Letter from Beatrix Farrand. Reef Point, Bar Harbor, Maine to Mrs. Robert Woods Bliss, 1537 28th Street, Washington, D.C. and sketches, June 11, 1946 Digital
Scope and Contents
Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Beatrix Farrand to Mildred Bliss. Includes a copy of typescript discussion notes with handwritten additions in Mildred Bliss' hand. Beatrix reports that since her last visit two years ago much thinning of the garden is needed. It is true for the Orchard, the Star Garden, and hill plantations north of the Swimming Pool. Beatrix feels the ficus in the Orangery should be curtailed as the Orangery is no longer a space for tea parties, but a meeting ground for guests to the garden. She things fairly costly recosntruction work will have to be done, and widening of brick walks, and building a safe flight of stairs from the rose garden to the herbaceous border to provide a safe approach from one garden section to another. Enclosed is a copy of typescript notes from meetings with Robert Patterson's during his first visit to Dumbarton Oaks, May 27-29, 1946. Suggestions include paving areas around the garden; trimming, thinning, planting, and replacing plants; and planning a parking lot. Handwritten annotations appear to be added later in Mildred Bliss' hand. These same notes were sent by Beatrix Farrand to John Thacher on the same day D:BF 1946.06.11. Also included are 2 note-sized leafs with sketches on both sides with notes that appear to be in Mildred Bliss' hand. First drawing refers to the Goat Trail; second drawing perhaps to the Herbaceous Border; third drawing refers to Star Garden; and the fourth drawing perhaps refers to the Swimming Pool.
Dates
- Creation: June 11, 1946
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
- From the Sub-Group: Farrand, Beatrix, 1872-1959 (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