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Gray, William, 1881-1937

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1881-1937

Found in 22 Collections and/or Records:

Dumbarton Oaks Garden, Dumbarton Oaks Park

FOUND IN: Dumbarton Oaks / Collection: Dumbarton Oaks Garden Archives / Series: Photographs
Sub-Series — Folder 13Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001
Scope and Contents: Thirty-seven black and white photographs, 2 color photographs, and a collection of photographs with drawings and notes of the Dumbarton Oaks Park which refers to the 27-acre parcel of land that Robert and Mildred Bliss donated to the National Park Service in 1940. The acreage is now considered a part of Rock Creek Park.When it was part of the Bliss estate, the park belonged to Beatrix Farrand’s garden design. It served as a rustic counterpoint to the complex and formal garden...

Dumbarton Oaks Garden, Superintendent's Cottage

FOUND IN: Dumbarton Oaks / Collection: Dumbarton Oaks Garden Archives / Series: Photographs
Sub-Series — Folder 10Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001
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...

Letter from Ada Beard, Women's Civic League, 113 West Mulberry Street, Baltimore to Mrs. Robert Woods Bliss, 3101 R. Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., October 12, 1936 Digital

File — Box E, Folder: 4, item: 18Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, E4:Beard 1936.10.12
Scope and Contents: Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Ada Beard of the Women's Civic League in Baltimore to Mildred Bliss thanks her on behalf of the party of Civic League members who were afforded the very pleasure of visiting her garden [Dumbarton Oaks Garden]. Mr. [William] Gray and his assistants were most courteous and helpful in conducting the party through the gardens and they feel greatly indebted to her for having spent a pleasant and profitable afternoon. She hopes they will have the...

Letter from Beatrix Farrand, 1650 Orlando Road, San Marino, California to Miss Sweeney, February 18, 1937 Digital

File — Box B: 1, Folder: 84Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, B:BF 1937.02.18
Scope and Contents: Handsigned typescript letter from Beatrix Farrand on her professional letterhead, the location of which was crossed through and a new location typed on the letter. Beatrix Farrand informs Anne Sweeney that she did not realize that Dumbarton Oaks did not possess a [Alfred] Rehder book on trees and shrubs for her to consult on her work for the Catalogue House. Beatrix Farrand is ordering a copy and if a Mrs. Ethel Clark's copy has already come in she can give it to William Gray, the...

Letter from Beatrix Farrand to Mildred Bliss, March 28, 1938 Digital

File — Box B: 2, Folder: 9Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, B:BF 1938.03.28
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...

Letter from Beatrix Farrand to Mildred Bliss, May 26, 1938 Digital

File — Box B: 2, Folder: 22Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, B:BF 1938.05.26
Scope and Contents: Copy of typescript letter from Beatrix Farrand to Mildred Bliss offers her thoughts on Orion and Bootes chairs, the wall for Lilac Circle, the placement of the Unicorn Lady, adding Dumbarton Oaks and Dumbarton Oaks Park insciptions on the Forsythia arch with an iron gate, cost of designing and having Ruth Havey do some of the design work, new position for the old Forsythia seat, the Star Garden lantern with the Gemini and Corona constellations in the panel, swinging seat for the Terrior...

Letter from Beatrix Farrand to Mildred Bliss, August 1, 1938 Digital

File — Box B: 2, Folder: 36Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, B:BF 1938.08.01
Scope and Contents:

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.

Letter from Beatrix Farrand to Mrs. Robert Woods Bliss, 3203 S. Street, Washington, D.C., June 18, 1938 Digital

File — Box B: 2, Folder: 30Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, B:BF 1938.06.18
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...

Letter from Beatrix Farrand to Mrs. Robert Woods Bliss, Dumbarton Oaks, Georgetown, District of Columbia, October 11, 1938 Digital

File — Box B: 2, Folder: 47Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, B:BF 1938.10.11
Scope and Contents:

Copy of typescript letter from Beatrix Farrand to "dearest Dear" [Mildred Bliss] offers her satisfaction with the carving and lettering of the William Gray inscription and offers her itinerary to visit Dumbarton Oaks.

Letter from Beatrix Farrand to Mrs. Robert Woods Bliss, Dumbarton Oaks, Georgetown, Washington, D.C., April 29, 1938 Digital

File — Box B: 2, Folder: 17Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, B:BF 1938.04.29
Scope and Contents:

Copy of typescript letter from Beatrix Farrand to Mildred Bliss passes on a report from Philip Lucking that the Casa Dorinda garden tour on the 19th was a great success, weeds in the old rose garden are disappearing, and the change in the driveway looks "grand." She sends three pictures of the blue echium at the entrance to Casa Dorinda. She asks Mildred's thoughts on the memorial for [William] Gray.

Letter from Beatrix Farrand to Mrs. Robert Woods Bliss, Dumbarton Oaks, Washington, D.C., March 14, 1938 Digital

File — Box B: 2, Folder: 5Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, B:BF 1938.03.14
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...

