Hill- Stead lluseum Riddle Archive 2019- - James family & TPR Correspondence The archives at the Hill-Stead Museum in Farmington Connecticut contain several letters from William and Alice James to the owner of the Hill-Stead residence, Theodate Pope (later Riddle). These letters written to Theodate in the years 1906-1908 usually reference her sustained interest in psychical research, an area of professional interest to Alice & William James, M.D. of Harvard University for more than two decades prior to this interchange. The archives also contains photographic evidence of the James's visit there in 1907, and perhaps on other occasions. There are repeated references to other researchers and interested parties in this area, John George Piddington, Richard Hodgson, Hubert Livingston Carrington, and James Henry Hyslop- and of course George Bucknam Dorr, Harvard (c. 1874). Dorr was a horticulturist, conservationist, psychical researcher, and future Father of Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island, where the James family was a frequent guest at his Bar Harbor residence (OldFarm). The monograph William James on Psychical Research (eds. G. Murphy & R.O. Ballou, 1973) treats the renowned Leonora Piper spiritualistic sittings undertaken at his estate. A letter from Alice (7.14.1908) is most revealing for she hopes "that George Dorr's work of this past winter will prove to be a solid one. He has tried to make it such and he certainly has taken good care of the 'light.' He is building a summer cottage for Mrs. Piper at Owl's Head [Rockport, ME] where she will be near to Margaret Bancroft, and SO looked after a little." Therein she also refers to the "unwise" efforts of Ethel Sands who wrote "warning letters to G.B.D." William James writes (9.2.1907) to Theodate beginning "A first-rate week with Dorr at Bar Harbor, and two hour talk with Carrington last evening." In a letter from Oxford (5.8.1908) he refers to a letter to Dorr which he now sends Theodate {not included], remarking that "knowing of G.B.D.['s] recent devotion to the cause and admirable investigations, [I] felt put out at what seemed an attempt to get at Mrs. Piper from London, over his head as it was." He compliments Theodate and states that "similar explanations [were given] to D[orr] which will make him also see it in the true light. He has struck quite a new lead, and 'Myers' is developing a novel type of manifestation. There seem to be no end of them!" William also writes to Theodate (8.14.1907) that "we are going to Geo. Dorr's on the 22nd," after three days with Miss Pope at Farmington. Ronald H. Epp, Ph.D. Summary, April 12, 2019. 7 Peachtree Terrace, Farmington, CT Hill-Stead& William James Sent to Hill-Stead 4/11/19. Notes: 3/26/2019 Hell-Stead 9/2/1902 Hotel Belmat, NYC Jane little to JPR 1708 X 11 A fent natrate week c Dorr of Bar Harbor, of a trew have talk E copy Camington last everyo Reference by letter to # yelap which sylet to eximate the whole lot of ees [1910] undated. ask R.H. whether he 25 more conference 4 he date experiences in idealesm or in realesm ? How @ Spencer HS- (illegable) realism ? 1710 Nate by Jour gover to JPR when she about of she and "sof for him to Dr. Hodges on through Mrs. Piper after Hodepew death. WJ to "Andrew", 95Fruing St., 10/21/06 It 21921 llys Pape to be = us for a few days Von't you dine here Tuesday viglet at 6:30? No one else: Donated by Andrew gray (not some Andrew), is date D son ? 1227. WJ to TPR. Carbridge, 8/14/07 To Bill Refer to "We an joy to geo Darrs' on th 22nd, after 3 days = Moss Paper at Farmington. white Alice wat straight not to Lorealn c Peggy "you mother was in great form at "Royal no gone to California # 2601 WJ to TPR. 1/5/09 K WJ to TPR. 5/8/08 oxford 1709 "What you enclosed to Barr, or Miss Johnsons' deject to her, I forgat when (te Saw letter or CORY a deplicate of of now sent back to you) gave no account of ta reaches you now inform Me of. 8 # WT to TPR. Soute finean MA. 1707 X copy H. 1# Ah i Jane to TPR. Holy well, Hook Health L 31 No DATE Working 2/2 "Herry has been over have Six muchs + is Sacing today for home. Reference this Tackell. Cower to TPR 100 pm herota a she works I "Pad's proof of the Piper- - Varrall work of last winton WJ to Dear Therdati 7/14/1908 L3-X Adden as per alove 1/2 copy rim-orcad reeseum Anchives. # 1707. [1707] freathy any is it - for somebow South Lincoln. Mass or other we outher to snake July 27. 