United States of America – South Carolina – Aiken County – Aiken
Scope and Contents:
1 35mm slides (1942), 24 digital images (2023) and 2 file folders (one physical, one digital).
General:
Rose Hill was the estate of Sheffield and Claudia (nee Lea) Phelps. The 4.14 acre estate encompasses an entire city block at one of the highest points in Aiken, South Carolina. It was built as a winter retreat for the Phelps family of Teaneck, New Jersey on the site of an antebellum plantation that had burned. Aiken is situated in the western sand hills of South Carolina, a high sandy ridge situated across the midlands of the State. It is known for its sandy, rapidly draining soil and thus a lower annual humidity compared to other areas in South Carolina. The sandy soil also provides excellent footing for equestrian pursuits. Due to its favorable climate, Aiken became a health and sporting retreat in the late 1800s to early 1900s and thus a "Winter Colony" of wealthy Northerners was formed. Those that could afford a second home would build estates that were typical of the English Country aesthetic with pleasure grounds having both formal and woodland areas using native trees and shrubs as well as exotic ornamentals that looked as if they naturally belonged.
Mrs. Phelps designed her garden after the house was constructed in 1901. The front half of the property includes the home, the garden and a former tennis court; the back half was the working portion of the property with a large stable, dog kennel, carriage house and dependency cottages. Claudia Phelps was both a gardener and keen plant collector. She sourced plants from around the globe through familial connections, her travels abroad and through trade with fellow gardeners. Fruitlands Nursery in Augusta, Georgia, now the home of the Augusta National, was a local source for many of the plants at Rose Hill. Mrs. Phelps was a highly regarded Camellia japonica collector and Rose Hill has many old varieties that one does not typically see in the large retail garden centers. She produced a pamphlet on camellia cultivation and kept detailed lists of her collection. Her botanical book collection was donated to the Thomas Cooper Library of the University of South Carolina. Most notable in the collection were the rare books about camellias.
The garden demonstrates strong axes with hedges of cherry laurel and azaleas that line the garden paths. The pathways lead to water features and a summer tea cottage. Situated between the walkways are expanses of lawn that are dotted with ornamentals especially winter blooming plants like camellias and native azaleas. She made use of the iron cemented sandstone that is unique to the sand hills region. It is frequently found in old Aiken gardens. She used it to edge pathways and beds, to build seating areas, pediments, fountains, planters, and pond edging. The former tennis courts were converted by Mrs. Phelps first to a boxwood maze and then later to a lawn with a brick gazebo in the center. Legend recounts that the tennis court encouraged too much drinking and gambling so she converted the court into a garden area and placed a gazebo in the center.
In 1924, Mrs. Phelps invited 24 women to Rose Hill to form the Garden Club of Aiken, South Carolina's first garden club. In 1930, she would go on to help found the Garden Club of South Carolina and would be elected its first president and only lifetime president. She patterned many of the endeavors of the Garden Club of Aiken after those of the Garden Club of America.
The Rose Hill garden fell into considerable neglect in the late 1980s. Using garden notes from Mrs. Phelps' lead gardener, her great-granddaughter, Stephanie Wilds, was able to return the garden to much of its original layout. Today Rose Hill retains many relics that were described in the 1935 book, Carolina Gardens, by E.T.H. Shaffer. He remarks that Mrs. Phelps beautifully combines plants native to South Carolina, the Southeast and those from far off places. Mrs. Phelps died in 1955. Her daughter, Claudia Lea Phelps, also an active member of the Garden Club of Aiken and the Garden Club of South Carolina, lived at the property her entire life. She died in 1974. Rose Hill is a private property that has operated as an inn and events facility for the past twenty years.
Home movies of the garden are located in the Phelps sisters collection, The University of South Carolina University Libraries in Columbia, South Carolina.
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.
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.
United States of America -- Maryland -- Talbot County -- Easton
Marengo (Easton, Maryland)
Date:
[between 1920 and 1960]
General:
The slide was made from an original image in the Talbot County Historical Society's Hollyday Collection.
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.
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.
Collection consists of 183 35mm photographic slides that Dr. John M. Fogg took of a variety of arboreta, botanic gardens, plant nurseries, and other assorted gardens throughout the United States and Canada between 1955 and 1967.