Letter from Beatrix Farrand to Mrs. Robert Woods Bliss, Dumbarton Oaks, Washington, D.C., November 8, 1938 Digital

File — Box B: 2, Folder: 48Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, B:BF 1938.11.08
Scope and Contents:

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.

Letter from Cornelia Knox Kean, 2804 N Street, N.W., Georgetown, Washington, D.C. to Mrs. Robert Bliss, May 23, 1934 Digital

File — Box E, Folder: 4, item: 77Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, E4:Kean 1934.05.23
Scope and Contents:

Handwritten letter from Cornelia Knox Kean to Mildred Bliss thanks her for sharing her gardens with many people. She comments that it was particularly beautiful this year. She thanks Mildred Bliss for the generous help she has given to the Georgetown Flower Show. William Gray's assistance will relieve the burden and make it "lovlier than it has ever been". She offers remembrances to her and Robert Woods Bliss from her and her husband, General Jefferson Randolph Kean.

Letter from Dorothy, 1172 Park Avenue to Mildred Bliss, Dumbarton Oaks, Georgetown, Washington, D.C., September 13, 1933 Digital

File — Box E, Folder: 4, item: 35Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, E4:Dorothy 1933.09.13
Scope and Contents: Typescript letter with handwritten first name signature from Dorothy to Mildred Bliss thanks her for the wonderful experience of her garden. When Mildred told her it would take two hours to see it she felt that Mildred must be indulging her imagination, but after she had wandered over the garden for an hour and a half and Mr. [William] Gray said "there is still more to see", she realized with amazement the truth of what Mildred said. Mr. Gray showed her a photograph of a bare hillside and...

Letter from Mabel Choate, 2839 Woodland Drive to Mildred Bliss, April 28, 1934 Digital

File — Box E, Folder: 4, item: 28Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, E4:Choate 1934.04.28
Scope and Contents: Handwritten letter from Mabel Choate, 2839 Woodland Drive [Washington, D.C.] to Mildred Bliss tells her she has never seen anything more beautiful as Dumbarton Oaks. "It is simply glorious [and] Mrs. Gibbons and I had the most wonderful time yesterday seeing it all. It is the most lovely place I've ever seen in this country and I am so grateful for the oportunity of seeing it." She is sorry she didn't see Mildred, and hope she is "ever so much better now." Mr. Gray [garden Superintendent]...

Letter from Mildred Bliss, 104 E. 68th Street, New York to Trix, March 16, 1938 Digital

File — Box B: 2, Folder: 6Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, B:MB 1938.03.16
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...

Letter from Mildred Bliss, Dumbarton Oaks, Georgetown, Washington, D.C. to Mrs. Max Farrand, Reef Point, Bar Harbor, Mt. Desert, Maine, July 27-29, 1938 Digital

File — Box B: 2, Folder: 35Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, B:MB 1938.07.27
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...

Letter from Mildred Bliss, Dumbarton Oaks, Georgetown, Washington, D.C. to Trix, June 13, 1938 Digital

File — Box B: 2, Folder: 28Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, B:MB 1938.06.13
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...

Letter from Mildred Bliss, Dumbarton Oaks, Georgetown, Washington, D.C. to Trix, February 10, 1938 Digital

File — Box B: 2, Folder: 2Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, B:MB 1938.02.10
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...

Letter from Mildred Bliss, Dumbarton Oaks, Georgetown, Washington, D.C. to Trix, January 3, 1938 Digital

File — Box B: 2, Folder: 1Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, B:MB 1938.01.03
Scope and Contents:

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.

Letters and note about Crowell Baynes, Washington Post request to Mildred Bliss to visit the Dumbarton Oaks garden, March 26-April 20, 1935 Digital

File — Box E, Folder: 8, item: 2Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, E8:MBsec 1935.04.20
Scope and Contents:

Typescript letters and handwritten note about Crowell Baynes's (the Washington Post) request to tour the Dumbarton Oaks gardens occasionally. Baynes made the request of Mildred Bliss. The secretary created handwritten notes for Mildred Bliss after speaking with William Gray the Dumbarton Oaks Garden Superintendent. Mildred Bliss's secretary offered a response to Baynes on behalf of Mildred Bliss, but it may not have been sent.

Memorandum to Mrs. Farrand, June 15, 1938 Digital

File — Box B: 2, Folder: 29Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, B:MB 1938.06.15
Scope and Contents: Typescript memorandum created by Mildred Bliss and sent to Beatrix Farrand based on Beatrix Farrand response letter of June 18, 1938. Mildred Bliss listed the progress for projects Dumbarton Oaks Garden for [William Gray's] memorial tablet, the finalities, metal frames in the Catalogue House, a full size detail of the garage lantern, the bases for the terracotta urns, the prospective trellis, stepping stones for the Lilac Circle, finials on the south wall and polychroming of the floors of...