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Correspondence between Gertrude Bass Warner and General Normann Munthe
Transcript:
1928
Peking.
My dearest Mr. Murray Warner,
How perfectly adorable of you to offer so much help—personally I would have accepted it gladly & most thankfully as I quite agree with you about my husband’s requiring a longer treatment. But alas he has his own ideas on the subject & while he deeply appreciates your immense kindness in making the offer, he feels he can manage without any further assistance than he is getting now. He says a lady in Europe is constantly working for him & that he feels the benefit of her help—Between us she is new to Science & I doubt her holding the power an experienced practitioner would possess. However there it is—my husband being a Scandinavian sticks to his own view of things with a tenacity a tornado would find hard to move. Luckily is certainly much better than he was & walks about in the garden again among his beautiful old marbles. Albert is going to send off some of your curios by post which he declared is by far the best & safest way from every point of view.
Godfrey & I are now going by sail via Mukden, leaving on Thursday morning 19th of April & due to arrive in Kobe at half past 8 on April 22 (Sunday). We propose to stay at the Oriental Hotel which I was old was very good. It would be lovely if you were staying there too. I do so want to see your dear sweet face again & thank you personally for your wonderful kindness. We ere delighted with your friend from the “Resolute”. She came for tea yesterday.
With much love from us all
Yours gratefully
Alexandra S. Munthe
8/4 1928
End of transcript.
Transcribed by Tom Fischer.
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Correspondence between Gertrude Bass Warner and General Normann Munthe
Transcript:
Western Union
Send the following message, subject to the terms on back hereof, which are hereby agreed to
March 28, 1927 19
To General Munthe
Street and No. ____________
Place Peking China
Please send invoice and age certificate for six packages parcel post.
Warner
Sender’s address for reference
Sender’s telephone number
End of transcript.
Transcribed by Tom Fischer.
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Correspondence between Gertrude Bass Warner and General Normann Munthe
Transcript:
79 West 8th Ave.
LETS US CALL FOR YOUR TELEGRAMS. MESSENGERS FURNISHED PROMPTLY FOR TELEGRAMS AND PARCEL DELIVERY. PHNE 12 OFFICE 79 8TH AVENUE WEST.
1923
2POB 905AM 19
PEKING 20
LCO GERTRUDE WARNER
UNIVERSITY
EUGENE OGN.
SHIPMENTS UNAVOIDABLY DELAYED FREIGHT LEFT SHANGHAI 28 FEBRUARY MAIL PARCELS 9 MARCH GREETINGS.
MUNTH.
Send shipment by freight not by mail greetings
Warner
End of transcript.
Transcribed by Tom Fischer.
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Correspondence between Gertrude Bass Warner and John Calvin Ferguson
Transcript:
The Devon
70 West 55th St.
New York
Sept 8, 1944
My dear Gertrude,
Immediately on my arrival I telegraphed you that I had had a comfortable journey and that I found Mary very well. The trip from Portland to Chicago was easier than I had expected, for I was able to secure a room in place of my lower berth and this made it possible for me to relax more than I would have been able to do so in an open car. Many thanks to you for providing such good accommodations for me.
I missed you and the Museum very much all the way across the Continent but the more I thought of my stay with you in Eugene the more grateful I was that I had made the trip. It was a great delight for me to see and handle the [familiar] art objects. It was good of you to give me carte blanche in the arrangement of the rooms and I hope that the public, when it sees on Sept 24 what has been done, will be pleased. The large Hall in which are the two thrones is very imposing and impressive, and so also are the North and South Galleries. The Mezzanine Gallery will be a new spectacle as also will be the new China Borders Gallery.
The day after arrival I visited my brother’s widow who had come up from Florida during my absence. She is in a wheel-chair, cannot walk, is blind and her hearing is impaired but she is cheerful and seems happy. I could not help contrasting her feeble condition with your rigorous health for which you must thank God every day.
Mary joins in love to you. Please remember me & [M Somer], Mr. Reynolds, to Mr. Grim and Mrs. Hodum in the Hotel and to Miss Keruz. I hope that Mrs. Tellus is proving to be an appreciable companion,
Yours as ever,
John
End of transcript.
Transcribed by Tom Fischer.
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Correspondence between Gertrude Bass Warner and John Calvin Ferguson
Transcript:
Answered Jan 4-‘44
Boston, Mass 28 1943
Dec 13 12-M
Mrs. Gertrude B. Warner
Osburn Hotel
Eugene
Oregon
John C Ferguson
c/o Mrs. Luther M. Ferguson
497 Boylston Street
Brookline, Massachusetts
The Devon
70 West 55th St.
New York
July 20, 1944
My dear Gertrude,
This is only a short note to tell you that I am expecting to leave tomorrow evening on my journey to visit you. According to schedule, I should be in Vancouver a week from this morning. My address there will be c/o Mr. John Clyne,
3738 Angus Drive, but I shall not expect an letter from you unless something unusual arises.
I have sent a suit-case to you by Railway Express and have also sent a parcel of books by post. Possibly you may receive these before y arrival.
