National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of Joan Murray. Conservation made possible by a grant from the Smithsonian's Collections Care and Preservation Fund
United States of America -- Virginia -- Alexandria
Scope and Contents:
There are three 35 mm. slides depicting horticultural details which were not catalogued.
The folder includes a work sheet, site analysis map-1985, article copy and brochure.
Former Title:
Wellington
Walnut Tree Farm
Cliftons Neck
General:
River Farm was first called Piscataway Neck by Margaret and Captain Giles Brent in 1653. During William Clifton's ownership, the property was known as Cliftons Neck. George Washington bought the property in 1760 to lease. The largest track at this time was called "River Farm." Tobias Lear, a renter, had called the property Walnut Farm. In 1859, a century after Washington purchased the property from Clifton, Charles Augustine Washington sold 652 acres of River Farm to three Quaker brothers, Stacey, Isaac, and William Snowden of New Jersey in order to acquire lumber for the ship building. The Snowdens divided the acreage, then known as Wellington, into three sections. In 1866, 280 acres including the present-day River Farm were sold to three men known as "The Syndicate." A writer from The Washington Sunday Star visited the estate in 1904 and referred to it as "this broken and pathetic house." The Wellington property was subsequently purchased in 1912 by Miss Theresa Thompson, a member of a prominent local family. Miss Thompson made changes and improvements at Wellington, but is was for Malcolm Matheson, who bought the property in 1919, to transform it into the early-20th century country estate we know today. The American Horticultural Society purchased River Farm in 1973 and made it their headquarters. The Society maintains display and test gardens on the 27 acre site. The 1757 main house is furnished in period; and the gardens offer identified plants.
Persons associated with the property include: Captain Giles Brent (former owner, 1653); Giles Brent (former owner); George Brent (former owner); Cliftons of Chotank (former owners 1739); George Washington (former owner, 1760); Charles Augustine Washington (former owner); Stacey, Isaac, and William Snowden (former owners, 1859); "The Syndicate" (former owners, 1866); Miss Theresa Thompson (former owner, 1912); Malcolm Matheson (former owner, 1919); and the American Horticultural Society (owners, 1973-present).
Related Materials:
River Farm related holdings consist of 2 folders (3 glass lantern slides and 10 35 mm. slides)
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 -- Virginia -- Fairfax County -- Mount Vernon
Scope and Contents:
Folders include work sheets, a book, brochures, and copies of articles.
General:
The Washington title to Mount Vernon dates from the original land grant (known as Little Hunting Creek) of 1674 to John Washington. Augustine Washington acquired the property in 1726. The land was then deeded to his son, Lawrence, and renamed Mount Vernon in 1743. The title passed to George Washington, Lawrence's half brother, in 1761.
The house and gardens were repeatedly changed over the course of ownership. The rectangular upper garden was established in 1763 to mirror the garden to the south, which was laid out in 1760. The design followed popular European landscape trends. As design trends changed from the formal to naturalistic, so, too, did Mount Vernon change. The upper garden was expanded and changed in 1785 to a shield shape. The gardens became pleasure gardens as well as utilitarian. After the estate was bought by the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association, restoration attempts began to bring the estate back to the time of George Washington. The Museum is open to the public.
Persons associated with the property include: John Washington (former owner, 1674); Augustine Washington (former owner, 1726); Lawrence Washington (former owner, 1743); George Washington (former owner, 1761-1799); Bushrod Washington (former owner); John A. Washington, Jr. (former owner, ?-1858); and Mt. Vernon Ladies Association of the Union (owners, 1858-present).
Related Materials:
Mount Vernon related holdings consist of 1 folder (10 glass lantern slides and 33 35 mm. slides)
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.