Archives of American Gardens

The Chimneys collection, 1903-1985

Summary

Collection ID:
AAG.CHM
Creators:
Weems, Katharine Lane, 1899-1989
Lane, Gardiner M., 1859-1914
Lane, Emma Gildersleeve
Dana, Rich H.
Olmsted Brothers
Olmsted, Frederick Law, Jr., 1870-1957
Whiting, Edward Clark
Gildersleeve, Raleigh C. (Colston), 1869-1944
Watson, B. M. (gardener)
Dates:
1903-1985
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
15 Cubic feet
Repository:
Correspondence, invoices, nursery and seed catalogs, estimates, planting plans, photocopies of blueprints, photographs, negatives, autochromes, and drawings relating to the gardens of The Chimneys, the home of Emma and Gardiner Martin Lane and their daughter Katharine Lane Weems in Manchester, Massachusetts. Also included are four garden journals (1903-1928), garden-related medals awarded to Emma Lane, index files of plant materials, photocopies of garden related library cards belonging to Gardiner M. Lane, a diascope and nursery and seed catalogs. The collection also includes architectural plans, invoices and specifications from, and a framed photograph of, Raleigh C. Gildersleeve, architect of The Chimneys and brother of Emma Lane.

Scope and Contents Note

Scope and Contents Note
The Chimneys Collection includes extensive documentation relating to the gardens and grounds of "The Chimneys" estate in Manchester, Massachusetts, the home of Katharine Lane Weems and her parents in Manchester, Massachusetts. There is also some documentation on the residence designed by Raleigh Gildersleeve. The collection includes photographs, negatives, autochromes, a stereograph viewer, plant lists and index files of plant materials, garden journals, correspondence, nursery and seed catalogs, estimates, invoices, design specifications and plans and drawings. There are also three horticultural medals. The images focus primarily on the gardens at The Chimneys, though there are also numerous images showing the beachfront adjoining the property and images of family, friends, Weems' studio, the vicinity around Manchester, Massachusetts, and interiors of Beverwyck Manor in Rensselaer, New York. A copy of Katharine Lane Weems' autobiography, Odds Were Against Me, is also included in the collection.

Arrangement Note

Arrangement Note
The collection is arranged into 6 series:
1) Design and Planting Records 2) Photographic images 3) Correspondence 4) Garden Journals 5) Printed Matter 6) Artifacts

Biographical/Historical note

Biographical/Historical note
The property on which this estate in Manchester, Massachusetts sits was originally owned by the father of Richard Henry Dana, Jr., the author of Two Years Before the Mast. The estate was subdivided after the elder Dana's death in 1879. Gardiner Martin Lane purchased the land and had his brother-in-law, Raleigh Gildersleeve, design a large Georgian Colonial Revival summer house for him known as "The Chimneys." The Olmsted Brothers landscape architecture firm was hired in 1902 to help with the overall siting of the house and to plan a number of garden areas. During the next ten years, the Olmsted firm designed a number of areas including an approach road, formal terraced gardens, a water garden, and a variety of outdoor structures such as an arbor, tea house, and greenhouse.
Katharine Lane Weems (1899-1989), the daughter of Emma and Gardiner M. Lane, spent her childhood summers at "The Chimneys." She later attended the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and went on to specialize in sculpting animals. "The Chimneys" served as her principal studio after the stable was remodeled in 1930; later it became her primary residence. She married F. Carrington Weems in 1947 and published an autobiography, Odds Were Against Me, in 1985. She died at her family estate in 1989.

Administration

Author
Marca Woodhams
Custodial History Note
The estate of Katharine Lane Weems donated The Chimneys Collection to the Garden Club of America in 1989. The GCA, in turn, passed the collection along to the Archives of American Gardens.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access note
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.
Conditions Governing Use note
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.
Preferred Citation note
Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, The Chimneys collection.

Related Archival Materials Note
Records related to this site can be found at the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site, Olmsted Job Number 00273 Gardiner M. Lane / Richard H. Dana Estate.
The Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America at Radcliffe College in Cambridge, Massachusetts has the Papers of Katharine Lane Weems (MC406) which include various files and images relating to The Chimneys.
The Smithsonian Institution's Archives of American Art in Washington, D.C. has the Katharine Lane Weems Papers, 1865-1989 which include images of The Chimneys.

More Information

Bibliography

Bibliography
Historic Inventory Report, "The Chimneys." The Estate of Katharine Lane Weems, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts. Prepared for Ropes and Gray by Lauren G. Meier, ASLA, July 5, 1989. Revised August 5, 1989. American Country Homes and Gardens, November, 1907.

Other Finding Aid note

Other Finding Aid note
An inventory of The Chimneys Collection was generated by one or more members of the Garden Club of America, prior to its being donated to the Archives of American Gardens.


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Photographs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Negatives Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Plans (drawings) Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Correspondence Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Diaries Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Books Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Trade catalogs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Medals Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photocopies Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Gardens -- Massachusetts -- Manchester Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sculptors -- United States Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Women sculptors Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Water gardens Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Massachusetts -- Manchester Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
The Chimneys (Manchester, Massachusetts) Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Archives of American Gardens
P.O. Box 37012
Capital Gallery West, Suite 3300, MRC 506
Washington, DC 20013-7012
Business Number: Phone: 202-633-5840
Fax Number: Fax: 202-633-5697
aag@si.edu