John Stokes and Mary's Gardens collection

This collection contains the personal papers of John S. Stokes, Jr., and the records of his organization, Mary's Gardens. Materials in the collection date primarily from 1952 through 1990. The collection includes Stokes' manuscripts, correspondence, research materials, articles, photographs, audio recordings and ephemera related to his interests in Catholicism, the Blessed Virgin Mary, gardening, names and symbolism of plants and flowers associated with the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mary's Gardens movement, social justice, ecumenism and other related themes. The collection also contains records of Stokes' organization, Mary's Gardens including press releases, newsletters, marketing materials, articles, garden plans, and other promotional materials. Additionally, some materials deal with Stokes' website, also called Mary's Gardens (mgardens.org).

Stokes' manuscripts document published and unpublished works on topics including Marian symbolism of flowers and herbs, Catholic mysticism, medieval gardens, and the Mary's Gardens movement. The collection includes over fifty years of Stokes' personal and organizational correspondence, primarily related to his interests on Mary and flowers, Catholicism, gardening, and the Mary's Gardens movement. He corresponded extensively with a few individuals, primarily Bonnie Roberson and Brother Sean MacNamara. Some materials document Stokes' activities as a member or general interest in over eighteen Catholic and/or social justice organizations. These include, for example, the Catholic Interracial Council of Philadelphia and the National Catholic Rural Life Conference. The collection also contains pamphlets, subject files, and other ephemera relating to Stokes' broad research interests in gardening, flowers, plants, herbs, the environment, Catholicism, the Blessed Virgin Mary, Marian art and stamps, social justice, and civil rights.

Organizational records in the collection document the history and activities of Mary's Gardens, founded by John Stokes and Edward McTague in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1951. Additionally, materials in the collection document Stokes' activities in promoting the Mary's Gardens movement including planning devotional gardens at parishes and schools, primarily in the mid-Atlantic region and North America.

Photographs, slides, and negatives in the collection document Mary's Gardens, Marian plants and flowers, exhibits, events, groups, and individuals associated with Stokes' Mary Garden in Philadelphia and the Mary's Gardens movement.

The collection also contains the papers of Stokes' friend and Mary's Gardens affiliate, Bonnie Roberson. Roberson owned and operated Garden of Memories, a Mary Garden based in Hagerman, Idaho. She corresponded extensively with Stokes, primarily during the early 1980s before her death in 1983. Her papers also document her interest in Mary's Gardens for the blind and dish gardens, as well as her interest and involvement with Catholic and gardening organizations including, for example, the American Rose Society, the Herb Society of America, and the Idaho Council of Catholic Women.