Loutrel Briggs Gardens Survey (Historic American Landscape Survey)

Garden at 64 East Battery: Origformat: Slide; Resolution: 100 dpi
Garden at 64 East Battery

Origformat: Slide; Resolution: 100 dpi

Name/Title

Loutrel Briggs Gardens Survey (Historic American Landscape Survey)

Entry/Object ID

2007.016.1

Scope and Content

In 2003, landscape architect James Cothran contacted former HCF employee Susan Epstein about conducting a Historic American Landscapes Survey of Loutrel Briggs gardens in Charleston. Ms. Epstein coordinated the effort and enlisted the help of volunteers from HCF, SC Historical Society, Charleston Horticulture Society, and the Preservation Society, who documented and inventoried several Loutrel Briggs gardens. Intern Nancy Norberg from Georgia State University organized and cataloged the completed surveys. Gardens were identified and surveys were then undertaken. Project volunteers included Ellen Clarke, Ellen Smith, Roseanne Wray, Jan MacDougal, Nancy Norberg, Susan Walker, and Glen Gardner. Clemson University Landscape Architecture students were also involved, as well as Georgia State University and UGA students Barb Orsolitz and Monica Hayden. Documentation in this collection consists of files containing information on HALS; background and administrative information about the HCF survey; information and articles about Loutrel Briggs; articles about Loutrel Briggs gardens in Charleston and elsewhere; lists of Loutrel Briggs gardens in Charleston including drawings at SC Historical Society; articles about other gardening topics; files on gardens not part of the survey--Rice Hope Plantation, 25 State Street (Charleston), and various NY gardens; and individual files for each specific garden survey. Survey files may include the survey form, landscape plans/drawings, garden/house histories, list of plantings, newspaper/magazine articles, and photocopies of photos. Gardens surveyed: 72 Anson Street 8 Bedon's Alley 7 Church Street 15 Church Street 19 Church Street (Briggs style but not Briggs designed) 39 Church Street 58 Church Street 59 Church Street 39 East Bay Street 83 East Bay Street 2 King Street 37 King Street 8 Meeting Street 23 Meeting Street 34 Meeting Street 64 South Battery 100 Tradd Street 122 Tradd Street McLeod Plantation Collection also includes a three-ring binder containing color photographic slides of the gardens at 64 South Battery, 2 King Street, 59 Church Street, 7 Church Street, McLeod Plantation, 4 Greenhill Street, 19 Church Street, 83 East Bay Street. (Also contains CD with images of 2 King Street, 4 Greenhill Street, 59 Church Street, 7 Church Street, 39 Church Street, 64 South Battery, and 100 Tradd Street.

Collection

Loutrel Briggs Collection

Acquisition

Accession

2007.016.

Source or Donor

Loutrel Briggs Garden Survey

Acquisition Method

Collected by Staff

Lexicon

LOC Thesaurus for Graphic Materials

Landscape gardening

Search Terms

Loutrel Briggs garden, Landscape architecture, Landscape plans, landscape drawings, Anson Street, Bedon's Alley, Church Street, East Bay Street, King Street, Meeting Street, South Battery, Tradd Street, Historic gardens--South Carolina--Charleston, Historic gardens--Designs and plans, Historic gardens--Surveys, McLeod Plantation (James Island, S.C.), Rice Hope Plantation (Moncks Corner, S.C.), Historic American Landscapes Survey

Legacy Lexicon

Object Name

Collection

Archive Details

Archive Size/Extent

2 document boxes; 1 three-ring binder

Archive Notes

Date(s) Created: 2003- Associated Material: SC Historical Society has hundreds of Loutrel Briggs drawings in its collection as well as biographical and other records.

Archive Items Details

Title

Surveys

Description

Most files contain the survey form, house and/or garden history, and a copy of the landscape drawing/plan. Completed surveys are done for these properties: Gardens surveyed: 72 Anson Street, 8 Bedon's Alley, 7 Church Street, 15 Church Street, 19 Church Street (Briggs style but not Briggs designed), 39 Church Street, 58 Church Street, 59 Church Street, 39 East Bay Street, 83 East Bay Street, 2 King Street, 37 King Street, 8 Meeting Street, 23 Meeting Street, 34 Meeting Street, 64 South Battery, 100 Tradd Street, 122 Tradd Street, and McLeod Plantation.

Notes

Container: Box 2

Title

Info About HALS

Container

Folder 01

Notes

Container: Box 1

Title

Survey Background/Methodology

Description

Various documents that describe the survey and how it was undertaken. Includes the Survey Form, lists of volunteer participants and homeowners, correspondence, etc.

