Bliss, Robert Woods, 1875-1962

Scope and Contents: Handwritten letter from Marvin C. Ross to Mildred Bliss and Robert Woods Bliss asking them if they meet any members of the Stoclet family and they ask about his Byzantine enamel book, please tell them it is a worthwhile project. Madam Feron-Stoclet has sent him a gift of photographs of the Byzantine enamels in her collection. He is in correspondence with Philippe Stoclet, who has three [enamels], all of them important. Marvin reports there is a third member of the family from whom there has...

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Handwritten letter from Marvin C. Ross to Mildred and Robert Bliss wishing them a "happy Dumbarton Oaks Founder's Day". He tells them they were very clever to buy the paste cameo of St. Theophano. He says that aside from being beautiful, it [cameo] helps to resolve an important question about the origin of such objects. He reports that he has found only one other bronze lamp similar to the one they gave to the Dumbarton Oaks Collection, and it is in the British Museum.

Scope and Contents: Handwritten letter from Marvin C. Ross to Mildred Bliss and Robert Woods Bliss telling them that Jack [John Thacher, Director of Dumbarton Oaks] has told him the perfectly wonderful news about the trip to Russia. He wanted to thank them in person but I am so excited about it that I could not trust myself to speak coherently. He thanks both of them "from the bottom of my heart."He says that finishing the work on Byzantine enamels will be the culmination of a life's ambition. The...

Scope and Contents: Handwritten letter from Marvin C. Ross to Mildred Bliss and Robert Woods Bliss to inform them of the latest developments on the eve of their departure. He reports the local tourist agency called him to say they had received a cable from Moscow, "sent letter June 22 concerning Ross." When the letter gets to him, he will know his fate. The last letter from the Hermitage took 16 days and the last letter the tourist agency got from Moscow took 28 days.If [Etienne] Coche de la Ferte...

Scope and Contents: Handwritten letter from Marvin C. Ross to Mildred Bliss and Robert Woods Bliss telling them it was a privilege to participate in their golden wedding anniversary. "We [Marvin and wife, Lotus?] thank you both very much. He wishes them many years in which to accomplish the things you want to do!He reports that he has completed the first draft of the monograph on Byzantine jewelry of the VII century and will give a short version of it at the Symposium. It will be about on hundred...

Scope and Contents: Typescript letter on professional letterhead from Marvin C. Ross to Robert Woods Bliss and Mildred Bliss telling them that he wanted to tell them something after his return from Europe and Istanbul, but only saw them for a brief moment. He says he was so impressed everywhere he went with the growing importance of Dumbarton Oaks. It was talked about by those he saw in the field of Byzantine studies, collectors, museum curators, govenment officials as well as research people of all kinds....

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Signed handwritten letter from Marvin Ross to Robert and Mildred Bliss thanks them for the charming Dumbarton Oaks Garden party. He says the next best thing was the Iris down by the brook. Letter undated, but probably created between 1950-1960 based on other correspondence between Marvin Ross and the Blisses.

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Handwritten letter from Max Farrand to Robert Woods Bliss describing his relationship with his brother "Tony" over the years and how his death has hit him hard.

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Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Max Farrand to Robert Woods Bliss tells him there is no occasion for apology. Max Farrand apologizes if he troubled Robert. The movement for the Friends of the Huntington Library is starting out promisingly, and he is confident Robert and Mildred will be pleased with the way in which it starts and develops. The responses to the idea have thus far been extraordinary.

Scope and Contents: Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Max Farrand to Robert Woods Bliss asking advice in a personal matter. A member of the Huntington Library and Art Gallery staff, C.H. Collins Baker, an artist, is frantic over the threat [of war] in England. Baker asks if there is any possible way for their daughter, Phyllis and her physician husband, Eugene Laurent to join them in this country if things worsened in England. Farrand describes Phyllis as an invalid and her husband restored her...

Scope and Contents: Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Max Farrand to Robert Woods Bliss thanks him for his reply regarding C.H.C[ollins] Baker's daughter, [Phyllis Baker]. Robert's response settles the whole matter on if anything can be done to bring Phyllis to the United States. Max is grateful to Robert for sending him this information. He says "The European situation is one that I simply cannot talk or write about. I too am confident that the Allies will win, but the cost they and we shall...

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Handwritten letter from May McClure Kelley (Mrs. William Fitch Kelley) to Mildred Bliss asks if she would open the Dumbarton Oaks grounds to raise funds for the 1936 Presidential campaign under the direction of the League of Republican Women of the District of Columbia.

