Table of Contents
- Collection Summary
- Historical Note
- Scope and Content Note
- Subject Headings
- Related Material
- Administrative Information
- Access and Use
- Encoding Information
- Arrangement
- Series List
- Container List
Collection Summary
| Repository: | Archives and Special Collections Library, Vassar College Libraries |
|---|---|
| Creator: | Springside Landscape Restoration |
| Title: | Springside Landscape Restoration Records |
| Inclusive Dates: | 1870-2024 |
| Bulk Dates: | 1972-2017 |
| Quantity: | 11 cubic feet (13 boxes) |
| Abstract: | This collection consists of administrative and financial records, correspondence, and photographs created by Springside Landscape Restoration, a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and maintenance of Springside--a United States National Historic Site and the summer home of Matthew Vassar (1792-1868). Publications and writings about Springside and its designer, landscape architect Andrew Jackson Downing (1815-1852), as well as records related to Springside from its 20th-century owners, the Nelson family, are also included. |
Historical Note
The property called "Springside" was purchased by Matthew Vassar (1792-1868) in 1850, who hired notable American landscape architect Andrew Jackson Downing (1815-1852) to design the property as an ornamental farm over the next two years. The landscape and buildings were constructed based on Downing's designs over the next several years and it served as Matthew Vassar's summer home until his death in 1868. With no direct heirs and no instructions in his will as to what should become of the property, Springside changed hands several times before being purchased at auction in 1879 by William Nelson. The property remained with the Nelson family for almost a century, but by the 1960s it had fallen into disrepair and only one building, the Porter's Lodge, remained fully intact. The property was photographed by Rollie McKenna and in 1969 Springside was added to the United States National Register of Historic Places. Despite this historical site status, in 1982 developer Springside Associates (later Springside Condominiums, Inc.) received approval from the City of Poughkeepsie to build a luxury condominium complex on the historic property. This galvanized local preservationists, including Vassar faculty member Harvey Flad and local nonprofit organizations Dutchess County Landmarks Association and Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc., to petition the City of Poughkeepsie to have an environmental assessment of the property conducted and to deny Springside Associates permission to build on the property.
Springside Landscape Restoration (SLR) was formed in 1984 as part of a compromise between the preservationists, Springside Associates, and the City of Poughkeepsie. It was officially chartered as an educational non-profit by the New York State Department of Education in 1987. Part of the compromise included a subdivision of the property, with the parcel determined to be the most historic portion officially deeded to SLR in 1990. SLR has since maintained the property and undertaken a number of projects to conserve and restore Andrew Jackson Downing's original vision, including repainting and the Porter's Lodge, clearing almost 20 acres of secondary growth that was not part of Downing's vision, and protecting the site from potentially destructive development projects.
TopScope and Content Note
This collection consists of administrative and financial records, correspondence, and photographs created by Springside Landscape Restoration, a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and maintenance of Springside--a United States National Historic Site and the summer home of Matthew Vassar (1792-1868). Publications and writings about Springside and its designer, landscape architect Andrew Jackson Downing (1815-1852), as well as records related to Springside from its 20th-century owners, the Nelson family, are also included.
TopArrangement
The collection is organized into seven series: Series I. Administrative Files, 1982-2017; Series II. Grants, 1987-2005; Series III. Photographs, 1972-2006; Series IV. Site Plans and Maps, 1983-2000; Series V. Proposals, Reports, and Surveys, 1972-2023; Series VI. Writings and Publications, 1950-2017; and Series VII. Nelson Family Papers, 1870-2024. TopAccess and Use
Access
Series I. Administrative Files contains one restricted file. The rest of the collection is open for research according to the regulations of the Vassar College Archives and Special Collections Library without any additional restrictions.
Restrictions on Use
Permission to quote (publish) from unpublished or previously published material must be obtained as described in the regulations of the Vassar College Archives and Special Collections Library .
Subject Headings
Names:
- Downing, A. J. (Andrew Jackson), 1815-1852
- Flad, Harvey K., 1938-
- Vassar, Matthew, 1792-1868
Organizations:
- National Historic Landmarks Program (U.S.)
