Untermyer Family Slide collection

Object Details

GUID

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/kb6f76957d9-5e2d-49b8-8998-f5e1743ed1ab

Photographer

Untermyer, Samuel, II

Creator

Lord And Burnham

Former owner

Waring, John, b. 1820

Tilden, Samuel J., 1814-1886

Untermyer, Samuel, 1858-1940

Donor

Untermyer, Frank

Landscape architect

Bosworth, Welles, 1869-1966

Architect

Freelander, Joseph H., 1870-1943

Hatch, John Davis

Creator

Samuel Untermyer Park and Gardens

Place

New York (State) -- Yonkers

Greystone (Yonkers, New York)

Topic

Gardens -- New York -- Yonkers

Orchids

Sundials

Greenhouses

Rock gardens

Pergolas

Rose gardens

Vista

Vegetable gardening

Photographer

Untermyer, Samuel, II

Creator

Lord And Burnham

Former owner

Waring, John, b. 1820

Tilden, Samuel J., 1814-1886

Untermyer, Samuel, 1858-1940

Donor

Untermyer, Frank

Landscape architect

Bosworth, Welles, 1869-1966

Architect

Freelander, Joseph H., 1870-1943

Hatch, John Davis

Creator

Samuel Untermyer Park and Gardens

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Untermyer Family Slide collection

Summary

The Untermyer Family Slide Collection includes 119 glass 35mm slides documenting the grounds of Samuel Untermyer's estate, Greystone. In addition to general garden views, the images depict architectural features, vistas from the property, and interior shots of Greystone's greenhouse. The slides are not captioned or dated. The photographer was Samuel Untermyer II, the grandson of Samuel Untermyer.

Biographical/Historical note

Samuel Untermyer was born in 1858 in Lynchburg, Virginia, the son of German immigrants. Untermyer was a New York lawyer who began practicing law at 18 and was admitted to the bar in New York in 1879. He established himself as a corporation attorney and became known for corporate mergers and arranging financing for industries and real estate developments. His most famous merger was with Utah Copper Co. and the Nevada Consolidated Companies which created Bethlehem Steel. Untermyer purchased Greystone in 1899 at an auction of the estate of Samuel J. Tilden. The first owner of Greystone was John Waring, a hat manufacturer, from Yonkers, New York. The house was named Greystone for the grey granite that was quarried nearby and used to construct the house. John Davis Hatch designed the residence. Samuel J. Tilden, a lawyer and former governor of New York (1874-1876) and unsuccessful Presidential candidate against Rutherford B. Hayes (1876) bought Greystone for a summer residence in 1879. Tilden constructed a large greenhouse complex including a Lord & Burnham greenhouse. Tilden died in 1886 leaving the bulk of his estate to what was later to become the New York Public Library. His two nephews contested the will, and it took ten years to resolve the estate. Untermyer owned Greystone from 1899-1940. He hired the architect Joseph H. Freelander to remodel the mansion. The estate was 150 acres and famous for its Beaux-Arts gardens designed by William Welles Bosworth. Bosworth's gardens included the Greek Garden; a long staircase, known as the Vista, with a Hudson River view; a rock garden with an overlook called the Eagle's Nest; and an Italian-style vegetable garden constructed as five large terraces. At Untermyer's death in 1940, the estate was divided and sixteen acres donated to the city of Yonkers as "Samuel Untermyer Park and Gardens."

Extent

0.25 Cubic feet (119 glass 35mm slides; 1 photographic print (2 1/2 X 3 1/2 in). , 2" x 2")

Date

circa 1940

Archival Repository

Archives of American Gardens

Identifier

AAG.UNT

Type

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Citation

Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, Untermyer Family Slide Collection

Rights

Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.

Restrictions

Access to original archival materials by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.

Related Materials

Three photographic prints of Greystone in the Alfred Branam manuscript.

Record ID

ebl-1530043214185-1530043214202-0