Box E

Scope and Contents:

Handwritten letter from J. A. Stolbert to Dumbarton Oaks thanks the person who returned his little French hymnal which may have fallen from his coat pocket while visiting the Dumbarton Oaks gardens on a mildly warm day.

Scope and Contents: Signed handwritten letter from Elizabeth Peet, Dean of Houses, Gallaudet College, Kendall Green, to Robert and Mildred Bliss thanks them for giving the opportunity for the public to visit the Dumbarton Oaks Gardens. She states "I know the House for Incurables (The Home for the Incurables) will be materially benefitted by your kindness ...." This is probably referring to the opening of the garden to benefit the charity that day. The Blisses opened the Dumbarton Oaks Garden to the public to...

Scope and Contents:

Signed handwritten letter from Margaret Rathbone to Mildred Bliss thanks her for her good wishes and lovely stockings. Margaret Rathbone was a cataloger and librarian at Dumbarton Oaks, and she writes that she starts new work and will miss Dumbarton Oaks. She is sorry that she will not be at Dumbarton Oaks at the time of the Blisses golden wedding aniversary. She hopes she can still be considered as "one of the family" despite her departure.

Scope and Contents: Signed handwritten letter from "Spinster" to Mildred Bliss informing her she had heard through Sam Dushkin's mother-in-law that illness had marred Mildred Bliss' otherwise ideal trip. She hopes Mildred is now feeling better. She reports on her visit to the Dumbarton Oaks Garden seeing the beautiful Spring flowers, Magnolia tree in full bloom with a carpet of heavenly blue small flowers beneath it. She visited with a young architect and his wife who described the garden as "a symphony of...

Scope and Contents:

Signed handwritten letter from Marie L. Knapp to Mildred Bliss informing her that after spending one hour in the Dumbarton Oaks Garden, Washington, D.C. she felt refreshed in body and spirit. She tells Mildred Bliss that it is a wonderful thing that she and Mr. Robert Woods Bliss make the lovely place available for so many to enjoy. She sends her personal gratitute for the pleasure it give her.

Scope and Contents: Exchange of handsigned and copy of letters between Helen J. Massey, Ruth Farley Massey, and Mrs. Robert Woods Bliss's secretary on Mildred Bliss's behalf. In one letter, Massey as chairman of the Garden Club of Winchester and Clarke County asks if the club might visit the Dumbarton Oaks garden. Mildred Bliss's secretary responds saying Mildred Bliss is glad for the members of the club to visit Dumbarton Oaks. Helen [Judd] Massey [Aitken] sends her personal thanks for the Dumbarton Oaks...

Scope and Contents:

Signed handwritten letter from Jennie Scudder Murray to Mildred Bliss thanks her on behalf of the New Jersey Delegation of the Colonial Dames of America for the opportunity to visit the Dumbarton Oaks Garden, Washington, D.C.

Scope and Contents:

Signed handwritten letter to Mildred Bliss thanking her for the hospitality, kindness, house, and garden tour. Unable to decipher the signature of the writer. The correspondent wants to send Mildred Lawrence of Arabia's translaton of "Forest Giant" for its philsophy and book on trees and hopes Mildred Bliss admires Lawrence (Shaw) as much as he/she does.

Scope and Contents:

Signed handwritten letter from John [last name illegible], Washington, D.C. to Mildred Bliss asking permission to show the Dumbarton Oaks Garden to a visitor much interested in gardens.

Scope and Contents:

Signed handwritten letter in both English and French from [first name illegible] Waukowicz, Washington, D.C. to Mildred Bliss thanks her for the garden party in the Dumbarton Oaks Garden. The correspondent comments on the beauty of the garden.

Scope and Contents:

Signed handwritten letter from Katharine McKiever, Acting Secretary of the Washington Unit of the Women's Overseas League writing on behalf of the organization, to Mildred Bliss thanks her for the garden party and the privilege of the garden experience, and for being such as gracious hostess.

Scope and Contents:

Signed handwritten letter from an unknown person [name illegible] to Mildred Bliss expressing appreciation for meeting her, seeing her collection and garden at Dumbarton Oaks, Washington, D.C. The correspondence asks Mildred Bliss to let her know if she is interested in receiving a colored photograph of Barbarini's mosaic. A drawing of a stately building on the water (possibly in Venice) with this letter.

