Philbrook Museum of Art is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma at the former Waite Phillips estate. The museum housed in the Villa Philbrook, an Italianate mansion surrounded by of 25 acres of gardens. The estate was created for the wealthy oilman and philanthropist Waite Phillips (1883-1964) and his wife Genevieve Elliott Phillips (1887-1979) and their two children in 1926-1927. The gardens around the mansion were the result of a collaboration of the owners, the house's architect, and the firm of Hare & Hare, Landscape Architects & City Planners. To complement Delk's architectural designs, the garden design combined French, and English garden iconography with inspiration from Villa Lante, an Italian country estate by Giacomo Barozzi da Vignola in 1566. They followed Renaissance models with features such as formal gardens, cascading water feature, rock garden and pond terminated by a tempietto. The main emphasis was placed on the East Formal Garden, which was designed on axis with the villa's grand hall. The Italian preference for a predominately green palette was achieved with beds of English ivy, low hedges of Chinese privet, clipped spheres of bay or boxwood and tall red cedars chosen to mimic Italian cypress. Beyond the formal garden stretches a pastoral grove. Important to Genevie Philips was a scheme that featured plants native to the area. Specimens were collected from the native woods on the property, and used in along the flagstone walkways, in borders, and on slopes near house. Yuccas, cedars, dogwood, elder, and serviceberry were among the varieties incorporated into the Italianate design. Structures found throughout the gardens include the Tempietto, the Summer House built in 1933, fountains in the East Formal Garden, the grotto, and a fireplace.
To design their home, the Philips commissioned a Kansas City architect, Edward Buehler Delk (1885–1956), as well as designing Villa Philmonte for their ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico, and the Philtower office building in downtown Tulsa. For Villa Philbrook, Delk interpreted the most fashionable styles of the day in his plans for the 72-room Italian Renaissance villa. It is situated high on the property, overlooking the gardens and to get the breezes in warmer months. The façade of the house is unpretentious with spare use of classical ornament. The house and grounds are linked by the addition of arches and windows, which frame views of the garden, as well as a loggia and terrace that overlooks the most formal of the gardens.
After only eleven years living at Philbrook, the Philips family donated the estate to the community to become Tulsa's first art museum. The house underwent major renovations, and the landscape architecture firm, Hare and Hare, were brought back in to work on the conversion of the gardens from private to public. In 1939 the Philbrook Art Museum (later Philbrook Museum of Art) opened to the public. The gardens were briefly used as a botanical garden concerned with the development, preservation and exhibition of native species to Oklahoma and the Southwest. From 2002-2004, Howell & Vancuren designed another major garden renovation with the support of the Philips family. The Philips also gave Villa Philmonte and the Philmont Ranch to the Boy Scouts of America, and today both institutions continue to serve their communities.
Contributions to the construction of Villa Philbrook were made by multiple craftspeople and artists including George Gibbs, Oscar Bach, Bertram Segar, Cooper & Gentiluomo, Edward F. Caldwell & Co., and Jørgen Dreyer.
Persons associated include: Waite and Genevieve Phillips (former owner), Edward Buehler Delk (architect), S. Herbert Hare of Hare & Hare, Landscape Architects & City Planners (landscape architect), Howell & Vancuren (landscape architects), and Philbrook Museum of Art, Inc. (owner).
Postcard circa 1930-1950.
Varying Form:
Also known as Philbrook Art Museum and Philbrook Museum of Art.
Collection Restrictions:
Access to original images by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Collection Rights:
Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens.
Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, Richard Marchand historical postcard collection.
Sponsor:
A project to describe images in this finding aid in this collection received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care Initiative, administered by the National Collections Program.
