Skip to main content

Bryce, James, 1887-1964

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1887 - 1964

Biography

He was born in Scotland in 1887 and became a naturalized U.S. citizen. He married, Isabella W. He worked Robert and Mildred Bliss at Dumbarton Oaks first as a gardener under William Gray, Superintendent of the Garden then after Gray’s death in 1937 as the Superintendent of the Garden. He retired from Dumbarton Oaks in 1949. In 1959, he sent Mildred Bliss a letter from Jupiter, Florida. He died in 1964 and is buried Palm Beach Memorial Park Cemetery, Lantana, Palm Beach County, Florida.

Found in 245 Collections and/or Records:

Agenda for meeting with Mrs. Farrand, June 24-25, 1944 Digital

File — Box D: 3, Folder: 25Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, D:meeting agenda BF 1944.06.24
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,...

Beatrix Farrand itinerary, October-November 1943, October 1943 Digital

File — Box D: 2, Folder: 126Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, D:BF itinerary Oct-Nov 1943.10.xx
Scope and Contents:

Typescript copy of Beatrix Farrand's travel itinerary from Boston, Massachusetts to Santa Barbara, California with stops in Washington, D.C., New Haven, Connecticut, Chicago, Illinois, Pasadena, California. The travel takes her back to Boston after New Haven before going on to Chicago. Copy likely intended for James Bryce.

Change to order from Isabelle Stover, Reef Point, Bar Harbor, Maine to George Ward Lawler, Box 107, Monroe, Washington, August 6, 1943 Digital

File — Box C, Folder: 10, item: 64Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, C10:IMS 1943.08.06
Scope and Contents:

Copy of typescript change order from Isabelle Stover on behalf of Beatrix Farrand to George Ward Lawler (George Lawler, firm) requests an additional 50 Mrs. Moon tulip bulbs for Mildred Bliss.

Confidential letter from Beatrix Farrand, Valley Club of Montecito, P.O. Box 1140, Santa Barbara, California to Mr. Thacher, January 10, 1946 Digital

File — Box D: 4, Folder: 3Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, D:BF 1946.01.10
Scope and Contents:

Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Beatrix Farrand to John Thacher asks what he thinks about the addition of Robert W. Patterson, a Harvard educated landscape architect to work with her and who would make more frequent inspections of Dumbarton Oaks.

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...

Excerpt from a letter sent by Bella and James Bryce to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Woods Bliss, October 8, 1959 Digital

FOUND IN: Dumbarton Oaks / Collection: Dumbarton Oaks Garden Archives / Series: Correspondence / Sub-Series: Plant Lists
File — Box I, Folder: 1Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, I:Bryce 1959.10.08
Scope and Contents:

Typescript excerpt of a letter sent from James Bryce to Mildred Bliss and Robert Woods Bliss reporting back to them on locating the nursery for the Eucryphia shrub for which they inquired about. It is about twenty miles from him. He describes the shrub to them and will write when he finds it.

The handwritten letter from which the excerpt is taken is I:Bryce 1959.10.08B.

Exchange of letters between Helen J. Massey, The Garden Club of Winchester and Clarke County and Ruth Farley Massey, 101 North Washington Street, Winchester, Virgina and Mrs. Robert Woods Bliss's secretary, October 6-20, 1938 Digital

File — Box E, Folder: 4, item: 83Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, E4:Massey 1938.10.20
Scope and Contents: Exchange of handsigned and copy of letters between Helen J. Massey, Ruth Farley Massey, and Mrs. Robert Woods Bliss's secretary on Mildred Bliss's behalf. In one letter, Massey as chairman of the Garden Club of Winchester and Clarke County asks if the club might visit the Dumbarton Oaks garden. Mildred Bliss's secretary responds saying Mildred Bliss is glad for the members of the club to visit Dumbarton Oaks. Helen [Judd] Massey [Aitken] sends her personal thanks for the Dumbarton Oaks...

