Coe Foundation Collection - Planting Fields

Planting Fields Foundation ArchivesCoe Foundation Collection

For more information, please contact:Collections at Coe Hall

Planting Fields FoundationPO Box 660

Oyster Bay, NY 11771(516) 922-8682

[email protected]

Table of Contents

Title Page

Collection Description 2Administrative History 2Biographical Notes 3Scope and Content 3Coe Foundation, General 4Contributions and Refusals 5-7Cody Memorial Hospital 8Western Art and Artists 9Buffalo Bill 10Millicent Rogers Museum 11Mark Twain 12Correspondence 13-14Financial 15-18

Collection Description

Title: Coe Foundation Collection

Inclusive Dates: 1930 [1947-1974] 2002

Extent: 10 cubic feet

Physical Description: Paper

Access Conditions: Unrestricted

Other access points: Inventory

Administrative History

Planting Fields Foundation came into custody of this Collection as staff members and thoseaffiliated with Planting Fields created the documents themselves. Planting Fields also came intothis information with the passing of William Robertson Coe in 1955.

Biographical Notes

The tenth of ten children, William Robertson was born on June 8, 1869 inEngland. He and his family immigrated to the United States in 1883. He began workingin the mail office of what would become Johnson and Higgins Insurance Company andworked his way up to President and then Chairman of the Board. He married three times,and unfortunately his first two wives passed away before their time. His first marriage,which was childless, was to Jane (Jeannie) Hutchinson Falligant, in 1893. On June 4,1900, Coe married Mai Huttleston Rogers. Their marriage produced four children andthe development of Planting Fields. He leased and eventually purchased the Byrneestate, on the same property of today’s Planting Fields. That house burned down and CoeHall was built in the same location. Mai died in 1924. In 1926, Coe married CarolineGraham Slaughter. At Planting Fields, W.R. Coe was actively involved with developingand improving the collections of rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias, and hibiscus. Coehad a particular liking for new plant varieties and modern growing techniques. In thisspirit, he deeded the estate to the State of New York in 1949. W.R. Coe died in hisrecently acquired home in Palm Beach, Florida, on March 15, 1955 from an asthmaattack.

Scope and Content

The Coe Foundation Collection is organized according to year of correspondence andfinancial information, as well as various philanthropic ventures of William Robertson Coe. Thiscollection can be used to research the history and management of the Coe Foundation, variouscontributions and refusals made by William Robertson Coe to charities, and the donations madeby Coe to some of his larger projects. This collection also includes purchases made by PlantingFields Foundation to increase knowledge of the areas in which Mr. Coe had a philanthropicinterest.

Coe Foundation Collection

Series A Box # 1

Coe Foundation, General

Folder #:

1. Research, Copies2. Literature on Foundations3. Coe Foundation Certificate of Incorporation4. Coe Foundation Board of Trustees5. Coe Foundation - Removal of Offices, 19646. Names and addresses (One is dated 1973)7. Bookkeeper Gertrude A. Conover, Résumé8. Board Minutes, 1947-19619. Board Minutes, 1962-197210. Minutes of Special Meetings- 8/28/73 and 8/20/74

Series B Box # 1

Contributions and Refusals

Folder#:

1. List of annual contributions made by WRC to the Coe Foundation2. Contributions- General Account, 19573. Contribution lists, 19694. Contribution lists, 19705. Contribution lists, 19716. Contribution lists, 19727. Contribution lists, 19738. Contribution lists, 19749. Contributions, A10. Contributions - American Red Cross11. Contributions - Audubon Society, Florida12. Contributions, B13. Buffalo Bill Memorial Association and Historical Society14. Contributions, Ca-Chi

Series B Box # 2

Contributions and Refusals

Folder #:

1. Contributions, Chr-Co2. Contributions, D3. Contributions- Ditchley Foundation4. Contributions, E5. Contributions, F6. Contributions, G7. Contributions- The Halcyon Foundation8. Contributions, H-J9. Contributions- Jack Miner Migratory Bird Foundation

Series B Box # 3

Contributions and Refusals

Folder #:

1. Contributions, K-L2. Contributions, The Millicent Rogers Museum3. Contributions, M-S4. Contributions, T-Y5. Contribution Refusals A-E6. Contribution Refusals F-I7. Contribution Refusals J-M8. Contribution Refusals N-R9. Contribution Refusals S-Z10. PF Transfer to State, 194811. Planting Fields- Gift to State, Other Material12. Deeds, Gift to State

Series C Box # 1

Cody Memorial Hospital

Folder #:

1. Cody Memorial Hospital By-Laws2. Building Account 19483. Accountant’s Detailed Report, 19544. Accountant’s Detailed Report, 19625. Dedication Ceremonies, 19566. Feasibility Study, 19657. Articles

Series D Box # 1

Western Art and Artists

Folder #:

1. Books on Western Artists in PFF Archives2. National Cowboy Hall of Fame3. Cowboy Artists of America- First Annual Showing, 19664. “How the West was Won” Gallery Catalogue and Correspondence5. Remington- Ogdensburg, NY Collections6. Remington- Art7. Harry Jackson- Exhibits and Related8. Harry Jackson’s The Range Burial- Fine Arts Insurance9. Other Artists10. A.J. Miller paintings sold to RDC11. Articles- Harry Jackson12. Articles- Other Artists