I am looking forward with keenness to seeing you and [Michael] very soon. With love to you,
As ever
John
End of transcript.
Transcribed by Tom Fischer.
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Correspondence between Gertrude Bass Warner and John Calvin Ferguson
Transcript:
The Devon
70 West 55th St.
New York
June 26, 1944
My dear Gertrude,
At last I have been able to secure accommodation and am to leave New York on July 21st via the Canadian Pacific R.R. This will put me in Seattle on July 27th and in Eugene on the 28th. The difficulty of ordinary travel has been accentuated by the incidence of the Two Party Conventions in Chicago and by the arrival of the wounded from France and Italy so that I have found best to take the C.P.R.
I was greatly disappointed not have seen you again before you left. I arrived at the Hotel at the hour we had arranged but found that you had checked out of your room. Very sorry. Hope that you had a comfortable trip across the Continent.
Mary joins in love to you. My best regards to [M Somer]. Expecting to see you in a month,
Affectionately
John
End of transcript.
Transcribed by Tom Fischer.
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Correspondence between Gertrude Bass Warner and John Calvin Ferguson
Transcript:
April 24th,1944
My dear John:
I have reservations on the trains for New York and I expect to arrive there on Wednesday, May 10th. I have always stayed at the Hotel Roosevelt, 45th at Madison Avenue and am writing today for reservations.
After I arrive,I [sic] shall get in touch with you and we can make plans for your trip to Oregon. I am looking forward with much pleasure to seeing and visiting with you and Mary.
Sincerely,
Gertrude Bass Warner
Dr John C Ferguson
The Devon
70 West 55th Street
New York City, N.Y.
End of transcript.
Transcribed by Tom Fischer.
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Correspondence between Gertrude Bass Warner and John Calvin Ferguson
Transcript:
The Devon
70 West 55th St.
New York
March 29, 1944
My dear Gertrude,
Your telegram duly reached me and I replied at once you should make your dentist [?] appointments and that we could make plans for my visit after your dentistry was finished. After your invitation to visit you first came my plans were complicated by the passing of my third sister at the age of 85. My second sister had passed shortly before Mary and I reached home on the “Gripsholm” at 87. We have been planning for their internment but have not yet settled upon dates. Furthermore my brother in Florida who is 82 is not at all well and his wife has been critically ill. All of these circumstances have combined to make it inconvenient for me to carry out my original intention of spending April with you and when your telegram arrived I did not feel justified in holding out hopes to you of coming in the immediate future so that there seemed no reason for you not attending to you dentistry first and having my visit at a subsequent date. It may be possible therefore that I shall see you in the East before I am able to pay you a visit in Eugene. After your dentistry in Boston is finished you may be able to spend some time with us here in New York. We can get you a room here in this Hotel where we can be near.
Mary is busy with her work in the United China Relief and I have been making some addresses. Every one [sic] is as busy as bees and there is more or less of confusion both in plans and their creation.
Mary joins in much love to you and in the hope that we shall see you soon,
Yours affectionately
John
End of transcript.
Transcribed by Tom Fischer.
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Correspondence between Gertrude Bass Warner and John Calvin Ferguson
Transcript:
March 14th,1944
Dr John C Ferguson
Devon Hotel
70 West 55th Street
New York City, N.Y.
My dear John:
Your letter of Feb 27th in which you say you will come out and go over the painting, pleases me very much. I shall be glad to have you come here whenever you can arrange it. June, July, and August are very nice here as far as the weather is concerned but there is very little going on in the community at that time. It is the summer school at the University and this summer there will probably be less than 500 students.
I havenno [sic] plans for summer except that sometime between April 1st and Nov.1st, am going east to see Sam and his family in Washington,D.C. [sic]
Everything else being equal, the sooner you can come the better I would like it because we are anxious to have a visit with you.
Please give my best wishes to Mary and please wire me when you know when you are coming.
Mrs [sic] Perkins,who [sic] was with me in China, is coming up from California to be here when you are here. She writes me that she has been rereading her diaries of her trips to China.
Sincerely yours,
End of transcript.
Transcribed by Tom Fischer.
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Correspondence between Gertrude Bass Warner and John Calvin Ferguson
Transcript:
Aeron Hotel, 70 West 55th St.