United States of America -- Pennsylvania -- Berks County -- Reading
Villa St. Elizabeth (Reading, Pennsylvania)
General:
The Villa St. Elizabeth, Home for the Aged is located on the former estate of the wealthy textile baron and philanthropist, Gustav Oberlaender. Oberlaender together with the brothers Thun owned the Textile, Berkshire and Narrow Fabric Knitting Mills. The 8.6-acre estate was home to a 42,000 square-foot mansion in Wyomissing Park in Reading, Pennsylvania. The mansion was constructed with 1926 with ballroom, reception hall, library, and formal dining room used by Oberlaender to entertain heads of state and dignitaries from overseas. The mansion was surrounded by neatly manicured lawns and gardens framed by exotic trees imported from around the country. The grounds, with its tree-lined walkways, sprawling lawns, and bursts of colorful flowers created a peaceful park-like setting for the home. Today, the Villa St. Elizabeth is owned by Evergreen Elder Care, Inc. and serves as retirement community.
Persons associated include: Gustav Oberlaender (former owner) and Evergreen Elder Care, Inc. (owner).
Villa St. Elizabeth, Home for the Aged, Reading, Penna. 31
68739
Postcard circa 1915-1945.
Collection Restrictions:
Access to original images by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Collection Rights:
Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens.
Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, Richard Marchand historical postcard collection.
Sponsor:
A project to describe images in this finding aid in this collection received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care Initiative, administered by the National Collections Program.
1 Slide (glass lantern, black-and-white, 3 x 5 in.)
Type:
Archival materials
Slides
Place:
James Park (Madison New Jersey)
New Jersey -- Madison
United States of America -- New Jersey -- Morris County -- Madison
Date:
[1920?]
General note:
Trough located at the intersection of Main Street and Park Avenue. The park is still in existence, but the trough is no longer there. James Park was created on the property purchased by the local philanthropist D. Willis James. Mr. and Mrs. James bequeathed the park to Madison. The park was designed by landscape architect Warren H. Manning and dedicated on July 4, 1898.
Collection Restrictions:
Access to original images by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Collection Rights:
For information or study purposes only. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens.
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Domestic Life Search this
Creator:
Crimmins, John Daniel, 1844-1917 (contractor) Search this
Former owner:
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Domestic Life Search this
Extent:
1.8 Cubic feet (6 boxes
)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Programs
Menus
Admission tickets
Invitations
Announcements
Date:
1880-1919
Scope and Contents:
This collection is comprised primarily of menus. There are also programs, seating plans, invitations, announcements and admission cards from functions attended by John D. Crimmins. Some material bears autographs of other guests and/or rotations made by Mr. Crimmins. There are many items from civic, political, business, Roman Catholic and Irish American organizations.
Numerous programs or menus produced especially for each occasion by firms such as Dempsey and Carroll, Malcolm and Hayes and Tiffany are uniquely designed and decorated with photographs, embossing or water color paintings. There are a few menus printed on ribbons and one, from the Vulcan
Detinning Company, printed on metal. Included in the collection are three programs dated after Mr. Crimmins' death and one example of political humor.
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged alphabetically by host or sponsoring organization. Where no host is named or there are several hosts, the material is filed by the name of the guest of honor or the event.
Biographical / Historical:
John Daniel Crimmins, Senior, contractor and philanthropist, was born May 18, 1844 in New York City, of parents who earlier had immigrated from Ireland. After graduating from college he joined his father's contracting business, becoming a partner in 1864 and head of the firm in 1873. The firm was involved in the construction of public works, churches, hospitals and other projects and buildings. Mr. Crimmins belonged to and held office in many organizations civic, social, and philanthropic. He was an active member of the Democratic party and served as New York City Park Commissioner, Presidential elector, and member of the New York State Constitutional Convention. Presumably, he was an active member of the Tammany Hall group. A Roman Catholic, Mr. Crimmins worked for the church in a variety of
roles, from university trustee to waiter at a Christmas dinner for the poor. Through business contacts and affiliation with various organizations, Mr. Crimmins as guest or host attended numerous public and private functions, many of which involved well known figures of the time. John D. Crimmins died November 9, 1917.
