American Association of Park Superintendents 
1917 Convention 
THE nineteenth annual convention of the American 
Association of Park Sni:)erintendents wliich was 
held in St. Louis, JMo., September 11, 12 and 
13, proved to be one of the most successful conventions 
in the history of the organization. It had the largest 
and most representative attendance since the 1914 meet- 
ing in New York. About one hundred and twenty-five 
delegates were present, including about twenty ladies and 
representing forty-eight cities. Ideal convention weather 
prevailed throughout the session — bright sunny days, not 
too warm, with cool nights. 
At the first meeting of the convention all officers of the 
organization were present with the exception of Vice- 
Presidents Herman W. Alerkel, of New York, and 
Alexander Stuart, of Ottawa, Canada, whose presence 
was missed as they are prominent regulars at the con- 
ventions. 
The address of welcome was made by the Hon. John 
Schmoll, director of Public Welfare of St. Louis, repre- 
senting the Alayor of the city, and was responded to by 
President John F. Walsh of the association. After the 
preliminaries of the first business session were disposed 
of the visitors were taken in hand b_\' the local committee. 
An automobile trip to East St. Louis, a visit to Jones 
Park,! where refreshments were served, thence to Plonks 
Mount, the proposed state park, where the members were 
addressed by Prof. Henry Milton Whelpley, of the 
Missouri Historical Society, provided the first afternoon's 
entertainment. 
In the evening the visiting members were entertained 
at a banquet given by the East St. Louis Park Board at 
the St. Claire Country Club. 
The second day's business session opened at nine o'clock 
in the morning with an address by the Hon. Nelson Cun- 
liff. Commissioner of Parks and Recreation, of St. Louis. 
The following standing committees presented papers 
on the following subjects: Horticultural Nomenclature, 
Theodore Wirth, of Alinneapolis. "Bird Proection 
and Propagation," L. P. Jensen, St. Louis ; J. W. 
Thompson, Seattle ; Theodore Wirth, Minneapolis ; E. 
E. .V. Reinisch, Topeka, Kan. "Standard Course 
Records," Henry W. Busch, Detroit : Ernst Strehle, St. 
Louis. "State, Provincial and National Parks." John 
McLaren, San Erancisco ; L. P. Jenson, St. Louis. "Road 
Construction and Maintenance," Harry S. Richards, Chi- 
cago ; William H. Dunn, Kansas City; J. W. Thompson, 
Seattle ; Theodore Wirth,_ Minneapolis. "Playgrounds 
and Recreational Activities," Ralph Benedict, Kansas 
Citv. 
In the afternoon the visitors enjoyed a tour of the 
North St. Louis Parks and in the evening became the 
guests at the annual Shaw banquet at the Mercantile 
Club. 
At the final business meeting held on the third day in 
tlte forenoon the election of officers occurred, which re- 
sulted as follows : President, J. E. Eoster, superintendent 
South Parks, Chicago, 111. ; vice-president, John Berry, 
Denver, Col. ; secretary-treasurer, Roland W. Cotterill, 
Seattle, W'ash. 
Three Years — Geo 
sen, St. Louis, Mo. 
Two Years — Geo. \V 
East St. Louis, 111. 
BOARD OF DIRECTORS. 
H. HoUister, Hartford, Conn 
Hess, Washington, D. C. 
. ; L. P. Jen- 
E. P. Griffin, 
One Year — Lionel Evans, Voungstown, Ohio ; C. .■\. Bossen, 
Minneapolis, Minn. 
Hartford, Conn., was selected as the city for the 1918 
convention with Louisville, Ky., and Springfield, Mass., 
as contenders. Selection of Hartford is significant as 
being the home of Geo. A. Parker, the organizer of the 
association, and 1918 will mark the twentieth anniversary 
of the organization of the society. 
The following Constitutional Amendments were 
adopted at the convention : 
Providing for the puhlication by the organization 
of its own official organ in the form of a sixty-four 
page quarterly magazine with a limited amount of 
advertising. Secretarj'-treasurer to be managing 
editor, other officers associate-editors. 
Providing for new scheme of organization, officers 
to consist of president, vice-president, secretary, 
treasurer, board of directors of six members, 
three-\ear terms, two expiring each year. 
Officers and directors to compose the executive 
committee which will be the governing body. 
Twenty-one new members were elected as follows : 
SENIOR MEMBERS. 
C. H. Meeds, executive officer, City Park Department, Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio, 
jas. M, Lowry, Superintendent of Parks, Indianapolis. Ind. 
A.. C. Godward, Engineer Park Department, Minneapolis, Minn. 
C. L. Mellcr, Superintendent of Parks, Fargo, X. D. 
W. A. Gardner, Superintendent of Parks, Evansville, Ind. 
Jas. A. Spurrier, Superintendent of Parks, Evelith, Minn. 
R. L, Power, Superintendent of Parks, HaHfax, \. S. 
James M. Craig, Superintendent of Parks, Port .Arthur, Ont. 
William Troutman, Superintendent of Parks, Bartelsville, Okla. 
Hugo M. Schatf, Superintendent of Scliool Gardens, St. Louis, 
i\lo. 
John Mority, Head Florist, Park Department, St. Louis, Mo. 
JUNIOR MEMBERS. 
L. D. Tilton, Superintendent of Parks, St. Joseph, Mo. 
C E. Brewer, .Superintendent of Parks. Uacine, Wis. 
M. B. Kannowski, Superinten<lont of Parks, Mitchell, S. D. 
A. F. Hoffman, Superintendent of Broadmoor Park, Col- 
orado Springs, Colo. 
L. Baumann, Landscape Architect, St. Louis, Mo, 
SUST.^ININC MEMBERS. 
W, F, Criller, Commissioner of Parks, Pasadena, Cal. 
Swain Nelson Sons Co., Chieago, 111. 
Hill-Standard Co., Andersonville, Ind. 
Ellis Joseph, Sydney, Australia. 
Richard Power, Superintendent of Public Gardens, 
Halifax, Nova Scotia, who has just been retired on a 
pension, after forty-five years' service, was nnanimously 
elected an honorary member. 
At the conclusion of the final business session a tour 
of the Sotith St. Louis parks was made, followed by a 
luncheon at the Anheuser-Busch Brewery. The Missouri 
Botanical Gardens were next visited, after which the 
visitors were entertained at supper at the World's Pair 
Pavilion, Forest Park. In the evening, at the Municipal 
Theatre, "Rip Van Winkle" was rendered in the open 
air by the staff and children of the St. Louis Playground, 
at which over six hundred costumed children partici- 
])ated. 
The ladies were not overlooked by the local committee. 
There was some entertainment provided for them 
throughout the three days' business sessions, and it was 
generally conceded that the entertainment provided for 
the visiting park superintendents was the most lavish 
entertainment of any convention in the history of the 
organization. 
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