Dr. Hamilton P. Traub, one of the founders of the society, and the yearbook's first editor, tells us why a new Amaryllis Society was began on page 2 of the 1934 Yearbook in the first two sentences of an article he called "Editorial Comment". "Some correspondents have wondered why the period of economic readjustment [the Great Depression] was chosen for the launching of the American Amaryllis Society. As a matter of fact, the event was probably in a great measure a coincidence since the interest in plants is only indirectly affected by economic upheavals". In other words, why not start a plant society? People love plants, will grow plants and will seek information about them whether or not times are tough.

Dr. Traub continues, "The number of persons interested in Amarylleae is undoubtedly great enough to support a thriving organization—not the largest but surely a high quality association."

According to Dr. Traub, "The response [to the new society] was spontaneous and was not only confined to America but was worldwide. The roster of Charter Members speaks for itself."

From these words, we learn that the Society had an "international flavor" from the very beginning, as people from countries throughout the world signed up to become a part of the newly organized American Amaryllis Society.

Dr. Traub neatly sums up the editorial policy of the Society's yearbook by writing, "The editorial policy of the Year Book is to publish timely articles but without too much formality. The Year Book will be at all times of, for and by the members of the Society. However, when necessary to establish fundamental facts, entirely technical papers will be published."

That was, has been and is still our basic editorial policy.

Among the eighty charter members of the American Amaryllis Society were members from many states and the District of Columbia, as well as Mr. Basil N. Ikeda of Japan; Mrs. Frank Joyce of Kenya, East Africa; Mr. E. H. Krelage of Holland; Mr. Kanjiro Okamoto of Japan; The Honorable Henry McLaren of Great Britain; Messrs. F. Ryynveld & Zonen of Holland; the Messrs. C. G. Van Tubergen, Ltd. of Holland; and Mr. A. Worsley of England. Distinguished American names included Mr. Gordon Ainsley, Mr. Henry Buxton, Mr. Richard Diener, Mr. E. G. Duckworth, Messrs. H. F. and Pierre S. Du Pont, Mr. J. N. Giridlian, Mr. Wyndham Hayward, Mr. Cecil E. Houdyshel, Mr. E. A. and Mrs. Rufus Mcllhenny, Mr. Theodore L. Mead, Dr. Hamilton P. Traub himself, Mr. Thomas W. Whitaker, as well as the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

Other distinguished names are listed as charter members of the society on pages 4 and 5 of that 1934 yearbook, but those mentioned will give you an idea of the enthusiasm generated among the gardening elite of that generation over sixty years ago.

Since January 28, 1934, the date Dr. Traub wrote the editorial comment quoted from above, the Society has gone from being called the American Amaryllis Society to the American Plant Life Society, to its present name: the International Bulb Society. We still love the Amaryllids, but all bulbous plants including bulbs, tubers, corms and rhizomes are now included in our pages as a reflection of our membership interest.

The name of our yearbook has changed, too. What used to be the American Amaryllis Society Yearbook was changed after only two years of publication to HERBERTIA. Then PLANT LIFE, another publication, came along in 1945 and was published during four years as a separate journal distinct from HERBERTIA. PLANT LIFE became the Society's only publication in l949. In 1984 the name was changed back to HERBERTIA.

The name HERBERTIA is derived from that of Mr. William Herbert (1778-1847), among whose many pursuits was the hobby of growing, observing, hybridizing, grouping, and writing about bulbous plants, especially the Amaryllidaceae. Mr. Herbert compiled his thoughts on this aspect of his plant hobby in AMARYLLIDACEAE which was first published in 1837. Although he wrote extensively throughout his life, his book AMARYLLIDACEAE remains William Herbert's major opus.

The International Bulb Society at the seasoned age of sixty-five years and growing, is still here, standing proud and tall and with a Board of Directors eager to serve you even better in the months and years ahead. There will be more articles and more news about bulbs, tubers, corms and rhizomes from distinguished bulb people around the world as your Editorial Board works to expand the contents and quality of HERBERTIA and BULBS.

The society and its publications have changed in the past and they will continue to change in the future to reflect the needs and interest of it membership.

May each person reading these words take a moment to pay a special tribute to the memories of all the bulbophiles who preceded us in the work with bulbs, tubers, corms and rhizomes which we are now carrying forward.

May each of us pause for a moment and reflect on the rich heritage of seventy-four years of our Society's work with bulbous plants both rare and common.

To you, William Herbert, and to you, Dr. Hamilton Traub, thank you both. The torch you lit and kept alive so many years ago still burns brightly.