1907 much of each other in this 13 D vale of tears. Mias Pope As refesion what is to be come of Mrs. Peper, it What cross is an interesting 9 new tion in addressing us this summer! The greet point is not to let "Cambrije" is always safe. I commot her commit hepelf got to Lincoln from Bay to any one too smickly If she View yesterday and heard is to he followed up scienti- what Alice had written son, fically tr I know of now one and gathered also from you as food as Hgolop to ducced enclosure that the papers of you hadseat to Keene Valley 1707-#2 I cannot 80 to Farmington were already on their was alone, either, for reasons which back to you Pray seat I assume my wife to have them to as above [I given r or, . If r son could had already watter to the only come after to Aug us 2nd thefore any time Aug 10th 3 in Keene in the next fortnight, at Valley for them J Lincola just this side Imuch regret that of Concord, on the Filch bay our projected visit to son Rail road, about 55 should have fallen three rules out of Bos ton, where - everything is in conflict we are keeping watch t in the way of our dates was over a friend's very this pummer, and now Juce house ) we 8 would [1708] Sold Stimond FORTY-SECOND Sr. CABLE ADDRESS AND PARK AVENUE "NONTBEL" (OPPOSITE GRAND CENTRAL STATION) B.L.M.BATES, 9 Cents Work Sept 2. 1907 Dear Miss Pope, A first rate week with Dor at Bar Harbor, & a two dours talk with Carring ton last evening. I find the latter tch-toh: 28 years old, slender, central socially, an intellect primarily, I juoge, whereas Hodgion was hour airly a character; sufficient, I am same, for profession al his/lose, and impressing sue as fair minded. So Six noon the gone in matermany We talkt to each other very can- didy, and the demnition total (i) that I have left written a long and frank letter to Hysloh which l hope he will sweet 4 the pint of concession for for swang J sake that oright to anuiate the whole lot of as - and does animate the rest of us! C. a dinises greatly what is great an Hyslop, as I do, Gt sees his deficiencies. I believe "C. to be the nuan whom we night to com fine an for next water - all the more so for having seu him , Excase haste 3.12 [1709] Oxford, May 8. 08 My lectures have begin here, with excellent Dear Miss Pope , audiences, and the food I am soring I said woman is revelling in that you were not a the rich ness of Oxford's fond girl, Since son seem stage properties -an exton- to have been such a very ordinary place for the Thom. sand once . what son (or Miss Johnson's direct a him I oget, age of old age & frott- enclosed to Dorr, ^ (the who darfer to the architecture, Same letter or a duplicate Castors etc., / not, as son a it which I now send n. tt., + 11. it I [Wn James 1 you now inform me of Sumilar explanations to and I knowing of S. B, D. D. which will make recent devotion to the Cance him also see t in the and advirable in ves tipations felt but out at what true light. He has struck quite Seemed an attempt to fet at Mr. Peper from a new lead, and "lyer" London, over his head as is developing a novel The it were. of manifestation There Seem to he no end of them. ! your conduct was Natural and correct, I The surve the better, I we are to land nt the Le- Hill-stead reyearn Aichives. #L3 L-31 1/3 7. kept stirring her af There give with 1. HOLY WELL, writing warming letters to Green: HOOK HEATH, WOKING. S.13 D. - all July 14 1905 [1908] Peggy was sect for by Dear Huodate Rector, just-before she I have Thereight-of son Dailed to join us on many a Time This swamer June 204, and had a and just-news I wish That zou were here to listen wark able and very to and take part in the brautiful sitting He Tack about S.P.R. watters has been a brueficul- Which William and influence to her and her Piddicy keep up. to me I anit-feel He gives all his Time, happy That zure have Energy and Effort to The work and William says Dorr work of This past he is remarkably able would will prove to be a 3, bring large ininded one . Jolid HE has tried patient acid critical to make it such and be to a degree Buthe certainly has Takee good has a 1/- the health to Care of the Light He work al- arrears, It mean is building a summer the Houseou records, so Cortage for wes Paper at mrs Terrall 'o daughter lowl 6 Head Where She will be near to this nucler his over sight,is She working has the one There task of HE gears says Baucroft las! after summer a little and Were Do with looks befire her no I do wore mar George bad intent 9 are sure, L3-3 L-31 2/3 6. ful chearine of dignity HQLY WELL, and peace, looking over HOOK HEATH, 25 WOKING. its terraus to The wide not had a oithing This meadows and distant I hills and the house, the winter but where c wild get There zou were Too good company the ill to come I think Whole sphere of the place the missage to place Through eminded we vividly the apparent disowning thiss Hillard and then of mar other country of the very claim Reclar house and is good had made on you is Company of just the perkaps the wost dis_ I before, and behold appointing of all The as one of