Kearney, Matthew, 1909-1973
Dates
- Existence: 1909 - 1973
Biography
Matthew Kearney was born in Ireland in 1909. After immigrating to the United States, he made a career for himself as a gardener. Robert and Mildred Bliss hired Kearney in 1930, when their estate was still known as The Oaks and later Dumbarton Oaks. He worked under first superintendent William Gray and then, beginning in 1937, James Bryce. Around 1940 when Dumbarton Oaks transitioned to Harvard University, Kearney left briefly to work for Gude’s Nursery in Rockville, MD. Kearney returned, and in 1948, he took over as Superintendent of Gardens. He remained in charge of the gardens until his death in 1973. He is honored with a memorial plaque under a lead canopy on the stair landing between the Rose Garden and Fountain Terrace.
Found in 34 Collections and/or Records:
Letter from Ruth M. Havey, Twenty-five Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. to Mrs. Robert Woods Bliss, Care of the Morgan Bank, Place Vendome, Paris, August 13, 1956 Digital
Typescript letter with handwritten signatures from Ruth Havey to Mildred Bliss tries to clarify the use of Doria for the south steps of the Arbor Terrace after receiving word from Matthew Kearney. She is trying to reach David? McLeish from McLeod and Romberg Stone Co. to cut down the stone order before shipping. Havey has DDT poisoning which she thinks is due to spraying for bugs on roses.
List of Dumbarton Oaks Garden projects, Summer 1964 - Winter 1965 Digital
List of Dumbarton Oaks garden projects created by Matthew Kearney or that Mildred Bliss intended for him to complete between 1964 and 1965. The projects were for the Pebble Garden, Rose Garden, Ellipse, Urn Terrace, Fellows' Quarters, Garden Library, Pre-Columbian Museum, Passageway to the Museum, Box Walk, Bowling Green, Faun in the Lovers' Lane Pool, Swimming Pool and Loggia, and the Orchard. An address for Mildred Bliss while she is in Athens, Greece is included.
Note with contact information for John R. Sebord, between 1948-1967 Digital
Handwritten note with contact information for John R. Sebord, 17 Dupont Circle. Added notation in Mildred Bliss's hand about buying boxwoood from Mrs. Mc Jeans's house. Note likely intended for Matthew Kearney.
Notes on plants and garden sketches, 1948-1967 Digital
Handwritten notes by Mildred Bliss of lists of Chrysanthemums and plants and two sketches, a garden plan and a fountain. Notes likely intended for Matthew Kearney.
Notes on projects for the Dumbarton Oaks, North Vista, Rose Garden, and R Street from Ruth M. Havey, approximately 1953-1956 Digital
Typescript notes with handwritten additions on garden projects for the Dumbarton Oaks North Vista new doria benches; estimate from McLeod Romberg Stone Co. for the Rose Garden steps, steps leading to a small terrace east of the Orangery, and step at east door of the Orangery; and alterations to the R Street gates by Lothar Freund.
Plants for Robert and Mildred Bliss's Q Street residence, between 1948-1967 Digital
Correspondence between Mildred Bliss and Matthew Kearney, the Superintendent of the Dumbarton Oaks Gardens and Grounds.
Postcard from Mrs. Robert Woods Bliss to Matthew Kearney, Dumbarton Oaks, Georgetown, Washington, D.C., August 12, 1957 Digital
Correspondence between Mildred Bliss and Matthew Kearney, the Superintendent of the Dumbarton Oaks Gardens and Grounds.
Postcard from Ruth M. Havey, 25 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. to Matthew Kearney, 1703 32nd Street, N.W., Georgetown, Washington 7, D.C., February 27, 1961 Digital
Handwritten postcard from Ruth Havey to Matthew Kearney sends him the contact person for the KEM agent for the Washington area to put in his files. The contact is James H. Hale Co., 2019 Longview Court, Baltimore 6, Maryland.
Telegram from Mildred Bliss, Baltimore, Maryland to Matthew Kearney, Dumbarton Oaks, Que and 32nd St., January 8, 1957 Digital
Correspondence between Mildred Bliss and Matthew Kearney, the Superintendent of the Dumbarton Oaks Gardens and Grounds.