Bliss, Mildred Barnes, 1879-1969

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Handwritten letters from Edna Johnston Strong to Mildred Bliss asks and then thanks her for allowing Strong and her guests to drive onto the Dumbarton Oaks property to see the gardens due to their physical disabilities and effects of influenza. A copy of a personal correspondence from Mildred Bliss to Strong tells her it was a pleasure to share Dumbarton Oaks with her.

Scope and Contents: Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Elwin J. Sasser to Mildred Bliss expresses his appreciation for having the opportunity to broaden his knowledge of landscape architecture and its influence in our daily lives through the award of the Garden Scholarship. He is to be employed by the National Park Service. He reports that the examples of landscape architecture design that he has observed and the phases of garden work in which he participated at Dumbarton Oaks will greatly...

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Requests sent to Dumbarton Oaks or Mildred or Robert Woods Bliss.

Scope and Contents: Correspondence to or from Mildred Bliss' secretary and Frederick R. Goff, Chief, Rare Books Division of the Library of Congress. Also includes an analysis of plates missing from the book, "Botanist's Repository" in the Library of Congress collection and Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs information and price list for the Historic American Building Survey collection, the Pictorial Archives of Early American Architecture collection, and the Architecture of the Deep South...

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Exchange of letters (typescript and handwritten) over two years between Genevieve L. Porter, Women's Auxiliary of All Souls Memorial Church and Mildred Bliss and her secretary asks for the permission to visit the garden on behalf of the Women's Auxililary members. Mrs. Bliss's secretary responds that Mrs. Bliss is sorry, but she can not open her gardens to Porter's organization. Mrs. Bliss tries to find out more information and about Genevieve Porter prior to her responses.

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Exchange of typescript letters (one a copy) between H. J. Whigham of Town and Country and Mildred Bliss and her secretary. Whigham asks if it might be possible to have Frances Johnston photograph the Bliss's home at Dumbarton Oaks. Mildred Bliss responds via her secretary that it is not possible because the home is not quite ready to be photographed, and when ready she has promised the opportunity to a friend of hers.

Scope and Contents: Exchange of letters between Hamilton V. Bryan and Mildred Bliss about the possibility of hosting Italian aviation officers in her home. Mildred Bliss regrets that she is unable to host any officers as her home is "not yet sufficiently settled to receive guests." In additional to Mildred Bliss, a copy of this request letter was sent to: Mrs. Mark L. Bristol; Mrs. Hayne Ellis; Mrs. William McCracken; Mrs. Randall Hagner; Mrs. Ralston Holmes; Mrs. John Caswell, Jr.; Mrs. Ernest Gunther; Mrs....

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Exchange of letters (handwritten and typescript) between Helen H. Greenlees and Mildred Bliss and her secretary. Greenlees asks if she can visit the Dumbarton Oaks Garden with her 20th Century Club Nature Section. Mildred Bliss approves the request through her secretary.

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...

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Exchange of letters between C. Isabel Denison to Dean Bernice Brown Cronkhite, Radcliffe College about a plan for the garden for the blind for Dumbarton Oaks sent by Denison on behalf of Mildred Bliss, and a pamphlet showing the proposed Quadrangle sent by Cronkhite to Mildred Bliss.

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...

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A handwritten letter from Jane Quinby, librarian to Rachel McMasters Miller Hunt (Mrs. Roy Arthur Hunt) to Mildred Bliss. Quinby asks if the titles of four books are in the the "Mrs. Bliss Collection." A copy of a typescript reply by Isabel Denison tells Quinby that the Perro title is the only one in the collection.

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...

Scope and Contents: Handwritten and typescript letters and notes between Mildred Bliss, Elsa A. Needham, her secretary, Charles C. Wall, Superintendent of Mt. Vernon and representatives of the Mt. Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union about the Blisses donation of the Parklyn's aquatint of Mt. Vernon. There are handwritten on notes by Mildred Bliss with contact informtion for Mrs. Hope K.H. Powel, Regent of the Mt. Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union; letters from Mrs. Hope K.H. Powel and Elizabeth H....

