The Winterthur Library

 The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum

5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur, Delaware  19735

Telephone: 302-888-4600 or 800-448-3883

 

 

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

 

Creator:         Northend, Mary Harrod, 1850-1926. 

Title:               Photographs,

Dates:             ca. 1900-1925?

Call No.:         Col. 578

Acc. No.:        99x71

Quantity:        24 photographs (1 folder)

Location:        24 A 4

 

 

 

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

 

Mary Harrod Northend was born in Salem, Massachusetts, the daughter of William D. and Susan Stedman Harrod Northend and a descendant of several old Massachusetts families.  She suffered from poor health during her childhood and was not able to attend school regularly.  Even so, she became interested in writing, honed her skills, and became a very prolific and popular author.  She wrote on a wide variety of topics, mostly for magazines, but also penned eleven books.  Miss Northend was a noted authority on colonial architecture and customs and had many photographs taken of old homes and antiques to illustrate her articles and books.  Reportedly, she left a collection of over 30,000 pictures when she died.  Unfortunately, the location of most is unknown, although Winterthur Museum and Historic New England (formerly the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities) have a small portion of them.  Miss Northend used a professional photographer to take most of her photographs.  She died in her native Salem in 1926 from an operation necessitated by a automobile accident.

 

 

SCOPE AND CONTENT

 

Twenty-four photographs of houses and grounds taken by or for Mary Northend (her name and address are stamped on the back of most of the photos).  All but one is identified on the reverse with the name of the owner of the house, the room depicted, and sometimes the name of the house’s architect.  The photographs show furniture, decorative items, rugs, wallpaper, pictures, lighting fixtures, curtains, clocks, and plants in various parts of houses: living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, entrance halls, stairways, and libraries.  Three photographs are of lampposts in gardens; little other garden detail is revealed except for a rustic bench and the top of a pergola in one of the shots.  The homes photographed were in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Illinois.  Although Miss Northend was particularly interested in colonial homes, those in this collection are not necessarily of that period.  One photograph is from the Bull Hotel in Rochester (New York?), and another is of an orphan asylum in Wallingford, Penn.  Architects and architectural firms mentioned include Kenneth M. Murchison, Wilson Eyre, Grosvenor Atterbury, Delano & Aldrich, and Mann & MacNeille.

 

           

ORGANIZATION

 

The photos are arranged alphabetically by surname of owner of property, with unknown properties at the end.

 

 

LANGUAGE OF MATERIALS

 

The materials are chiefly visual, with identifications in English.

 

 

RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS

 

Collection is open to the public.  Copyright restrictions may apply.

           

 

PROVENANCE

 

Purchased from Charles B. Wood III Inc.

 

 

RELATED MATERIALS

 

See also Col. 737 at this repository, which is a much larger collection of Northend negatives and photographs.  Books by her may be found by searching WinterCat.

 

 

ACCESS POINTS

 

Topics:

            Delano & Aldrich.

            Bull Hotel (Rochester, N.Y.?)

            House furnishings - Photographs.

            Interior decoration - Photographs.

            Furniture - Photographs.

            Garden lighting.

            Garden ornaments and furniture.

            Photography of interiors.

            Dwellings - Photographs.

            Lamps - Photographs.

            Hotels - Photographs.

            Black-and-white photographs.

            Photographers.

           

 

 

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

 

Location: 24 A 4

 

 

 

All accession numbers begin with 99x71.

 

 

.12       “’Bull’ Staircase, staircase at the Bull Hotel, Rochester”

 

            The wall of the staircase is lined with prints.  The state is not given, and there are a number of towns and cities in the U.S. named Rochester. 

 

 

 

 

.18       “The Indian Drawing room, Mrs. Ole Bull’s House, Cambridge, Mass.,” with stamp of Indoors and Out, Rogers & Wise Co., publishers, Boston.

 

            The “Indian” element seems to consist of carved panels in a set of doors.

 

            [Mrs. Ole Bull was Sara Chapman Thorp Bull (1850-1911), the wife, and then the widow, of the noted Norwegian violinist Ole Bull, who was much older than she.  After her husband’s death, Mrs. Bull and their daughter moved to Cambridge, Mass., first living at “Elmwood,” rented from James Russell Lowell, but moving in 1888 to a house built by her father at 168 Brattle Street, and that is where this photo would have been taken.  Mrs. Bull became very interested in India.]

 

 

 

 

.6         “Boudoir fitted up by Mrs. Chaffee with art treasures secured by Gen. Chaffee during his military service in China”; stamped on back with Northend’s name and also that of Waldon Fawcett, Washington, D.C.

 

            The room is decorated with rugs, carbed tables, Chinese silk wall hangings, etc.

