Blake Estate oral history project
By: interviews conducted by Suzanne B. Riess ; Regional Oral History Office, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley,
Contributors: Blake, Igor Robert, 1928-; Thacer, George Blake, 1906-; Thacer, Helena Duryea, 1903-; Evans, Elliot A. P. 1907-; Evans, Elizabeth Janin, 1909-; Stein, Louis L., 1902-1996.; Kerr, Clark, 1911-; Riess, Suzanne B.; Kerr, Catherine Mary Spaulding, 1911-; Kittredge, Janice Rivers, 1926-1999.; Willer, Norma Florence Pidcock, 1922-; Hail, Anthony Godwin, 1924-; Brocchini, Ronald Gene, 1929-; Brocchini, Myra M., 1932-; Hitch, Charles Johnston.; Domoto, Toichi, 1902-; Vodden, Walter G., 1921-; Arbegast, M. K. 1922-; Scott, Geraldine Knight, 1904-; Holmes, Florence Louise Chilton, 1911-; Haymaker, Linda, 1951-; Bancroft Library. Regional Oral History Office.
Publisher: University of California
Published: 1988
Place of publication: Berkeley, Calif
Subjects: Blake, Anson Stiles, 1870-1959.; Blake, Anita Day Symmes, 1872-1962.; Symmes, Mabel, 1875-1962.; Blake House (Berkeley, Calif.).; University of California (System) -- History.; Gardens -- California -- Berkeley.; Blake Garden (Berkeley, Calif.).
Other titles: University history series.; A nephew's recollections, 1945-1962.; The Blake and Thacer families and history.; Friends of the Blakes.; The Blake's and the Kensington community.; The Blakes's gift to the University, 1957-1963.; Making Blake House into a graduate women's residence, 1963-1965.; Remodelling and decorating Blake House, 1967-1968.; The President's residence, 1968-1975.; Mrs. Blake and Miss Symmes, horticulturists.; Blake Garden, 1957-1986.; Mrs. Blake and the garden in the 1950s.; Long-range plans for Blake Garden, 1962-1987.; The flowers of the garden.; The historical vitality of Blake Garden.
Description: Interviews with family members, architects and landscape architects, gardeners, staff, and two presidents of the University of California to document the history of Blake House, since 1967 the University's presidential residence, and the Blake Garden, utilized by the University for teaching purposes. Inquiry into life history and personality of Anson Blake, Anita Symmes Blake, and Mabel Symmes; the University and the house, remodelling and use since 1962; the development of the gardens and their use today. Includes extensive appendices. Interviewees are: Igor Robert Blake, George Blake Thacer, Helena Duryea Thacer, Elliot A.P. Evans, Elizabeth Janin Evans, Louis L. Stein, Clark Kerr, Catherine Mary Spaulding Kerr, Janice Kittredge, Norma Willer, Anthony Godwin Hail, Ronald Gene Brocchini, Myra M. Brocchini, Charles Johnston Hitch, Toichi Domoto, Walter G. Vodden, M.K. Arbegast, Gerladine Knight Scott, Florence Holmes, and Linda Haymaker.