Louise B. Belsterling Botanical Collection

The Louise B. Belsterling Botanical Collection

This assortment of rare botanical and horticultural books is named for Louise B. Belsterling, whose personal library formed the basis of this collection. Though volumes from the Belsterling Collection do not circulate, they are available for research and use in the Special Collections reading room. Patrons should consider extra time for retrieval, as the volumes are stored outside of the Special Collections Division and could be unavailable. To ensure availability, please make an appointment.

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 to that, 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.

Search the titles in the Belsterling Collection

View the Belsterling digital collections in the Library Catalog

For more information, contact the Curator of the Belsterling Collection and Rare Books.

• libspco@utdallas.edu
• 972.883.2570