Louise B. Belsterling Botanical Library
Louise Babcock Belsterling
Louise Babcock was born on November 23, 1876, in New York to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Mathew Babcock. In 1902, Louise Babcock moved to Dallas and began teaching French language at St. Mary’s, after having lived in France for some time with extended family. She and Edward Belsterling met at a friend’s home and were married shortly thereafter.
The couple did not have any children which gave Louise the time to pursue her love for gardening and botany. She taught gardening for many years and published her Planting Manual for Dallas Gardens for the first time in 1941. Louise was an active member of The Dallas Garden Club of The Dallas Woman’s Club and was considered to be a highly-regarded authority for Dallas local gardening. In addition, Louise created an extensive private library of rare books covering horticulture and botany. Mrs. Louise B. Belsterling passed away on April 6, 1970, in Dallas, Texas at the age of 93.
Louise B. Belsterling Foundation of the Dallas Garden Club
Each year the Louise B. Belsterling Foundation of the Dallas Garden Club generously donates funds to preserve and add new volumes to the collection, as well as grants scholarships for research in horticulture at the graduate level. Created on June 9, 1971, the organization receives gifts bequeathed by will of the late Mrs. Belsterling. The Texas Research Foundation transferred its inheritance from Mrs. Belsterling to the Foundation.
Hours
Special Collections Open
| Day(s) | Time |
|---|---|
| Monday to Friday | 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| Saturday to Sunday | closed* |