Scope and Contents:

Anonymously signed handwritten letter from unknown person possibly a Georgetown neighbor to Mildred Bliss thanks her for opening her garden to the public. She tells Mildred Bliss that she created such beauty, and it is generous of her to share such a wonderful thing. Letter marked as received October 28, 1940, a Monday. It was probably written October 27, 1940 as the letter is marked "Sunday" at the top of the first page.

Scope and Contents:

Signed handwritten letter [name illegible] to Mildred Bliss and Robert Woods Bliss. The letter accompanied two gifts for the Blisses. Quince preserves made from the fallen Quinces in the Dumbarton Oaks Garden and a book that was supposed to arrive for a Christmas gift to add to the Garden Library collection. The correspondent tells the Blisses of the therapeutic qualities of the quinces (Cydonia Vulgaris Persoon) according to the "Hortus Sanitatus".

Scope and Contents:

Signed handwritten letter from Helene Woodruff to Mildred Bliss regrets being unable to attend her luncheon following the outstanding symposium. She tells Mildred Bliss that the symposium was a notable example of what she sought to achieve at Dumbarton Oaks.

Scope and Contents:

Signed handwritten letter from Martha H.? [last name illegible] to Mildred Bliss offers thanks for letting her bring a friend on the tour of the Dumbarton Oaks Garden and for all the attention given to them by the Superintendent of the Garden and the gardeners. She tells her the garden is a beautiful place with much serenity and dignity and even after walking through it she still felt rested. She says the design and proportion of the garden rooms is "perfection."

Scope and Contents:

Signed handwritten letter from Elizabeth Curtis to Mildred Bliss thanks her for the tour of the Dumbarton Oaks Garden, but also Mildred Bliss' offer to help Mrs. Sheldon get back to England. Included with this correspondence is a calling card with a handwritten plea from Elizabeth Curtis to Mildred Bliss asking for her help. Letter dated November 13 probably written between 1937 and 1946 the year Elizabeth Curtis died.

Scope and Contents:

Picture postcard with signed handwritten note from Francis Dvornik to Robert Woods Bliss and Mildred Bliss thanking them for a recent enjoyable conversation with them. He informs them he is in Canada at a French retreat house (photo on postcard is of Villa Saint-Martin, Maison de Retraites Fermees per hommes, 9451 boulevard Gouin ouest, Pierrafonds, Quebec) and said mass for them and the success for Dumbarton Oaks.

Scope and Contents:

Newspaper clipping of the Georgetown Garden Club tour which included Dumbarton Oaks. Organizer of the tour was Mrs. Herbert (Ruth Stanley-Brown) Feis. The Dumbarton Oaks estate of Mildred and Robert Woods Bliss has 53 acres and 40 gardeners.

Scope and Contents:

Signed handwritten letter from Lucretia del Valle Grady to Mildred Bliss thanking her for a gracious Spring evening and delightful memory.

Scope and Contents:

Signed handwritten letter from J.D. Hatch, Jr. to Mildred Bliss thanking her for tea and a reception in her Dumbarton Oaks Garden, Washington, D.C. He says he has enjoyed wandering many gardens, but he has not seen one as offering such an intimate and personal spirit to it. It was the perfect setting for the event. He hopes to see her and Robert Woods Bliss in Boston.

Scope and Contents:

Signed handwritten letter from Mary Callaway Jones (Mrs. Frank F.) to Mildred Bliss tells her expresses her appreciation for sharing the Dumbarton Oaks Gardens, Washington, D.C. with her as a member of the Council of Colonial Dames.

Scope and Contents:

Signed handwritten letter by Josephine Poe January probably sent to Mildred Bliss following time spent at Dumbarton Oaks.

Scope and Contents:

Handwritten note written on Bessie J. Kibbey's personal calling card to Mildred Bliss thanks her for allowing she and Mrs. Bishop to visit the Dumbarton Oaks Garden, Washington, D.C. Calling card likely left for Mildred Bliss on the day of their visit to the garden.

Scope and Contents:

Signed handwritten letter from Bessie J. Kibbey to Mildred Bliss thanks her for allowing her the pleasure of spending time in the Dumbarton Oaks Garden with her friend Mrs. Bishop and her husband.