New York Feb 27. 1944
My dear Gertrude,
Of course I will come out to Eugene and go over your paintings for you if you want me to do so. I am not sure yet as to the time when I could come for I have an engagement to go to Toronto for which the date has not yet been definitely fixed but it will probably be about the middle of June though there is a possibility that it might be in April. As soon as that date is settled I shall let you know. Would it make any difference to you whether I came in April or in the summer or in the autumn. Perhaps summer vacation might be the best time unless perchance you plan to spend that season elsewhere. At any rate you can count on my coming and the only question to settle is the time. I shall love to do this work for you and while I am with you I can make two or three [] if you would like me to do so.
You will not need to make any preparations for my coming We can take some paintings wherever necessary and remove the glass or frames.
Mary has taken the position of Programme [sic] Director of the United China Relief Inc. and we have rented a small apartment at the address which you find at the head of my first sheet. It is a very responsible position but one for which she is well-fitted. As for me I am trying by speeches and interviews to do what I can for China.
I hope that your strength is bearing up against the pressure of the years. Mary joins me in much love to you.
Yours as ever
John
End of transcript.
Transcribed by Tom Fischer.
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Correspondence between Gertrude Bass Warner and John Calvin Ferguson
Transcript:
January 4th,1944.
My dear John:
I was very glad to receive your note and to know that you are well enough to be going to Norfolk, Virginia for Christmas. I have thought of you so often the last two years and have wondered how you are Mary were getting along. I am much relieved that you are now back in the United States.
I have been in Eugene since the first of July. My son Sam lives at 4440 Garfield Street, N.W. Washington, 7, D.C. I found Washington very unsatisfactory for me this summer and am hoping that Sam will be back in Cambridge soon and then I can see something of him and his family.
Have you any reason to think that you will be coming to the Pacific Coast this spring. If so I hope you will give me a chance to see you. I could meet you anyplace on the coast. I would have to know ahead so that since I am a civilian, I could get a reservation. If you could stop in Eugene that would even be better.
Give my best wishes to Mary and Dolly.
Yours as ever,
Gertrude Bass Warner
End of transcript.
Transcribed by Tom Fischer.
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Correspondence between Gertrude Bass Warner and John Calvin Ferguson
Transcript:
c/o Mrs. Luther M. Ferguson
497 Boylston Street
Brookline, Massachusetts
Dec. 13, 1943
My dear Gertrude,
Your kind telegram must have gone into the hands of the censor for it has only just reached me. I came up here from New York two days ago and was about to call up your son Sam & inquire about you when your message came. The days have gone b in a whirl since we landed from the Gripsholm. Mary and I stayed in New York for ten days getting our things in order. She is still there. We are expecting to go to Norfolk Va. To spend Christmas with Florence.
I am most anxious to hear form and to know how you are. The separation of the last two years has been cruel but I hope that you are keeping up your usual strength.
My love to you and all best wishes for Christmas and the New Year,
As ever
John
End of transcript.
Transcribed by Tom Fischer.
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Correspondence between Gertrude Bass Warner and John Calvin Ferguson
Transcript:
Feb 10th,1944
My Dear John:
When you visited me in Eugene some years ago you said that the next time that you came thru that you would like to go over the Chinese paintings in the Museum.
I had been planning to see you this summer and talk this over with you, but we keep hearing that transportation to the west coast may be difficult by summer due to the coming offensive in the Pacific Ocean. So I have a proposition to make to you: we have 182 painting in the Museum Collection and I would like to have you come out to Eugene and look them over for me. I will pay all expenses and what ever [sic] you consider right for the time spent in going over the paintings. If you could come about the first of April, the worst of the rainy season should be over. At the Osburn Hotel the food is good and there is plenty of heat in the rooms. The Museum Building is one mile from the hotel and there is adequate taxi srvice [sic].
If you feel that you could come, we would like to make some preparations for our coming such as removing the glass from the framed and glassed pictures. If you would like this done, we would have it done before you arrive.
You may recall that when you were here, you thought one of the paintings might be a Tang, but the time was to go over it because it was framed, glassed, and bolted to the wall.
I hope this will work out with your plans and that you can spare the time to come. I looking forward with much pleasure to seeing you and also having a visit with you.
Sincerely
Your old friend,
Gertrude Bass Warner
End of transcript.
Transcribed by Tom Fischer.
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Correspondence between Gertrude Bass Warner and John Calvin Ferguson
Transcript:
John C. Ferguson to Mrs. Gertrude Bass Warner
Canadian Pacific Steamship Lines
World’s Greatest Travel System
Quebec, Empress of Britain
R.M.S. Empress of Russia
April 1, 1939
Dear Gertrude,
Thanks for your dear message which I found waiting for me when I came aboard. You are indeed a good friend. I enjoyed my stay in Eugene more than I can tell you. These days it is good to have someone to whom I can turn for comfort.
I have a good cabin to myself and am glad to see again the friendly face of a Chinese cabin boy who, I know, will look after my every want. There are only a few passengers so that I can look forward to a quiet time on the trip.
