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Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Beatrix Farrand to John Thacher requests updates on ongoing garden projects such as removing Herb Garden beds, completing furniture for the Museum Courtyard, and inscribing the Forsythia gate. Enclosed was a carbon copy of the letter to Paul J. Sachs informing the Administrative Board of Dumbarton Oaks about the same ongoing projects. "Mr. Thacher" typed at the top of the first page of the carbon copy.

Scope and Contents: Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Beatrix Farrand to John Thacher details the dates of Beatrix Farrand's next planned trip to Dumbarton Oaks and topics she and John Thacher plan to discuss. Specifically, Mildred Bliss' wishes for the Orangery and the drawing room to be part of the discussion. She also plans to work with James Bryce and Anne Sweeney on the Catalogue House while Thacher is away on Harvard business. Beatrix Farrand discusses the health of Robert Bliss and Henri...

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...

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Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Beatrix Farrand to Paul Sachs in response to his letter (D:PJS 1941.02.20). Beatrix Farrand explains a delay in sending notes for their next meeting as her husband, Max Farrand, had recently retired. She suggests tentative dates for her next visit to Dumbarton Oaks. Heavily penciled "Jack" in the top left corner indicates that Paul Sachs may have wanted John Thacher to provide a response.

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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Typescript note with handwritten signature from Beatrix Farrand to Paul Sachs forwarding a letter Beatrix Farrand wrote to John Thacher (D:BF 1941.03.18) regarding her impending trip to Dumbarton Oaks. Includes penciled notes, "Jack," referring to John Thacher, and "Answer" indicating he wanted John Thacher to provide a response to Beatrix Farrand. Farrand's secretary may have signed letter on her behalf. A copy of the Farrand's letter to Thacher is included.

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Handwritten letter from Beatrix Farrand to Paul Sachs in response to his letter (D:PJS 1941.02.03) discusses Beatrix Farrand's continued work as a consultant for Dumbarton Oaks, specifically regarding payment, expenses, and the possibility of a trial period. She concludes with a promise to send notes to Paul Sachs and to John Thacher on subjects discussed during on an earlier trip to Dumbarton Oaks. "Jack" heavily penciled by hand in top right corner probably refers to John Thacher.

Scope and Contents: Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Beatrix Farrand to John Thacher requesting his review and comments on an attached report on the Dumbarton Oaks grounds policy. In the report, Beatrix Farrand provides her insight as to how Harvard University could adapt the Dumbarton Oaks gardens over time to better fit the institution's educational purposes. The report suggests the creation of a plant record book for Dumbarton Oaks [Beatrix Farrand's Plant Book for Dumbarton Oaks] to provide...

Scope and Contents: Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Beatrix Farrand to Paul Sachs accepts an invitation to offer a lecture at the Fogg Museum and the Harvard University School of Landscape Architecture. She suggests to Paul Sachs that one lecture could be on Elizabethan Gardens and another on "plantings at various Universities with regard to their part in the general education of students in proportion and fitness." She also offers a possible alternate lecture on "the Art of the Landscape...

Scope and Contents: Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Beatrix Farrand to Paul Sachs requesting his review and comments on an attached report on the Dumbarton Oaks grounds policy. In the report, Beatrix Farrand provides her insight as to how Harvard University could adapt the Dumbarton Oaks gardens over time to better fit the institution's educational purposes. The report suggests the creation of a plant record book for Dumbarton Oaks [Beatrix Farrand's Plant Book for Dumbarton Oaks] to provide...

Scope and Contents: Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Beatrix Farrand to John Thacher discusses it would be best to meet with Paul Sachs rather than write him. She is destroying the letter she was going to send him based on Thacher's recommendation. She also mentions the gardeners' salaries; the busyness of Mildred Bliss; lodging for Farrand's next trip to Dumbarton Oak;s and communication between Farrand and Anne Sweeney. A copy of a typescript letter from Beatrix Farrand to Paul J. Sachs is...

Scope and Contents: Typescript letter with typescript postscript and handwritten signature and postscript from Beatrix Farrand to John Thacher expresses her appreciation of their mutual dismay regarding the Harvard Administrative Board's failure to recognize the non-static nature of a garden and its need for constant maintenance. Beatrix Farrand shares her plans for spring and her next trip to Dumbarton Oaks. She addresses the need to spur Anne Sweeney forward on her botanic classes; discusses James Bryce and...

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Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Beatrix Farrand to John Thacher thanks him for offering to let her stay at Dumbarton Oaks during an upcoming visit to Washington, D.C., but as Paul Sachs and his wife will be in Washington during the same time, maybe he would like them to stay at Dumbarton Oaks instead. She assures him of a confirmed reservation at the Mayflower Hotel for mid-April, a potentially more convenient housing option for all.

