Sweeney, Anne, 1887-1954

Scope and Contents: Handsigned typescript letter on Beatrix Farrand letterhead. Beatrix Farrand tells Anne Sweeney the order of the Gray's Botany and Hortus books went in. Anne Sweeney might want to ask Georgetown University or a first rate High School to give you the name of some good working botanist who would help with nomenclature for the plant cards. Beatrix Farrand suggests starting on some follow-up cards and send her the possible list of them with dummies of plant cards. She encourages Anne Sweeney to...

Scope and Contents: Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Beatrix Farrand to John Thacher accompanies a gift copy of Beatrix Farrand's mother's book, "Lantern Slides." Beatrix Farrand reiterates topics mentioned in her earlier letter (D:BF 1941.12.13), such as the well-being of Robert and Mildred Bliss and her uncertainty about closing the greenhouses. She inquires whether the Bliss' contribution towards Anne Sweeney's salary had arrived and ends the letter by including a final copy of the "D.O."...

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Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Beatrix Farrand to Anne Sweeney offers suggestions for print displays of birds, flowers, shrubs, and trees and corrections of Anne Sweeneys list for the panels and whirligig in the Catalogue House of the Dumbarton Oaks Garden. Probably signed by Beatrix Farrand's secretary on behalf of Beatrix Farrand.

Scope and Contents: Copy of typescript letter from Beatrix Farrand to Mildred Bliss. Beatrix Farrand reports the Palomar Observatory wants help in planting the surrounding great dome of the 200 ft. Hale telescope. She comments "how closely our minds jump in parallel lines." She says it is exciting about Dumbarton's future with the sculpture gallery being built, Christian and Byzantine census, and the interest expressed by Princeton and Harvard Universities.Beatrix Farand thinks the memorial...

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Copy of typescript letter from Beatrix Farrand to "my very dearest" [Mildred Bliss]. Farrand responds to Mildred's letter of July 23, 1938. She comments on Robert Millikan's illness and the need for Trustees to take on added responsibility at the Huntington Library and Museum. Farrand thinks that the price Helen Reid is charging for Nerines is too much and she will write her. Farrand comments on Casa Dorinda landscaping issues and garden projects and tree work at Dumbarton Oaks.

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...

Scope and Contents: Handsigned typescript letter from Beatrix Farrand to Anne Sweeney informing her that the plant nomenclature is in a state of confusion. The Professor Nichols, head of the Yale University Botany Department will send our list on to Professor Wetherby at the Gray Herbarium, a part of Harvard University, in Boston. Professor Wetherby will return the list to Anne Sweeney. He and Professor Fernald are working on an edition of Gray's Botany which will be the most scientific up-to-date book of...

Scope and Contents: Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Beatrix Farrand to John Thacher thanks him for his two recent letters. She asks him to jog her memory if he fails to hear from Mildred Bliss in a ten day interval about the salary for Anne Sweeney (Catalogue House Division). She reports that the orchids from the Director's House in Pasadena [Huntington Library and Art Gallery] will be sent in April when the weather is more conducive for their transit. She conveys Mildred Bliss's doubts about...

Scope and Contents: Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Beatrix Farrand to John Thacher tells him of her plans to visit Dumbarton Oaks, during which time her assistant Ruth Havey will meet her so that together they may review the levels and possible designs for the North Vista and walls along the Herbaceous Border. Beatrix Farrand tells him that she is writing Irving Root to arrange a meeting with him or Mr. Kline, landscape architect of the Capital Parks, to address questions about the Clifton...

Scope and Contents: Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Beatrix Farrand to John Thacher asks that he identify any definite questions he may have for "our poor neighbor" (Mildred Bliss) since Beatrix Farrand may have limited opportunity prior to her departure in two weeks to meet with Mildred Bliss due to her slow recovery from a severe flu. Beatrix Farrand is aware that Mildred Bliss wrote to John Thacher regarding the wine cellar questions, rare book questions, and the bronze boxes in the safe....

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 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...

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Handwritten letter from Beatrix Farrand to John Thacher sends him the official financial statements and the unofficial contribution of one month of Anne Sweeney's salary. She asks him to tell her if Mildred Bliss has made her contribution of $1000 the Sweeney's salary.

