Fine Arts Garden Records.

Biographical/Historical note

The Cleveland Museum of Art was constructed on land donated by industrialist Jeptha Homer Wade II. This land is located in Wade Park, a large parcel that, over a number of years during the nineteenth century, was donated to the city by Wade's grandfather, Jeptha Homer Wade I. Prior to construction of the museum the park was a popular recreation area that included a lake for boating and skating, walking paths, and picnic facilities. However, construction of the museum decimated the landscape surrounding the building. For several years after the museum opened in 1916 the park was minimally maintained by the city. The unsightly bit of land between the museum and Euclid Avenue was the subject of much criticism during this time. In 1923 the Garden Club of Cleveland, whose library was housed at the art museum, appointed a committee to study the problem of beautifying the area. Through various fund raisers garden club members were able to hire the firm of landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, the designer of Central Park in New York City, to design the Fine Arts Garden. In addition, members of the club, the art museum, and community at large donated funds to commission artist Chester Beach to sculpt the "Fountain of Waters" and signs of the zodiac statues. Funds also were donated for the purchase of marble benches, terraces, and other pieces of statuary for the garden. All of the funds to establish the garden, over 400,000 dollars, came from private donations. Maintenance of the garden is funded through an endowment established by Mrs. John Sherwin, president of the Garden Club at the time the garden was planned. The garden was formally presented to the city of Cleveland by the Garden club at a dedication ceremony on July 23, 1928.

Scope and Content

This small collection consists primarily of records held by Harold T. Clark, museum attorney and president of the Board of Trustees. There is also a folder of Fine Arts Garden Commission minutes, correspondence with the Olmsted Brothers firm who designed the garden, and blueprints. Additional Fine Arts Garden material can be found in the records of the Director's office and unprocessed business office records. Microfilm of the Olmsted Brothers Firm records relating to the Fine Arts Garden is located in archives AV collections. More recent Fine Arts Garden records can be found in the Design office.

Conditions Governing Access note

Open to the public. For more information or to access this collection contact archives staff at archives2@clevelandart.org.

Subject Terms

Detailed List of Collection