 

            [General Chaffee was undoubtedly Adna R. Chaffee (1842-1914) who led the U.S. Army’s China Relief Expedition during the Boxer Rebellion.  His wife was Annie Frances Rockwell.]

 

 

 

 

.5         “Dining room, Mr. Howell Cheney res., So. Manchester, Conn.,” with Northend stamp, no. 253.

 

            Colonial revival house, with dining table to left side, a glass-fronted built-in cabinet next to fireplace, a bay window to right, and view into the living room [see .7]. 

 

            [Howell Cheney (1870-1957) was a member of the Cheney silk manufacturing family.  He graduated from Yale.  He founded the Howell Cheney Technical High School.]

 

            [for living room, see .7, below]

 

.7         “Living room, Mr. Howell Cheney res., So. Manchester, Conn.,” with Northend stamp, no. 252.

 

            Colonial revival house, with fireplace to left, book shelves along back wall, furniture in a mix of styles.

 

            [Howell Cheney (1870-1957) was a member of the Cheney silk manufacturing family.  He graduated from Yale.  He founded the Howell Cheney Technical High School.]

 

            [for dining room, see .5, above]

 

 

 

 

.17       “Dining room, Wm. Northrop Dudley Archt. Res., Payson Park, Waverley, Mass.,” with Northend stamp.

 

            Fireplace to the left, with tile surround; built-in storage unit along the back wall; table in middle.  Except for the wallpaper and table, the room is in the Arts and Crafts style.

 

            [William Northrop Dudley (1869-1920) was an architect in Massachusetts.]

 

 

 

 

.19       “Mrs. Scott Durand, Lake Forest, Ill.,” with Northend stamp.

 

            Large entrance hall, with staircase.  Sofa, chairs, and tables in various styles are seen, as is a display of American flags, and a spinning wheel on the staircase landing.

 

            [Mr. Durand may have been Scott Sloan Durand (1869-1949), married to Grace Denise Garrett (1867-1948).]

 

 

 

.15       “Living room, Dr. Ely res., Grosvenor Atterbury, Archt, NYC, ” with Northend stamp, no. 362.

 

            A brick fireplace on the right, flanked by sofas; what might be a Morris chair in the foreground; an 18th century corner chair; and a glimpse into the dining room beyond the living room.

 

            [Architect Grosvenor Atterbury (1869-1956) studied at Yale and Columbia.  He was based in New York City.  Atterbury designed two homes for Dr. Albert Herman Ely and his wife Maud Merchant Ely.  The living room in this photo has been identified as one in the second house, built in Fort Hill, Shinnecock Hills, New York, in 1918 (but since demolished).]

 

 

 

.3         “Lamp on Gould estate,” with Northend stamp, no. 35.

 

            An elaborate lamp post in the garden of one of the Goulds, probably that of George Gould (see .4, below).

           

.4         “Outdoor Lighting Fixtures, ‘Georgian Court,’ Lakewood, N.J., Geo. Gould estate,” with Northend stamp, no. 29.

 

            A lamp post made of iron, on a stone base; (see also .3 above).

 

            [George Jay Gould (1865-1923) was the son of financier Jay Gould (1836-1892).  George married the actress Edith Kingdon, and they built a summer home, “Georgian Court,” in Lakewood, N.J., designed by architect Bruce Price (known for his work in Tuxedo Park, N.Y.)]

 

 

 

.20       “Bedroom, Miss Haines’ res., Germantown, Pa.” with Northend stamp, no. 18.

 

            Bedstead, washstand, work table, chair

 

            [no attempt was made to identify Miss Haines]

 

 

 

.8         “Hallway, Mr. Thos. E. Kirby res., ‘Tanrackin,’ Mount Kisco, N.Y., Kenneth M. Murchison, Archt.,” with Northend stamp, no. 189.

 

            A very large hall, with stairs arising from the middle of the space; a tall case clock, a table, and chairs line the walls.

 

            [Architect Kenneth M. Murchison (1872-1938) worked in the Colonial revival and Beaux Arts styles.  He was based in New York City.  “Tanrackin,” the Kirby home, was featured in the November 1908 issue of American Homes and Gardens, beginning on page. 437.  The article shows exterior and interior views of the home, including a different view of the hallway.  Thomas Ellis Kirby (1846-1924) was a well-regarded auctioneer at the American Art Galleries in New York City.]

           

            [dining room from this house is .22; see below]

 

.22       “Dining room, Mr. Thos. E. Kirby res., ‘Tanrackin,’ Mount Kisco, N.Y., Kenneth M. Murchison, Archt.,” with Northend stamp, no. 188.

