Letter from Ruth M. Havey, Twenty-five Fifth Avenue, New York 3, N.Y. to Mrs. Robert Woods Bliss, Care of Ellis Russell, 67 Wall Street, New York, N.Y., August 4, 1949 Digital
Scope and Contents
Typescript handsigned letter from Ruth M. Havey to Mildred Bliss in care of Ellis Russell, secretary. Havey discusses sending a black folder that contains the August Agenda (accession number K:RH 1949.08.02) with notes on projects in various garden areas to be worked on. The projects include: Arbor Garden (Arbor Terrace) paving and wall panels, woven fabric design for the Founders’ Room, and Mr. Steinbraker’s plan for the Garden Center (Cool House) and his estimates for various pieces of work.
Havey offers her understanding that Mildred Bliss wishes she proceed on construction of the Melisande Steps; Finalities; Terror [Column and Enclosure] seat and asks if the estimates and the use of the pink Tennessee marble for the Finalities are acceptable. She encloses a sample. She reports that the preparation of working drawings and close supervision of construction during August, September, and October will take about 11 days a month and cost $560 per month. She is enclosing a bill for the July work and sending receipted bill for the June work to Ellis Russell.
Havey reports that Mr. Robert Patterson has written to ask if from time to time she might do some detail design work for Dumbarton Oaks in addition to work being done for Mildred Bliss. She says “Since you seem to want this very much I am inclined to try it and see whether some of the disadvantages of working at such a distance can be overcome. Mr. Patterson has in mind particularly the finials for the North Vista” which Havey drew up as dummied. Some adjustment is still needed to fit on the wall and pier.
Dates
- Creation: August 4, 1949
Creator
- Havey, Ruth M., 1899-1980 (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
- Havey, Ruth M., 1899-1980 (Correspondent, Person)
Subject
- Bliss, Mildred Barnes, 1879-1969 (Person)
- Russell, Ellis (Person)
- G. Morris Steinbraker & Sons, Inc. (Organization)
- Patterson, Robert W., 1905-1988 (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