By Donald A. Windsor
Deputy Historian, Chenango County
Local boy makes good. Charles Stuart Gager, a Norwich native with a perfect resume, became the first director of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Born on December 23, 1872, Gager graduated from Norwich High School in 1891, as president of his class. He lived with his parents, Charles C. and Mrs. Gager at 12 Birdsall Street. His father was a tailor in Norwich for over 35 years.
He went on to acquire a BA from Syracuse University in 1895, a BS and MS from New Yor k State Normal College at Albany in 1897, and a PhD from Cornell University in 1902. He became a professor of biology at Normal. He taught at The University of Missouri, Cornell, Rutgers, and New York University.
In 1910, he became the director of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, where he remained for 33 years until his death. He published at least 7 books and 23 articles. He built the Garden from scratch, quite an extraordinary feat of vision and enterprise. He died on August 9, 1943, in Waterville, Maine, at the age of 70 years.
Our current interest in this man is the result of a fortuitous find. Libraries do not place rare or esoteric items in the stacks, but archive them for use by researchers. In the process of rearranging materials in the storage compartment of the Guernsey Memorial Library, Custodian Brian Doliver found a portfolio. Historical Researcher Kathyrn “Kathy” Barton opened it and to her delight saw 16 prints of roses. They were printed from engravings by Pierre-Joseph Redoute’ (1759-1840), whom Gager called “The Raphael of Flowers.” The text accompanying the prints was written by Gager. Wondering who he was, Kathy checked his obituary and learned that he was buried in Mount Hope Cemetery here in Norwich. We then visited his grave site.
There is Kathy in the photo standing behind Doctor Gager’s gravestone and showing the portfolio and print number 6, “Rosa gallica versicolor”. The engraving on the gravestone reads “CHARLES STUART GAGER / FIRST DIRECTOR OF THE / BROOKLYN BOTANIC GARDEN / BROOKLYN N. Y.” An engraving on the back of the stone reads “HE IS HAPPIEST WHO HATH POWER / TO GATHER WISDOM FROM A FLOWER”. Three foot stones are present. They read “BERTHA BAGG GAGER / HIS WIFE / 1877-1956,” “CHARLES STUART GAGER / 1872-1943,” and “BENJAMIN STUART / GAGER / 1904-1918,” apparently their son. Where their daughter lies remains as elusive as her name.
A tribute titled “Gager, C. Stuart and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden” was published in the “Brooklyn Botanic Garden Record” 1944 April, volume 33, issue 2, pages 68-178. Inexplicably, the tribute is anonymous. However, an “Address of Appreciation” was written by John C. Wister, the Director of the Arthur Hoyt Scott Horticultural Foundation. Gager was the recipient of its Gold Medal and Award in 1941. Wister’s address ends with the quote that appears on the back of Gager’s gravestone. It is the last paragraph in the tribute. Apparently, it was his favorite. It seems to be attributed to Mary Howitt (1799-1888).
On page 117 of the Garden’s tribute is Gager’s revision of the famous quote from Louis Agassiz (1807-1873), “Study nature, not books.” Gager’s version is “Study nature and books.” Amen.
In order for the public to view Redoute’s prints, Kathy will display a different one about every two weeks in the Local History Room of the Guernsey Memorial Library in downtown Norwich. The Room is open from 1 to 5 on weekday afternoons, extending to 8:30 on Monday and Wednesday evenings, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday mornings, and from 1 to 4 on Sunday afternoons.
Although I would enjoy pursuing the back story, I have to leap to another subject. But here is the basic question. Did Gager become a success because he grew up in Norwich, or in spite of it?