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Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Beatrix Farrand to Paul J. Sachs offers condolences on the death of his son-in-law's death. Beatrix Farrand suggests a meeting in April 1942 to discuss Dumbarton Oaks garden matters. "Ans[w]er" penciled across the top of the letter and "Jack" in left-hand margin beside second paragraph, probably referring to John Thacher.

Scope and Contents: Copy of typescript letter from John Thacher to Beatrix Farrand discusses ongoing garden projects and suggests planting simplifications, especially in the vegetable gardens, greenhouses, and orangery. He refers to the Fountain Terrace as "the flower garden" on page 1. He mentions an upcoming lecture by Professor Doro Levi and the gardens opening for the Home for Incurables, but feels there will be plenty of time to meeting with Mildred Bliss and discuss Harvard [University's] problems between...

Scope and Contents: Copy of typescript letter from John Thacher to Beatrix Farrand answers her garden-related questions of March 8th (D:BF 1941.03.08) and responds to her letter of March 18th (D:BF 1941.03.18) regarding her impending trip to Dumbarton Oaks. John Thacher emphasizes his need to discuss matters in person with the Blisses and suggests he goes West to visit with them if their plans to travel East are not soon realized. He comments on Professor Focillon's health. He reports that Robert Woods Bliss...

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Copy of typescript letter from John Thacher to Beatrix Farrand thanks her for her letter of February 19 and assures her that she need not worry about visiting Dumbarton Oaks at the same time as Mr. and Mrs. Sachs since they prefer to share a room, leaving a spare room available for Farrand's use. He sends under separate cover a check for $100 for the Beatrix Farrand, Agent account.

Scope and Contents: Copy of typescript letter from John Thacher to Beatrix Farrand expresses relief that the Orangery question has been clarified and affirms that James Bryce has been given instructions not to make changes at present. He reassures her that unless an emergency should occur, there is no need for making any changes in plans regarding the gardens until they can meet and talk about the coming year. John Thacher reports that Paul Sachs is coming to Dumbarton Oaks which will give them an opportunity...

Scope and Contents: Copy of typescript letter from John Thacher to Beatrix Farrand thanks her for her January 29 letter and encloses her letter to Paul Sachs of the same date. He returns the letter with the suggestion that they wait until the three of them can meet. He expresses confidence that he, Beatrix Farrand, and the [Administrative] Board are in agreement regarding the gardens and therefore there is no need for anxiety. He hopes to be in Washington, D.C. in mid-April during Farrand's visit. John Thacher...

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Copy of typescript letter from John Thacher to Beatrix Farrand thanks her for sending a copy of her letter to Paul J. Sachs. He feels the new letter is suitable to send to Sachs. He offers a guest room at Dumbarton Oaks for Farrand to stay when she next comes to Washington, D.C.

Scope and Contents: Copy of typescript letter from John Thacher to Beatrix Farrand thanks her letter and receipted bill and her confidential letter of Easter Day. He is delighted that she approved the budget and reports that Paul J. Sachs has also done so. He discusses his contribution to the garden fund; Farrand's plans to visit Dumbarton Oaks; not wanting to put pressure on Mildred Bliss; Francis Baker, a tree man falling from a tree and needing surgery, a tree service taking over his work while he is in the...

Scope and Contents: The Dumbarton Oaks Garden Archives is a collection of over 6278 individual items of textual materials, drawings, and photographs that document the creation and development of the Dumbarton Oaks Garden, Washington, D.C. between 1920-1979. Robert Bliss and Mildred Barnes Bliss purchased the 53 acre property in 1920 known as "The Oaks" and later as Dumbarton Oaks, and within a year they hired Beatrix Farrand, a landscape gardener, to design a garden for the property that combined French,...

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Original and duplicate typescript letter with handwritten signature from Paul J. Sachs to Beatrix Farrand informs her of the Corporation of Harvard's appointment of an Administrative Committee [Dumbarton Oaks Administrative Committee] to administer Dumbarton Oaks' matters and expresses his desire that Beatrix Farrand continue to remain involved in the gardens. Paul J. Sachs wonders if she might meet with John Thacher either in Washington, D.C. or Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Paul J. Sachs to Beatrix Farrand states Dumbarton Oaks' need of her continued guidance and proposes an annual honorarium for her position as consultant landscape gardener starting January 1, 1941.

Scope and Contents: Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Paul J. Sachs to Beatrix Farrand responds to her February 9 letter (D:BF 1941.02.09) regarding her continued involvement in Dumbarton Oaks. Paul J. Sachs agrees to her preferred method of payment and has forwarded on information Beatrix Farrand provided regarding discounts when ordering plant material. He tells her John Thacher has told James Bryce he is to forward all garden orders through Beatrix Farrand to take advantage of the discounts...