the quests, baffling Superieuas For L3-4 4. have had If 9 ever all This we attained to 5, see the Light again in the botswolds where are I shall ask Rector the x meaning of ii- suer dreamed of Det for I pent a very interest among low hills beside poor husband was for - land I should Court to 6 weeks in Exford but my & wanning water It is'a midably Tired after 1- live m But wr did and daild new must make a visit before accept no more invitation going to Biburg to a but take saucherry strue brautiful old house Where in the country by 6 wiles from Coxford bureelies, where he could breoming to his Elter be giver- absolutily Jands. It had a whicher L-31 3/3 mar all ques world write HOLY WELL, the HOOK HEATH, 9 you and with your failur WOKING. and mother Please give Mr Roger Try, I rolled past our lover to There and I heard have describing to miss Hillard and your Farming Ivi house miss Jarbell and is -wonderful pictures affectionably zous and its - proprietor is my alie H. James as umark a bee as sither theu wr said proudly man we knew for and I Told her Fry of the school you have built- of which he bad ml-heard - The get ID. and I Inspect There milaucholy He looked world is a small Man is a prey to the deepest 11. are laws of which wr Dad and work himself hour no glimise as poor fellow ! zet governing the Harry has been over here Drange sby and b weeks and is sailing flow of our brief lives today for hour. other He and Poor Mr Fey mus tby men a couple hour of Started young out of his / taking sutire care Law firm Do This io his come to a hard part for them silves in a new of au insame wife who last holiday for a long does nor-want to return Time to Come S. hove to the Asylum and 34/- 4/9/2019 Xfinity Connect RE_FW_FW_William James Printout Melanie Bourbeau 4/9/2019 2:48 PM RE: FW: FW: William James To RONALD EPP Dear Ron, These photos were all taken at Theodate's house on High Street, Farmington, that she called the O'Rourkery. I've included a shot of the Keeping Room SO you see the context for the photos she took of the Jameses. As for a date, original photos are labeled but not fated. It could be around the same time as the Aug 1907 luncheon sent earlier (?) as chronology doesn't indicate Wm. & Alice visited Farmington at any other time, but that's only based on what is documented, of course. Melanie From: RONALD EPP [mailto:eppster2@comcast.net) Sent: Saturday, March 30, 2019 2:07 PM To: Melanie Bourbeau Subject: RE: FW: FW: William James Hi Melanie, A wonderful image of Alice and William James here at Hill-Stead. Do you have a date? I would appreciate a scan of the other two images of James that you mentioned not taken at Hill-Stead. Thank you. Ron Ronald H. Epp, Ph.D. 7 Peachtree Terrace Farmington, CT 06032 k HILL-STEAD MUSEUM OUR COLLECTION Home Our Collection Archives Archives Hill-Stead Museum has archived the family papers and photographs of Alfred Atmore Pope (1842-1913), his wife Ada Brooks Pope (1844-1920), their daughter Theodate Pope Riddle (1867-1946), and her husband John Wallace Riddle (1864-1941). Nearly 13,000 family letters, miscellaneous family documents, such as those accumulated by the settling of A.A. Pope's estate, correspondence tracing the growth of his malleable iron business in Cleveland, and 800 postcards (primarily of England) comprise the bulk of the collection. Included are approximately 2,500 photocopies of documents by or about the family, the originals of which are in other repositories. There are 1,600 original photographs and an additional 150 facsimiles from other sources. Researchers are welcome by appointment during business hours, Monday to Friday. Research fees by museum staff for those unable to visit in person: First hour is free, additional time is $30/hour plus necessary photocopying and postage; please allow a two-week minimum to process requests. Hill-Stead Museum Pope-Riddle families papers, 1869-1946 This project was made possible in part through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Connecticut State Library on behalf of the State Archives and Conservation ConneCTion. Hill-Stead Museum 35 Mountain Road Farmington CT 06032 email: bourbeaum@hillstead.org URL: http://www.hillstead.org Phone: 860-677-4787 TABLE OF CONTENTS Collection Summary Biography Scope and Content of Collection Arrangement Restrictions Indexing Terms Related Material Administrative Information Collection Summary Repository Hill-Stead Museum Creators Pope, Ada Brooks, 1844-1920; Pope, Alfred Atmore, 1844-1913; Riddle, John Wallace, 1864-1941; Riddle, Theodate Pope, 1867-1946 Title: Pope and Riddle families papers, 1869-1946 Dates: 1869-1946 1/6 death of her first ward, from polio, two more foster sons were added to the household. In addition to her