Farrand, Beatrix, 1872-1959

Scope and Contents: The Dumbarton Oaks Garden Archives is a collection of over 6278 individual items of textual materials, drawings, and photographs that document the creation and development of the Dumbarton Oaks Garden, Washington, D.C. between 1920-1979. Robert Bliss and Mildred Barnes Bliss purchased the 53 acre property in 1920 known as "The Oaks" and later as Dumbarton Oaks, and within a year they hired Beatrix Farrand, a landscape gardener, to design a garden for the property that combined French,...

Scope and Contents: One black and white photograph of the Lilac Circle. The garden area was designed by Beatrix Farrand, landscape gardener in the 1930s. The garden area sits at the furthest northeast corner of the gardens, between the Kitchen Gardens and the Trompe L’Oeil. It was redesigned and replanted several times over the years.The first plan called for lilacs to be planted in the circular bed, but the plants quickly failed due to the overwhelming shade in that corner of the garden. When the...

Scope and Contents: Unsigned handwritten update of the list of Dumbarton Oaks Garden projects written on Mildred Bliss' personal letterhead. Mildred Bliss includes a handwritten note saying to give at once to Miss [Anne] Sweeney and enclose in my letter to Mrs. Farrand. This list was likely enclosed with a letter to Beatrix Farrand sent around the same time. Mildred Bliss mentions the Lovers' Lane trellis; Lilac Circle; Forsythia Arch; Forsythia Flatform; Willow by Terrior; Garage lamp post; Quod Severis...

Scope and Contents: 34 black and white photographs of the Dumbarton Oaks, R Street facade, Washington, D.C. The brick walls, walkways, and initial wood entrance gates were designed by Beatrix Farrand, landscape gardener in the 1920s and early 1930s. In the 1950s, Ruth Havey replaced the wood gates with iron gates with gold gilding. The R Street facade has also been referred to by some of the architectural elements: Entrance gates, Gatehouse, Inner edges of East Lawn, Porter's lodge, R Street border, and R...

Scope and Contents: Seven black and white photographs of The Superintendent’s Cottage, sometimes called the Gardener’s Cottage at Dumbarton Oaks. It fronts S Street, Washington, D.C. located just west of the Service Court gates.In 1923, Mildred Bliss suggested to her architects that they build a duplex to house the butler and the head gardener, William Gray and his family. Following her suggestion, they planned the small gabled house to be a part of the Service Court Quadrangle. However, when the...

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Beatrix Farrand's historical account and description of Dumbarton Oaks and gardens.

Scope and Contents: Copy of typescript memoranda for the recording of plants, shrubs, flowers, etc. on index cards in the Dumbarton Oaks Garden Office. All specimens should be listed and copied with one copy sent to Matthew Kearney. The plant filing cards should include origin of plants, time of purchase, where it was purchased, time of planting, annual growth, and location. Any specimens not identified should be sent to the Arnold Arboretum for identification. A file drawer is to be ordered for plans coming...

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Typescript excerpts of letters and a meeting between Beatrix Farrand and Ruth Havey. Probably created by Ruth Havey to consolidate design ideas about walls for the Herbaceous Border and Orchard.

Scope and Contents: Handsigned letter from Arline B. Newcomb to Anne Sweeney remarking on the Dumbarton Oaks garden and if any material on it could be sent to her to share with a friend. A copy of typescript letter from Anne Sweeney, Dumbarton Oaks Garden Guide to Arline B. Newcomb offers a response to an unanswered letter received December 9th. Sweeney thinks it is very kind for Newcomb to speak so well of Dumbarton Oaks to friends in the far west. "Naturally, the Peace Conferences held here this summer have...

Scope and Contents: Handsigned expense report and returned receipt from Beatrix Farrand to Dumbarton Oaks providing a rough estimate of expenses through June 30, 1947 for office work, creating "Dumbarton Oaks control notes" (planting record book), and secretary's time. It also includes an estimate for Anne Sweeney to travel to Reef Point, Bar Harbor, Maine. It includes a list of expenses for four packets of lettuce seed and 52 roses for the Dumbarton Oaks, Washington, D.C. with amount due to Beatrix Farrand,...

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Handsigned typescript expense report and receipt of payment for professional services, traveling expenses, and office expenses incurred by Beatrix Farrand for work performed for Harvard University (Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection) related to the Dumbarton Oaks Garden.

