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Ellen Shipman Garden Photography Collection

Smithsonian Gardens

Object Details

General
About half of the negatives were originally housed in paper sleeves, most of which were labelled with the client name. The rest were in unlabelled boxes and account for most of the unidentified gardens in the collection. The lantern slides were housed in a slotted box with the title 'Harvard University' written on the inside of the cover. None of the photographic images were captioned or dated; the garden plans specify the client and location.
Landscape architect
Shipman, Ellen Biddle, 1869-1950
Topic
Gardens -- United States
Provenance
Taylor Belcher, III and Anthony W. Belcher donated the collection to the Archives of American Gardens in 2021.
Landscape architect
Shipman, Ellen Biddle, 1869-1950
See more items in
Ellen Shipman Garden Photography Collection
Sponsor
Cataloging of the Ellen Shipman Garden Photography Collection was made possible with support from the Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative Pool, administered by the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum.
Biographical / Historical
Ellen (Biddle) Shipman (1869-1950) was a pioneering landscape architect who designed hundreds of gardens throughout the United States from the late 1910s thoughout the 1940s. She was mentored by architect and landscape architect Charles A Platt and gained professional experience in his office. Shipman made a point of hiring women to work in her Manhattan office. Most of her commissions were for private clients, though she did design several public spaces including school campuses, library grounds, and memorials.
Extent
.48 Cubic feet (3 boxes, film negatives, glass plate negatives, glass lantern slides, and autochromes)
Date
circa 1903-1950
Archival Repository
Archives of American Gardens
Identifier
AAG.SHP
Type
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Citation
Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, Ellen Shipman garden photography collection.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged geographically by state, according to the location of the garden.
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.
Existence and Location of Copies
The Ellen McGowan Biddle Shipman papers, 1914-1946, Collection Number 1259 in the Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections at Cornell University Library include copies of some of the images in this collection.
Content Description
The Ellen Shipman Garden Photography Collection consists of (350) film and glass plate negatives, glass lantern slides, and autochromes that document over fifty gardens designed by landscape architect Ellen Shipman. The negatives copy photographs and plans from Shipman's office and are not the original 'masters.'
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
Cornell University Library's Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections includes the Ellen McGowan Biddle Shipman papers, 1914-1946, Collection Number 1259.
Related link
Record ID
ebl-1633519809253-1633519809257-0
Metadata Usage
CC0
GUID
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/kb60d1a7f1c-01f7-4ea5-b9b3-8ea2cf0bd775

In the Collection

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  • Unidentified Garden(s): Open field in front of house on the edge of a woodland.

  • Far Hills -- Ripplebrook Farm

  • Smith Garden: Flower garden with stone path leading to birdbath.

  • Ripplebrook Farm: Side of house and walled lawn.

  • Chatham Manor: Path, leading to garden gate, with double borders of flowers, lined with trees, and large pots.

  • Alger Garden: Patio with fountain in niche and potted plants.

  • Aetna Life and Casualty Insurance Company: Lawn with large trees around large brick building with elevated portico.

  • Overfields: House with flower garden terrace with brick walls and fountain.

  • Mattapoisett -- Bohemia Manor

  • Edgeroad: Path through flower beds leading to statue from tile patio.

  • Rose Terrace: Wall fountain with relief sculpture.

  • Unidentified Garden(s): Stone house with terrace on vast lawn.

  • Unidentified Garden(s): Lawn in front of clapboard house with screened patio.

  • Owl's Nest: Garden walk with stairs and urns.

  • Unidentified Garden(s): Three clapboard houses with melting snow on the ground.

  • Unidentified Garden(s): Dirt road leading into thick woodland.

  • Penwood: Pergola and flower garden.

  • Old Farm: Landscape architecture drawing of parterre.

  • Unidentified Garden(s): Tudor-style house and raised terrace with balustrade with steps leading to lawn space.

  • Windy Hill: House, lawn, and flower beds.

  • Grosse Pointe -- Edgeroad

  • Chatham Manor: Intersection of paths through parterre garden with wall and garden gate in rear.

  • Alger Garden: Landscape architecture drawing of gardens around residence.

  • Ripplebrook Farm: Stairs leading to house with potted plants.

  • Smith Garden: Flower garden with niche containing statue supporting birdbath.

  • Unidentified Garden(s): Brick walk with double flower and shrub border in front of clapboard house.

  • Topsfield: View of flower beds, terrace, and field surrounded by woods.

  • Aetna Life and Casualty Insurance Company: Rooftop garden with pergola covered in climbing plants.

  • Old Farm: Flower beds, arbor, and path in walled garden.

  • Mount Vernon: Landscape architecture drawing for the kitchen garden restoration.

  • Penwood: Parterre garden next to pergola with stone columns.

