Tucked away on the second floor of Malvern Borough Hall, the Malvern History Center is home to the Malvern Historical Commission and its impressive collections. The Malvern Historical Commission, created by an ordinance passes by the Malvern Borough Council in 1983, was designated to “locate, name, and preserve for posterity the significant architectural, natural, and other historic sites within the Borough of Malvern.” The Malvern Historical Commission has not only surveyed the borough and identified historic structures, but is working to develop an evaluation system in conjunction with the Malvern Planning Commission for the designation of historical structures within the borough.

In between all of this, the Historical Commission continues to care for the archival collections and artifacts it has acquired over the years. Many organizations, events, and individuals are documented, from oral history interviews of Malvern residents (including Calvin Wright, the first African American postmaster in Malvern) to the records of women’s organizations active in the Malvern community.  While many of the organizations documented at the Malvern Historical Commission are now inactive, there are a few organizations that continue to exist today.

The Club of Little Gardens of Malvern, founded in 1930, is one organization that continues to host events in the borough today. They were established in 1930 by a group of twelve women with the goal to “stimulate the knowledge and love of gardening among amateurs, to aid in the protection of native trees, plants, and birds, and to encourage civic interest in horticulture.” They held their first flower show in 1932, and in 1942, federated with the Pennsylvania State Gardens Club.

In addition to hosting their own flower shows and working with other local garden clubs, the Club of Little Gardens participated in flower shows throughout the region such as the Philadelphia Flower Show and the Christmas Tree Competition at Longwood Gardens. In 1991, the Club of Little Gardens won third place for their Christmas Tree. 

_{The winning Christmas Tree, 1991.}

Today, the Club of Little Gardens continues to host programs on gardening that are open to the community, often hosted by a Master Gardener. Recent events include talks on rain gardens, Japanese and Chinese gardens, and ferns (fabulous, feathery, fanciful finery for your garden!).

Other collections found in Malvern Historical Commission’s Malvern History Center include records of the Monday Afternoon Club, a women’s club; The Jr. Women’s Club of  Malvern ; a large collection of school records associated with the Malvern Public School district (including excuse notes from the 1960s and 70s!); and early records on the Malvern Public Library, dating back to 1873.

To find out more about these collections and more, visit Malvern Historical Commission at the Malvern History Center! You can learn more about them on their website, or follow them on facebook for regular updates.