Frances Griscom Parsons

Frances "Fannie" Griscom Parsons (September 23, 1850 – 1925) was a philanthropist, reformer and educator. She founded and directed the first children's garden in DeWitt Clinton Park in New York City.

Biography Looking north from the park toward the 59th Street Gasworks around 1910. The park's arbor (since torn down) is on the left

Born Frances Griscom on September 23, 1850 to Dr. John Hoskins Griscom (1809–1874), a founder and director of the New York City Board of Health, and Henrietta (née Peale) in New York City. Her paternal grandfather was Dr. John Griscom, and maternal grandfather was Rembrandt Peale. She married Henry Parsons (1835–1921) and had six children together, raising them in Brooklyn and then later Rye, New York.

In 1902 Parsons returned to New York City and became a member of the school board and was involved with the National Plant, Flower, and Fruit Guild, an organization that promoted children's nature study. The school farm contained 450 individual plots with a thousand children caring for them. Each child was responsible for a 4 foot by 8 foot plot containing corn, beets, carrots, peas, lettuce, radishes, and onions. The garden also had observational plots of grains, tomatoes, pumpkin, strawberries, and potatoes.