Scope and Contents: Exchange of handwritten and typescript letters between Philippa Temple (Mrs. T. Temple Hill) and Robert Woods Bliss and his secretary. Mrs. Temple asks if the gardens at Dumbarton Oaks could be opened to benefit the Student Loan Committee of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Distric of Columbia organization. Robert Woods Bliss's secretary responds on his behalf and tells Hill that Mr. and Mrs. Robert Woods Bliss have already granted permission for several formal days, so would be...

Scope and Contents: Exchange of typescript letters from Franklin L. Fisher, Chief of Illustrations, National Geographic Magazine and Mildred Bliss and Robert Woods Bliss and Gilbert Grosvenor, President of National Geographic Magazine and Robert Woods Bliss. Fisher asks permission for Howell Walker to photograph blossoms in the garden. Robert Woods Bliss responds by telling Grosvenor that permission is never given to photograph the Dumbarton Oaks gardens for pubication even though Walker produced a letter....

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Exchange of typescript letters (one is a copy) between Olivia Phelps Stokes and Mildred Bliss. Stokes asks if Mildred Bliss would allow the Dumbarton Oaks gardens to be open to benefit the Bryn Mawr Club of Washington to raise funds for the Fiftieth Anniversary Endowment Fund. Mildred Bliss responds that she is unable to grant permission for her because she has denied so many other charities the same request.

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Signed handwritten letter from Pauline B. Woodruff to Mildred Bliss thanking her for plants for the children's playground at Montrose Park, Washington, D.C. and for the generous gift to the little Garden Club. She also extends thanks from the Superintendent of the Playground Department of Montrose Park.

Scope and Contents: Exchange of typescript letters between Ralph W. Curtis of Agricultural Experiment Station at Cornell University and Robert and Mildred Bliss asks if he can bring a group of students to Dumbarton Oaks. A copy of the letter was sent to James Bryce, the Dumbarton Oaks Garden Superintendent in case the Blisses absence. The Blisses secretary offers an approved date. Curtis send a follow-on letter with a need to change the visit date offered by the Blisses, and the date change was approved. Alfred...

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Exchange of handwritten and typescript letters between Helen Richardson and Mrs. Henry Howard and Mildred Bliss and her secretary about opening up the Dumbarton Oaks garden to the Girls Scouts, Camp Council, May Flather to raise funds for the camp. After an exchange of letters, the Girls Scouts responded that they must forgo the pleasure of Dumbarton Oaks gardens.

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Typescript letter from Ross Wheat to Mildred Bliss asking for a partial payment for work done on the table. Since Mildred Bliss is in New York, Robert Woods Bliss responds saying he will send him a check.

Scope and Contents: Exchange of typescript letters between William H. Bond and Mildred Bliss suggests she contact Katherine McNamara, librarian of the Harvard Landscape Architecture Library as she is the best authority in the field. She published "Landscape Architecture : a classified bibliography" Cambridge, in 1934. He also recommends other publications, "Some references in the International Style of Landscape Design" 1938; "The Codman collection of books in landscape gardening" Boston Public Library, 1899;...

Scope and Contents: Correspondence and financial records like receipts and invoices between Mildred Bliss or her secretary and individuals and corporations whose last name or name begins with "R". Some correspondence involve the acquisition, purchase or bookbinding of books or library items. Individuals or corporations include: Riggs National Bank, Rodale Books Incorporated, Russian Orthodox Church (St. John the Baptist), Charles Ratton, Nicholas Rauch, S.J., T. Rogers &amp Company, Ltd., Ludwig...

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Requests sent by individuals to Dumbarton Oaks and Robert and Mildred Bliss. Six letters are copies of letters sent by Mildred Bliss or her secretary in response to requests. Two copies, one letter and one telegram, sent by Robert Woods Bliss or his secretary responding to individual requests.

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Handwritten and typescript letters, telephone messages, and a memorandum regarding a request for Western High School students to use the Dumbarton Oaks gardens for a Greek play. Miss Gardner, a teacher working with the students, Dr. Elmer S. Newton, Principal of Western High School; Francis B. Sayre, Assistant Secretary of State; and Dorothy Kingsford, the Blisses secretary along with Mildred and Robert Bliss are involved in the communications.