Bliss, Robert Woods, 1875-1962

Scope and Contents: Copy of typescript letter from Beatrix Farrand to Dorothy Kingsford. Beatrix Farrand and her secretary's initials are in lower left corner. Beatrix Farrand kept copies of Mrs. Ogdan Reid's correspondence to Mildred Bliss but is returning the originals. Farrand comments on Reid's gardener, Edwin Beckett. Beatrix Farrand asks Dorothy Kingsford if Mrs. Reid has a price for the bulbs she is offering. If the price of the bulbs is not too great, buying 6 or 8 pots may be of interest to Mildred...

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Copy of typescript letter from Beatrix Farrand to James Bryce discusses big trumpet bulbs from Jan de Graaff (Oregon Bulb Farms) for the National Gallery of Art, Dumbarton Oaks Park negotiations, and Ruth Havey's visit which included a review of the design for the two tablet inscriptions

Scope and Contents: Copy of letter from Beatrix Farrand to Jan de Graaff, Oregon Bulb Farms discusses trumpet daffofil bulbs for the National Gallery of Art, flower bulbs for James Bryce at Dumbarton Oaks which may also be for Robert and Mildred Bliss, daffodil bulbs for the cottage at Santa Barbara where she and Max Farrand will be at for the winter, and daffodil and iris bulbs at Reef Point, Bar Harbor, Maine. While other universities are cutting back on bulb orders, the ones Beatrix Farrand is working with...

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Copy of typescript letter from Beatrix Farrand to "Mildred dearest" [Bliss] offers and approximate date for Max Farrand to return to work in California and when Beatrix can visit Dumbarton Oaks and the music festival in Pittsfield [Massachusetts]. She asks Mildred to let her know what days she could meet her at Dumbarton Oaks.

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Copy of typescript letter from Beatrix Farrand to "Dearest Gardener" [Mildred Bliss] shares her itinerary and dates of her Washington, D.C. visit. She is delighted to give the Elizabethan Gardens talk which she has received positive comments saying it was interesting. She offers a hug to Robert Woods Bliss and Mrs. Victoria Titus Coolidge.

Scope and Contents: Unsigned typescript letter from Beatrix Farrand to Mil and Rob [Mildred and Robert Bliss] informing them that the Blaksley Garden situation has settled itself in a way that neither of them had hoped for. She reports on meetings with General William Lassiter, Maunsell van Rensselaer, and Lockwood de Forest and tells Mildred and Robert Bliss that the Garden Committee has chosen Lockwood de Forest to be the consulting landscape architect. Although disappointed, Beatrix Farrand feels the...

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Copy of typescript letter from Beatrix Farrand to "Milrob [Mildred and Robert Bliss] and prized friend". Farrand thanks Mildred for the gift of the old cruet stand and four flower glasses. She found out from the shop representative who sent it. She reports on that the illness of Robert Millikan is keeping her and Max Farrand in California. She will be happy when she gets back to Bar Harbor.

Scope and Contents: Copy of typescript letter from Beatrix Farrand to "Blessed One" [Mildred Bliss] advises Robert Woods Bliss not to join the Torrey Botanical Club. She updates Mildred on a conversation she had with Claude Kennerly about the tree cutting by the California State Relief Administration. Beatrix will take a stab at drafting an agreement which she will pass by Ellis Russell and Lewis Delafield. Max Farrand thanks Mildred for her commendation on the Friends of the Huntington Library report. She...

Scope and Contents: Copy of typescript letter from Beatrix Farrand to Mildred Bliss with responses to the following garden projects: Orion and Bootes chairs for the Star Garden, seat for the Lilac Circle, unicorn lady for Dumbarton Oak Park area, Forsythia arch in the Forsythia Dell, designing at Dumbarton Oaks, lantern in the Star Garden, the swinging seat in the Terrior Column and Enclosure, ironwork colors, William Gray's memorial, and the Music Room wall. She also responds to points on the the Memorandum...

Scope and Contents: Copy of typescript letter from Beatrix Farrand to "Fellow Gardener" [Mildred Bliss] tells her she looks forward to seeing her at Dumbarton Oaks when Mildred can get away from New York meetings, openings, and duties. Farrand is writing G. Frederick Coles about the Terrior seat roof, the cutting of the stone on the Music Room Terrace wall, the cutting of the stone on the William Gray memorial, the cutting of the Forsythia seats and to ask whether she or Coles is installing the Forsythia arch....

Scope and Contents: Unsigned copy of typescript letter from Beatrix Farrand. The salutation of the letter is "My dearest Two" which probably refers to both Mildred and Robert Woods Bliss even though the address is to Mrs. Robert Woods Bliss.Beatrix Farrand tells them she will come to Dumbarton [Oaks] on [Ocotober] 27 and will let them know what train to expect her on. She asks them to send her a wire to the Hotel Windermere East, Chicago when they know if they will want her for two, three, or five...

Scope and Contents: Copy of typescript letter from Beatrix Farrand to "Gardening Twin" [Mildred Bliss] tells her she is looking forward to seeing her and Robert Wood Bliss at Dumbarton Oaks and gives her arrival time. She is excited to hear the William and Bettine "Betsy" Tyler are moving to Cambridge [Massachusetts] where William will be a member of the staff of the Fogg Museum. Farrand is unable to get to Pittsfield. She reports seeing Mrs. [Olivia] Cutting, Olivia Cutting, and Elizabeth at Westbrook and her...