Scope and Contents:
The collection comprises 183 35mm photographic slides taken by Dr. John M. Fogg between 1955 and 1967 documenting a variety of trips to botanic gardens, arboreta, and plant nurseries in the U.S. and Canada. Photographs also include trips taken by Fogg and other members of the American Association of Botanical Gardens and Arboreta (later the American Public Gardens Association).
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged into the following series and subseries:
Series 1: Garden images
Subseries 1: Gardens in the United States
Subseries 2: Foreign Gardens
Biographical Note:
Dr. John Milton Fogg Jr. (b.1898 - d.1982), a botanist, was a professor of botany for over sixty years at the University of Pennsylvania. He was the director of the Morris Arboretum at the University of Pennsylvania between 1954 and 1967. In 1941 Fogg was appointed Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and named Vice Provost of the University of Pennsylvania in 1944. His career in botany was prolific.
Throughout his career Fogg worked to survey the flora of Pennsylvania. He helped to establish a horticulture school at the Barnes Foundation in Merion, Pennsylvania where he served as its first botany instructor. In 1966, Dr. Fogg was appointed Director of the Arboretum of the Barnes Foundation. Fogg wrote and published dozens of books and articles about botany and plants throughout his career. Fogg died in 1982 at the age of 83.
Related Archival Materials:
Records relating to Dr. Fogg's professional career are located at the following repositories:
The John Milton Fogg Papers, 1931-1982 at the Barnes Foundation Archives in Merion, Pennsylvania, and the Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania records 1933-2013 at the Morris Arboretum Archives at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pensylvania.
Provenance:
This collection was donated to the Archives of American Gardens by the Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania in 2017.
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.
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.
Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, John M. Fogg Photographic Slides
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.
United States. Office of Naval Research Search this
Extent:
0.2 Cubic feet (1 slim letter document box)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Slides (35mm transparencies)
Date:
1947-1951
Summary:
Recognition slides were one of the methods used in the 1940s and 1950s to train service personnel in the identification of aircraft types, as well as ship types. This collection consists of 102 glass-mounted black and white 35 mm recognition training slides with related documents issued by the Office of Naval Research Special Devices Center in Port Washington, New York.
Scope and Contents:
This collection consists of 102 glass-mounted black and white 35 mm recognition training slides with related documents. The material was issued by the Office of Naval Research Special Devices Center in Port Washington, New York, as "Device 5-QQ-2a, November 1951 Slide Supplement, to Devices 5-QQ-1, and 5-QQ-2 Recognition Slide Kits." Included with the unused replacement slide set is a booklet of perforated gummed stickers and a form in the shape of a mailing card. The user was expected to remove each sticker from the booklet, wet the back of the sticker to activate the gummed adhesive, then place the sticker over the outdated image in the basic recognition training set's printed material. Instructions on the sticker booklet note that 'Slides having the prefix "x" are replacements for obsolete slides in the basic kits. Obsolete slides should be removed and destroyed.' Pages of gummed paper stickers in the booklet are separated by glassine pages; the gummed side of the stickers have adhered to the glassine. The last page of stickers is detached from the booklet and has become adhered to one side of the "Special Devices Maintenance Report" form; the two stickers originally at the right side of the page appear to have been torn off and were not received as part of the donation. While the contents are officially listed as "100 Recognition Slides" the collection was received with 102 slides; several slides are duplicates.
Arrangement:
Materials are grouped by format. Slides are arranged in numerical order.
Biographical / Historical:
In a combat situation, the ability to identify an aircraft quickly and accurately as friend or foe is of paramount importance. In World War I, national insignia were used for the first time to identify military aircraft used by the combatants. These insignia could be hard to spot when an aircraft in flight was seen silhouetted against a bright sky, so visual aircraft recognition training materials began to emphasize the shape of an aircraft as seen from different angles. The WEFT system, based on study of the shapes and locations of an aircraft's Wings, Engines, Fuselage, and Tail, was developed by the British just prior to and during World War II and made extensive use of three-view (bottom, front, side) silhouettes of aircraft. The WEFT system of recognition training was adopted by the US Navy and the US Army Air Corps in 1941. In 1942, a different approach to training was developed by Samuel Renshaw of Ohio State University; Renshaw's concept presented students with a brief "flash" view of an aircraft on a screen, forcing them to concentrate on the overall shape of the aircraft (whole image) rather than studying individual components (image analysis). Still picture film slides could be used both for initial identification training based on the WEFT system as well as for Renshaw-style "flash" viewing to improve recognition speed. Film slides created specifically for recognition training were typically produced with a printed cardboard frame identifying the subject of the slide sandwiched between thin glass sheets designed to both protect the film image from repeated handling and from the intense heat produced by the incandescent light sources used in slide projectors. The Office of Naval Research Special Devices Center in Port Washington, New York, produced several slide-based recognition training devices for the US military during the Cold War period following World War II.
