Scope and Contents: Exchange of letters regarding the provenance of the Gainsborough portrait by Mrs. Jordan owned by Robert and Mildred Bliss. The inquiry from Frances S. Fink resulted in a memorandum from John Thacher to Robert and Mildred Bliss. Mildred writes Miss Sally Fairchild, whose mother sold the sketch to Mildred Bliss's father, Demas Barnes if she remembered any provenance information. Mildred Bliss asks Sally Fairchild to respond to Frances S. Fink as the women both live in Boston. Copy...

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: Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Alberta S. Carpenter, secretary to Mildred Bliss offers her an satisfactory update on the health conditions of Annie and Mosser and their learning how to walk with crutches. Both are grateful for Mildred Bliss's generosity. John Thacher has returned to Dumbarton Oaks to prepare for the academic year. Sirarpie Der Nessessian and Professor Vasiliev arrive soon. A newspaper clipping on Dr. Kindler recommended by John Thacher was included with...

Scope and Contents: Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Albert S. Carpenter, secretary at Dumbarton Oaks and Mildred Bliss thanks her for the telephone message. Carpenter had also received a message from Ethel Burnet Clark about Mildred Bliss's visit with Annie. She reports on the health status of Annie who will have her foot removed and afterward be cared for my her nephew. Annie's status at Dumbarton Oaks will not change until John Thacher decides upon his return. Mosser is going to the hospital...

Scope and Contents: Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Beatrix Farrand to John Thacher discusses Beatrix Farrand's upcoming trip to Dumbarton Oaks. She ponders an invitation to stay at Dumbarton Oaks while in Washington, D.C. She mentions John Thacher's planned trip to California acknowledging receipt of his telegram regarding the trip's dates in the postscript. Sketch of the lanterns in the Service Court (LA-GD-E-2-11A) was originally included with the letter. She reports that Mildred Bliss is...

Scope and Contents: Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Beatrix Farrand to Paul Sachs discusses Farrand's continued employment at Dumbarton Oaks after the gift to Harvard, including a numbered list of unfinished garden projects requested by Mildred Bliss. Handwritten notation in pencil on first page, "Jack. So as not to cross lines with you, please draft an answer for me. p." Implies Paul J. Sach's copy of Beatrix Farrand's letter was forwarded to John Thacher and he asks Thacher to draft a...

Scope and Contents: Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Beatrix Farrand to Paul Sachs discusses Beatrix Farrand's continued involvement in Dumbarton Oaks Gardens after the transfer of Dumbarton Oaks to Harvard University. Beatrix specifically mentions the [Dumbarton Oaks] Administrative Committee formed by Harvard for Dumbarton Oaks and is seemingly pleased with its composition to encompass all of Dumbarton Oaks' activities. Beatrix is interested in meeting with John Thacher when she travels...

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Handwritten letter from Beatrix Farrand to John Thacher declines an invitation to listen to lectures by Henri Focillon, Senior Research Fellow at Dumbarton Oaks and asks John Thacher to convey her regrets. She ends the letter with a report of a telephone conversation with Mr. and Mrs. Bliss, and mentions Mr. Bliss' slow recovery from a cold.

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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.

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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.

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Typescript letter from Beatrix Farrand to John Thacher tells him she is sending the agenda for the upcoming meeting with Robert and Mildred Bliss. Copies of the letter are also being sent to G. Frederick Coles, James Bryce, and Anne Sweeney. She is looking forward to the visit.

Scope and Contents: Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Beatrix Farrand to John Thacher thanks him for his hospitality during her visit to Dumbarton Oaks. She will be meeting with Ruth Havey and review what she discussed with him. She asks about the flower bulbs for the National Gallery [of Art], so they are not paying last minute prices and getting poor quality. Miss Snow reports the Blisses are on their way back to Dumbarton Oaks. Robert and Mildred Bliss will be attending another meeting of the...

Scope and Contents: Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Beatrix Farrand to John Thacher acknowledges the receipt of a check for her professional services. She is happy that he had a short holiday and conversation with Lewis Delafield. She discusses his entrance into the Naval Reserves; the damage of the Dumbarton Oaks grounds due to concerts; the oak that died on the South Lawn; lack of decision from the National Gallery [of Art] about flower bulbs; her visit to Dumbarton Oaks in September; and...

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Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Beatrix Farrand to John Thacher tells him she sent James Bryce and the bulb dealer an air mail letter about the National Gallery [of Art] not needing flower bulbs. Farrand wants to know from Bryce what plant needs the Blisses will have next winter and what will be the financial arrangement buying and growing them. Farrand is not mourning over the departed red oak tree as she never liked it.

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Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Beatrix Farrand to John Thacher thanks him for giving the all clear to order plants for Robert and Mildred Bliss. She wonders if the brookside has submerged in mud due to all the rain. She feels he has been a "wise young judge" as executive officer of Dumbarton Oaks.

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Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Beatrix Farrand to John Thacher shares telegram response from Robert and Mildred Bliss about the museum and historic tablets. She is writing Ruth Havey to share their response and schedule a time to discuss it further at Reef Point.

Scope and Contents: Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Beatrix Farrand to John Thacher tells him of her travel plans to Dumbarton Oaks, and asks if it is convenient for her to stay in the "sky apartment". She thinks it might be sensible to ask Ruth Havey to come to Washington and will ask if James Bryce and his wife can offer her a room. The agenda for the visit will include further designing North Vista and the Herbaceous Border walls. She thinks Robert and Mildred Bliss will need to address the...

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...

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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 discusses her review of the 1940 and 1941-42 budgets for Dumbarton Oaks and wonders if some maintenance costs have been left off. She promises to send a typed and revised report to John Thacher. Handwritten postscript tells Thacher that a letter to the Park Committee members has been sent to Robert Woods Bliss. Written on Beatrix Farrand letterhead with 1650 Orlando Road, San Marino, California address...

Scope and Contents: Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Beatrix Farrand to John Thacher suggests signs of "private garden" rather than "no admittance" be used for areas of the Dumbarton Oaks that the public is prohibted to go. She asks if there is any news on the health of Barbara Session and discusses her compensation from Dumbarton Oaks. She reports a letter from Lawrence Morris arrived, and asks if there is any further developments for Robert and Mildred Bliss. She is writing the Blisses about...

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Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Beatrix Farrand to John Thacher explains her half-yearly statements for the Beatrix Farrand, Agent accounts for the period of January 1, 1941 to June 30, 1941. That account is for seeds and flowers for the Dumbarton Oaks garden. She also reviews what is covered under her professional services. She and Max Farrand will be in Boston for a week or more, but Isabelle Stover will know where she is.

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: Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Beatrix Farrand to John Thacher in response to his letter of August 4 (D:JT 1941.08.04) confirms financial details regarding Beatrix Farrand's Agent account and the contributions from Mildred Bliss, Beatrix Farrand, savings form James Bryce's garden budget, and Dumbarton Oaks as coverage for Anne Sweeney's salary. Beatrix Farrand suggests that the ill health of her husband, Max Farrand, could delay a planned visit from Anne Sweeney to Bar...