Phebe Westcott Humphreys information

Phebe Westcott Humphreys gathering botanical samples in her Rambler car, from Floral Life magazine, June 1903

A wall fountain shown in Phebe Westcott Humphreys' The Practical Book of Garden Architecture (Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Co., 1914)

Phebe Westcott Humphreys (January 28, 1864 – June 17, 1939) was a journalist, horticulturist, photographer and children's book author, known for documenting and influencing landscape design with publications including The Practical Book of Garden Architecture (Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Co., 1914). Her work was favored by experts including the botanist Charles Howard Shinn, who lauded Humphreys' "amazing wealth of knowledge,"^[1] and the tastemaker Ruby Ross Wood.^[2] Humphreys contributed about 400 feature articles and regular columns to periodicals including House and Garden and Harper's Bazar. Among her topics are farms and factories run by immigrants;^[3] architectural preservation work; environmental sustainability; philanthropies donating plants to the poor;^[4] and newly patented household appliances.^[5] Her pioneering guidebook for car travelers, The Automobile Tourist (Philadelphia: Ferris & Leach, 1905), was praised by The Philadelphia Inquirer for "most thorough information" provided by "an enthusiastic automobilist."^[6] In 2020, the Cultural Landscape Foundation designated her a pioneer.^[7]

^ Shinn, Charles Howard (June 7, 1914). "Weekly Comments". Fresno Morning Republican: 12.
^ Wood, Ruby Ross (1914). The Honest House. New York: The Century Co. p. 205.
^ Humphreys, Phebe Westcott. "A Novel Plant". Country Gentleman. March 21, 1907: 299.
^ Humphreys, Phebe Westcott. "Flowers as Evangels" (PDF). Ladies' Home Journal. April 1896: 22.
^ Humphreys, Phebe Westcott. "The Latest Conveniences". Arthur's Home Magazine. February 1894: 124–126.
^ "For Auto Tourists". The Philadelphia Inquirer. September 18, 1905: 6.
^ "Phebe Westcott Humphreys | The Cultural Landscapes Foundation". tclf.org. Retrieved 2021-08-02.

[1] Shinn, Charles Howard (June 7, 1914). "Weekly Comments". Fresno Morning Republican: 12.

[2] Wood, Ruby Ross (1914). The Honest House. New York: The Century Co. p. 205.

[3] Humphreys, Phebe Westcott. "A Novel Plant". Country Gentleman. March 21, 1907: 299.

[4] Humphreys, Phebe Westcott. "Flowers as Evangels" (PDF). Ladies' Home Journal. April 1896: 22.

[5] Humphreys, Phebe Westcott. "The Latest Conveniences". Arthur's Home Magazine. February 1894: 124–126.

[6] "For Auto Tourists". The Philadelphia Inquirer. September 18, 1905: 6.

[7] "Phebe Westcott Humphreys | The Cultural Landscapes Foundation". tclf.org. Retrieved 2021-08-02.