Provenance:
Mark Kahn, gift, 2023, NASM.2023.0022
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access
Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests.
This collection consists of photographs of artist's concept color illustrations that appear to have been prepared for "Air Transportation 2076," an interactive exhibit or display in the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum's original Air Transportation gallery (opened July 1976) dealing with the different kinds of vehicles that might be used to transport people in the year 2076.
Scope and Contents:
The collection contains 47 color slides, 62 color 5 x 3.5 inch photographic prints, and 66 color 5 x 4 inch negatives; many of the slides, prints, and negatives are duplicates. The images show artist's concept illustrations of various types of hypothetical aircraft including a large amphibian aircraft that runs on nuclear power, an intercity transport, a personal electric fliver, an electric commuter jet, a transonic business jet, a hypersonic transport, a supersonic transport, a transonic transport, a flying wing, and a moon cruiseship with a ground to orbit shuttle. Not all of the negatives are represented as prints.
Arrangement:
Images are arranged in original order.
Biographical / Historical:
The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum's original Air Transportation gallery, opened July 1, 1976, in the museum's National Mall Building, explored themes of air transportation in the United States including commercial air travel, moving of mail, and government regulation of aviation. When it opened, the gallery included a number of components, including "Air Transportation 2076," an interactive exhibit or display imagining the different kinds of vehicles that might be used to transport people in the year 2076. The Air Transportation gallery was updated periodically throughout the 1980s and 1990s, and replaced in November 2007 by a new exhibition, America by Air.
Provenance:
NASM Collections, transfer, 2008, NASM.XXXX.0683
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access
Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests.
An old farm property comprised of a yellow farmhouse set within eight acres of brush, rocky outcrops, and mixed woodlands has been developed since 1961 into a garden worth visiting: open only once to more than 125 viewers. The garden is protected on three sides by stone walls as well as by the woodlands. There are sunny expanses of lawn beyond a one hundred foot long perennial bed planted with daylilies, ornamental grasses, globe thistles, liatris, catmint, rudbeckias, and other sun lovers. There are two smaller beds in sunny locations and shade gardens with rhododendrons underplanted with hellebores, hostas, corydalis, brunnera and Solomon's seal. A tall juniper hedge divides the upper lawn from a lower lawn that has two apple trees, a Chinese chestnut grown from seed, and a Japanese fantail willow.
The owner writes about the gardens she designs, plants and manages mostly on her own. Her latest book "Gardens to Go" describes her work with container gardening. She considers her rectilinear container garden to be a garden room that can be changed every year, including repainting the terrace furniture a different color, adding plant stands as well as new potted plants, and moving everything around until it's a pleasing experience.
Persons associated with the garden's design: Sydney Eddison.
Collection Restrictions:
Access to collection 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.
The collection, which dates from circa 1965 to 2006 and measures 5.67 linear feet, documents the built and natural environment of the Anacostia neighborhood, as well as the activities of the Anacostia Coordinating Council, which sponsored the Historic Anacostia Revitalization Project, a survey of all buildings in the Anacostia Historic District. The collection consists of slides, photographs, negatives, correspondence, newsletters, reports, printed material and ephemera.
Scope and Contents note:
The collection documents the built and natural environment of the Anacostia neighborhood, as well as the activities of the Anacostia Coordinating Council, between1965-2006. The collection is organized into two series: Slides and Project Files.
Slides: This series contains 1889, 35mm, mounted transparencies. The oldest images depict 1940 and 1950s Anacostia scenes, reproduced in slide format during the 1990s. The earliest slide is of Cafritz Hospital, it was created in 1965, with the latest slides having been created of various Anacostia scenes in 2006. This series documents both built and natural environments in the Anacostia Neighborhood through images of buildings, streets, landmarks, neighborhoods, people and special events.