- New York (State). Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation
- Poughkeepsie (N.Y.). Common Council
Subjects:
- Historic gardens--New York (State)
- Historic preservation--New York (State)
- Historic sites--Conservation and restoration--New York (State)
Places:
- Poughkeepsie (N.Y.)
Document Types:
- Archaeological objects
- Audiocassettes
- Audiovisual materials
- Clippings (information artifacts)
- Compact discs
- Correspondence
- Financial records
- Minutes (administrative records)
- Negatives (photographs)
- Newsletters
- Photographs
- Printed ephemera
- Property records
- Site plans
VCL Categories:
- Local History
- Vassar College
Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
Springside Landscape Restoration Records, Archives and Special Collections Library, Vassar College Libraries.
Processing Information
Processed by Emma Gronbeck, June 2024.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Springside Landscape Restoration, June 2021. (M2021-007)
Series VII. Nelson Family Papers was the gift of Miles Nelson, May 2024. (M2024-009)
Series List
Series I. Administrative Files, 1982-2017 (Boxes 1-5) | |
|---|---|
| This series contains correspondence, meeting minutes, vital records, financial records, maintenance and planning records, and other materials related to the founding and operation of Springside Landscape Restoration (SLR). Included are records related to the creation of SLR in response to the proposed condominium project neighboring Springside in 1982, including communications between the City of Poughkeepsie Planning Board, Dutchess County Landmarks Association, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc., Springside Associates (later Springside Condominiums, Inc.). | |
| Arranged alphabetically by title. |
Series II. Grants, 1987-2005 (Box 5) | |
|---|---|
| This series contains grant applications, correspondence with granting organizations, and other materials related to grants and other monetary awards that Springside Landscape Restoration applied for. | |
| Arranged alphabetically by title, with a chronology of grants filed at the beginning of the sequence and general research filed at the end. |
Series III. Photographs, 1972-2006 (Box 6) | |
|---|---|
| This series contains photographic materials--including prints, negatives, and slides--of Springside and Springside Landscape Foundation activities, including cleanup projects, site documentation, and plant sales. | |
| Arranged chronologically. |
Series IV. Site Plans and Maps, 1983-2000 (Boxes 6, 11-13) | |
|---|---|
| This series contains site plans and maps of Springside, predominantly those created as part of Robert M. Toole's 1985 survey of the property and Walmsley & Company, Inc.'s 1988 survey. | |
| Organized alphabetically by creator, with miscellaneous plans filed at the end. Sub-arranged alphabetically by title. |
Series V. Proposals, Reports, and Surveys, 1972-2023 (Boxes 6-8, 10) | |
|---|---|
| This series contains surveys of Springside conducted by outside organizations, as well as proposals and reports presented to Springside Landscape Restoration by those organizations. Included are records of an archeological survey of Springside conducted in the Fall of 2001 by the Vassar College Archaeological Field School, including dozens of samples collected by the students undertaking the field study, such as fragments of rock and glass, pottery shards, bones, and iron nails. | |
| Organized into three subseries: Proposals, Reports, and Surveys - Vassar College Archaeological Field School. Sub-arranged alphabetically by title. |
Series VI. Writings and Publications, 1950-2017 (Boxes 8-9) | |
|---|---|
| This series contains writings and publications related to Springside, Springside Landscape Restoration, Andrew Jackson Downing, and other related topics. Writings include published and unpublished drafts of essays, papers, and articles, as well as notes and short writings and summaries. Publications consist primarily of clippings and newsletters, including the newsletter of Springside Landscape Restoration. | |
| Arranged alphabetically by author or title. |
Series VII. Nelson Family Papers, 1870-2024 (Boxes 9, 11) | |
|---|---|
| This series contains materials collected by Miles Nelson that document his family's ownership of the Springside property after Matthew Vassar, including property records, notes, and photographs. | |
| Arranged alphabetically by title. |
Container List
Return to the Table of Contents
Details
This collection consists of
administrative and financial records, correspondence, and photographs created by
Springside Landscape Restoration, a non-profit organization dedicated to the
preservation and maintenance of Springside--a United States National Historic
Site and the summer home of Matthew Vassar (1792-1868). Publications and
writings about Springside and its designer, landscape architect Andrew Jackson
Downing (1815-1852), as well as records related to Springside from its 20th-century
owners, the Nelson family, are also included.
