Middlegate Japanese Gardens (Pass Christian, Mississippi)
United States of America -- Mississippi -- Harrison County -- Pass Christian
Scope and Contents:
This folder includes: photographs, correspondences, drawings, invoices, purchase orders, garden designs, newspaper articles, magazine articles, a thesis, and party invitations.
General:
Located on three acres in the town of Pass Christian, Mississippi is the site of Middlegate Japanese garden. Its original owners, Rudolph and Lynne Watkins Hecht were inspired by a 1924 trip to Japan and began cultivating their own Japanese-style garden upon their return. Middlegate was opened to the public in the mid-1930s. In addition to public visiting hours, the Hechts frequently held private family events and even hosted dignitaries from abroad in their sunken garden. Private family events included an annual Easter egg hunt, weddings, and 4th of July celebrations.
An azalea lined path at the entrance of the garden led to a Torri gate, revealing a Shinto temple and a jasmine covered arbor. A bamboo walk featured a fountain, two monumental Japanese stone lanterns, and Japanese sculpture. A small red, lacquered "wishing" bridge led to a blue-tiled tea house with a Buddha sitting on a lotus blossom elevated twenty feet in the air sittings opposite the bridge. A large sunken garden with a fountain, fronting a guesthouse included lotus blooms, shrubs and trees. Traditional Japanese garden features and furnishings included stone lanterns, a Torri gate, a Buddha shrine, a rickshaw, sculptures, bridges, and stone pagodas. Other garden features included gazebos, arbors, terraces, a guesthouse, two teahouses, and a bath house. Water features such as waterfalls, a swimming pool, lakes, fish and lily ponds, and reflecting pools were scattered throughout the grounds.
In August 1969, Middlegate Japanese garden suffered damage when Hurricane Camille struck the Gulf coast. In August 2005, Middlegate Japanese garden was extensively damaged by Hurricane Katrina.
The garden possessed a variety of trees, shrubs, and vines, both native and imported. Plantings included forsythia, boxwood, weeping willow, English ivy, white and yellow jasmine bushes, timber bamboo, giant bamboo, Japanese cherry trees, Japanese maple, Mediterranean fan palm, Japanese plum trees, magnolia trees, pine trees, peach trees, almond trees, pecan trees, live oaks, lotus blossoms, azaleas, and Camellia japonica.
Persons associated with the property include: Mrs. Lynn Boyd Watkins (former owner, 1911-1923); Mr. and Mrs. Rudolph S. Hecht (former owner, 1923-1961); Rathbone DeBuys (architect, 1920s-1930s), Obata Takumi (sculptor, 1735)
Related Materials:
Middlegate Japanese Gardens related holdings consist of 2 folders (2 35mm. slides (photographs) + 134 digital images)
Additonal documentation is located in the Billy Bourdin Historical Collection, Pass Christian Historical Society.
Collection Restrictions:
Access to original archival materials 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. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Topic:
Gardens -- Mississippi -- Pass Christian Search this
Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, The Garden Club of America collection.
Sponsor:
A project to describe images in this finding aid received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care Initiative, administered by the National Collections Program.
The papers of Leslie Judd Ahlander measure 1.0 linear feet and date from 1945 to 1986. The papers document Ahlander's career as an art critic and curator through correspondence regarding exhibitions at the Ringling Museum of Art, Sarasota, Florida, 1973-1974, and Ahlander's efforts to build a collection of Latin American art; material relating to the Washington Color School, including a typescript of a statement by Howard Mehring, press releases, clippings, catalogs, an annotated checklist of Morris Louis's second one-man show and other printed material mostly written by Ahlander; correspondence, photographs, copies of lectures and articles relating to Ahlander's position at the Pan American Union, the Corcoran Gallery of Art, as art critic for the Washington Post, and as free-lance writer.
Scope and Contents:
The papers of Leslie Judd Ahlander measure 1.0 linear feet and date from 1945 to 1986. The papers document Ahlander's career as an art critic and curator through correspondence regarding exhibitions at the Ringling Museum of Art, Sarasota, Florida, 1973-1974, and Ahlander's efforts to build a collection of Latin American art; material relating to the Washington Color School, including a typescript of a statement by Howard Mehring, press releases, clippings, catalogs, an annotated checklist of Morris Louis's second one-man show and other printed material mostly written by Ahlander; correspondence, photographs, copies of lectures and articles relating to Ahlander's position at the Pan American Union, the Corcoran Gallery of Art, as art critic for the Washington Post, and as free-lance writer.
Professional material consists of a curriculum vitae, general correspondence, lectures, drafts of articles on art, work with the Washington Post, some purchase orders and receipts, and two photographs of Ahlander.
Ringling Museum material consists of correspondence, grant applications, materials related to "Contemporary Religious Imagery in American Art" exhibition and the "Latin American Horizons: 1976" exhibition. Also included are clippings, exhibition announcements and catalogs, and press releases related to Ringling Museum exhibitions Ahlander curated. There is also a file of photographs, negatives, and transparencies of works in the Ringling Museum collection.
Printed material consists of published articles by Ahlander, newspaper and magazine clippings, exhibition annoucements and catalogs, and press releases. Also included are a series of bulletins from the Pan American Union.
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged into three series.
Series 1: Professional Activity Files, circa 1953-1980 (0.2 linear feet; Box 1)
Series 2: Ringling Museum, 1970-1977 (0.4 linear feet; Box 1)
Series 3: Printed Material, 1945-1986 (0.4 linear feet; Box 1)
Biographical / Historical:
Leslie Judd Ahlander (1915-2013) was an art critic and curator. Ahlander was born in New York City, and she completed her studies in art at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Ahlander worked on the visual arts programs for the Pan American Union, and she was a critic for the Washington Post. She also served as the Curator of Education at the Corcoran Gallery, and as the first Curator of Contemporary Art at the Ringling Museum in Sarasota, Florida. Ahlander died in 2013.
