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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:

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, June 1, 1939 Digital

File — Box B: 2, Folder: 61Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, B:BF 1939.06.01
Scope and Contents:

Copy of typescript letter from Beatrix Farrand to Mildred Bliss asks if she might inquire of the Kenneth Clarks what Edith Wharton's Cezanne was sold for by the heir [Elisina Tyler]. The report from Harry T. Thompson on the Dumbarton Oaks tree conditions has arrived and the conclusions are favorable. Beatrix sends her a copy of the report and one to James Bryce. Beatrix has finished an ankle length dress for the party. She will be at Dumbarton Oaks in a week.

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, 3101 R Street, Georgetown, Washington, D.C., January 30, 1940 Digital

File — Box B: 2, Folder: 71Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, B:BF 1940.01.30
Scope and Contents: Copy of typescript letter from Beatrix Farrand to "Dearest One" [Mildred Bliss] answers the Dumbarton Oaks planting questions of a Willow tree on the Northwest side of the Box Walk; smallish oak trees on the West side of the East entrance drive; replacements in the Yew hedge ordered; more masonry on the North Vista; and the replacement plants in the Ellipse ordered. She mentions Claude Kennerly and the tree cutting agreement by the California State Relief Agreement for trees at Casa Dorinda....

Letter from Beatrix Farrand to Mrs. Robert Woods Bliss, Dumbarton Oaks, 3103 R. Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., May 2, 1939 Digital

File — Box B: 2, Folder: 58Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, B:BF 1939.05.02
Scope and Contents: Copy of typescript letter from Beatrix Farrand to "Fellow Gardener" [Mildred Bliss] tells her she looks forward to seeing her at Dumbarton Oaks when Mildred can get away from New York meetings, openings, and duties. Farrand is writing G. Frederick Coles about the Terrior seat roof, the cutting of the stone on the Music Room Terrace wall, the cutting of the stone on the William Gray memorial, the cutting of the Forsythia seats and to ask whether she or Coles is installing the Forsythia arch....

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, 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 Beatrix Farrand, Valley Club of Montecito, P.O. Box 1140, Santa Barbara, California to James Bryce, March 15, 1945 Digital

File — Box D: 3, Folder: 71Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, D:BF 1945.03.15B
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,...

Letter from Beatrix Farrand, Valley Club of Montecito, P.O. Box 1140, Santa Barbara, California to John S. Thacher, Dumbarton Oaks Museum and Library, 3101 R Street, Washington, D.C., November 29, 1945 Digital

File — Box D: 3, Folder: 96Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, D:BF 1945.11.29
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,...

Letter from Beatrix Farrand, Valley Club of Montecito, Post Office Box 1140, Santa Barbara, California to Irving C. Root, Superintendent, National Capital Parks, Washington, D.C., March 10, 1942 Digital

File — Box D: 2, Folder: 18Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, D:BF 1942.03.10
Scope and Contents: Copy of a typescript letter from Beatrix Farrand to Irving C. Root asks that that he verify the existence and composition of the Dumbarton Oaks Park Advisory Committee as Mildred Bliss is uncertain of its status. She asks if he would arrange an April 14, a meeting with Mr. Kline, the architect of the Capital Parks, to review the walk on Clifton Hill, the possible gift of the stone seats and their placing, and the widening of the stream path, and encourages Mr. Root's attendance at the...

Letter from Beatrix Farrand, Valley Club of Montecito, Post Office Box 1140, Santa Barbara, California to James Bryce, 3203 S Street, Washington, D.C., March 16, 1942 Digital

File — Box D: 2, Folder: 22Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, D:BF 1942.03.16B
Scope and Contents:

Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Beatrix Farrand to James Bryce asks him to reserve a seat for her on the Senator train leaving Washington on Friday, April 17th at 1 p.m. for Stamford, Connecticut. Beatrix Farrand reports that Madam (Mildred Bliss) has had a severe cold, backache, and headache and is having a hard time; she believes Mildred Bliss will benefit from the enforced rest.

Letter from Beatrix Farrand, Valley Club of Montecito, Post Office Box 1140, Santa Barbara, California to John S. Thacher, 3101 R Street, Washington, D.C., April 10, 1942 Digital

File — Box D: 2, Folder: 37Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, D:BF 1942.04.10
Scope and Contents:

Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Beatrix Farrand to John Thacher comments on the ups and downs at Casa Dorinda; dates she will visit Dumbarton Oaks; Francis Baker's fall from a tree and if there is anything she can do; Mildred Bliss wanting a fund for the use of Dumbarton Oaks Park; and Thacher's potential contribution to the "planting fund."

Letter from Beatrix Farrand, Valley Club of Montecito, Post Office Box 1140, Santa Barbara, California to John S. Thacher, 3101 R Street, Washington, D.C., March 30, 1942 Digital

File — Box D: 2, Folder: 30Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, D:BF 1942.03.30B
Scope and Contents: Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Beatrix Farrand to John Thacher acknowledges receipt of his letter with enclosed budget which she copied and now returns to him. A telegram with congratulations went to him yesterday for having achieved an imposssibility. She reinforces that her emphasis on the protection of the grounds is because she considers Dumbarton Oaks as a unit in which the grounds play an important part. She expresses interest in the 1941-1942 yearly budget for...