With much love to you and every thanks and kind regards to M & Samuel,
As ever,
John
(From John C. Ferguson)
End of transcript.
Transcribed by Tom Fischer.
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Correspondence between Gertrude Bass Warner and John Calvin Ferguson
Transcript:
3 Hsi-Chiao Hutung
Peping, China
May 14, 1932.
My dear Gertrude,
It was a very great pleasure and relief to receive your letter written at Tucson April 13th. I had had no reply to the letter which I sent you on November 18th of last year telling you that I was forwarding a copy of my new book until I received from the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank on March 11th a statement that they had been instructed by their San Francisco Office to pay me the sum of $300 sent by your good self. I did not write you when I received this money for the reason that I expected every day to have a letter from you and now that your letter has arrived I quite understand the reasons of your delay. You have surely had a hard winter and I should wish that we were near at hand so that we could express our sympathy with you in a more real manner than we can do by writing. We had not heard of the fall which you had in Belmont. At our age such accidents are no longer trifle and they need careful attention. You are so good to your mother and to all the members of your family that you never spare yourself. In this instance you should have been attending to your own trouble occasioned by the fall instead of making your plans so as to be with your mother and sister-in-law. However, by the time this reaches you I hope that you will be fully recovered. If not, by all means go to some quiet place where you can have the benefit of medicinal baths or Violet-ray treatments. It depends upon the nature of your trouble as to which of these two methods, the dry or the wet, will suit you best but surely either one of the other will be of great benefit to you. Both of them are remedies provided by nature and I am sure that you will have no hesitation in using one or the other.
I am glad that you like my book. Laufer of Chicago, Yetts of London and Pelliot of Paris all spoke highly of it. In China it is considered to be the most beautiful book that has ever been produced. It was the ambition of Mr. Kuo and myself to make a book which would be a worthy record of the beauties of the wonderful porcelains of the Sung, Yüan and Ming periods. If we are to have colored illustrations they should be as perfect as possible and those in our book seem to me to do justice to the beauty of the original objects. One of my artistic Chinese friends told me that he would as soon have a copy of this book as a collection of the porcelains themselves, for the illustrations in the book represented the objects perfectly and furthermore he could handle the book more easily than the objects.
Last year I published the second part of a supplement to the Catalogue of Bronzes in the collection of the emperor Ch’ien Lung and by parcel post I am sending you a copy of it. This collection contains all of the bronzes that are shown in the Government Museum. You will remember seeing some of them on the raised dais in the main building and the rest in the small building on the left hand side as you enter the enclosure. The leaflet which I am sending you herewith explains the way in which the great catalogue was produced. You can leave this book in the Library of your Museum or present it to the Library of the University just as you choose.
China has been having very hard times lately and the end does not yet seem in sight. I continue to hope for the best in the political reconstruction of the country but even if that does not come there is plenty to keep me busy in my literary and artistic studies. The last four years since I have been free from governmental responsibilities have been delightful to me. Peking is an ideal place for working and I am able to spend most of my working hours without interruption.
We are all well. Mary Jr. stands up under her work better than ever before. Her vacation in America was exactly what she needed not only to cure her trouble but to give her a reserve of strength. The two Marys join me in dearest love to yourself and hoping that this letter will you quite well again.
As ever,
John
End of transcript.
Transcribed by Tom Fischer.
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Correspondence between Gertrude Bass Warner and John Calvin Ferguson
Transcript:
3 Hsi-Chiao HutungPeping, China
November 18, 1931.
My dear Gertrude,
I am sending you by parcel post a copy of the new book on porcelains of the Sung and Ming dynasties which has been prepared by Mr. Kuo and myself. It has taken us about five years to do this work, but I think you will agree with me when you see the book that it has been worth while [sic]. It is the most beautiful production that has ever been made in China and the contents will be new to the world. On account of our knowledge of the collection of the palace Mr. Kuo and I have been able to verify the colors of the various wares of these two dynasties in such as it has not been possible for anyone else to do for at least two hundred years. The cost is Mex.$300, which is now about U.S.$100, but even at this high price Mr. Kuo and I will not recoup ourselves. All of the work in this book has been done in China by Chinese with the exception of what I have done it is a fine example of what can be done in China with patience and persistence.
I recently purchased two paintings for you, both of the Southern Sung dynasty period. Enclosed I am sending you a description of them. Please let me know whether or not you want them and if so whether I shall send them as they are or have them mounted for you. I bought the two of them for a song, i.e. Mex$500,. If you do not want them I will keep them for myself.