architectural practice, Theodate oversaw management of Hill-Stead's extensive, and progressive-minded, farm operations. Theodate wanted Hill-Stead to remain intact for the benefit of future generations. To that end, her Will specified that the house she had designed, with all its contents, become a museum for the education and enjoyment of all. John Wallace Riddle (born Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, July 12, 1864 - died Farmington, Connecticut, December 8, 1941 John Wallace Riddle never knew his father, who had died before his son's birth. When he was seven his mother married Judge Charles Flandrau of St. Paul, Minnesota, a widower with two daughters. The couple had two sons together. Although John funded his own education from a small inheritance, his stepfather's important political connections helped advance his diplomatic career. After graduating from Harvard in 1886, John attended Columbia Law School and then the École des Sciences et Politiques in Paris. He became a skilled linguist proficient in several languages. His diplomatic posts included Turkey, Egypt, Romania, Russia (while it was under Tsarist rule) and Argentina. He met Theodate in 1905 through their mutual friend and Farmington resident Anna Roosevelt Cowles, Theodore Roosevelt's sister. John and Theodate married in 1916. During World War I, he worked for the Army War College, in Washington, D.C. If John and Theodate's marriage was a relationship based partly on mutual convenience, it also was affectionate. She called him "Totem" because of his height, and he called her "Dearest of Geniuses." Scope and Content of Collection The Pope-Riddle Family Papers collection consists of approximately TBD linear feet of material including 13,000 family letters, diaries, genealogical documents, family Bibles and documents related to the fine and decorative arts collection acquired by Alfred Pope. In addition, there are a few financial records from the end of Theodate Pope Riddle's life and papers related to the settling of her parents' estates. Theodate Pope Riddle's diaries, kept intermittently from 1880-1890 and 1898-1905, have been transcribed. The collection contains very few architectural drawings and only minimal references to her architectural career. The diplomatic career of John Wallace Riddle is minimally documented. The variety of materials available for study include: Series 1: Pope-Riddle family papers Pope and Brooks family correspondence Theodate Pope Riddle's adolescent and young adult diaries (1886-1890), which include her writing on her years as a secondary school student in Cleveland and at Miss Porter's School, a detailed description of the family's 1888-89 grand tour to Europe, her life on her own in Farmington prior to the construction of Hill-Stead, and, throughout, her search for an identity of her own. Theodate Pope Riddle's correspondence with friends such as Henry James, William James, Mary Cassatt, August Jaccaci, Lady Helena Gleichen, Jane Addams, Anna Roosevelt Cowles, Mariana Van Rensselaer. Receipts for many items in Hill-Stead's collection (1888-1936), including many but not al the French Impressionist paintings. Alfred Pope's correspondence with James McNeill Whistler (1890's). A significant volume of correspondence related to Theodate's interest in psychical research with notable persons such as Dr. Richard Hodgson and James Hyslop. Transcriptions of "psychical" sittings undertaken by Theodate Pope Riddle and William James with medium Leonora Piper (c.1904-6), and Theodate's later investigations into spiritualism. The correspondence of Theodate Pope Riddle's husband, John Wallace Riddle, from his student days at Harvard; his diplomatic posts in Turkey (1890s) and Russia (1906-08); and copies of his WWI translations of intelligence documents. Other items include Pope and Brooks family Bibles with key dates of births, marriages, and deaths Copies of Wills, probate documents, including those for the family's long time butler, Earnest Bohlen More than 120 items representing multiple facets of the interests and experiences of the Pope family, including art collecting; discreet items pertaining to Connecticut history; European and Asian travel; family genealogy; James McNeill Whistler; personal mementoes; RMS Lusitania 3/6 Indexing Terms The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog. Accounts Agriculture Architects Architecture Art Authors Avon Old Farms School Bibles Brooks family Brooks, Joseph Judson Brooks, Judith French Twing Cassatt, Mary, 1844-1926 Cleveland Malleable Iron Company Collectors and collecting Correspondence Degas, Edgar, 1834-1917 Diaries Diplomatic and consular service Diplomats Estate records Farmington (Conn.) Financial records Gilbert, Cass, 