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Typescript article written by Marvin C. Ross titled, "Two Gem Carvings of the IV Century A.D. and two photographs published under Archaeological Notes in the American Journal of Archaeology, 61, 1957, pages 173-174 and plate 67. Plate 67 includes Fig. 1, Intaglio of Constantine the Great, from a cast and Fig. 2 Chalcedony gem. Head of a youth, IV century, both in the Walters Art Gallery.

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Handwritten letter and black and white photograph from Lotus Robb Ross and Marvin C. Ross to Mildred and Robert Woods Bliss informing them that the ring shown in the photograph is an imperial marriage ring in gold and niello, Byzantine (Constantinople), late VI-VII Century, from the imperial workshop. The Ross's feel certain that the imperial couple on this ring want the Mother of God to extend her grace to Bliss's.

Scope and Contents: Handwritten letter from Marvin C. Ross to Mildred Bliss and Robert Woods Bliss reporting he is off. The Russians made two concessions for his travel, 1) he is allowed to travel alone and 2) he has been given 30 days instead of 25 and the possibility of an extension. He feels it is wonderful and he is so excited.On Wednesday [July 17, 1957?], Marvin will see The Hermitage, and he "owes all this to Dumbarton Oaks!"He tells them the book on enamels will be a distillation...

Scope and Contents: Handwritten letter on printed letterhead (Gostinitsa "Savoi", G. Moskva) from Marvin C. Ross to Mildred Bliss and Robert Woods Bliss reporting he arrived late at night in Moscow the day before last and yesterday spent time at the Pushkin Museum and the Historical Museum. He is seeing a few things and arranging others to be taken out of the cases on Monday and Tuesday morning. The afternoon was his first visit to the Kremlin as it was closed in 1939. He reports "startling treasures there",...

Scope and Contents: Handwritten letter from Marvin C. Ross to Mildred Bliss and Robert Woods Bliss reporting that they gave him a beautiful day yesterday. The Juritzky [Antonin Juritzy-Warberg] visit was one he had long wanted to make and proved to be better than he expected.Marvin hopes that "some day that the emperors globe with the [?] and the eagle's head from an imperial scepter will on day go into your collection. They are fine and terribly important items.""While looking at the...

Scope and Contents: Handwritten letter on stamped letterhead (Gostinitsa "Inturist", G. Tbilisi) from Marvin C. Ross to Mildred Bliss and Robert Woods Bliss telling them he wished that they could have been with him when after a four days struggle they opened the vault for me in Kiev. Such a treasure of beautiful objects, a diodem, necklaces, earrings, encolpia, etc. in gold, silver and enamel. He says they would have loved them as I did. Marvin was also startled to find two other pendants (enameled) like the...

Scope and Contents: Handwritten letter from Marvin C. Ross to Mildred Bliss reporting that her enamal of St. Demetrius is pure joy to him. He thinks it is one of the most beautiful things in the world! He tells Mildred that she and her husband, Robert Woods Bliss are conoiseurs and how wonderful of them to have brought such an exquisite thing to America. Mildred's ears must have been burning recently as so many fine things have been said about you and Dumbarton Oaks by visitors, Mary Churchill Humphrey from...

Scope and Contents: Handwritten letter from Marvin C. Ross to Mildred Bliss and Robert Woods Bliss telling them that his article on the bowl in serpentine carved with a figure of St. Demetrius, one of the finest treasures in San Marco, [Venice, Italy] has been published, and he wants them to have his first copy. He says he is pleased for the [Dumbarton Oaks] Collection that the new gold treasure is in it. "It is far more important than the Mersin treasure ... Dumbarton Oaks excels The Hermitage in this...

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Handwritten letter from Marvin C. Ross to Robert and Mildred Bliss telling them he is so excited to hear what they found in Switzerland and whether you were able to do anything with Juritsky. He reports that three days in London were important for the catalogue as well as the enamel and future plans.