Letter from Beatrix Farrand, Valley Club of Montecito, Post Office Box 1140, Santa Barbara, California to John S. Thacher, Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, Georgetown, Washington, D.C., March 10, 1942 Digital

File — Box D: 2, Folder: 19Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, D:BF 1942.03.10B
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...

Letter from Beatrix Farrand, Valley Club of Montecito, Post Office Box 1140, Santa Barbara, California to John S. Thacher, Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, Georgetown, Washington, D.C., March 16, 1942 Digital

File — Box D: 2, Folder: 21Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, D:BF 1942.03.16
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....

Letter from Beatrix Farrand, Valley Club of Montecito, Santa Barbara, California to John S. Thacher, 3101 "R" Street, Washington, D.C., February 7, 1942 Digital

File — Box D: 2, Folder: 8Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, D:BF 1941.02.07B
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...

Letter from Beatrix Farrand, Valley Club of Montecito, Santa Barbara, California to John S. Thacher, Dumbarton Oaks, 3101 R Street, Washington, D.C., January 13, 1942 Digital

File — Box D: 2, Folder: 3Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, D:BF 1942.01.13
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...

Letter from Beatrix Farrand, Valley Club of Montecito, Santa Barbara, California to John S. Thacher, Dumbarton Oaks, 3101 R Street, Washington, D.C., January 29, 1942 Digital

File — Box D: 2, Folder: 5Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, D:BF 1942.01.29
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...

Letter from Bella and James Bryce, Arniston Pines, Jupiter, Florida, P.O. Box 246 to Mrs. and Mrs. Bliss, October 8, 1959 Digital

FOUND IN: Dumbarton Oaks / Collection: Dumbarton Oaks Garden Archives / Series: Correspondence / Sub-Series: Plant Lists
File — Box I, Folder: 2Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, I:Bryce 1959.10.08B
Scope and Contents: Handwritten letter from James Bryce to Mildred Bliss and Robert Woods Bliss expressing his surprise and happiness to receive their letter and the enclosure of Sir Walter Scotts area of the home land, "'which in present day mileage' would be close by my old home - home being an Edinburgh born man had to pass our house to get to the borders and Melrose where most of his writing was done." James tells them that he did a good amount of fishing in the Tweed river which is famous for salmon being...

Letter from C. Stuart Gager, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 1000 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn, N.Y. to Mrs. Robert Woods Bliss, Dumbarton Oaks, Georgetown, Washington, D.C., November 9, 1939 Digital

File — Box E, Folder: 4, item: 49Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, E4:Gager 1939.11.09
Scope and Contents: Typescript letter with handwritten signature from C. Stuart Gager, Director of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden to Mildred Bliss tells her it gave him much pleasure for Mrs. Gager and him to meet Mildred at Dumbarton Oaks and see "your beautiful plantations." While walking about in the gardens with Bryce [James Bryce] it occurred to him that a name that applies to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden would also apply to Dumbarton Oaks, "Gardens within a Garden." It was not only a pleasure to see this...

Letter from Clementine Walter to John S. Thacher, 3101 R Street, Washington, D.C., March 21, 1942 Digital

File — Box D: 2, Folder: 23Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, D:CW 1942.03.21
Scope and Contents:

Typescript note with handwritten signature from Clementine Walter to John Thacher informs him that Beatrix Farrand has had a nasty attack of influenza and Max Farrand thinks it wise for them to postpone their departure from Santa Barbara for a fortnight. He states that Beatrix Farrand will write John Thacher and asks that he tell James Bryce.

Letter from Ellis Russell, Tenth Floor, 67 Wall Street, New York to Mrs. Max Farrand, Reef Point, Bar Harbor, Maine, May 25, 1942 Digital

File — Box D: 2, Folder: 50Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, D:ER 1942.05.25
Scope and Contents: Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Ellis Russell to Beatrix Farrand discusses the amount requested in the budget by the National Park Service for the Dumbarton Oaks Park and offered guidance on the distribution of the money under the direction of a committee appointed of the deed of trust. He has consulted with Mr. Delefield on the matter who thinks that even if a trust was created by the Blisses for Dumbarton Oaks Park, it would probably result in the reduction of the public...

Letter from Frances Nathan?, 3133 Connecticut Avenue to Mrs. Robert Woods Bliss, between May 1-10,1935 Digital

File — Box E, Folder: 4, item: 93Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, E4:Nathan 1935.05.11
Scope and Contents:

Signed handwritten letter from Frances Nathan? to Mildred Bliss thanks her for a three hour tour of the Dumbarton Oaks Garden by her head gardener, probably James Bryce.

Letter from Frederick Moore, 1868 Columbia Road, Washington, D.C. to Mrs. Robert Woods Bliss, May 13, 1939 Digital

File — Box E, Folder: 4, item: 89Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, E4:Moore 1939.05.13
Scope and Contents: Signed handwritten letter from Frederick Moore, Advisor to Japan, to Mildred Bliss thanks her for allowing him to show Japanese gardeners the Dumbarton Oaks Garden. He said James Bryce lead the tour and was very informative. He asks to give his regards to Robert Woods Bliss, who he has the pleasure to be acquainted with. Also included is a handwritten transcript of a telephone call made by Frederick Moore probably to Mildred Bliss' secretary shortly after the visit thanking her for the...