1859-1934 Hodgson, Richard, 1855-1905 Hyslop, James H. (James Hervey), 1854-1920 Impressionism (Art) Inventories James, Henry, 1843-1916 James, William, 1842-1910 Lusitania (Steamship) Manet, Edouard, 1832-1883 McKim, Mead & White Middlebury (Conn.) Monet, Claude, 1840-1926 National Malleable and Steel Castings Co. Piper, Leonora, 1859-1950 Poets Pope family Pope, Ada Brooks, 1844-1920 Pope, Alfred Atmore, 1844-1913 Pope, Alton Psychical Research Rand, Ellen Emmet, 1875-1941 Receipts (financial records) Riddle, John Wallace, 1864-1941 Riddle, Theodate Pope, 1867-1946 Spiritualism Travel Westover School Whistler, James McNeill, 1834-1903 Whittemore, Harris, 1864-1927 Whittemore, John Howard, 1837-1910 Women--Suffrage 5/6 3/18/2019 Xfinity Connect Inbox Re: William James Melanie Bourbeau 5:11 PM To RONALD EPP No, please check in at either the gift shop or the admin entrance ( this is the middle entrance, through the glasses in entry with a stone floor-straight ahead and ring the bell) at the long facade along the entry drive Sent from my iPhone On Mar 18, 2019, at 3:50 PM, RONALD EPP V eppster2@comcast.net> wrote: Melanie, Next Tuesday at 1 p.m. works for me as well. Shall I come to the front door of the main residence? Ron Ronald H. Epp, Ph.D. 7 Peachtree Terrace Farmington, CT 06032 603-491-1760 eppster2@comcast.net On March 18, 2019 at 3:01 PM Melanie Bourbeau V bourbeaum@hillstead.org> wrote: This week is not good for me (appointments and off-site workshops). Next Tuesday March 26 would be better. Yes, early afternoon would be fine. Melanie 15 February 2019 Greetings, I would appreciate your consideration of this request to determine whether your archives contain correspondence or other documents carried on between William James or his colleagues relating to the interest of AAA in psychical research. Following my retirement from academic library administration, I researched the founding of Acadia National Park and the role of Harvard University in its genesis. President Charles W. Eliot and his colleague William James had a close relationship with the "Father" of Acadia, George Bucknam Dorr (1853-1944). The writings of James on psychical research are extensive and Dorr was his ally in many investigations of such questionable phenomena. Although my book (Creating Acadia National Park: The Biography of George Bucknam Dorr) was published in 2016, my research and public talks on aspects of his achievements continues. As a new member of Hill-Stead, I would appreciate the opportunity to meet with you and discuss the relevance of your archive to my interests. My enthusiasm for pursuing this matter has been encouraged by a relative of mine surely known to Hill-Stead staff, William Watson. Sincerely, Ronald H. Epp Ph.D. 7 Peachtree Terrace Farmington, CT 06032 717-272-0801 Eppster2@comcast.net 3/14/2019 Xtinity Connect Inbox William James Melanie Bourbeau 2/21/2019 1:04 PM To eppster2@comcast.net Dear Ronald, Thank you for your inquiry letter. Hill-Stead does indeed have a small number of letters from William James to Theodate Pope Riddle. I had no idea about the connections with James or Farrand and Acadia National Park. There is also a small number of photographs of Wm. and his wife during visits here. The material can all be easily pulled for you to look at and decide if it fits your continuing research needs. I would enjoy meeting. And I do know Bill quite well, he's great asset to the museum on numerous fronts Melanie Anderson Bourbeau Curator & Dir. of Interpretation and Programs Hill-Stead Museum 35 Mountain Road Farmington, CT 06032 860.677.4787, ext. 122 bourbeaum@hillstead.org www.hillstead.org 3/30/2019 Xfinity Connect RE_FW_FW_William James Printout Melanie Bourbeau 3/30/2019 11:22 AM RE: FW: FW: William James To RONALD EPP Ron, Archives, Hill-Stead Museum, Farmington, CT Wm. And Alice are guests, along with August Jaccaci, Art Historian and the woman with her back to the camera is Mary Hillard, head mistress of Westover School and Theodate's close gal-pal- Earnest Bohlen, the Pope's butler is serving. We have two more photographs of Wm. And Wm. and Alice-both are posed and taken at Theodate's house on High Street, not at Hill-Stead. I can scan if you like or snap a quick pic with my phone and send. The luncheon attached took place here at Hill-Stead on the glassed-in porch we use as the museum entrance today. Complete copy of #31 will go out Monday Best, Melanie Downloaded file i From: RONALD EPP [mailto:eppster2@comcast.net] Sent: Wednesday, March 27, 2019 4:25 PM To: Melanie Bourbeau Subject: Re: FW: FW: William James Melanie, Thank you for providing me yesterday with the James Family documentation. Regarding the page you omitted, would you have that copied and mailed to me?