Mabel Anderson to Cary T. Grayson
Title
Mabel Anderson to Cary T. Grayson
Creator
Anderson, Mabel
Identifier
WWP16881
Date
1937 October 7
Description
Mabel Anderson briefs Cary T. Grayson on the Society of the Cincinnati in Washington and asks for advice regarding a house the society has been given.
Source
Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia
Language
English
Text
Dear Admiral Grayson
Being a member of your Red Cross committee and having worked for the Red Cross as a nurse at the front during the war, I take the liberty of writing you. Also, because my husband always spoke so nicely about you.
I have just heard from Mr. Gist Blair that he has spoken to you in regard to headquarters for the Society of the Cincinnati in Washington, and that you might be willing to say a good word on the subject to the President who is a member of the Society.
It seems the Society, while the oldest Patriotic Society in the country, will be unable to accept our house and contents as a gift unless it is exempt from taxes. It has been suggested that the net receipts from this museum when opened to the public go to the City of Washington. Most of the relics belonging to the Society are now in vaults and never seen. The house also might be at the disposal of the State Department for distinguished guests of the nation through the Society.
They are hoping that the bill in Congress may pass because the gift might not only be of benefit to the Society but to the City as well as to the Nation.
No doubt Mr. Blair can explain anything to you better than I can tell you, and, of course, if you should care to help in any way it would be appreciated by all.
The assessed value of the house and land was reduced this year to $549,799. The contents of the house were appraised by the American Art Association (Anderson Galleries, Inc.) for inheritance tax purposes at $105,856.50. Of course if the Society took it over and placed in the house some of their valuable collections, the values would immediately go up, and, as you can see, if the house and contents were subject to Washington taxes, the expense of maintenance by the Society would be almost prohibitive.
Sincerely yours,
Mabel Anderson
(Mrs. Larz Anderson)
Being a member of your Red Cross committee and having worked for the Red Cross as a nurse at the front during the war, I take the liberty of writing you. Also, because my husband always spoke so nicely about you.
I have just heard from Mr. Gist Blair that he has spoken to you in regard to headquarters for the Society of the Cincinnati in Washington, and that you might be willing to say a good word on the subject to the President who is a member of the Society.
It seems the Society, while the oldest Patriotic Society in the country, will be unable to accept our house and contents as a gift unless it is exempt from taxes. It has been suggested that the net receipts from this museum when opened to the public go to the City of Washington. Most of the relics belonging to the Society are now in vaults and never seen. The house also might be at the disposal of the State Department for distinguished guests of the nation through the Society.
They are hoping that the bill in Congress may pass because the gift might not only be of benefit to the Society but to the City as well as to the Nation.
No doubt Mr. Blair can explain anything to you better than I can tell you, and, of course, if you should care to help in any way it would be appreciated by all.
The assessed value of the house and land was reduced this year to $549,799. The contents of the house were appraised by the American Art Association (Anderson Galleries, Inc.) for inheritance tax purposes at $105,856.50. Of course if the Society took it over and placed in the house some of their valuable collections, the values would immediately go up, and, as you can see, if the house and contents were subject to Washington taxes, the expense of maintenance by the Society would be almost prohibitive.
Sincerely yours,
Mabel Anderson
(Mrs. Larz Anderson)
Original Format
Letter
To
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938
Files
Collection
Citation
Anderson, Mabel , “Mabel Anderson to Cary T. Grayson,” 1937 October 7, WWP16881, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.