Project files: This series contains correspondence, memoranda, statements, maps, newsletters, administrative documents, printed ephemera, photographs and negatives. Materials housed in this series place a particular emphasis on Anacostia planning. This includes research materials collated for a survey of buildings along Good Hope Road. This survey was undertaken by Prof. McGrath and his second year George Washington Students, and sponsored by the Anacostia Coordinating Council, whose activities also feature in the series. The material dates from 1984 until 1994 and has been housed into 29 folders, categorized as donated.
Arrangement note:
The materials have been arranged into two series, Slides and Project Files.
The slides were originally received in five metallic boxes labeled "A-E", one box labeled "Untitled", and nine small plastic boxes. The slides have been re-housed from these boxes into archival binders. The slides in each binder are arranged in their original order and preserve the following catagories as they appeared at the time of donation: "Streets", "Subjects", and "Miscellaneous".
The Project Files were originally received in one binder, this binder has been rehoused into 29 folders, categorized as donated.
Biographical/Historical note:
Dorn C. McGrath, Jr., FAICP, is Professor Emeritus of Urban and Regional Planning and Geography. He retired from the George Washington University in 2003 after serving on its faculty for 33 years. He was founder of the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Director of the Institute for Urban Development Research, Chairman of the Department of Geography and Regional Science, Professor of Urban and Regional Planning, and was one of the founders of the University's Graduate Program in Historic Preservation. Prof. McGrath also served as member of the adjunct faculty at the Johns Hopkins University, School for Advanced International Studies. From 1987-1996, he served as Chairman of the Committee of 100 on the Federal City.
Professpr McGrath became involved with Anacostia as a direct consequence of his long standing friendship with Mr. John Kinard. McGrath met Mr. Kinard at George Washington University. Mr. Kinard, who was involved in an ongoing effort to revitalize the Anacostia Community as Chairman of the Anacostia Coordinating Council and first director of the Anacostia Community Museum, encouraged McGrath to apply his planning expertise to the cause. Seeing this opportunity as a valuable way to assist both the community and a means to practically apply information he taught to students at George Washington University, McGrath worked with his students to undertake a survey of the area.
Related Archival Materials note:
Publications and articles authored by Prof McGrath are listed in Prof McGrath's Curriculum Vitae. A copy of this was supplied to the Anacostia Community Museum via email by Prof McGrath on the 27 August 2013. An audio interview was also conducted with Prof McGrath on the 13 August 2013. The audio and transcript pertaining to this interview are housed by the Anacostia Community Museum and are currently accessible on a shared drive.
Provenance:
The Dorn C. McGrath, Jr. slides and other material were donated to the Anacostia Community Museum in 2007 by Dorn C. McGrath, Jr.
Restrictions:
The collection is open for unrestricted research. Use requires an appointment.
Rights:
The Dorn C. McGrath, Jr. slides and other material are the physical property of the Anacostia Community Museum. Literary and copyright belong to the author/creator or their legal heirs and assigns. Rights to work produced during the normal course of Museum business resides with the Anacostia Community Museum. For further information, and to obtain permission to publish or reproduce, contact the Museum Archives.
The collection includes (1,305) 35mm color slides, (325) 35mm color negatives, (331) photographic prints, (3) DVDs and manuscript materials. The images were produced between circa 1970s and 1999 and most depict the Ndebele peoples of South Africa in their kraals (homesteads) making bricks, thatching roofs, and performing other daily activities; architecture, especially homes with painted murals, churches, and schools; and ornamental objects, including leg rings, neck rings, maces, Nyoga (Snake), Pepetu, Jocolo, Linaga, Nguba, Ghabi, Breast Plates, and Scotch. While the majority of the photos document the Ndebele, there are also images of Venda, Zulu, Xhosa, Swazi, Sotho, Tsonga/Shangaan and Tswana peoples. Ceremonies including the Domba Initiation Dance, a Zulu wedding, and a Swazi Reed Dance are also represented. The photos were primarily taken in South Africa, including in Mpumalanga, Limpopo Province, Delmas, Loskop, and Nebo. Some of the photographs were taken by Zamie Liknaitzky and Norman Priebatsch.