 

            Fireplace to the left; dining table in center; sideboard on the right; window seat along back wall.

 

            [For more about this house, see .8 above.]

 

 

 

.21       “Living room, Jas. B. Ladd res., Ardmore, Pa., Wilson Eyre archt.,” with Northend stamp, no. 61

 

            Fireplace to left, desk between windows on back wall, grand piano in back right corner, along with book shelves, seating furniture in various styles, round table in right foreground

 

            [Rebecca Sherrill and James Beach Ladd (1860-1931) lived in Ardmore, Penn.  He was a mechanical engineer.]

 

 

 

.14       “office, Philadelphia Orphanage, Wallingford, Pa., Delano & Aldrich, Archts.,” no. 174

 

            The photo shows a fairly plain brick fireplace, with bookcases on either side, several chairs, and a 18th century secretary (or at least, a secretary in the style of the 18th century).

 

            [The Orphan Society of Philadelphia, in existence from 1814-1965, moved to Wallingford around 1902.]

 

 

 

.9         “Miss Wheeler & Miss Gavitt res., ‘Gangmoor,’ E. Gloucester,” with Northend stamp, no. 339.

 

            A corner of a bedroom, with washstand, wicker chair, and chest of drawers with attached mirror.

 

            [Miss Laura Wheeler and Miss Julia N. Gavit, both of Sharon, Connecticut, lived at “Gangmoor,” according to the 1918 “Who’s Who Along the North Shore” directory.  Laura Wheeler was born in New York around 1859.  In the 1920 census, she was head of household, and Miss Gavit was listed as her companion.  Miss Wheeler donated a clock tower to the town of Sharon.  Julia Niles Gavit was born in Albany, N.Y., in 1855, the daughter of John E. Gavit.  She died in 1938.] 

 

            [see also .10, .11, .23, and .24]

 

.10       “Bedroom, Miss Wheeler & Miss Gavitt res., ‘Gangmoor,’ E. Gloucester,” with Northend stamp, no. 331.

 

            Bedstead in right corner, high boy, fireplace, tables and chairs, and a chest of drawers.

 

            [see .9 above for more about Gangmoor and the residents]

 

.11       “Living room, Miss Wheeler & Miss Gavitt res., ‘Gangmoor,’ E. Gloucester,” with Northend stamp, no. 325.

 

            Living room has a variety of chairs, tables, a sofa, a fireplace, plus part of a piano is in view. 

 

            [see .9 above for more about Gangmoor and the residents.]

 

.23       “Hallway, Miss Wheeler & Miss Gavitt res., ‘Gangmoor,’ E. Gloucester, Mass.,” with Northend stamp

 

            Stairs, in Arts and Crafts style, are on the left wall, built-in banches are on the right; light fixture over center table also in Arts and Crafts style, but the furniture in the hallway is not.

 

            [see .9 above for more about Gangmoor and the residents]

 

.24       “Bedroom, Miss Wheeler & Miss Gavitt res., ‘Gangmoor,’ E. Gloucester, Mass.,” no. 330

 

            Twin brass bedsteads, washstand, dressing table, chest of drawers, daybed, pictures on walls

 

            [see .9 above for more about Gangmoor and the residents]

 

 

 

 

.13       “Living room, Mrs. Geo. E. Wood res., Salisbury, Conn., Mann & MacNeille Archts.,” no. 232

 

            Fireplace to the right; book cases just visible in the left edge; view into dining room.

 

            [Architects Horace B. Mann and Perry MacNeille were based in New York City, in partnership 1903-1930.  Little effort was made to identify Mrs. Wood.]

 

 

 

 

.2         “Lamp post on new bridge at ‘Elm Hill,’ Wellesley; return to John A. Fox, 10/6/05,” with partial Northend stamp, and lettered G.

 

            An elaborate lamp post; the bridge is not visible.

 

 

.16       “Designed by Mr. Bigelow of Winslow and Bigelow, R[illegible],” with Northend stamp

 

            Probably a living room, with piano on right, writing desk on left, and glass-fronted cabinets and bookcases along back wall.

 

            [Walter Thacher Winslow (died 1909) and Henry Forbes Bigelow (1867-1929) were in partnership in Boson, Mass., first in the firm of Winslow, Wetherell and Bigelow, and then just as Winslow and Bigelow, between 1898 and 1909.  They did work in the Back Bay, and also for the Baker Chocolate Company.]

 

 

.1         unidentified photograph, but it depicts a large room with a high, vaulted ceiling, a very large chandelier, a massive fireplace (filed with plants), ornate columns, a built-in bar with stained glass windows behind it, and table and chairs in a Renaissance or 17th century style.