Collection JIS - John Innes Society

Extent: 2 boxes

The John Innes Society is an educational and recreational club for staff at the John Innes Centre organising the bar, clubs, recreational and sports facilities and activities on site.

Admin History: In the early days of the Institution, the social and educational welfare of the student gardeners was fostered by means of the Mutual Improvement Society, and the annual Cricket Match against the laboratory staff. The function of the latter fell into disuse as 'age overtook the staff whereas youth was constantly renewed among the student gardeners'. The new Association inaugurated by E J Collins in 1931 aimed to promote a closer union between the Mutual Improvement Association, and the Social and Cricket Clubs of JIHI. It also organized an Annual Reunion Dinner for past and present student gardeners. In another move to strengthen ties with past members, the Association founded a journal, to 'keep alive in them the object for which they were brought together - the improvement of Horticulture'. The first number of the Journal of the John Innes Gardeners' Association appeared in 1934 (Gardeners' was dropped from the title in 1935 and the membership was broadened to include anyone who had worked for more than a year on the scientific or garden staff). The Journal appeared annually until 1958 when the title changed to Journal of the John Innes Society, marking the Association's merger with the John Innes Club to form a new staff society.