In
1933, an article in the Charlotte Observer promoted the first annual
iris show sponsored by the Charlotte Iris Society.
This was an educational show only, there was
no admission, no prizes and no judging.
The following year, the second annual
exhibition of the Charlotte Iris Society was held at a department
store.
The
Charlotte Iris Society was officially organized on March 1, 1948, to
promote the culture and improvement of the “Iris”.
A joint meeting of the Charlotte Garden Club
and the garden department of the Charlotte Women’s Club met with Mr.
W.J. McKee, an AIS Director; ten days later, the Charlotte Iris
Society (CIS) was created.
CIS began with 32 regular members and 5
honorary members.
The CIS
became an affiliate of the American Iris Society (AIS) on January 1,
1994.
Community
projects such as landscaping with irises at the Duke Mansion, the
Charlotte Council of Garden Clubs and the Methodist Home, donating
irises for various civic beautification projects, iris education at
the annual fall iris sale and continued support of the endowed
scholarship with the Foundation of CPCC demonstrate our zeal for the
CIS original mission “to promote the culture and improvement of the
Iris”.