Letter from Marvin Ross, Tbilisi to Robert and Mildred Bliss, July 31, approximately 1957 Digital
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 one Bill [William] Tyler gave to your collection.
In Tbilisi, he saw two treasure rooms of gold and silver and enameled objects, Byzantine and Georgian gathered from all over Georgia. He never dreamed these things existed still except in fragments. He comments, the emperors in Constantinople sent gifts to the kings and gqueens who had them inserted in icons so that they have survived until today.
Marvin wishes they were with him.
Dates
- Creation: July 31, approximately 1957
Creator
- Ross, Marvin C. (Marvin Chauncey), 1904-1977 (Correspondent, Person)
Language of Materials
Materials chiefly in English with a few items in Greek, Latin, French, Italian, or Spanish.
Conditions Governing Access
An appointment is required for access to these papers. To request an appointment, fill out the online form: http://www.doaks.org/research/library-archives/access-and-hours/schedule-an-appointment.
For research queries, contact the staff of Image Collections and Fieldwork Archives (library@doaks.org).
Extent
23 boxes (Approximately 2632 items including correspondence, expense reports, invoices, estimates, deposit records, book lists, newspaper clippings, newsletters, and plant lists.)Creator
- Ross, Marvin C. (Marvin Chauncey), 1904-1977 (Correspondent, Person)
Subject
- Bliss, Mildred Barnes, 1879-1969 (Recipient, Person)
- Bliss, Robert Woods, 1875-1962 (Recipient, Person)
Repository Details
Part of the Dumbarton Oaks Repository
Dumbarton Oaks holds archival collections in its Rare Book Collection, Image Collections and Fieldwork Archives, and the Dumbarton Oaks Archives. The collections include: the papers of noteworthy scholars in the three fields that Dumbarton Oaks supports (Byzantine, Pre-Columbian, and Garden and Landscape); image collections depicting objects or sites of topical interest to scholars in the three fields; Beatrix Farrand’s personal archive of letters and original drawings that document the development of the Dumbarton Oaks Garden; and institutional records and architectural plans and drawings documenting the history of Dumbarton Oaks. For more information about hours and to make an appointment to consult any of the collections listed here, please fill out the request form: https://www.doaks.org/research/library-archives/schedule-an-appointment