Object Details
Former owner
Berwind, Julia
Berwind, Edward J.
Architect
Trumbauer, Horace
Landscape architect
Trumbauer, Horace
Collection Compiler
Weller, Eleanor
Collection Citation
Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, Eleanor Weller Reade collection.
sova.aag.ecw_ref5666
General
Correspondence written on verso. Handwritten date indicates August 1914. Postcard published by The Rhode Island News Company, Providence, R.I. // Excelsior, Leipzig, Dresden, Berlin.
The Berwind's summer residence was built in 1901. Horace Trumbauer modelled it after the Chateau d'Asnieres near Paris. The landscape architect, Jacques Greber of Paris designed the grounds. The garden contained statues, fountains, marble gazebos that lined the walkways to the garden, terraces and balustrade stone stables. The Elms was sold in 1962 to a real estate developer, a nephew of Miss Berwind, planned to subdivide the land. After a decline in the real estate market, the Newport Preservation Society purchased it for public display. The contents of the mansion of the mansion were sold at auction and at prices that the Newport Preservation Society could not match.
Place
The Elms (Newport, Rhode Island)
United States of America -- Rhode Island -- Newport County -- Newport
Topic
Gardens -- Rhode Island -- Newport
Former owner
Berwind, Julia
Berwind, Edward J.
Architect
Trumbauer, Horace
Landscape architect
Trumbauer, Horace
See more items in
Eleanor Weller collection
Eleanor Weller collection / Postcards / United States / ECW050: Rhode Island
Biographical / Historical
It is likely that Julian Abele (1881-1950), one of the first prominent African American architects of the early twentieth century, should be credited for his design work on this project. Abele started working for Horace Trumbauer's all-white firm around 1902 after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania School of Architecture. Abele was sent by Trumbauer to study in Paris at one of the most prestigious art schools, the École, until 1906. He returned to work as the assistant to the firm's chief designer but was quickly promoted to chief designer in 1909. Between 1909 and Trumbauer's death in 1938, Abele worked on dozens, if not hundreds, of projects for the firm, predominately uncredited. Though it was custom at the time to attribute architectural designs to the head of the firm instead of the individual designers, it is notable that an early pioneering African American architect likely contributed to this project.
Extent
2 Lantern slides
Date
August 1914
Archival Repository
Archives of American Gardens
Identifier
AAG.ECW, Item ECW050047
Type
Archival materials
Lantern slides
Photographic postcards
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.
Bibliography
Garden has been featured in Phelps, Harriet Jackson. Newport in Flower. Newport, RI: Preservation Society of Newport County, 1979, p. 143-147. Garden has been featured in Griswold, Mac and Weller, Eleanor. Golden Age of American Gardens. N. Y., N. Y.: Harry N. Abrams, Inc. in association with the Garden Club of America, 1991, p. 30.
Genre/Form
Photographic postcards
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.
AAG.ECW_ref5666
Large EAD
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/kb6ad302715-d74f-467a-b242-6688a8a454a4
AAG.ECW
AAG
Record ID
ebl-1759780200629-1759780228163-2