Boone Chestnut. Circa 1913.

1913 Boone Chestnut: Hybridization by George Endicott and watercolor by Ellen Isham Schutt

Art That Funds Restoration

The prints from the eCommerce for Good American Chestnut Collection honor the legacy of the American Chestnut before the devastating chestnut blight killed billions of trees across their native range.

This museum-quality Giclée reproduction print evokes more than the essence of an iconic illustration—it pays homage to the golden age when the American Chestnut was one of the dominant tree species in eastern forests, making up 25% of the eastern Appalachian native forest. The American chestnut was valued for its strong, rot-resistant wood and edible nuts. Each purchased print is a bridge between the historical landscape and future restoration, with half of the purchase price directly supporting restoration development work.

A Storied Tradition

In the early 1900s, as the American Chestnut faced unprecedented extinction, pioneering botanists and artists worked to document and preserve the rich diversity of chestnut varieties. This 1913 watercolor by Ellen Isham Schutt, a botanical artist working for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Pomological Division, captures the Boone Chestnut—a hybrid variety bred by George W. Endicott at Villa Ridge, Illinois, representing a critical moment in agricultural innovation.

George W. Endicott's work exemplified the spirit of early 20th-century agricultural research. In 1895, he carefully hand-pollinated Japan Giant chestnuts with pollen from an early-flowering native American chestnut. Of the seeds planted in 1896, one exceptional seedling bore six burs in 1897 and was named the "Daniel Boone" chestnut. This new variety promised to address some of the challenges facing chestnut cultivation—offering large size, early ripening, and young bearing habits.

While the Boone Chestnut is not a pure American Chestnut—but rather a hybrid between Japanese and American varieties—it represents a critical moment in the scientific efforts to understand and preserve chestnut species. These watercolor illustrations are beautiful renditions from the era when the pure American Chestnut was being decimated, serving as poignant historical documents of a rapidly changing ecological landscape.

Ellen Isham Schutt was a talented botanical artist who worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Pomological Division in the early 1900s. Schutt created highly detailed and accurate watercolor paintings of various fruit and nut varieties, contributing to the USDA's extensive Pomological Watercolor Collection, including this 1913 watercolor of the Boone chestnut, a hybrid cultivar developed by George Endicott.

We are happy to lend this print's beauty and historical significance to the effort of raising donations for the restoration of the pure American Chestnut tree.

Hope for the Future

Today, faculty, scientists, students, and citizen scientist volunteers at SUNY ESF's American Chestnut Research & Restoration Project are continuing the work of innovators like Van Fleet. They are developing blight-tolerant trees that will enable the American Chestnut tree to thrive again in eastern Appalachian forests.

Essence of the Original – Created Just for You

Our reproduction originates from an archival scan of the original antique watercolor from the USDA's collection. Our digital archivists have carefully restored the image, preserving its historical accuracy and botanical detail.

Each fine art print is made to order, ensuring exceptional detail and enduring beauty. Your museum-quality Giclée print arrives with a certificate of authenticity, offering a tangible connection to a remarkable story of American agricultural heritage.

Heritage Print Specifications

• Museum-quality Giclée Print
• Hahnemühle 310gsm German Etching paper
• Archival-grade pigment ings rated for 100+ years
• Certificate of authenticity included
• Fully insured shipping with real-time tracking

For Walls that Whisper History

• Fine Art Print (11" x 14") Museum-quality Giclée print, delivered unframed
• Heritage Framed Edition (14x18") Our signature presentation, featuring your print in a Vermont-crafted solid ash frame with conservation-grade glazing. Select from timeless Black, crisp White, or warm Natural wood finish.

Your Purchase, Their Future, Our Legacy

When you purchase an American Chestnut Collection print, 50% of your purchase price becomes a donation:

• A $25 Donation from the purchase price of each Fine Art Print (without frame)
• The Donation to be determined from the purchase price of each Framed Fine Art Print (framed prints coming soon)

Donation Transparency

Through the purchase of the American Chestnut collection, 50% of the print purchase price becomes a donation that supports American Chestnut tree restoration through a verified, transparent process:

• Upon Purchase, a donation is made in your name to American Chestnut Restoration, Inc earmarked for the ongoing grant supporting the American Chestnut Research & Restoration Project at SUNY ESF (State University of New York, College of Science & Forestry)
• Receive official acknowledgment confirming your contribution
• 100% of customer donations fund critical research grants to SUNY ESF

Preserving Heritage. One Print and One Tree at a Time.