Scope and Contents: Unsigned copy of typescript letter from Beatrix Farrand informing Mildred Bliss and Robert Woods Bliss that she will be following them to Dumbarton [Oaks] with a suggested arrival date of October 27. She plans to stay at the Shoreham [hotel], so as to liberate them from the difficulty of having perhaps a troublesome guest in a very busy house.She reports the news from Pavilion Colombe indirectly is not good. Elisina [Tyler] has written to tell Beatrix Farrand that she can not...

Scope and Contents: Copy of typescript letter from Beatrix Farrand to Mrs. Robert Woods Bliss (Mildred Bliss) expresses her thoughts on the death of William Gray and the loss to Dumbarton Oaks and his family. Beatrix reports that Ellis Russell has written that James Bryce has been given William Gray's head [gardener] position at Dumbarton. She discusses Mrs. Mudski (Mary Cadwalader Jones) her mother and lantern slides that Robert and Mildred enjoyed, and Elisina Tyler inheriting Sainte Claire [du Chateau] as...

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Copy of typescript letter from Beatrix Farrand to "Garden Twin" [Mildred Bliss] shares how nice it was to be with Mildred and Robert Bliss at Dumbarton Oaks. She offers her suggestion on wording of the Gardeners' memorial for William Gray. She has sent what the rose standards should be at Dumbarton Oaks and will meet with workers at Casa Dorinda and the Blaksley [Santa Barbara Botanic Garden] in a few days. While at Dumbarton Oaks, she and James Bryce accomplished some good work.

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Copy of typescript letter from Beatrix Farrand to Irving Root thanks him for telling her Donald L. Kline will meet with her on Dumbarton Oaks matters. Farrand regrets to have to reschedule their meeting to a later date. She reports disquieting news from John Thacher on the condition of the Dumbarton Oaks Park stream. Robert and Mildred Bliss will be happy to hear that an Advisory Committee is in the works.

Scope and Contents: Copy of a typescript letter from Beatrix Farrand to Irving C. Root asks that that he verify the existence and composition of the Dumbarton Oaks Park Advisory Committee as Mildred Bliss is uncertain of its status. She asks if he would arrange an April 14, a meeting with Mr. Kline, the architect of the Capital Parks, to review the walk on Clifton Hill, the possible gift of the stone seats and their placing, and the widening of the stream path, and encourages Mr. Root's attendance at the...

Scope and Contents: Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Beatrix Farrand to John Thacher acknowledges receipt of his letter with enclosed budget which she copied and now returns to him. A telegram with congratulations went to him yesterday for having achieved an imposssibility. She reinforces that her emphasis on the protection of the grounds is because she considers Dumbarton Oaks as a unit in which the grounds play an important part. She expresses interest in the 1941-1942 yearly budget for...

Scope and Contents: Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Beatrix Farrand to John Thacher discusses it would be best to meet with Paul Sachs rather than write him. She is destroying the letter she was going to send him based on Thacher's recommendation. She also mentions the gardeners' salaries; the busyness of Mildred Bliss; lodging for Farrand's next trip to Dumbarton Oak;s and communication between Farrand and Anne Sweeney. A copy of a typescript letter from Beatrix Farrand to Paul J. Sachs is...

Scope and Contents: Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Beatrix Farrand to John Thacher sends statements for time she spent at Dumbarton Oaks for Harvard University and amounts spent by Beatrix Farrand, Agent accounts from July 1 - December 31, 1941. Farrand reports spliting the time charged between the Blisses and Harvard University is difficult. She has received written communication from the Kew Gardens; the Royal Botanic Garden at Edinburgh, and the Royal Horticultural Society that gardening...

Scope and Contents: Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Beatrix Farrand to John Thacher tells him that she is meeting with Mildred Bliss to discuss the disposition of the orchids and azaleas, delicate plants that she feels are a part of the beauty and distinction "inherent in Dumbarton Oaks" and, if lost, may be impossible to replace for many years to come. Beatrix Farrand will send John Thacher a telegram once she learns Mildred Bliss's opinion on the matter. Handwritten in pencil at top right:...

Scope and Contents: Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Beatrix Farrand to John Thacher recommends a prudent approach to new flower plantings given the uncertainty of the times. She quotes a portion of a letter from Paul J. Sachs from which she and Mildred Bliss got the impression that the Harvard University Board wishes Dumbarton Oaks to reduce outdoor work and plantings in the gardens. Beatrix Farrand hopes few changes will have to be made to the grounds and reinforces her opinion that the care...

Scope and Contents: Typescript letter with typescript postscript and handwritten signature and postscript from Beatrix Farrand to John Thacher expresses her appreciation of their mutual dismay regarding the Harvard Administrative Board's failure to recognize the non-static nature of a garden and its need for constant maintenance. Beatrix Farrand shares her plans for spring and her next trip to Dumbarton Oaks. She addresses the need to spur Anne Sweeney forward on her botanic classes; discusses James Bryce and...

Scope and Contents: Handwritten letter from James Bryce to Mildred Bliss and Robert Woods Bliss expressing his surprise and happiness to receive their letter and the enclosure of Sir Walter Scotts area of the home land, "'which in present day mileage' would be close by my old home - home being an Edinburgh born man had to pass our house to get to the borders and Melrose where most of his writing was done." James tells them that he did a good amount of fishing in the Tweed river which is famous for salmon being...

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Typescript letter from Berta Segall to Robert and Mildred Bliss tells them that since her article on South Arabian scupture of the Hellenistic period in the American Journal of Archaeology will not be out until July, she is sending an article by Professor W.F. Albright, her boss who is on the Arabian Publication Project at Johns Hopkins University. Included are articles by Albright.