Mary and I have been disappointed at not going to American during the last year but were obliged to change all our plans on account of Mary’s illness. It has all turned out for the best, for Mary is now well and will soon be back with us to resume her work in the P.U.M.C.. I am afraid that she will not be able to see you, for the doctor gave her strict orders to make no unnecessary detours. She is due to leave Vancouver January 2nd on the Empress of Canada. When she arrives and we see how she is Mary and I will make our minds about going home and then we shall be able to send you or definite plans.
Mary joins me with much love to you.
As ever,
John
End of transcript.
Transcribed by Tom Fischer.
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Correspondence between Gertrude Bass Warner and John Calvin Ferguson
Transcript;
3 Hsi-Chiao Hutung
Peping, China
February 20, 1930.
My dear Gertrude,
The American Express Co. has started a very good new plan by which one is notified the name of the ship on which things are sent and the date of the sailing of the ship. You will see from the enclosed post card that your things left Taku Bar on February 15th on the S.S. Washington and that they should reach the Pacific Coast about the same time as this letter.
Hoping that you have reached home safely and that these things which I have shipped to you arrive in good condition,
Yours as ever,
John C. Ferguson
Enc.
End of transcript.
Transcribed by Tom Fischer.
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Correspondence between Gertrude Bass Warner and John Calvin Ferguson, with enclosed postcard
Transcript:
3 Hsi-Chiao Hutung
Peping, China
February 14, 1930.
My dear Gertrude,
I have just received from the American Express Co. the enclosed post card. It seems that the American Express Co. at their Seattle address and arrange with them for its delivery to Miss Dodson. I am sure I do not know why they sent it to Seattle instead of sending it to New York, but perhaps it was for the reason that they were collecting their charges from you and that on account of your residence it would be easier to make the collection in Seattle than in their New York office.
With much love,
Yours as ever,
John
Enc.
The American Express Co. Inc.
Grang Hotel des Wagons-Lits,
Peking, China.
Peking 2/13/30
File Ref. E-3833
Dr. John C. Ferguson,
Peking.
Your shipment said to consist of 1 c/s cont. 1 rubbing. 2 honorific tablets. 1 pr. Scrolls. consigned to Ms. S. L. Dodson, 306 West Lenoir St. Kinston, North Carolina was forward from Taku Bar per s/s/ “Golden Wall” information sailed February 7th, 1930. Consignee should apply for delivery to: American Express Co., 804 Third Ave., Seattle, Wash., U.S.A.
Yours truly,
The American Express Co., Inc.,
Shipping Department
Carte Postale-Chine
中華民國郵政明信片
右邊只寫收信人明星住址
Dr. John C. Ferguson
3 Hsi Chiao Hutung, Peking.
End of transcript.
Transcribed by Tom Fischer.
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Correspondence between Gertrude Bass Warner and John Calvin Ferguson
Transcript:
3 Hsi-Chiao Hutung
Peping, China
February 8, 1930.
My dear Gertrude,
Your cablegram stating that you were on the President McKinley bound for San Francisco was the first new we have had from you since you left. When the message arrived I noted that it was marked as having come from Shanghai. This puzzled me at first until I bethought myself that you had probably asked the Purser of the ship to forward the message for you through the Dollar Office in Shanghai. We were hoping for a letter from Japan telling us of you experiences in Tientsin, in Korea and on the railway, but now we shall be obliged to wait until our letter from the ship arrives telling us all about what you have done. It seems only a short time since you and Mrs. Perkins arrived in Peking and now, as I am writing, you are homeward across the Pacific.
I have enquired from the American Express Company concerning your things in Tientsin and they have informed me that there has been no trouble. I have asked them to enquire the date of sailing and the name of the steamer on which they were shipped to Portland. I hope that they will all reach you in good order.
We all join in much love to you and in kind regards to Mrs. Perkins,
Yours as ever,
John
End of transcript.
Transcribed by Tom Fischer.
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Correspondence between Gertrude Bass Warner and John Calvin Ferguson
Transcript:
History, Museum).
(To J.C. Ferguson
July 21,1932.
My dear John,
When your good letter reached me in Tucson,I sat down and wrote to Mary thinking that you would both see the letter and that I would write you later when plans for my mother were settled. The question was [whether] to take her to the Pacific coast or back to Peterboro for the summer.
Mother wanted to go back to her old home and Robert and his children also wanted to spend the summer in Peterboro. I told Robert that if he decided to take the family to the Pacific coast that I would go along and do what I could but if they went to Peterboro I could not run the risk of another setback for my knee. They decided on Peterboro and went on with out me. I stayed on in Tucson fr six weeks in the great heat and then came on here. There were no bad effects from the journey. I am enjoying the cooler temperature, the bracing air, the change of scencery [sic] and not being alone, as Miss Klockars from our museum joined me in Tucson.
