Letter from Helen Van Pelt Wilson, 65 Center Street, Westport, Connecticut to Mrs. Robert Woods Bliss, August 19 between 1933-1960 Digital
Scope and Contents
Handwritten letter from Helen Van Pelt Wilson to Mildred Bliss tells her she has already spent many happy contemplative hours in Mildred's gardens. Yet, Margaret Baillie who is advising Wilson on her garden tells her she has missed the outdoor theater, so that must be seen on Wilson's next visit. It is always fascinating to know the person behind the garden, the one whose personality it reflects. Wilson was grateful to have an opportunity to go over Mildred's garden with her. She used the list of English Gardens for bedtime reading a few nights, but it proved much too exciting, so she has returned to Henry James. Memories of Dumbarton [Oaks] keep returning, so Wilson has decided to "own" some of the gate ornaments, the row of willows beside the pool, the great gray-green species of plums? and all of the white garden. She always "owns" museum paintings and sculpture in this way, only a few from each place. She asks Mildred "Beautiful things belong to all of us who love them, don't you agree?"
Dates
- Creation: August 19 between 1933-1960
Creator
- Wilson, Helen Van Pelt, 1901-2003 (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
- Wilson, Helen Van Pelt, 1901-2003 (Correspondent, Person)
Subject
- Bliss, Mildred Barnes, 1879-1969 (Recipient, Person)
- Bailie, Margaret H. (Margaret Henderson), 1895-1976 (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