Scope and Contents: Handwritten letter from Bertha Slingluff Harry to Miss [Anne] Sweeney tells her the cards have just arrived and thanks her for attending to them. When Bertha Harry saw them in the Orangery, she thought that she could get them at the office without bothering to have them mailed. She tells Sweeney, they [Norristown Garden Club] enjoyed every minute in the garden and doubt if they missed seeing anything. It would have been a pleasure having had Sweeney as a guide. They enjoyed also the lovely...

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Signed handwritten letter from Dorothy K. C. Salisbury (Mrs. Elon G. Salisbury) to Anne Sweeney, Garden Guide for Dumbarton Oaks thanks her for the information on pineapple symbolism and the Boethuis-Chaucer quotation.

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Handwritten letter from Ethel Burnet Clark to Anne Sweeney asking for a list of color-plate flower, etc. books in the Dumbarton Oaks library for George Cottrell, editor of the Harvard Library Bulletin. He wants to publish a list books in all the Harvard libraries.

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: Copy of typescript letter from John Thacher to Beatrix Farrand sends her a check for her services from January 1 to June 30, 1942. He asks that she let him know when her account needs to be replenished. Thacher reports on his health screening for entering the Navy Reserves and taking a few enjoyable days away to the Hot Springs where he had good conversations with Lewis Delafield. There is still no final word about the bulbs for the National Gallery [of Art]. He reports on happenings at...

Scope and Contents: Copy of typescript letter from John Thacher to Beatrix Farrand answers her letters of May 13 (D:BF 1941.05.13) and May 14 (D:BF 1941.05.14) regarding the formation and membership of a 5 person Dumbarton Oaks Park Committee. John Thacher also discusses the employment of previously-held gardeners, who would now be under the park's foreman and James Bryce. Anne Sweeney's future still appears to be undecided as John Thacher waits to see if Dumbarton can afford her salary. He says there is a lull...

Scope and Contents: Copy of typescript letter from John Thacher to Beatrix Farrand discusses her next visit to Dumbarton Oaks and answers Beatrix Farrand's questions put forth in her May 20 letter to him (D:BF 1941.05.20B), including where Dumbarton Oaks lies in relation to the original land deed, whether Anne Sweeney could be kept on as garden guide with the new, reduced budget, and which days they could meet while Beatrix Farrand is in town. Ethel Burnet Clark tells Thacher that the deed to Ninian Beall's...

Scope and Contents: Copy of typescript letter from John Thacher to Beatrix Farrand responds to her letters of June 12 (D:BF 1941.06.12) and June 17 (D:BF 1941.06.17) regarding various garden-related matters, such as Dumbarton Oaks' expense report, signage in the garden as the current ones are horrible, Beatrix Farrand's salary, Barbara Sessions recovering in Rockville, and John Thacher's travel plans to Cambridge and the Fogg Museum, Camden, and Bar Harbor. He reports having dinner on the train with Lawrence...

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Copy of typescript letter from John Thacher to Beatrix Farrand responds to Isabelle Stover's letter of July 22, 1941 (D:IMS 1941.07.22) confirming that Anne Sweeney's salary would be paid with contributions from Beatrix Farrand, Mildred Bliss, Dumbarton Oaks, and the balance paid from savings of James Bryce's garden budget. He sends to her a check for the Beatrix Farrand, Agent account. He is assuming that Anne Sweeney's railway fair will be taken out of it.

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Copy of typescript letter from John Thacher to Beatrix Farrand responds to Beatrix Farrand's letter of August 27 (D:BF 1941.08.27) acknowledges receipt of a check for Anne Sweeney's September salary and informs Beatrix Farrand on the progress of Robert Bliss' health as conveyed through a telegram from Mildred Bliss.

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Copy of typescript letter from John Thacher to Beatrix Farrand answers her letters of October 2 (D:BF 1941.10.02) and October 17 (D:BF 1941.10.17) regarding the start of the Dumbarton Oaks garden tours led by Anne Sweeney, postponing Beatrix Farrand's Harvard University lecture due to her husband's illness, and her November trip to Dumbarton Oaks, including issues to be discussed during her visit.