Scope and Contents: Typescript letter with handwritten signature from McGeorge Bundy, Dean of Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University to Robert Woods Bliss and Mildred Bliss informs them of a unanimous recommendation for the appointment of the first research fellow in Landscape Architecture, Ralph E. Griswold. He offers Griswold's professional background. He tells them that Griswold wrote a letter to Mr. Rapuano on July 4, 1956 expressing his willingness to be considered for the appointment. A copy of...

Scope and Contents: Handwritten and handsigned letter on their New York letterhead from Mildred and Robert Bliss to Trix [Beatrix Farrand]. Mildred asks about what has befallen poor Edith [Wharton]? Was it a sudden stoke as I imagine? She mentions that Beatrix Farrand sailed to France where Edith Wharton lives, and if needed, suggests she call Mlle Therese Malye, 19 Rue Monsieur VII (Tel. Saxe 70-32) or the Argentine Embassy, as they employ one of our part-time persons there if an extra hand is needed in Paris....

Scope and Contents: Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Mildred Bliss to Beatrix Farrand. Handwritten notes in ink added to letter. Mildred Bliss addresses the style of the Forsythia arch and the stone curbing for the parking spaces at Dumbarton Oaks. She tells Beatrix Farrand she will mail her the plans for the new room [the new museum?]. She reports Sir Arthur Salter is coming for three days, and she and Robert will be ready for Beatrix Farrand's visit to Dumbarton Oaks beginning April 6....

Scope and Contents: Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Mildred Bliss to Trix (Beatrix Farrand) telling her she read the Casa Dorinda notes on the train to New York and thought it was an excellent report.She informs Beatrix Farrand that plans are being made for the room southwest of the Dumbarton Oaks Music Room and Kenneth Conant of Harvard University has visited Dumbarton Oaks twice each for three days working the dummy, plans, and details of the new room. James Bryce has moved the...

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Handwritten letter from Mildred Bliss to Beatrix Farrand (Trix) tells her Beattrix is a solid anchor for Mildred on this anniversary. She reports snowdrops showed their heads and the Bride [tree] is waving several smaller branches. She says Robert will return tomorrow and inquires about Max and Beatrix Farrand and the wild flowers and planets from Mount Wilson [Observatory].

Scope and Contents: Typescript letter dated July 27, 1938 and July 29, 1938 with handwritten signature from Mildred Bliss to Beatrix Farrand (Trix) tells her it is distressing news to hear about the illness and surgery of Robert Millikan. Mildred comments on Farrand's letter of July 12 and 14, 1938 on Helen Reid and prices for Nerines, and she lists questions and comments on Casa Dorinda. Mildred Bliss addresses Dumbarton Oaks building new wing and the landscape, seeking out consultation about trees from Van...

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Nine page handwritten and signed letter on Dumbarton Oaks letterhead from Mildred Bliss to Beatrix Farrand (Trix) discusses the death and funeral service of William Gray, Garden Superintendent of the Dumbarton Oaks Garden. Mildred Bliss shares guests who will be visiting and ongoing diplomatic activities.

Scope and Contents: Typescript handsigned letter from Mildred Bliss to Beatrix Farrand (Trix) offering an activities report on the Catalogue House, Orangerie, dummies for the color of iron work, drawings for the north bay of herb garden, drawings for the Forsythia Dell gate, Star Garden constellations and lettering, and Terrior seat. Rough sketches of the Forsythia Dell gate drafted by Ruth Havey were enclosed with the letter (no longer with letter). She reports that James Bryce will take over as Garden...

Scope and Contents: Dictated typescript letter with handwritten signature and postscript from Mildred Bliss to Beatrix Farrand. Mildred Bliss was hoping that Beatrix Farrand would stop in Washington, D.C. on her way to Calfornia as she had much to talk over with her. She thanks her for the recent letter and photographs. She reports the Garden Club met at Dumbarton Oaks and Anne Sweeney gave a talk about the Catalogue House. Royall Tyler leaves for New York and Robert Bliss is going to hear him speak at the...

Scope and Contents: Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Mildred Bliss to Beatrix Farrand (Trix) discusses neither she nor Robert would sign the current California Relief Administration's Tree Cutting Agreement for Casa Dorinda, and asks Beatrix to work out a solution. She extends her thanks to Max Farrand for his Friends of the Huntinton Library report. Mildred Bliss reports James Bryce left his family on vacation. Before he left she discusses with him holding off on the Ellipse boxwood...

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Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Mildred Bliss to Beatrix Farrand (Trix).

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Handwritten personal letter from Mildred Bliss to Beatrix Farrand (Trix) offers her thoughts and feelings on different matters.

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Handwritten letter from Mildred Bliss to Beatrix Farrand tells her of her travel plans and asks for Farrand to telephone her when she arrives to Dumbarton Oaks. She reports lectures at 5pm on three days. The dummies are ready and Mildred wants to revisit an architectural problem.