Blossom Stems
  • Repotting
  • Summer Care for Violets
  • Control of Whiteflies
  • The Perils of Proliferation
  • Mat Users Note
  • Milled Sphagnum
  • Tip

Recent Times - 1986 - 1996
  • The Beginnings of a Permanent Home
  • Aluminum Foil-less
  • African Violet Society Archives
  • Curling Foliage
  • AVSA Dedication and Open House
  
Price: Members: $19.50
Non-Members $25.00
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The Photographs that are in this book are wonderful.   Many of the Hybrids that were radically different when introduced are shown in this yearbook.
Some of the plants that I had never seen before are:
  • Fantasy - the first African Violet with Fantasy markings.
  • Blue Girl - the First Violet with Girl Foliage

I found the articles entertaining, even the ones that were reprints from old magazine that contained dated material.
Here are a couple of extracts from 50 Years with the African Violet Society of America:

Remembering the Early Days


"I was one of the eight people who met in the back storage room of the H.G. Hastings Co. in Atlanta, November 8, 1947.  This was after the traffic stopping show, and there, among the seeds and fertilizers we discussed the formation of an organization interested primarily in African violets.  Charlie Hudson, Jr. was the temporary chairman.  He set up a nominating committee and we planned for the open meeting the next night at the Atlanta Gas Light Co., where the first group of officers was elected.
I had the honor of being the first one to pay dues to the future African Violet Society of America.  When Boyce Edens wanted to know where we would get money for expenses, I handed him a five dollar bill and others have followed suit.
Thus, the AVSA was born about 8pm, November 8, 1946.  Those present at the first organizational meeting were Charlie Hudson, Jr. and Nelson Crist of Hastings Co.,   Boyce Edens and Mrs. Rhodes of Atlanta, Ferne Keller of Des Moines, Myrtye Radtke of Cincinnati, Alma Write from Knoxville and Myself from Chattanooga.
I had called Alma long distance before the show and told her that we hoped to get a national society started.
I served as Membership Chairman under Ferne Keller as President.  My mail came in bushel baskets and I had a report from Mr. Edens in which he as treasures, states we had a total membership of 539.
Jean Crowe
Chattanooga, TN

Blossoms to Boost the Buddies


At the Long Beach, California Naval Hospital, Betty Tosh and Mrs L.D. Thalheimer, Pres., of the Long Beach Saintpaulia Society are pictured.
This is one of several trays of African Violets for the Veterans. The pillow of blossoms is for a guessing contest.  The veteran guessing the names of most varieties has first choice and usually picks Red Headed Girl, Blushing Maiden, or Tinted Lady.  They really enjoy having the plants.

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