SourcesWho Was Who in America. Volume I, 1897 1942 and The New York Times, November 9, 1317, page 13.
Provenance:
Immediate source of acquisition unknown.
Restrictions:
Collection is open for research.
Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Genre/Form:
Programs
Menus
Admission tickets
Invitations
Announcements
Citation:
John D. Crimmins Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Photographs collected by Marjorie Meriweather Post relating to NAtive Americans. They include images of Post's home at Camp Topridge, Geronimo, Buffalo Bill Cody, Native chiefs and US officials at Pine Ridge in 1891, and Princess Angeline, daughter of Chief Seattle. Additionally, there are lithographs of Caa-tou-see and Shin-Ga-Ba-Wossinis, and a B. Picart engraving of Native Americans circling a burial mound and a newspaper clipping ("Out of Human Skin") in a frame made from a squirrel pelt.
Biographical/Historical note:
Marjorie Meriweather Post (1887-1973) was a Washington, D.C., businesswoman, philanthropist, and collector of decorative art objects. Her father Charles W. Post was the owner of Postup Cereal Company, later General Foods Corporation. In 1973, Marjorie Post's philanthropy earned her the first ever James Smithson Society Medal, the Smithsonian Institution's highest benefactor award. After her death, Post willed her Hillwood estate to the Smithsonian along with her American Native American collection at Camp Topridge.
Local Call Number(s):
NAA Photo Lot 75-46
Location of Other Archival Materials:
The National Anthropological Archives holds the Marjorie Merriweather Post papers (MS 7278).
The Smithsonian Institution Archives holds the records of Post's Hillwood Estate, 1960-1976 (SIA RS00740).
Restrictions:
The collection is open for research.
Access to the collection requires an appointment.
Rights:
Contact the repository for terms of use.
Genre/Form:
Photographs
Lithographs
Engravings
Citation:
Photo lot 75-46, Marjorie Meriweather Post photograph collection, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Records include voluminous correspondence, much of it to or from W.P. Millington, Secretary of the Estate; with the Lehigh Valley Coal Company and Lehigh Valley Railroad Company; and with the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company. Also reports, including annual reports, reports by the Mining Engineer, and reports on visits by trustees; applications for permits; leases, including the lease for the City of Philadelphia as trustee under the will of Stephen Girard to Lehigh Valley Coal Company, 1884-1899; deeds; original agreements regarding the land, 1785 and 1793; licenses to mine coal; photographs, including photographs taken as part of surveys; blueprints; maps; patents; and daily journals for the years 1872, 1873, and 1879, kept by E.C. Wagner, Assistant Superintendent for the Girard Estate, detailing such things as inspections, meetings, etc.
Arrangement:
The collection is divied into six series.
Series 1: Girard Estate General Background Materials, 1794-1955
Series 2: Leases, Agreements and Deeds, 1794-1928
Series 3: Court Cases and Legal Materials, 1790-1928
Series 4: Reports, 1830-1964
Series 5: W. Parkes Millington's Files (Correspondence), 1830-1953
Series 6: Photographs, 1861-1913
Biographical / Historical:
In 1830, Stephen Girard, a merchant, financier, and philanthropist, purchased 67 tracts of land in Pennsylvania that had been held by trustees of the first Bank of the United States. A large portion of the land passed into the Girard Trusts, bequeathed by Girard to the city of Philadelphia. Beginning in 1862, leases for the mining of coal on these lands were granted by the Estate.
Related Materials:
Materials in the Archives Center
Lehigh Coal and Navigation Compamny Records (NMAH.AC.0071)
Lehigh Valley Coal Copmany Record (NMAH.AC.1106)
Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company Records (NMAH.AC.0282)
Provenance:
Collected for the Museum for the Division of Extractive Industries, now the Division of Work and Industry.
Restrictions:
Collection open for research on site by appointment. Unprotected photographs must be handled with gloves.
Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Access to original images by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for
appointment in writing. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American
Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Collection Rights:
Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens.