Container

Folder 02

Notes

Container: Box 1

Title

Articles: About the Survey

Description

Articles from various publications including ASLA & HCF newsletters.

Container

Folder 05

Notes

Container: Box 1

Title

Articles: Loutrel Briggs

Description

Articles about Loutrel Briggs and his career from various publications.

Container

Folder 06

Notes

Container: Box 1

Title

Articles: Loutrel Briggs Gardens

Description

Articles about LB gardens in Charleston and NY. Also includes a few articles pertaining to general gardening topics.

Container

Folder 07

Notes

Container: Box 1

Title

Drawings at City Parks Dept.

Description

List of LB drawings that are at the City of Charleston Parks Dept. (Note, HCF has many of the same as well.)

Container

Folder 08

Notes

Container: Box 1

Title

HCF's Drawings

Description

List of LB drawings that are in HCF archives. Many drawings are original; some are photocopies. (Note, this list does not include the drawings obtained as part of the survey. Refer to Finding Aid to Loutrel Briggs Drawings, or Past Perfect catalog records, for details.)

Container

Folder 09

Notes

Container: Box 1

Title

LB Papers and Drawings at SC Historical Society

Description

Lists of LB drawings (and possibly other papers) that are at the SC Historical Society. Includes a 90+ page typed list, presumably generated by SCHS; a spreadsheet of Charleston garden plans at SCHS, presumably generated by HCF as part of the Survey; and an inventory of "Briggs Papers" at SCHS created by John David Utterback, who worked with LB and donated the drawings to SCHS in 1983. (Note, see Multimedia Link in this record for the latter two lists; they are searchable.)

Container

Folder 10

Notes

Container: Box 1

Title

Misc. Gardens: 25 State Street

Description

Copy of "Plan of Garden at 25 State St. for Mr. and Mrs. A.T. Smythe, Jr." Also on CDRom. This garden was not surveyed.

Container

Folder 11

Notes

Container: Box 1

Title

Misc. Gardens: Rice Hope

Description

Copy of drawings: "Memorandum & Recommendations for Planting at Rice Hope," "Plan of Stones for Terrace," "Additional Planting for Garden at Rice Hope for Mr. & Mrs. Reginald Fincke," "Plan of Planting at House Rice Hope for Hon. J.S. Frelinghuysen," "Construction Plan of Gardens at Rice Hope for Hon. J.S. Frelinghuysen," and "Construction Plan of Garden at Rice Hope Plantation for Senator J.S. Frelinghuysen." File also contains copies of pages from Charleston Gardens and brief history (from an advertisement). This garden was not surveyed.

Container

Folder 12

Notes

Container: Box 1

Title

Misc. LB Gardens in NY

Description

Draft of article by Blake A. Bell, "The Landscape Designer Loutrel Winslow Briggs and his work in Pelham" and correspondence related to NY gardens. (See also Folder 5.)

Container

Folder 13

Notes

Container: Box 1

Title

Gardens: Misc.

Description

Brief summary of an interview between survey volunteer Rosanne Wray and Herbert Scholtz who had been a client of LB. Describes his commissioning LB to do the landscaping at a GE Plant in Ladson and also LB's design and work on Mr. Scholtz's home garden. Includes color copies of 2 watercolors painted by LB.

Container

Folder 14

Notes

Container: Box 1

Title

Progress/Status Reports

Description

Correspondence, lists, and progress reports related to the status of the Survey.

Container

Folder 03

Notes

Container: Box 1

Title

Correspondence

Description

Correspondence (mostly email) from 2003-2005 related to the Survey and supporting activities.

Container

Folder 04

Notes

Container: Box 1

Location

Location

Shelf

Archives D-18

Room

Margaretta P. Childs Archives

Building

Missroon House

Category

Permanent

Date

February 7, 2023

Location

Container

Document Box

Shelf

General Research, General Research

Room

Margaretta P. Childs Archives

Building

Missroon House

Category

Permanent

Relationships

Related Entries

Notes

2004.003.015, 2004.004.0024, 2005.003.0029, 2009.001.8, 2010.002.042 Related Units of Description: Loutrel Briggs Landscape Plans, Blueprints-Map Cabinet 5 SC Landscape Initiative Rice Hope Plantation Survey, General Research Shelves

Created By

admin@catalogit.app

Create Date

October 2, 2007

Updated By

admin@catalogit.app

Update Date

February 17, 2023