Center for Glenwood Archival Collection
Mission Statement
Reflective of Glenwood Cemetery’s long history of serving the public are voluminous archival records and original source holdings that document its residents and operations for over 150 years. These records contain the day-to-day business of the Cemetery and serve to memorialize the people interred there, revealing a vast store of genealogical and historical information.
Our mission for the Glenwood Cemetery Archive is to acquire, preserve, and maintain these unique and original records. These documents are primary sources of information and cannot be found in any other repository around the world.
Vision and Values
Glenwood Cemetery archives serve as the institutional memory of the unique lives that have impacted Houston’s history.
We value our collections power to motivate learning, preserve history, connect lives, and inspire wonder. We are dedicated to the long-term stewardship of the resources entrusted to our care.
The Collections connect people with historical artifacts of physical and digital materials in support of a wide range of teaching, research, and learning.
Research our Records
Browse Visual Archives
Sacred Bamboo Leaf
Botany
Rhizomatous evergreen shrub featuring delicate, lacy tripinnately compound foliage and bright red winter berries.
GCA23_HORT_0020
Shrub
Berberidaceae (Barberry Family)
Nandina
Nandina domestica
Nandina; Heavenly Bamboo
Sacred Bamboo, Sacred House-Bamboo
Low to Moderate; very drought-tolerant once established.
Medium to Slow
Full Sun to Part Shade (best foliage color in full sun)
Well-drained, fertile, moist soils.
Acidic to Neutral (5.5–6.5)
USDA Zones 6–9
Bronze-green emerging, bright green in summer, turning fiery red/purple in winter.
Alternating, 2–3 pinnately compound; individual leaflets are lanceolate with smooth (entire) margins.
White to Creamy-White
Late Spring to Early Summer
Large terminal panicles of small star-like flowers followed by bright red persistent berries.
Thin out up to 1/3 of the oldest canes down to ground level in late winter to encourage fresh base growth.
Optional; leave spent flowers intact to allow red berry clusters to form for winter interest.
Do not shear; flat topping destroys the natural bamboo-like cane structure.
Berries contain cyanide and can be toxic to birds (especially Cedar Waxwings) if consumed in large quantities; listed as invasive in some areas.
Virtually pest-free; occasionally develops chlorosis in high-pH alkaline soils.
Apply chelated iron or soil sulfur if leaves show interveinal yellowing (chlorosis).
Semi-hardwood Cuttings, Division, or Seed
Root basal suckers/divisions in spring, or take semi-hardwood cuttings in summer using rooting hormone.
Bequest
Dec 18, 2025
M Khan
Glenwood Cemetery
Restricted Collections
The following collections are restricted and require approval for viewing, please get in touch to learn more about viewing items in these collections.
Collection 2 Meetings and Administrative Files
Collection 14 Digital Materials
Most of this material is cross referenced from other collection.
Collection 18 Fundraising Campaigns/ Donor Information
Collection 19 Financial Information
Educator's Resources
Schedule a Field Trip / Visit
To schedule a field trip or visit, please contact Glenwood Cemetery. Our tours can accommodate up to 80 students at a time
Visit Us
Archive viewing and research is available by appointment only.
2525 Washington Avenue, Houston, TX 77007
(713) 864-7886
How to Donate to the Materials Archive
The Glenwood Cemetery Archive welcomes gifts of archival materials that fall within the scope of itscollecting activities, that will enhance the strength of our collections, and that support the historicalintegrity of Glenwood’s history
Reproduction Policy
The Archival collection is available for study and research; however, to preserve original documents and photographs and to maintain the integrity of the collection, none of the materials are allowed to leave the archives or to be reproduced without authorization.