The collection's manuscript materials date from 1977 to 2011 and include exhibition announcements and catalogs, publications, including articles and clippings, correspondence, and research notes. Many of the photos in catalogues were taken by Berna Jersich. The collection also contains three DVDs, Dungamanzi: Stirring Waters, Tsonga and Shangaan Art from Southern Africa, and two that document the exhibition l'Afrique: A Tribute to Maria-Stein-Lessing and Leopold Spiegel (Museum Africa, 2009), which was curated by Knight.
Arrangement:
This collection is arranged according to format and is comprised of 5 series:
Series 1: Slides, circa 1977-circa 1983 (1305 items)
Series 2: Negatives, 1970-1999 (325 items)
Series 3: Photographic Prints, circa 1970s-circa 2000s (331 items, Boxes 1-2)
Series 4: DVDs, circa 2007-2009 (3 items, Box 2)
Series 5: Manuscript Materials, 1974-2011 (19 folders, Box 2)
Biographical / Historical:
Natalie Knight:
Art gallery owner, collector, curator, researcher, writer and art critic Natalie Knight was born in Johannesburg, South Africa and earned a Diploma of Law (1957) and Bachelor of Arts (1974) from the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (Wits). After practicing as a lawyer for a short time, she moved her professional focus to art. She founded the Natalie Knight Gallery in Hyde Park (1981-1995), with the opening show Whatever Happened to Pop Art? which featured works by Warhol, Dine, Hamilton and Hockney. In 2007, along with Nessa Leibhammer, Knight curated Dungamanzi/Stirring Waters (Tsonga and Shangaan Art from Southern Africa) at JAG 2007 and l'Afrique: A Tribute to Maria-Stein-Lessing and Leopold Spiegel at Museum Africa in 2009. From December 2008 through 2012, Knight served as Art Curator for the West Campus at Wits University. In 2013 Knight curated the exhibition We Love Mandela: Art Inspired by Madiba, which previewed at the Peacemaker's Museum in Sandton to celebrate Mandela's 95th birthday (July 18, 2013), and (in October 2013) at the South African Embassy in Trafalgar Square, London. In 2014, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award in the Arts and Culture section from CEO Magazines "Most Influential Women in Business and Government". In 2017 Knight published her Art-O-Biography, The Big Picture, which documents the major events of her professional career.
Suzanne Priebatsch:
A graduate of Smith College (B.A., 1971) and Harvard University (Masters in Theological Studies, 1974), Priebatsch has held such varying positions as volunteer teacher at Clarke School for the Deaf (1967-1971), Assistant Art Librarian at Yale University (Summer 1969), Director of the Hillel Program at Simmons College and Wheelock College (1972-1974), Education Programming and Public Relations Assistant at Johannesburg Art Gallery (1974-1975), Projects Officer at the Art Institute, South Africa (1975-1976), freelance writer, lecturer at University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, and Partner of the Economic Planning Group, Boston. She began an investment management career in 1986 and has worked at Smith Barney, now Morgan Stanley, for three decades. She is currently a Senior Vice President, with the title of Senior Investment Management Consultant, at Morgan Stanley.
Natalie Knight and Suzanne Priebatsch earned funding to research Ndebele art in South Africa from the Smithsonian Institution in 1976. Their collaboration produced an exhibition and audiovisual program, Designs of the Ndebele, for the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES), which toured the United States from 1979 to 1981. Additionally, Knight and Priebatsch have published numerous books and articles, including Ndebele Images (1983), which accompanied the exhibition at the Natalie Knight Gallery, Johannesburg, 1983, Art of the Ndebele: Evolution of a Cultural Identity (Atlanta International Museum, 1998), which was produced for the exhibition at Atlanta International Museum, 1998, and two articles in African Arts: "Traditional Ndebele Beadwork" (1978) and "Ndebele Figurative Art" (1979). Knight and Priebatsch have placed examples of Ndebele and Tsonga/Shangaan art and artifacts in major museums around the world.
Restrictions:
Use of original records requires an appointment. Contact Archives staff for more details.
Rights:
Permission to reproduce images from the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives must be obtained in advance. The collection is subject to all copyright laws.
Natalie Knight and Suzanne Priebatsch Collection, EEPA 2012-010, Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution
