Root, Irving C., 1891-1973

Scope and Contents:

Handsigned typescript expense report and receipt of payment for professional services, traveling expenses, and office expenses incurred by Beatrix Farrand for work performed for Harvard University (Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection) related to the Dumbarton Oaks Garden.

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.

Scope and Contents: Typescript letter with handwritten signature and enclosure from Irving Root, Superintendent, National Park Service, National Capital Parks to Beatrix Farrand tells her their engineering department is proposing a storm water sewer through the Dumbarton Oaks Park to handle the excess water run-off from Wisconsin Avenue and other adjacent property. An enclosure indicates that James Bryce had approved a similar solution to the problem earlier. He sends her the engineering proposal and asks her...

Scope and Contents:

Copy of typescript letter from Beatrix Farrand to Irving C. Root suggests dates for a meeting in November between John Thacher, Irving C. Root, and Beatrix Farrand about the Dumbarton Oaks Park. She is asking James Bryce to stake out a path over Clifton Hill.

Scope and Contents: Copy of typescript letter from Beatrix Farrand to Irving C. Root acknowledges the creation of a Dumbarton Oak Park Committee. She informs Mr. Root, a fellow member of the committee, of Mildred Bliss' desire that a walk-widening or path construction be done hand in hand with other committee members. The committee members are: 1 Bliss member, 1 Harvard member, 1 Farrand member, 1 Superintendent of the National Capital Parks (Irving Root), and a fifth member to be settled upon later. Beatrix...

Scope and Contents: Copy of typescript letter from Beatrix Farrand to Irving Root thanks him for sending the blueprint showing the proposed storm water drain to be placed through Dumbarton Oaks Park. Before giving her approval she wants to see it staked out. She plans to visit Dumbarton Oaks the end of September and asks if it is possible to review this with him, Donald Kline, or the engineer. She is asking James Bryce to review the blue prints with him. She feels the more serious damage to the Park property is...

Scope and Contents:

Typescript letter with handwritten signature by secretary for Beatrix Farrand to John Thacher send him a carbon copy of a letter being sent to Irving Root, National Park Service telling him to call a meeting of the Dumbarton Oaks Park Advisory Committee and have Donald Kline and Newton Drury attend if possible. This will be the first time one of the Blisses can be in attendence. Secretary likely Isabelle M. Stover.

Scope and Contents: Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Beatrix Farrand to John Thacher. Letter signed by Isabelle Stover, secretary on behalf of Farrand. Farrand tells Thacher that she will stay at Dumbarton Oaks during her visit and have Ruth Havey join them to discuss the historic and museum tablets, the North Vista and Herbaceous Border walls. She will thank James Bryce and his wife for providing a room for Havey. She agrees with the storm sewer pipe placement but has questions about how it...

Scope and Contents: Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Beatrix Farrand to John Thacher discusses her upcoming November 21-25, 1941 trip to Dumbarton Oaks. She reviews her planned schedule, such as who she will meet with, what they will discuss, and when these meetings will take place. She may go to Alexandria, Virginia to see some land belonging to Dorothy Straight Elmhirst's son, Michael Whitney Straight. Beatrix Farrand encloses copies of two letters she wrote to Newton B. Drury and to Irving...

Scope and Contents:

Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Beatrix Farrand to John Thacher asks the result of the meeting with the Dumbarton Oaks Park Committee Meeting and if any progress was made with Irving Root and Donald L. Kline. She inquires if Robert and Mildred Bliss will return to Washington, D.C. next winter and where they will live. She hopes the scheme for the historic tablet on R Street meets his approval and offers her opinion on it and the construction in the wall.

Scope and Contents: Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Beatrix Farrand to John Thacher discusses the Park Advisory Committeee; the White Haven Street entrance to the Park; widening and construction of paths in the Dumbarton Oaks Park; Beatrix Farrand's next planned trip to Dumbarton Oaks; request for the budget that applies to work Beatrix Farrand will do outdoors; and how to cover Anne Sweeney's salary. There is a penciled question mark besides a paragraph discussing Anne Sweeney's salary....

Scope and Contents:

Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Beatrix Farrand to John Thacher acknowledges the premature creation of a Dumbarton Oak Park Committee; thanks him for a copy of the Dumbarton Oaks Buildings and Grounds budget; requests a meeting with Irving Root about the Dumbarton Oaks Park donated property. Written on Beatrix Farrand letterhead with 1650 Orlando Road, San Marino, California address canceled with typescript 'x's.