Scope and Contents: Handwritten letter from Marvin C. Ross to Mildred Bliss and Robert Woods Bliss asking them if they meet any members of the Stoclet family and they ask about his Byzantine enamel book, please tell them it is a worthwhile project. Madam Feron-Stoclet has sent him a gift of photographs of the Byzantine enamels in her collection. He is in correspondence with Philippe Stoclet, who has three [enamels], all of them important. Marvin reports there is a third member of the family from whom there has...

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Handwritten letter from Marvin C. Ross to Mildred and Robert Bliss wishing them a "happy Dumbarton Oaks Founder's Day". He tells them they were very clever to buy the paste cameo of St. Theophano. He says that aside from being beautiful, it [cameo] helps to resolve an important question about the origin of such objects. He reports that he has found only one other bronze lamp similar to the one they gave to the Dumbarton Oaks Collection, and it is in the British Museum.

Scope and Contents: Handwritten letter from Marvin C. Ross to Mildred Bliss and Robert Woods Bliss telling them that Jack [John Thacher, Director of Dumbarton Oaks] has told him the perfectly wonderful news about the trip to Russia. He wanted to thank them in person but I am so excited about it that I could not trust myself to speak coherently. He thanks both of them "from the bottom of my heart."He says that finishing the work on Byzantine enamels will be the culmination of a life's ambition. The...

Scope and Contents: Handwritten letter from Marvin C. Ross to Mildred Bliss and Robert Woods Bliss to inform them of the latest developments on the eve of their departure. He reports the local tourist agency called him to say they had received a cable from Moscow, "sent letter June 22 concerning Ross." When the letter gets to him, he will know his fate. The last letter from the Hermitage took 16 days and the last letter the tourist agency got from Moscow took 28 days.If [Etienne] Coche de la Ferte...

Scope and Contents: Handwritten letter from Marvin C. Ross to Mildred Bliss and Robert Woods Bliss telling them it was a privilege to participate in their golden wedding anniversary. "We [Marvin and wife, Lotus?] thank you both very much. He wishes them many years in which to accomplish the things you want to do!He reports that he has completed the first draft of the monograph on Byzantine jewelry of the VII century and will give a short version of it at the Symposium. It will be about on hundred...

Scope and Contents: Typescript letter on professional letterhead from Marvin C. Ross to Robert Woods Bliss and Mildred Bliss telling them that he wanted to tell them something after his return from Europe and Istanbul, but only saw them for a brief moment. He says he was so impressed everywhere he went with the growing importance of Dumbarton Oaks. It was talked about by those he saw in the field of Byzantine studies, collectors, museum curators, govenment officials as well as research people of all kinds....

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Signed handwritten letter from Marvin Ross to Robert and Mildred Bliss thanks them for the charming Dumbarton Oaks Garden party. He says the next best thing was the Iris down by the brook. Letter undated, but probably created between 1950-1960 based on other correspondence between Marvin Ross and the Blisses.

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Correpondence including letters, picture postcards, photographs from Marvin C. Ross to Robert Woods Bliss and Mildred Bliss discussing Byzantine antiquities and cameos held in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection. The bulk of the correspondence is directed to Mildred Bliss. Also included is a newsclipping of Guggenheim awardees in which Marvin C. Ross is mentioned.

Scope and Contents: One postcard with handwritten message from Marvin C. Ross to Mildred Bliss with VIII Congresso Internazionale di Studi Bizantini, Palermo 3-10 Aprile 1951 written on front and "Rome" written in upper right on back. Marvin tells Mildred that the trip has been perfectly magnificent. The Congress at Palermo was successful and people loved your beautiful bracelets with the gems. Rome seems more fascinating than ever. He reports the new Madonna (IV-VII?) is very impressive indeed and the newly...

Scope and Contents: Six postcards sent from Marvin C. Ross to Robert Woods Bliss and Mildred Bliss discussing his travels to Georgia, Russia, Ukraine, and Czechoslovakia.Postcard #1 postmarked August 12, 1957: front side only addressed to Honorable Mr. and Mrs. Robert Woods Bliss, France, but sent on to Hotel Ambassador, Vienne, Autriche [Vienna, Austria]. Postcard sent on expedited by Morgan and Cie, incorporated, [Vend]ome 14, Place, Vendome, Paris (1er); par avion. Marvin used Russian stamps and...