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Handsigned typescript expense report from Beatrix Farrand to Dumbarton Oaks, January 1, 1948 to June 30, 1948 lists fees for office professional services such as suggestions to Anne Sweeney; consultations with Robert Patterson and John Thacher; and correspondence. Included is a fee for the office expense for a share of the secretary's time.

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Typescript expense report from Beatrix Farrand to Dumbarton Oaks, July 1, 1949 to December 31, 1949 reports a balance in the Beatrix Farrand, Agent account of $256.52.

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Typescript expense report for professional services and expenses from Beatrix Farrand to Harvard University (Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection) related to the Dumbarton Oaks Gardens in Washington, D.C. from January 1, 1941 to June 30, 1941. Includes information on the Dumbarton Oaks Garden areas: Catalogue House; North Vista; Green Garden; Rose Garden.

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Handsigned expense report from Beatrix Farrand to Dumbarton Oaks, July 1, 1947 to December 31, 1947 for professional office services such as consultations with John Thacher at Reef Point and in Boston, Massachusetts and talks with Robert Patterson; office expenses including a share of the secretary's time and bookkeeping; and balances remaining in the Beatrix Farrand, Agent and Dumbarton Oaks book account.

Scope and Contents: Handsigned typescript expense report for January 1, 1946 to June 30, 1946 from Beatrix Farrand to Harvard University (Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection) for expenses incurred by Beatrix Farrand and Robert W. Patterson for professional services, traveling expenses, and office expenses. Included on report is the amount that Beatrix Farrand will hold in reserve for professional work in her account and a report for the "Book account" for Miss Sweeney listing charges from three...

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Expense report from Beatrix Farrand to Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, July 1, 1942 to December 31, 1942 outlining charges for professional services, office expenses, draughting, and traveling expenses and purchases made for flowers, bulbs, seeds, tulips, a book and shipping charges

Scope and Contents: Expense report from Beatrix Farrand to Harvard University (Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection), July 1, 1946 to December 31, 1946. The report lists charges for professional and office expenses. It includes a paid receipt for tulip, hyacinth, iris, and narcissus bulbs from various nurseries and the associated the shipping costs for Dumbarton Oaks. Receipt signed by Isabelle M. Stover on behalf of Beatrix Farrand. The report also includes a charge for the purchase of a book for the...

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Expense report from Beatrix Farrand to Harvard University (Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection), January 1, 1942 to June 30, 1942 outlining itemized expenses for professional services, assistant time, traveling, office expenditures, and garden plants, seeds, and books. Also includes a receipt for Beatrix Farrand for entrance into Dartington Hall, Totnes, England.

Scope and Contents: Handsigned typescript expense report from Beatrix Farrand to Dumbarton Oaks, July 1, 1948 to December 31, 1948 lists fees for office professional services such as Anne Sweeney's visit to Reef Point, Bar Harbor, Maine, counseling on the cataloging and collation of books, and consultations with Robert Patterson. Included is a fee for an office expense for a secretary's time. On first page written in pencil, "Balance $256.52" for the Beatrix Farrand account. Second page lists balance on hand as...

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Expense report from Beatrix Farrand to Dumbarton Oaks =, January 1, 1949 to June 30, 1949 listing fee for professional services. Report indicates expense account balance on hand is $256.52 for the Beatrix Farrand, Agent account.

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Expense report from Beatrix Farrand to Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collections, January 1, 1943 to June 30, 1943 lists expenses for professional services in the field and in the office, traveling and other office expenses. Includes an itemized list for flower seeds and a publication as part of the expenses.

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Expense report from Beatrix Farrand to Harvard University (Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection), January 1, 1945 to June 30, 1945 listing charges for professional services and offices expenses. Report includes a charge and payment to Sutton & Sons for flower seeds.

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Expense report from Beatrix Farrand to Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection from July 1, 1943 to December 31, 1943 listing charges for professional services in the field and in the office; expenses for Ruth Havey's time; traveling and office expenses; and expenses for seeds, bulbs, and roses for the Dumbarton Oaks Gardens, Washington, D.C.

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Expense report from Beatrix Farrand to Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, July 1, 1944 to December 31, 1944 listing charges for professional services, office related activities, and office expenses. Includes alist of charges for negatives and prints, flower seeds, hyacinths, narcissus, iris, and lily bulbs for Dumbarton Oaks.