Exchange of letters between Jane James Cook, The Warrington, 3908 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD. and Mrs. Robert Woods Bliss, March 23, 1937; July 11, 1937; November 29, 1937 Digital

File — Box E, Folder: 4, item: 30Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, E4:Cook 1937.11.29
Scope and Contents: Two handwritten letters from Jane James Cook to Mildred Bliss and one copy of a typescript letter from Mildred Bliss to Jane Cook. In the letter dated March 23rd, [1937] Jane Cook tells Mildred Bliss that three members of the "Garden Club of Twenty" in Baltimore attended a meeting at Mrs. Wiliner's in Washington and afterwards decided to pay a visit to the Blisses estate or at least taking a peep at it through the chink in the wall. She mentions seeing Mildred's beautiful exhibits at the...

Exchange of letters between Laura T. Griggs and Mrs. Robert Woods Bliss, May 31 - June 3, 1940 Digital

File — Box E, Folder: 4, item: 55Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, E4:Griggs 1940.05.31
Scope and Contents: Signed handwritten letter from Laura Tressel Griggs to Mildred Bliss and a copy of the typescript response from Mildred Bliss sent to her at 39 E. Bradley Lane, Chevy Chase, Maryland. Laura Tressel thanks Mildred Bliss for a tour of the beautiful Dumbarton Oaks Garden for her, her sister and her friends from Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, her daughter, Ruth Higbie, and her husband, Robert Fiske Griggs given by James Bryce. She describes the garden as "a garment of loveliness" and each garden had...

Expense report from Beatrix Farrand, Reef Point, Bar Harbor, Maine to Harvard University (Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection), January 1, 1946 to June 30, 1946 Digital

File — Box C, Folder: 6, item: 2Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, C6:1946.01.01
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...

Expense report from Beatrix Farrand, Reef Point, Bar Harbor, Maine to Harvard University (Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collections), July 1, 1942 to December 31, 1942 Digital

File — Box C, Folder: 2, item: 9Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, C2:1942.07.01B
Scope and Contents:

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

Expense report from Beatrix Farrand, Reef Point, Bar Harbor, Maine to Harvard University (Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Research Collection) and returned receipt, July 1, 1946 to December 31, 1946 Digital

File — Box C, Folder: 6, item: 3Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, C6:1946.07.01
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...

Expense report from Beatrix Farrand, Reef Point, Bar Harbor, Maine to Harvard University Research Library (Dumbarton Oaks), January 1, 1942 to June 30, 1942 Digital

File — Box C, Folder: 2, item: 1Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, C2:1942.01.01
Scope and Contents:

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.

Expense report from Beatrix Farrand to Harvard University (Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collecrions), January 1, 1943 to June 30, 1943 Digital

File — Box C, Folder: 3, item: 1Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, C3:1943.01.01
Scope and Contents:

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.

Expense report from Beatrix Farrand to Harvard University (Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection), July 1, 1943 to December 31, 1943 Digital

File — Box C, Folder: 3, item: 14Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, C3:1943.07.01
Scope and Contents:

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.

Expense report from Beatrix Farrand to Harvard University (Dumbarton Oaks Reserach Library and Collection), July 1, 1945 to December 31, 1945 Digital

File — Box C, Folder: 5, item: 3Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, C5:1945.07.01
Scope and Contents:

Expense report from Beatrix Farrand to Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, July 1, 1945 to December 31, 1945 and includes charges for professional, travel, and office expenses. The report includes a payment made to Gardner's Chronicle for a subscription for James Bryce.

Information concerning bulb prices for Dumbarton Oaks, 1945-1946 Digital

File — Box C, Folder: 6, item: 1Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, C6:Bulb Prices 1945 and 1946
Scope and Contents:

Original sheet with information concerning bulb prices for Dumbarton Oaks for 1945 purchased by James Bryce and 1946 purchased by Beatrix Farrand and the realized savings to Dumbarton Oaks in 1946. A carbon copy sheet has similar information, but with the title "For B.F. and Patterson information concerning bulbs for D.O. for 1945-1946.

Invoice from Davids & Royston Bulb Co., 824 Wall Street, Los Angeles, California to Beatrix Farrand, Reef Point, Bar Harbor Maine, July 6, 1943 Digital

File — Box C, Folder: 3, item: 17Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, C3:Davids & Royston 1943.07.06
Scope and Contents:

Copy of receipt from Davids & Royston Bulb Co. to Beatrix Farrand for pansy seeds sent to James Bryce, 3101 R Street, Washington, D.C. for the Dumbarton Oaks Garden. Written in pencil "Please sent duplicate receipts. Receipt marked "Paid".

