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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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  • Grosse Pointe -- The Hedges

  • Unidentified Garden: Naturalistic rock garden and water feature.

  • Topsfield: Lawn and circular pond in front of house.

  • Unidentified Garden(s): Flowerbed with mixed flower and shrub plantings.

  • Ripplebrook Farm: Pond in field with swans and ducks.

  • Alger Garden: Flower beds divided by paths behind house.

  • Unidentified Location -- Unidentified Garden(s)

  • Unidentified Garden(s): Garden construction area bordered by pergola, stone retaining walls, and clapboard house.

  • Topsfield: Stairs with wrought-iron railing leading from house to lower terrace.

  • Unidentified Garden: Statue of Eros figure on classical pedestal in front of niche in garden wall.

  • Smith Garden: Path through flower garden with seating areas.

  • Fynmere: Flower beds and path in front of garden houses.

  • Rippowam: Stone terrace, wall, and fountain.

  • Cave Hill: Brick path through flower beds edged with boxwood.

  • Unidentified Garden(s): Brick path in front of house and patio, with stone wall and flowerbeds, as well as a built-in stone seat and small statue.

  • Fynmere: Walk bordered by clipped hedges.

  • Aetna Life and Casualty Insurance Company: Flower beds in front of brick wall and balustrade with urn finials on rooftop garden.

  • Old Farm: Garden path leading to house through arbor.

  • Pittsburgh -- Smith Garden

  • Unidentified Location -- Unidentified Garden(s)

  • Ohio

  • Mitchell Garden: Millstone terrace with small pool.

  • Fynmere: Landscape architecture drawing of gardens and paths.

  • Hamilton Farms: Planting plan for parterre garden.

  • Smith Garden: Landscape architecture drawing of terrace gardens.

  • Brook Place: Pond with stone edging.

  • Old Farm: Garden path leading to house.

  • Achelis Garden: Round pool on stone terrace.

  • Delaware

  • Aetna Life and Casualty Insurance Company: Building and terrace with steps down to lawn.

  • Unidentified Garden(s): Shaded drive through a woodland.

  • Owl's Nest: Lawn, path, and flower beds.

  • Aetna Life and Casualty Insurance Company: Drive up hill densely planted on either side of retaining walls.

  • Unidentified Location -- Unidentified Garden

  • Fynmere: Terrace in front of ivy-covered house.

  • Fredericksburg -- Chatham Manor

  • Mitchell Garden: Entrance gate.

  • Brookline -- Greenough Garden

  • Smith Garden: Seating area with statue of the god, Mercury.

  • Cave Hill: Irises in flower beds at intersection of cobblestone path.

  • Priory Court: Landscape architecture drawing of gardens around residence.

  • Unidentified Garden(s): Path through flowerbeds next to porch with Neoclassical columns.

  • Halfred Farms: House with porch leading to lawn lined with flower beds, shrubs, and potted plants.

  • Alger Garden: Lawn leading to pool and bathhouse.

  • Unidentified Garden: Clapboard house with brick terrace and picket fence.

  • Rose Terrace: Foundation planting and sculpture.

  • Graham -- Stewart Garden

  • Overfields: Fountain terrace.

  • Hamilton Farms: Patio with sculpture in niche.

  • Barbour Garden: Circular pool on lawn with flower and shrub borders and flanked with statues at entrance to the space.

  • Ripplebrook Farm: House and walled lawn with circular bench around shade tree.

  • Live Oak: Pool with fountain statue of Piping Pan.

  • Bohemia Manor: Landscape architecture drawing of parterre garden.

  • Clapp Garden: Settee under shade tree beside pond ornamented with statues.

  • Unidentified Garden(s): View from stone patio of vast lawn surrounded by low wall with trees flanking an opening onto a field.

  • Allen Garden: Stone steps leading to circular lily pond.

  • Penwood: Shade tree with seating beneath in walled garden with fountain.

  • Penwood: Flower garden with gravel path with stone edging and low border plants.

  • Mitchell Garden: Terrace with seating, pool, and wisteria.

  • Bohemia Manor: Lutyens bench in shade.

  • Bohemia Manor: Garden walk and flower beds.

  • Overfields: Patio leading to parterre paths and flower beds.

  • Topsfield: Stairs with wrought-iron railing covered in vine.

  • Brook Place: Woman on steps in front of house.

  • Chatham Manor: Parterre garden with fountain statue in front of ivy-covered house.

  • Chatham Manor: Series of arbors over path leading to a statue on a pedestal.

  • Cave Hill: Landscape architecture drawing of gardens around residence.

  • Longue Vue Gardens: Landscape architecture drawing of kitchen garden.

  • Unidentified Garden(s): Patio with Neoclassical, cast-iron seating under a tree beside a lawn divided by a low wall.

  • Smith Garden: Niche with fountain statue of child.

  • Greenough Garden: Naturalistic pool with native plants.

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

  • Unidentified Garden(s): Brick stairs with railing leading from lower terrace with flower beds to upper terrace.

  • Unidentified Garden: Wall fountain in flower garden segmented by paths.

  • Owl's Nest: Curved flower bed.

  • Virginia

  • Unidentified Garden(s): Stone patio with cushioned seating and shrub borders.

  • Rose Terrace: Casino and swimming pool.

  • Cooperstown -- Fynmere

  • Fynmere: Terraces in front of house with a mountain view.

  • Ripplebrook Farm: Covered porch and lawn.

  • Smith Garden: Large window with terrace and seating below.

  • Unidentified Garden(s): Open garden gate with trellis design.

  • Massachusetts

  • Achelis Garden: Garden walk with open gate.

  • Greenwich -- Achelis Garden

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

  • Wilmington -- Owl's Nest

  • Unidentified Location -- Unidentified Garden(s)

  • Hamilton Farms: Lawn, fountain, and teahouse.

  • Penwood: Flagstone walk through flower beds with ornamental, clipped shrubs leading to a fountain on the lawn.

  • Allen Garden: Rose garden.

  • Unidentified Location -- Unidentified Garden(s)

  • Brookville -- Topsfield

  • Fynmere: Flower beds separated by paths leading to garden houses.

  • Penwood: Flagstone walk through flower garden with pergola and terrace in background.

  • Topsfield: Stone terrace with flower beds, bench, and sundial.

  • Smith Garden: Garden walk and flower beds.

  • Topsfield: Walled garden with niche and flower beds divided by paths.

  • Unidentified Garden: Flower garden with beds segmented by paths.

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[Achelis Garden]:
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