Letter from Beatrix Farrand, Reef Point, Bar Harbor, Maine to John Thacher, Dumbarton Oaks, 3101 R Street, Washington, 7, D.C., June 11, 1946 Digital
Scope and Contents
Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Beatrix Farrand to John Thacher tells him she is enclosing her notes of garden suggestions discussed with Robert Patterson on his first visit to Dumbarton Oaks and a copy of a letter sent to Mildred Bliss. Beatrix feels that the large box running north and south on the beech terrace be sold and replaced with the largest box available (6-8 inches high). The box could be offered to Mr. Thompson with the National Park Service. She reports Patterson is hoping to be in Washington on June 20-21 and trusts it will be convenient to him. Garden items on the notes include: paving in Green Garden; drastic pruning of the ficus creeper in the Orangery, so it is a decoration rather than an envelopement; safe and comfortable steps are needed between the north gate of the Rose Garden and the south entrance to the Herbaceous Border; thin wall plantings on the north face of the Dumbarton Oaks house, Tennis Court wall, plantations around the border of the East Lawn, and the Orchard; replacement of the two yew hedges on either side of the Herbaceous Border with a heavy border of deciduous and evergreen shrubs; construction of walls around the yews at either end of the Herbaceous Border; the wooden rail fence in the North Vista to be more thoroughly ccovered with evergreen creepers such as honeysuckle or ivy; the re-planting and re-studying of the planting in the North Vista; removal of the largest azaleas in the Star Garden and move it to the bank north of the swimming pool and replaced with smaller one; explore the parking of motor cars in another place on the grounds rather than the space in front of the south door of the house; and restrain the creepers in the Box Terrace to allow for viewing of the Rose Garden. The copy of a letter sent to Mildred Bliss reiterates some of the items on the suggestions discussed with Mr. Patterson notes.
Dates
- Creation: June 11, 1946
Creator
- Farrand, Beatrix, 1872-1959 (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
- Farrand, Beatrix, 1872-1959 (Correspondent, Person)
Subject
- Thacher, John, 1904-1982 (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