Of course I do not like to be curtailed in my activities but Iam [sic] glad not be at Eugene at this time. The University and the State College have had a big row for sometime because both institutions want to teach some of the same subjects which is a duplication of effort and expense. The State Board of Higher Education was established when these things became too unpleasant. Some of the members are siding with the University and some with the College. It looks as tho [sic] they will let both presidents go and get a man from the East who will superintend both institutions.
As for the Museum: the Dean of the school of architecture, Dean Lawrence, planned the building and he did not have the collection in as much as his architectural plan. The president Arnold Bennet Hall has seemed to be under his thumb. I think it is possible that the president agree to let the Dean have his own way, so that the Dean would stay on when he was offered a position elsewhere. The Dean did not make a change and the difference of opinion is over the fron [sic] entrance which is a double door thirteen feet high which has no portico outside the door and no entry inside and faces west. The door is of glass with a fretwork of steel. The sun pours in in summer and when the doors are open the rain comes in the lobby. Our rainy season lasts about eight months. I am waiting to see if we get another president who will be more grateful for the gift, more appreciative of Oriental art and who will let me do what I think is necessary to preserve the paintings.
When Fall comes there will be the problem of what to do with my mother that is if she is not able to go to Tucson. It would be very undesirable for her to spend the winter either in Peterboro, Boston, or Chicago. Edith, Robert’s wife, who has tuberculosis, is spending the second summer in Tucson and of course before long Robert will have to go back there to look after her. Then it looks to me as tho [sic] it was going to be up to me to take charge of Mother, if she is unable to return to Tucson. Anyway I am most thankful that my knee is so much better and that I do not feel so helpless anymore.
Thank you so very much for the book describing the bronzes. The package arrived about a month ago and was placed in the Museum. Now that I am located, I have sent for it.
Clinton Jansen and his family are living here in Denver. I had a short visit with Clinton the other day when he was down from the mountains. He and his sister May look very much alike. I was struck with it when I saw him after a lapse of so many years.
Dr [sic] Harold J. Noble and Schuyler Southwell are starting for the Orient the first of the month. Dr Noble was born and raised in Korea and he teaches the History of China and Japan at the University of Oregon. Mr [sic] Southwell is a student of Architecture at the University, He is much interested in Chinese architecture and has won the Museum essay prize and this prize money is providing this trip under the supervision of Dr. Noble. I am sending them a letter of introduction to you and Mary. He is a very pleasant man and I feel sure that you will both like him but please do not let them be of any trouble.
When are you and Mary coming home?
With Love to you all,
From you old friend,
End of transcript.
Transcribed by Tom Fischer.
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Correspondence between Gertrude Bass Warner and John Calvin Ferguson
Transcript:
3 Hsi-Chiao Hutung
Peking, China
July 2, 1929.
My dear Gertrude,
I received a few days ago notice from the National City Bank that you had sent a telegraphic transfer of $2,200 in payment of things which I purchased for you. Many thanks for the remittance. I had had a cablegram from you two weeks earlier asking when the goods were shipped and I replied at once that they had been shipped on the SS. Nevada on May 6th. You asked to have them sent on a steamer direct to Portland so as to avoid transshipping and it is evident that the American Express o could not find an earlier steamer though I had sent the things from Peking to Tientsin early in April. I understood your anxiety in the matter, for you were probably planning to go east and wanted to see the things before you left. They must have been already in Portland when you telegraphed but you had not yet had a notification about the,
My two Marys are in Peitaiho and I am expecting to go down tomorrow. Last summer we had no vacation and this year I am later in going than I had hoped, for I made a trip to Nanking to be present at the fortieth anniversary of the founding of Nanking University on June 24th. I am glad to get away, for after two years of continuous work I feel somewhat tired.
Are you planning to come out this winter? If not, do you want me to get more things for you and what kinds of things do you want? You know that you can always count upon me for help in getting the things that you want.
My kindest regards to your mother and all best wishes for yourself. When you see Sam please remember also to him.
Yours as ever,
John
End of transcript.
Transcribed by Tom Fischer.
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Correspondence between Gertrude Bass Warner and John Calvin Ferguson
Transcript:
Postal Telegraph-Commercial Cables
Clarence H. MacKay, President
Telegrams to All America
Cablegrams to all the World
The MacKay System
Postal Telegraph Commerical Cables
“The Pulse of the World”
This is a full-rate Telegram or Cablegram unless otherwise indicated by signal in the check or in the address.
Blue—Day Letter
NL—Night Letter
Nite—Night Telegram
LCO—Deferred
NLT—Cable Letter
WLT—Week End Letter
Received at
21 East 8 th
Standard Time Indicated on This Message
5POB 7 Cable
Peping 520PM
Warner
Eugen OGN.
Steamer Nevada May Sixth.
John.
817AM.
This Cable Received at Eugen, OGN., June 10th, 1929 at 817AM. 21 East 8th.
Reply Postal Telegraph
End of transcript.