Invoice from Sutton & Sons to Beatrix Farrand, Bar Harbor, Maine, February 14 - March 7, 1941 Digital

File — Box C, Folder: 1, item: 4Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, C1:Sutton & Sons 1941.02.14
Scope and Contents:

Copy of typescript itemized invoices from Sutton and Sons for flower seeds sent to James Bryce, 3203 S. Street, Washington, D.C. for the Dumbarton Oaks Garden. Invoice sent to Beatrix Farrand. Note at bottom indicates this order was paid through the Chase National Bank account. Duplicate copy of February 14 invoice is in Box C, Folder 1, Item 3.

Invoice from Sutton & Sons to Beatrix Farrand, Bar Harbor, Maine, March 7, 1941 Digital

File — Box C, Folder: 1, item: 5Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, C1:Sutton & Sons 1941.03.07
Scope and Contents:

Copy of typescript itemized invoice from Sutton and Sons for flower seeds sent to James Bryce, 3203 S. Street, Washington, D.C. for the Dumbarton Oaks Garden. The receipt was sent to Beatrix Farrand for payment. Note at bottom indicates this order was paid by Chase National Bank of New York.

Itemized invoice and receipt from American Bulb Company, 31 West 27th Street, New York, N.Y. to Beatrix Farrand, Bar Harbor, Maine, January 14, 1944 Digital

File — Box C, Folder: 4, item: 2Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, C4:American Bulb Company 1944.01.14
Scope and Contents:

Itemized invoice and paid receipt from American Bulb Company to Beatrix Farrand for flower seeds shipped to James Bryce, 3101 R Street, Washington, D.C. for the Dumbarton Oaks Gardens. Included is an Aetna insurance certificate no. E 703535 to protect the non-delivery of a package and on the verso a solicitation for insurance from the Aetna Insurance Company, 670 Main Street, Hartford, Connecticut.

Itemized receipt from American Bulb Company, 31 West 27th Street, New York, N.Y. to Beatrix Farrand, Reef Point, Bar Harbor, Maine, October 5, 1943 Digital

File — Box C, Folder: 3, item: 26Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, C3:American Bulb Co 1943.10.05
Scope and Contents:

Original and duplicate receipt from the American Bulb Company to Beatrix Farrand for packets of flower seeds sent to James Bryce for the Dumbarton Oaks Gardens, Washington, D.C.

Itemized receipt from American Bulb Company, 31 West 27th Street to Beatrix Farrand, Reef Point, Bar Harbor, Maine, January 24, 1944 Digital

File — Box C, Folder: 4, item: 3Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, C4:American Bulb Company 1944.01.24
Scope and Contents:

Original and duplicate itemized receipt from American Bulb Company to Beatrix Farrand for 1 packet of Cynoglossum Blue Bird flower seeds sent to James Bryce, 3101 R Street, Washington, D.C. for the Dumbarton Oaks Gardens.

Itemized receipt from American Shipping Company, Inc., 10 Bridge Street, New York, N.Y. to Beatrix Farrand, Reef Point, Bar Harbor, Maine, November 14, 1946 Digital

File — Box C, Folder: 6, item: 11Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, C6:American Shipping Co 1946.11.14
Scope and Contents:

Original and duplicate itemized receipt from American Shipping Company, Inc. to Beatrix Farrand for the cost of shipping one case of flower bulbs from Oregon Bulb Farms to James Bryce for Dumbarton Oaks, Washington, D.C.

Itemized receipt from American Shipping Company, Inc., 10 Bridges Street, New York, N.Y. to Beatrix Farrand, Bar Harbor, Maine, October 3, 1946 Digital

File — Box C, Folder: 6, item: 8Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, C6:American Shipping Co 1946.10.03
Scope and Contents:

Itemized receipt from American Shipping Company, Inc. to Beatrix Farrand for shipping four cases of bulbs from Oregon Bulb Farms to James Bryce for Dumbarton Oaks, Washington, D.C.