Scope and Contents: Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Beatrix Farrand to John Thacher discusses the follow through on garden-related issues mentioned during the previous Dumbarton Oaks meeting between the two of them. They are waiting for the Committee to have the final say on the employment of previously-held gardeners and the garden guide, Anne Sweeney. Beatrix Farrand mentions Anne Sweeney's future position be official guide for the schoolchildren who visit the gardens. She ends the letter...

Scope and Contents: Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Beatrix Farrand to John Thacher discusses her letter of the previous day, sent before she had "properly digested" a letter from Ellis Russell that had enclosed a letter from John Thacher. Beatrix Farrand expresses support of the continued employment of previously-held gardeners, of Anne Sweeney, and all of the help. She mentions Mildred Bliss's desire of an Advisory Committee being formed so that she may maintain some control over the garden...

Scope and Contents:

Copy of typescript letter, unsigned, from Beatrix Farrand to Newton B. Drury discusses a possible November meeting between Beatrix Farrand and Newton B. Drury about the Dumbarton Oaks Park, specifically she wants to discuss constructing a path. She encloses a letter to Irving C. Root in which she asks Root to speak with John Thacher or James Bryce. She send her and Max Farrand's regards.

Scope and Contents:

Copy of typescript letter from Beatrix Farrand to Irving Root thanks him for telling her Donald L. Kline will meet with her on Dumbarton Oaks matters. Farrand regrets to have to reschedule their meeting to a later date. She reports disquieting news from John Thacher on the condition of the Dumbarton Oaks Park stream. Robert and Mildred Bliss will be happy to hear that an Advisory Committee is in the works.

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...

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...

Scope and Contents:

Copy of typescript letter from Beatrix Farrand to Newton Drury thanks him for his note and formal word of the organization of the Dumbarton Oaks Park [Advisory] Committee. She accepts the position title of "landscape architect." She hopes to visit Dumbarton Oaks in April and meet Mr. [Irving] Root and Mr. Kline.

Scope and Contents:

Typescript letter with handwritten signature from F.F. Gillen, Acting Superintendent to Beatrix Farrand tells her Irving Root is out of town, but he feels certain the postponement of the meeting with him and Donald Kline to a later date will be agreeable to both of them.

Scope and Contents:

Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Irving C. Root to Robert W. Bliss answers Robert Bliss' letter of June 24 (D:RB 1941.06.24) to Newton B. Drury acknowledging the creation of an advisory committee for Dumbarton Oaks Park. Irving Root states that the National Capital Parks Service agrees with the planned composition of the Dumbarton Oaks Park advisory committee and will arrange a time to choose a fifth committee member.

Scope and Contents: Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Irving Root to Beatrix Farrand invites her to a meeting that he has arranged with Donald L. Kline, landscape architect, for April 14 at 3 p.m. to discuss Dumbarton Oaks matters as she had suggested in her March 10 letter. He reports that the Advisory Committee for Dumbarton Oaks Park had been approved the previous year by the National Park Service upon the suggestion of Robert Woods Bliss, but that they had neglected to make formal...

Scope and Contents: Copy of typescript letter from John Thacher to Beatrix Farrand answers her letters of May 13 (D:BF 1941.05.13) and May 14 (D:BF 1941.05.14) regarding the formation and membership of a 5 person Dumbarton Oaks Park Committee. John Thacher also discusses the employment of previously-held gardeners, who would now be under the park's foreman and James Bryce. Anne Sweeney's future still appears to be undecided as John Thacher waits to see if Dumbarton can afford her salary. He says there is a lull...

Scope and Contents: Copy of typescript letter from John Thacher to Beatrix Farrand discusses her next visit to Dumbarton Oaks and answers Beatrix Farrand's questions put forth in her May 20 letter to him (D:BF 1941.05.20B), including where Dumbarton Oaks lies in relation to the original land deed, whether Anne Sweeney could be kept on as garden guide with the new, reduced budget, and which days they could meet while Beatrix Farrand is in town. Ethel Burnet Clark tells Thacher that the deed to Ninian Beall's...

Scope and Contents: Copy of typescript letter from John Thacher to Beatrix Farrand confirms the dates and times he can meet to discuss the Dumbarton Oaks Park. Newton Drury and Irving Root can meet with Beatrix Farrand on November 24 in the afternoon. He feels G. Frederick Coles is dawdling on work for the Green Garden. He has other questions which he will postpone for discussion when they meet. He is encouraged about the news of Max Farrand's health improving. Letter was sent with enclosed letters to Newton...