Transcribed by Tom Fischer.
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Correspondence between Gertrude Bass Warner and John Calvin Ferguson
Transcript:
MWCh32
June 27, 1929.
My dear John:
I have lots of things to tell you: I was here for six months working away in the museum at all sorts of things. I kept at it very steadily as that is the only way to get things done, especially when you have a lot to do. Then I went to Los Angeles to see George, making a three days [sic] stop in San Francisco to visit Mr. and Mrs. Bliss whom you used to know. Whenever I have been back there at Mrs. Bliss’ home she has kept me in touch with my old friends, inviting them to dinner and lunch and doing it for as many days as I was there. That has been extremely nice for me.
From Los Angeles I went to Chicago and spent a week with my mother. Then I went to New York and from there to the Museum Conference which was held in Philadelphia. They have a wonderful new museum there, the Philadelphia Museum, and I think the building is better adapted to the modern idea of a museum than the Metropolitan which has had addition put on it from time to time, which, in my opinion is never so good as the larger idea to start with. They are going to have rooms for the different countries, one after another, starting from the Medetaranean [sic] going along down the line from country to country till they reached China and Japan. I noticed there was quite a collection of your friend, Mr. Bullard’s rugs. Those that I examined did not begin to compare with those you got for me.
Returning to New York I received an invitation from President Hall of the University of Oregon to return to the University in time for Commencement to receive an honorary degree-Master of Arts in Public Service. To you have received all kinds of honors from all over the world, this will not seem to be much but to me it is the first recognition of my public service and in receiving it I did not forget the kind, true friend who has done so much towards bringing it about. Gratitude for what we do should not seem to us essential but it certainly encourage us to go on, especially when we have to climb over a rocky bit of ground.
From the moment I leave here work begins to pile up for me to do when I get back. I’ve been working like a Trojan ever since June 10th, in an effort to get all the present needs attended to before going away. This is especially urgent just now because the first unit of the Fine Arts building will be started very soon. The bids are supposed to be open the 27th. This unit is to house my collection and they have done very well in planning to house it. In order to keep me on the job they have made me “Director for Life”, and I already find that I have problems that I did not have before the appointment, in planning for the museum policy and all tht sort of thing.
Last Friday I was in Portland at the Custom-house getting the shipment that you sent me, through They took the covers off the boxes. When I saw the way the big table was packed, I wondered if John didn’t have a hand in that as it was very nicely done. They unrolled one painting and seeing that, made me send for a carpenter to have a picture molding put around both my rooms and presently I am going to have a feast for the eye. Its [sic] wonderful for you to do all this for me, and I can’t begin to tell you how grateful I am. I will finish this letter after I have seen the pictures.
Sam and his family, (you know there is Sam, Jr., now aged one year and five months) have left Syracuse. They have taken a cottage for the summer at Sagamore Beach, waydown [sic] at the southern end of the Massachusetts coast There is a hotel near them Bradford Arms, Mrs. Perkins and I are going there between August 18th and September 7th. We were a little slow in getting accommodations, which prevented out [sic] getting them for a longer period. While we are East we will visit the Art Institute, the Field Museum, the Philadelphia museum, the Metropolitan and the Boston museums, which will give us a very interesting trip.
In the Fall, Sam is returning to Harvard to be in the Research Department of the Harvard Law School. They are building themselves a house at Belmont. I think I’ve told you this before.
I had twenty-four hours in Syracuse while I was East, and when I asked Sam what he thought of my building a house next door to him he was not very strongly in favor of it because it would tie me down, and interfere more or less with my museum activities, as well as curtailing my visits with you and with my other friends on the other side of pacific.
There are at least a million things, more or less, that I would like to have you tell me. Please answer some of them in your next letter.
June 28, 1929:
The pictures were very carefully packed. I had them sent to my hotel and I have had them up on the walls of my two rooms. These and the room next to my suite have given me enough wall space to hang them up and study and compare them-I wonder how you would judge them in their order of merit. I head the list with the little portrait of the man and his wife-which you de scribes as “Figures” by Ts’ui Tzu-chung, Ming dynasty, early 17th century (see Waley’s Index p. 88).
Next I place No. 15, “Travellers in Autumn Hills” by an unknow [sic] artist of the Ming dynasty -a perfectly lovely picture.
Next I place “The Hua Ch’ing Palace”, by Hsiao Ch’en, Ch’ing dynasty, late 17th century. That, it seems to me is a birthday celebration. It is a beautiful picture with much of interest in it.
Then No. 4, “Birds” by Lü Chi, Ming dynasty, early 16th century (See Waley’s Index p. 64) The mother bird is teaching the little birds to sing. This one I am keeping for myself.
No. 16, “The Scholar’s Retreat,” I am going to send to Sam.
