Hopkins, Alden, 1905-1960

Scope and Contents:

Correspondence sent by or to Alden Hopkins, Garden Advisory Committee Member and Consulting Landscape Architect for Dumbarton Oaks. Includes an issue of Garden Gossip, March 1955 with an article titled, "Landscape design, restoration of the gardens and grounds of Woodlawn Plantation" by Alden Hopkins, landscape architect, Williamsburg, Virginia.

Scope and Contents: Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Alden Hopkins to Mary L. Wilkens (misspelled Wilkins) tells her that Ralph Griswold has advised him that she is now the librarian. He asks her to check if there are any detailed illustrations for a "beeste" which were found in English Tudor gardens between 1530-1600. He needs one typical example. He tell her he can be billed for the photostat. Handwritten notes on letter: In lower left corner: "Hampton Court, History of Garden Art, Vol. I, p....

Scope and Contents: Architectural drawings, surveys, and sketches for the Dumbarton Oaks Garden. The bulk of the drawings were created by Beatrix Farrand, landscape gardener, or the landscape architects who worked for her. One of her landscape architects was Ruth Havey, who carried on the work of the garden with Mildred Bliss once Beatrix Farrand retired. Other landscape architects included Alden Hopkins, Robert Patterson, and Ralph Griswold. There were numerous other contractors and artisans who contributed to...

Scope and Contents: Twenty four black and white photographs and 4 color photographs of the Dumbarton Oaks Garden, Ellipse.The plans for the Ellipse were the result of close collaboration between Beatrix Farrand and Mildred Bliss. The basic outline of the design first occurred to Mildred Bliss as a child, and she consulted on the original design and all subsequent changes. The Ellipse began as a loose oval hedge of tall, rumpled boxwoods about fifteen to twenty feet high. The hedge followed the slope...

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...

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Copy of typescript letter with handwritten signature from G. Morris Steinbraker on behalf of his company to Alden Hopkins provides him an estimate for construction work on plan #96-03 for the reconstruction of the Camellia Garden (or Lilac Circle) for $3,620.00. He has not included the cost of plant removal or planting of any kind.

Scope and Contents: Copy of typescript letter from Alden Hopkins to Helen Van Pelt Wilson thanks her for her letter of March 16 and tells her he is delighted when she comes to visit at Williamsburg and looks forward to more of her visits. He tells her they could meet at Dumbarton Oaks to discuss the Dumbarton Oaks Gardens for an article she is writing for Flower Grower magazine. He would be in town for a talk he was giving at the Washington Club on April 7, 1959 and hopes it is possible to introduce her to...

Scope and Contents: Copy of typescript letter with handwritten initials from Alden Hopkins to John Thacher sends the blackline print, #96-08, dated May 15, 1959 showing the proposed scheme for the projecting seat at the north side of the Ellipse. Hopkins believes the best approach is to erect a dummy so that it can be viewed by both Mildred Bliss and the Garden Advisory Committee members at their first meeting in the Fall. Alden Hopkins suggests that the Ellipse remain as is through the summer to see its...

Scope and Contents: Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Alden Hopkins to the members of the Dumbarton Oaks Garden Advisory Committee, Michael Rapuano, Robert Patterson, Bradford Williams, Leon Zach and the Dumbarton Oaks Director, John Thacher. He encloses two blackline prints covering the reconstruction of the Camellia Garden (96-03, revised 1-13-[19]59) and the completion of the new planting of the Ellipse (96-07, revised 1-15-[19]59). G. Morris Steinbraker & Son of Georgetown provided an...

Scope and Contents: Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Alden Hopkins to Mildred Bliss tells her he has received an estimate on the cost of the stonework and construction of the Lilac or Camellia Circle from Mr. [G. Morris] Steinbraker. He has gone over the requirements for this reconstruction on the ground with Mr. Steinbraker and pointed out that the wall cap must be the same as that toppingon the wall above the cutting garden. The work will be done in accordance to his drawing, #93-03 which was...

Scope and Contents: Typescript letter with handwritten signature by Alden Hopkins to Mildred Bliss tells her it was a pleasure meeting with her during his last visit to Dumbarton Oaks and going over the landscape of the Ellipse and it's planting and design problems. He is planning on being at Dumbarton Oaks on April 7. He has an appointment with Helen Van Pelt Wilson who is the author of numerous garden books and who wants to gather material for an article in Flower Grower Magazine on Dumbarton Oaks. He feels...

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Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Alden Hopkins to Mildred Bliss. He sends her a final report by W. Warren Edwards, Dumbarton Oaks Garden Scholarship recipient, outlining his recommendations and suggestions for the Garden Scholarship program. He is forwarding a copy of this report based on Michael Rapuano's request. Report is correspondence, F1:Hopkins 1957.08.20. Copies of the letter also sent to Michael Rapuano and John Thacher.

Scope and Contents: Typescript letter on letterhead with handwritten note and signature from Lanning Roper to Mildred Bliss discussing an enclosed article on the Dumbarton Oaks Garden. He suggests that new black and white photographs be taken of the garden to be used with the article and suggests a photographer at Williamsburg that Alden Hopkins may arrange or the photographer at Longwood Gardens [Pennsylvania]. He lists suggested photographs in the garden.The article will be published in a Royal...

Scope and Contents: Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Virginia Lewis, faculty at the Henry Clay Frick Fine Arts Department, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Marvin C. Ross at Dumbarton Oaks informing him that Walter [Walter Read Hovey], head of the Fine Arts Department is in Sante Fe, [New Mexico] and will be back about October 25th. His plans after that, so far as she can gather, are to be in Pittsburgh for two weeks then go to London. She thinks he still wants to travel, but is not...

Scope and Contents:

Correspondence sent or received by Mildred Bliss for individuals with the last name of Hopkins to Q.