Grosse Pointe -- FitzSimons Garden

Object Details

General: This two-thirds of an acre garden site was established in 1929 and was originally designed by Ellen Biddle Shipman. Over 70 years later, the garden (often called the Allington Garden after its original owners), still retains many of her original design elements, as well as some early plants and other material. The rear garden, surrounded by brick walls, creates an outdoor room characteristic of Shipman's designs. The central feature is a pair of perennial borders on either side of a brick walk, framed with a boxwood hedge. The current owners are actively restoring the garden and utilize plant material that was commonly used by Shipman in other gardens she designed for the same plant zone and climate.; Persons associated with the garden include: Ellen Biddle Shipman (landscape architect, 1930); Barry Burton (landscape restoration advisor, 1997-1998); Mr. and Mrs. Courtenay D. Allington (former owners, 1929-1939); Mr. and Mrs. William R. Clark (former owners, 1939-1951); and Mr. and Mrs. Hal H. Smith, Jr. (former owners, 1951-1986).

Former owner: Allington, Courtenay D., Mrs.; Allington, Courtenay D.; Clark, William R.; Clark, William R., Mrs.; Smith, Hal H., Jr.; Smith, Hal H., Jr., Mrs.
Landscape architect: Shipman, Ellen Biddle, 1869-1950
Landscape restoration advisor: Burton, Barry
Provenance: Garden Club of Michigan
Collection Creator: Garden Club of America

Place: FitzSimons Garden (Grosse Pointe, Michigan); United States of America -- Michigan -- Wayne County -- Grosse Pointe

Former owner: Allington, Courtenay D., Mrs.; Allington, Courtenay D.; Clark, William R.; Clark, William R., Mrs.; Smith, Hal H., Jr.; Smith, Hal H., Jr., Mrs.
Landscape architect: Shipman, Ellen Biddle, 1869-1950
Landscape restoration advisor: Burton, Barry
Provenance: Garden Club of Michigan

See more items in: The Garden Club of America collection; The Garden Club of America collection / Series 1: United States Gardens / Michigan

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.

Custodial History: The Garden Club of Michigan facilitated the submission of this garden's updated documentation in 2000.

Collection Citation: Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, The Garden Club of America collection.

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 is mentioned (as the Allington Garden) in Judith B. Tankard, The Gardens of Ellen Biddle Shipman (Sagaponeck, NY: Sagapress, Inc., 1996), p. 193.

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.

Related Materials: FitzSimons Garden related holdings consist of 2 folders (13 35 mm. slides; 4 glass lantern slides)