Then the album of beautiful little paintings and the roll painting,-this last I am greatly tempted to keep for myself.
There is no. 7, “Creaction’s Plan” [sic] showing the symbolism of the yang and the Yin; and No. 14, “Kuan Kung”, a sketch. This, to me, represents a man inviting the birds to drink, from the bird dish which he is indicating. And, No. 6, “The Four Graybeards”, by Ts’ai Shao, a Ming dynasty reproduction of a Sung painting -these are the village gossips; then, “Watching a Waterfall”, with a donkey that would not cross the bridge.
I wonder if this is the way that you would classify them! I am so glad that you love the old Chinese paintings as I do, and get the same joy out of them. I wonder what you have up now in your home. I am ever so happy to have these, and to send one of them to Sam, and to keep two.
The other boxes I’ll not open just now, much as I want to.
I am greatly pleased with the pictures and thank you ever so much for collecting them for me. I hope the money sent by cable, reached you safely.
Please tell me the news-How things are going; how you all are, etc. etc. etc.
Love to Mary and to Mary Jr., and to you from
Your old friend
End of transcript.
Transcribed by Tom Fischer.
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Correspondence between Gertrude Bass Warner and John Calvin Ferguson
Transcript:
(MWCH32:)19 Hankow Road
Shanghai
November 16, 1928.
My dear Gertrude,
I have been in Shanghai the last two months as you will know from my letter. Immediately on the receipt of your cablegram “Purchase red” I arranged to send the beautiful piece of k’o ssu to you by a registered parcel post. It will probably have reached you before this letter.
I have also taken the liberty of sending you a box containing 12 Chinese paintings, a list of which I am herewith enclosing. We have talked over this matter frequently and I know that you have wanted to secure some paintings which would be a credit to your Museum. Since I came to Shanghai I found a collection belonging to a friend which I helped him to secure about fifteen or twenty years ago. He is now very hard up and has needed money. Knowing as I did what he paid for the pictures originally and from whom he purchased them, I felt that I was on safe ground in arranging to buy them. Out of his collection I selected twelve and by hook and crook I arranged the price so that the whole lot would amount to Mex.$3,000 [sic]. You will see from the list the price of each one of the pictures and I am sure you will agree with me when you open the box and look at the pictures that I have secured a great bargain.
My reason for taking advantage of the liberty without first writing to you was that there seems some probability of an embargo being placed upon the shipment of Chinese pictures abroad after January 1st. I am enclosing to you a clipping from the North China Daily News stating what the Provincial Government of Hopei (the new name of Chihli province) is proposing to do at Tientsin. It is quite possible that similar steps will be taken in Shanghai on January 1st and in order that your Museum should at least have the chance of having a few good Chinese paintings I have purchased the lot, and have paid for them. You may think that I have taken great liberty in doing so and I quite agree with you, but I am sure also that you will approve of what I have done. It was a rare chance and I did not want to miss it.
Tomorrow I am going to Peking and would like to have you wire me after you receive these pictures simply say “Ferguson Peking Pleased” and I will know that you approve of what I have done. If you do not approve, please hold on to the pictures until you hear from me, for I can easily sell them to dealers and make a good profit on them.
This will reach you just at Christmas time and together with the children and grandchildren here I join in sending love to you and yours. I will write you again after reaching Peking.
As ever,
John
Encs.
[omitted]
End of transcript.
Transcribed by Tom Fischer.
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Correspondence between Gertrude Bass Warner and John Calvin Ferguson
Transcript:
19 Hankow Road
Shanghai
December 21, 1928.
My dear Gertrude,
Your telegram from Eugene has been relaid [sic] to me from Peping [sic]and has just reached me. I am glad to know you are so pleased with the pictures (MWCh32:), for it is always an uncertainty as to whether what pleases one person will please another. The paintings that I sent you were all good even though they are not signed by great masters. So often these signatures and seals have little meaning and it is always the painting itself which counts. I do not know whether or not you had already seen the pictures when you cabled me, but if not I am sure that you will be more delighted than ever when you see them. I will keep in mind your request to spend another $2,000 for you and it is possible that either here or in Peping I may be able to find some more picture which will please you.
You will not find it much trouble to have them framed and covered with glass, though by rolling up both ends you would be able to exhibit them as they are on the wall of any room which did not have too low a ceiling. Personally I favor putting them into frame and cutting off all the surroundings which often detract from the beauty of the pictures.
Again I am not to be home at Christmas or new Year’s but will spend the days with the children and grandchildren here. The two Marys will be by themselves in Peping but they will not be alone, for we have invited a goodly number of foot-loose people to dinner in our house.
Much love to you and all good wishes for the New Year which is so near at hand and will be already passed before this reaches you.
As ever,
John
End of transcript.
Transcribed by Tom Fischer.