Book  (5 Apr 2010)  
 
'Mrs Philip Russell.. HT, dr, 1927, Clark, A.; bud long, pointed; flowers dark red, shaded black, semi-dbl., slight fragrance; foliage glaucous green; growth vigorous, semi-climbing growth; pillar or large bush. [Hadley × Red Letter Day]. Introductions: Hackett

Book  (2010)  Page(s) 60.  
 
Mrs. Philip Russell was born Mary Gray Guthrie….

Book  (1999)  Page(s) 11.  
 
Mrs. Phillip Russell – 1927. Large Flowered Bush rose, semi-double, dark red flowers shaded black. No longer available

Magazine  (1997)  Page(s) 28. Vol 19, No. 1.  
 
Elizabeth and Andrew Govanstone, Portland, Victoria “The Women Behind the Roses” ….Friends from Alister and Edie’s generation [who had roses named after them were] include Mrs. Philip Russell (1927) and her daughter, Mary (Mary Russell , 1940) ....

Book  (1997)  Page(s) 215.  
 
I visited Banongill at the end of the season when little was in flower..... Among the others, a dark, dark red semi-single stood out. Alister had loved reds and on impulse, and with nothing particular in mind, I took cuttings of this one. When it flowered for the first time for me, I looked up all my records to see if there was any description that fitted. I came upon ‘Mrs. Philip Russell‘ bred in 1927 from ‘Hadley’ and ‘Red Letter Day’ and described as “semi-double dark red, shaded black, pillar or large bush”. And in the 1931 Rose Annual another description: “a dark red rose, as dark as any rose grown”. Now Mrs. Philip Russell, known as Cissie Russell, was a great gardener and a friend of Alister. She had lived at Mawallok [*] so was a close neighbour and friend of the Fairbairns. Alister had wanted to name a rose for her and she had expressed a strong preference for a dark red. She died in 1927, the year the rose was released, and Alister visited her, so the story goes, a couple of days before her death and told her about the rose he was naming for her. It is a charming story – perhaps no more than that. Certainly not admissable as evidence in a court of law. But if it is true, what more probable than that Cissie Russell's friends, the Fairbairns, should plant it in their new rose garden! it is tempting to hope that we may one day find some proof and that this dark red beauty may indeed turn out to be ‘Mrs. Philip Russell’.

[*Note – Mawallock is described by the following website:
http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahdb/search.pl?mode=place_detail;place_id=17275
Mawallok was designed by William Guilfoyle for the Russell family in 1909 and the adjacent lake was constructed under the direction of John Monash at the same time. The dominant feature of the garden is the main vista, which extends from a raised terrace in front of the house, over a sweeping lawn, across the lake and grazing land to Mount Cole. The garden reflects designs of the 18th century English landscape movement and originally also contained Gardenesque characteristics with parterre beds and exotic palm Trees. The garden was altered in the 1930s; palms were removed from the lawns, a ha ha wall was constructed further opening the vista, and the design was simplified. Structural elements of gate pillars and the ha ha wall were constructed in a rustic syle of rubble work. Planting is predominantly trees with PINUS RADIATA used as shelter belts and garden trees being of a variety of broad leafed deciduous and conifers. Gardens are located under the trees enhancing the woodland walks. Other features consist of a rockery, a rose covered pergola, a tennis court and a six hole championship golf course. ]

Newsletter  (1995)  Page(s) 17. Vol 4, No. 1.  
 
Mrs. Phillip Russell. HT. 1927 Alister Clark. Hadley x Red Letter Day.

Book  (1994)  Page(s) 90.  
 
Mrs. Philip Russell Alister Clark... bred in 1927 from 'Hadley' and 'Red Letter Day' and described as "semi-double dark red, shaded black, pillar or large bush..." Mrs. Philip Russell, known as Cissie Russell, was a great gardener and a friend of Alister. She had lived at Mawallok... Alister had wanted to name a rose for her and she had expressed a strong preference for a dark red. She died in 1927, the year the rose was released, and Alister visited her, so the story goes, a couple of days before her death and told her about the rose he was naming for her

Book  (1990)  
 
p83 .... Russells – all the Western District families were their [Alister Clark's] friends....

p121 Mrs. Philip Russell Dark red. HT. 1927. Pil.

Magazine  (1979)  Page(s) 7. Vol 1, No. 3.  
 
Mrs. Phillip Russell – 1927, intro. Hackett, HT, bud long and pointed, flower semi-double, open, slightly fragrant, dark red shaded black, long stem. Foliage glaucous green. Vigorous semi-climber or Pillar. Hadley x Red Letter Day.

Website/Catalog  (1954)  Page(s) 23.  
 
large bushes ......and Mrs. Philip Russell in the very dark reds with excellent buds......