Series E Box # 1

Buffalo Bill

Folder #:

1. Buffalo Bill Memorial Committee, c19232. Buffalo Bill American Association, 19243. Buffalo Bill Museum Association 1927, 19284. Buffalo Bill Dinner and Roundup, 19405. Brief History of the Buffalo Bill Memorial Association6. John Walter Wood, Architect7. Buffalo Bill Memorial Association Presents8. Cody Center of Western Americana, 19619. Cody Center of Western Americana- Development Potentials, 196110. Buffalo Bill Museum and Addition11. Gift- The Remington Studio Collection12. Gift- Remington Bronzes13. Gift- Painting by Louis Maurer14. BBHC Annual Reports 1978, 197915. BBHC- Senator R.V. Robertson Collection16. Buffalo Bill Museum- WRC Notice of Probate, 195517. Plains Indian Museum Dedication18. Buffalo Bill Museum19. Whitney Gallery of Western Art- Exhibits 1959, 1960, 196320. Harold McCracken- Business Card21. BBHC Press Releases22. BBHC Newsletters 1979-198423. Articles24. BBHC- Other25. BBMA Endowment 1972, 197326. Buffalo Bill and His Horses by Agnes W. Spring, 1953

Series F Box # 1

Millicent Rogers Museum

Folder #:

1. Millicent Rogers Museum- Board of Trustees2. Board of Trustees- Minutes3. Bylaws4. Exhibits5. Program and Support Accomplishments, 1983-856. Publicity

Series G Box # 1

Mark Twain

Folder #:

1. Correspondence- HHR2. Correspondence- WRC and MRC3. Correspondence- WRC and MRC, Copied from Mark Twain Memorial4. Correspondence re: Mark Twain Correspondence5. Mark Twain Memorial Commission- Incorporation, 19096. Mark Twain Memorial packet, c19607. Restoration of the Billiard Room8. Dedication of the Billiard Room- May 19, 19649. Hal Holbrook10. Mark Twain and Suzy11. Newhouse Galleries12. Invitation to Conservatory Dedication- 196313. Articles

Series H Box # 1

Correspondence

Folder #:

1. 1930s2. 1940-19423. 1943-19494. 1950-19515. 19526. 19537. 19548. 19559. P.F. Estate Correspondence, 1955-56 Re: SUNY10. 1956-195911. 1960-196112. 1962-196313. Correspondence Re: The Carshalton Gates, 196314. 196415. 196516. 196617. 1967-1968

Series H Box # 2

Correspondence

Folder #:

1. 19692. 1970, January-July3. 1970, August-December4. 1971, January-July5. 1971, August-December6. 19727. 19738. 19749. 197510. Post-Foundation Correspondence (1976-2002)11. Undated

Series I Box # 1

Financial

Sub-Series # 1: General

Folder #:

1. Account and Safe Deposit Box2. Annuity Policies with Statements of Income and Disbursements 1939-19423. Receipts, Disbursements and Assets Summaries 1939-19554. Coe Office Account 19625. Office Expenses6. Statement of Income and Expenses, 19747. Cancelled Checks8. Thedlow, Inc. and Other Antiques Dealers9. Naess and Thomas and Schroeder, Naess and Thomas, 1959-197210. Penson and Co., Customs Brokers- 2/20/6311. Bills from Haskins and Sells, CPAs12. Bills from Naess and Thomas13. Bills from Schroeder, Naess and Thomas14. Bills- Other15. Johnson and Higgins and Burglar Alarm16. Coe Foundation Securities 1955-197417. Coe Foundation- Foundation Services, Inc. 1971-197218. Shares to Buy and Sell, 196719. Endowment Portfolio, 1970

Series I Box # 1

Financial

Sub-Series # 2: Taxes

Folder #:

1. Coe Foundation- Financial- Annual Report of Private Foundation 1970-19732. Coe Foundation- Tax Returns- 1970-19743. Coe Foundation- Withholding 1956-19654. Coe Foundation- Withholding 1970-19735. Coe Foundation- Taxes, Other 1970-19776. Coe Foundation- Financial Statements and Accountants’ Report 1966-1973

Series I Box # 1

Financial

Sub-Series # 3: Objects and Appraisals

-Coe Foundation, Appraisal Affiliates, Inc.-In the Matter of the Property of the Coe Foundation, Palm Beach Florida

Folder #:

1. Purchases by Family from Coe Foundation2. Coe Foundation- Plaza Art Galleries 1958-623. Coe Foundation- Paintings Sold Through Parke-Bernet, 1961

Correspondence re, 19794. Parke-Bernet, 19615. Other Art6. Appraisals- Lists- WRC- Coe Collection7. Appraisal Affiliates, Inc., 1964

Series I Box # 1

Financial

Sub-Series # 4: Books Purchased by the Foundation

Folder #:

1. Books and Publications, A-American West2. Books and Publications, An-Z