Scope and Contents:

Typescript excerpt of a letter sent from James Bryce to Mildred Bliss and Robert Woods Bliss reporting back to them on locating the nursery for the Eucryphia shrub for which they inquired about. It is about twenty miles from him. He describes the shrub to them and will write when he finds it.

The handwritten letter from which the excerpt is taken is I:Bryce 1959.10.08B.

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...

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 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:

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 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 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.

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...

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 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...

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Copy of typescript letter from Beatrix Farrand to Mildred Bliss tells her James Bryce is grateful to them and Dumbarton Oaks for the recent raise. She reports Max Farrand had an infection that was operated on in Boston, and he is feeling more comfortable. She asks if the Blisses are going West [to Santa Barbara] or whether Dumbarton Oaks work will keep them in Washington, D.C.

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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: Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Beatrix Farrand to John Thacher accompanies a gift copy of Beatrix Farrand's mother's book, "Lantern Slides." Beatrix Farrand reiterates topics mentioned in her earlier letter (D:BF 1941.12.13), such as the well-being of Robert and Mildred Bliss and her uncertainty about closing the greenhouses. She inquires whether the Bliss' contribution towards Anne Sweeney's salary had arrived and ends the letter by including a final copy of the "D.O."...

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Copy of typescript letter from Beatrix Farrand to James Bryce discusses big trumpet bulbs from Jan de Graaff (Oregon Bulb Farms) for the National Gallery of Art, Dumbarton Oaks Park negotiations, and Ruth Havey's visit which included a review of the design for the two tablet inscriptions

Scope and Contents: Copy of typescript letter from Beatrix Farrand to Mildred Bliss with responses to the following garden projects: Orion and Bootes chairs for the Star Garden, seat for the Lilac Circle, unicorn lady for Dumbarton Oak Park area, Forsythia arch in the Forsythia Dell, designing at Dumbarton Oaks, lantern in the Star Garden, the swinging seat in the Terrior Column and Enclosure, ironwork colors, William Gray's memorial, and the Music Room wall. She also responds to points on the the Memorandum...

Scope and Contents: Copy of typescript letter from Beatrix Farrand to "Fellow Gardener" [Mildred Bliss] tells her she looks forward to seeing her at Dumbarton Oaks when Mildred can get away from New York meetings, openings, and duties. Farrand is writing G. Frederick Coles about the Terrior seat roof, the cutting of the stone on the Music Room Terrace wall, the cutting of the stone on the William Gray memorial, the cutting of the Forsythia seats and to ask whether she or Coles is installing the Forsythia arch....

Scope and Contents: Copy of typescript letter from Beatrix Farrand to Mrs. Robert Woods Bliss (Mildred Bliss) expresses her thoughts on the death of William Gray and the loss to Dumbarton Oaks and his family. Beatrix reports that Ellis Russell has written that James Bryce has been given William Gray's head [gardener] position at Dumbarton. She discusses Mrs. Mudski (Mary Cadwalader Jones) her mother and lantern slides that Robert and Mildred enjoyed, and Elisina Tyler inheriting Sainte Claire [du Chateau] as...

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Copy of typescript letter from Beatrix Farrand to "Garden Twin" [Mildred Bliss] shares how nice it was to be with Mildred and Robert Bliss at Dumbarton Oaks. She offers her suggestion on wording of the Gardeners' memorial for William Gray. She has sent what the rose standards should be at Dumbarton Oaks and will meet with workers at Casa Dorinda and the Blaksley [Santa Barbara Botanic Garden] in a few days. While at Dumbarton Oaks, she and James Bryce accomplished some good work.

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 acknowledges receipt of his letter with enclosed budget which she copied and now returns to him. A telegram with congratulations went to him yesterday for having achieved an imposssibility. She reinforces that her emphasis on the protection of the grounds is because she considers Dumbarton Oaks as a unit in which the grounds play an important part. She expresses interest in the 1941-1942 yearly budget for...

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 handwritten signature from Beatrix Farrand to John Thacher recommends a prudent approach to new flower plantings given the uncertainty of the times. She quotes a portion of a letter from Paul J. Sachs from which she and Mildred Bliss got the impression that the Harvard University Board wishes Dumbarton Oaks to reduce outdoor work and plantings in the gardens. Beatrix Farrand hopes few changes will have to be made to the grounds and reinforces her opinion that the care...