Provenance:
Donated 1979 and 1986 by Leslie Judd Ahlander.
Restrictions:
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C., Research Center. Contact Reference Services for more information.
Rights:
The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C., Research Center. Contact Reference Services for more information.
Collection Rights:
The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.
Collection Citation:
Leslie Judd Ahlander Papers, 1945-1986. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Professional material consists of a curriculum vitae, general correspondence, lectures, drafts of articles on art, work with the Washington Post, some purchase orders and receipts, and two photographs of Ahlander.
Collection Restrictions:
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C., Research Center. Contact Reference Services for more information.
Collection Rights:
The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.
Collection Citation:
Leslie Judd Ahlander Papers, 1945-1986. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Consignment invoices, sales ledgers, loan records, report of sales forms, and sales invoices make up the majority of this series. Note that sales invoice numbers are often referenced on other records in the collection. Other records in this series include appraisals, invoices for gallery expenses, purchase orders, quotes, receipt of artwork note cards, and shipping and consulate forms relating to artwork acquired from Europe.
Arrangement:
For alphabetized records, the material is typically arranged by artist or client name.
Collection Restrictions:
This collection is open for research. Access to original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center.
Collection Rights:
The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.
Collection Citation:
Weyhe Gallery records, 1921-2014. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
This collection is open for research. Access to original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center.
Collection Rights:
The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.
Collection Citation:
Weyhe Gallery records, 1921-2014. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Folders 5-7 Minnesota Art Collection -- Helsinki. 62-362. 1962. Not an exhibition? From Senator Hubert Humphreys' office. Catalog list and valuations; administrative material (purchase orders, shipping); floor plan; artist biographies; contact sheets o...
Container:
Box 73 of 287
Type:
Archival materials
Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 321, National Museum of American Art, Office of Program Support, Records
Folder 4 John Marin in Retrospect. 63-003. Initial showing: Sep. 15-Oct. 14, 1962, 1962 Berlin Festival, America House Berlin. Also shown Oct. 26-Nov. 21, 1962, America House Hamburg. Marked up catalogs, catalog list, reports, press clippings, some cor...
Container:
Box 74 of 287
Type:
Archival materials
Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 321, National Museum of American Art, Office of Program Support, Records
Folders 3-5 Recent Work by U.S. Printmakers (Contemporary Prints SAGA IAF). 63-014. 1961-65. Circulated in the Far East in lieu of 61-244. Part of First International Art Exhibition, Oct. 26-Nov. 18, 1962, Saigon, Vietnam. Final showing: Oct. 20-Nov. 1...
Container:
Box 76 of 287
Type:
Archival materials
Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 321, National Museum of American Art, Office of Program Support, Records
Folder 6 Recent Work by U.S. Printmakers (Contemporary Prints SAGA IAA). 63-015. 1962-65. Circulated in Africa, Jan. 1963- Jan. 1965. Initial showing: Feb.-March 1963, Tunis, Tunisia. Catalogs, catalog list and valuation, installation photographs from ...
Container:
Box 76 of 287
Type:
Archival materials
Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 321, National Museum of American Art, Office of Program Support, Records
Folders 2-5 Contemporary American Indian Paintings from the Margretta S. Dietrich Collection. 63-362. 1964-69. Circulated March 1964-Feb. 1966 in the Near East. Initial showing: Thessaloniki, Greece. Final showing: International Cultural Center, Jerusa...
Container:
Box 81 of 287
Type:
Archival materials
Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 321, National Museum of American Art, Office of Program Support, Records
Folders 1-12 XXXII Venice Biennial. Photographs of art work (Jim Dine, Jasper Johns, Morris Louis, Kenneth Noland, Claes Oldenburg, Robert Rauschenberg, Frank Stella); catalogs; catalog lists; correspondence; artist biographies; consulate building plan...
Container:
Box 85 of 287
Type:
Archival materials
Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 321, National Museum of American Art, Office of Program Support, Records
Folders 7-9 Albert Bloch -- Paintings and Drawings. 64-369. 1964-65. Circulated 1964-65, Germany and Austria. Initial showing: Nov. 20, 1964, Staedtische Galerie, Munich. Subject: Anna Francis Bloch, Dr. Michael Lazarus. Catalog and catalog list; corre...
Container:
Box 88 of 287
Type:
Archival materials
Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 321, National Museum of American Art, Office of Program Support, Records
Folder 2 Original U.S. Prints (F.Y. 1965). 65-207. 1964-65, 1968. For USIS posts: Manila, Kuala Lumpur, Phnom Penh. Correspondence, catalog list, shipping, purchase orders.
Container:
Box 90 of 287
Type:
Archival materials
Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 321, National Museum of American Art, Office of Program Support, Records
Folder 7 Original Prints (Contemporary Prints -- USA). 65-236. 1965. Prints for European USIS posts, including Yugoslavia. Catalog list and valuations, project proposal, shipping, purchase orders.
Container:
Box 91 of 287
Type:
Archival materials
Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 321, National Museum of American Art, Office of Program Support, Records
Folder 7 Decoration of PAO Residence -- Karachi. 65-281. 1963, 1965. Correspondence, purchase order, project proposal, reports. Also catalog list and loans regarding 63-378.
Container:
Box 93 of 287
Type:
Archival materials
Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 321, National Museum of American Art, Office of Program Support, Records