  • Grosse Pointe Farms -- Barbour Garden

  • Greenwich -- Mitchell Garden

  • Fynmere: Mountain view past hedge with statue.

  • Unidentified Location -- Unidentified Garden(s)

  • Unidentified Garden(s): Retaining wall with layered plantings of flowers, shrubs, and trees.

  • Penwood: Flagstone walk beside flower garden.

  • Rose Terrace: Box lawn with statues.

  • Chatham Manor: Ivy-covered house with large hedges in front separating lawn garden.

  • Mitchell Garden: Steps to lawn terrace.

  • Fynmere: Brick path through flower beds leading to breezeway of garden houses.

  • Ridgefield -- Rippowam

  • Clapp Garden: Fountain in center of oval garden edged with flowers and shrubs.

  • Topsfield: Lawn terrace with shrub border and trees.

  • Alger Garden: Steps to sunken flower garden with sundial.

  • Unidentified Garden: Man and woman siting at table in courtyard.

  • Fynmere: View from arch to walk bordered by clipped hedges.

  • Chatham Manor: House and lawn with stone path and bordered by flowerbeds and hedges.

  • Rose Terrace: Trellis garden.

  • Fynmere: Garden houses under construction.

  • Ripplebrook Farm: Archway with wooden door.

  • Penwood: Flower garden with gravel path.

  • Lloyd Harbor -- Windy Hill

  • Rose Terrace: Box lawn and reflecting pool.

  • Unidentified Garden(s): Young boy standing on brick patio with low stone wall and potted plants.

  • Chagrin Falls -- Halfred Farms

  • Unidentified Location -- Unidentified Garden

  • Unidentified Garden(s): Rectangular lawn space with flower and shrub border and seating area at the end.

  • Cave Hill: House with trellis-lined terrace planted with bushes along wall.

  • Unidentified Garden(s): Lawn terrace with circular pool in front of Tudor-style house with stone chimney.

  • Unidentified Location -- Unidentified Garden(s)

  • Unidentified Garden(s): House and lawn terrace with stone wall and round steps.

  • Mitchell Garden: Lawn terrace with circular pool at back of house.

  • Mitchell Garden: Stone terrace and playroom.

  • Fynmere: Brick walk to garden houses through flower-garden terrace.

  • York Harbor -- Starboard Cottage

  • Unidentified Garden(s): Curving drive through a woodland with stone walls on either side.

  • Unidentified Location -- Wreath

  • Unidentified Garden(s): Flagstone path through garden beds densely planted with flowers, shrubs, and trees.

  • Fynmere: Walk bordered by clipped hedges.

  • Unidentified Garden: Flowerbed in garden with hedge border.

  • Unidentified Garden(s): Patio with brick fireplace and seating in front of tall wooden fence and stone steps with potted plants.

  • Clapp Garden: Flower beds and fountain with statue on lawn-garden terrace.

  • Spalding Garden: Landscape architecture drawing of kitchen garden.

  • Rose Terrace: Dirt driveway.

  • Hamilton Farms: Sculpture in niche.

  • Unidentified Garden(s): Steps from house to lower stone terrace surrounded by dense plantings of trees and shrubs.

  • Unidentified Location -- Unidentified Garden

  • Unidentified Garden(s): Shrubs surrounding lawn space infant of stone house with large trees.

  • Rye -- Allen Garden

  • Penwood: Octagonal fountain with statue of a child riding a dragonfly and bordered with flagestone in garden with hedge borders and Neoclassical cast-iron seating.

  • Unidentified Garden(s): Garden under construction with stone retaining wall and houses in the background.

  • Unidentified Garden(s): Circular fountain surrounded by potted plants on brick patio.

  • Smith Garden: Brick wall with niche containing statue of child.

  • Unidentified Garden(s): Stone patio shaded by trees with seating area beyond.

  • Achelis Garden: Steps to stone terrace with small pool.

  • Vermont

  • Unidentified Location -- Unidentified Garden

  • Unidentified Garden(s): Steps leading from lawn to stone terrace through archway covered with climbing plants.

  • Wreath

  • FitzSimons Garden: Landscape architecture drawing of gardens around residence.

  • New Jersey

  • Chatham Manor: Pergola with Neoclassical columns and lawn with rectangular pool.

  • Fynmere: "The Maiden of Fynmere" fountain statue.

  • Maine

  • Unidentified Garden(s): Lawn terrace with shrub border in front of stone house with round stone steps leading to door.

  • Alger Garden: Bathhouse with seating and swimming pool.

  • Edgeroad: View of flower garden from patio with awning.

  • Owl's Nest: Lawn with curved garden border.

  • Clapp Garden: Wild garden and stone terrace

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[Achelis Garden]:
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There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
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