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Russell Page

We recently received an email asking if we could help with recovering archives for a garden in France designed by Russell Page. Follow our intriguing trail. 
We have omitted email addresses and names of corresponding parties to protect their privacy. 
If you have something interesting to add email -info @greatbritishgardens.co.uk (re-type)
Paul Leitch - Editor of Great British Gardens 
3 January 2006 - France

Good afternoon, We own a house, the garden of which was designed by Russell Page (in the 1950’s I think). I would love to find some original designs, projects or any other documents related to our property. Do you know if someone took care of his archives when he died ? I do not know if you can help, but any lead would be highly appreciated. Best regards, and happy new year.
 
4 January 2006 - England ( response to France )

Cannot find anything but why not contact Lady Walton on the Island of Ischia (Italy) where he spent a lot of time helping with the design of the La Mortella Garden.
Good luck. Let me know how you get on.

9 January 2006 - Italy ( reply received from Superintendent of Gardens - La Mortella)

In 1998 I organized an exhibition about Russell Page with the American Academy in Rome. On that occasion I reviewed his archive, which was then  kept in a very precarious and unofficial arrangement at the Kalmthout Arboretum, Belgium.
Russell Page left all his papers to the Family De Beldeers, who were personal friends of him; I do not know what the arrangements were at the time between M.me Helena De Beldeer, who legally owned the archive,  and the new management of the Arboretum; what I know is that I found the papers  kept in open boxes,  in a sort of a garage, without any proper archival device to preserve them against pests, humidity etc.
The person in charge  of the archive at the time was an architect,  Mr. Benoit Fondue, who claimed  that he had almost finished a catalogue raisonée of the archive, but  this catalogue actually never came out. However Mr. Fondue had made several lists of the papers, and I would suppose that since M.me De Beldeers has died   the collection  must have been  passed over to the Arboretum. I would think  he is still in charge; I hope   the drawings and other papers have not passed into private hands and have received the attention they deserve.
I suggested at the time that the whole bulk be passed to a serious archival institution that would give the documents the proper care, and a place  where researchers and scholars could have easier access and facility, but to no end.
I would suggest then that now   the person to contact is the general director of the Arboretum, and I am copying this message to their email address.

12 January - England ( email to Kew Gardens London - home to some of the most important Garden Archives in the world)
I spoke to you recently regarding archives for Russell Page.
We were recently asked for help in finding an archive for a garden in France designed by Russell Page. Following a trail we have recently received an email from - Superintendent of the Gardens at La Mortella.
She has suggested that the archives should be kept at  a serious archival institution and I think Kew would be an ideal place.
It would be such a loss if these papers were lost to future generations and I am wondering if you would like to pursue this.

13 January - Belgium - Email from Kalmthout Arboretum
Dear all,
The archives of Russell Page still belong to the de Belder Family. They are now archived in the estate Hemelrijk in Essen, nearby the Arboretum Kalmthout in Belgium.
After Mr. Fondu has been working on this archive there has been done a lot of work. Nowadays the condition of storage is a lot better than the situation you describe. Now it is also structured.
If you would like to have some information about the archive you should contact Daniel De Belder 
Since Mrs Jelena de Belder died, he is now the person to contact about Russell Page's archive and the library of de Belder.
Hopefully this information will help you to find the information
needed/wanted.
Many greetings.
13 January - England to French Garden Owner-
This is really exciting news and with a bit of luck your archives may be there. In any event you may have contributed to ensuring his papers exist for future generations. Look forward to further news
February 6 - Belgium Garden Writer to England -
I came upon your quest perchance. It so happens I have just published a book about the De Belders titled Jelena and Robert De Belder, Generous as Nature herself. (see www.debelderbook.be)Quite a few Pages are devoted to the extraordinary friendship between Page and Robert De Belder. Russell Page did indeed leave his archive to Robert when he died.  Robert suffered a stroke soon after and therefore nothing was done about finding a suitable place for these archives. If you need any help getting in touch with the family just let me know.
February 7 - England to Belgium Writer -
Many thanks for taking the time to contact me. The book you have written sounds really interesting. Russell Page must have been very close to the De Belders for him to leave his archives to them.
It seems that Russell Page may have had more friends  in
Europe than the UK as it seems he spent most of his time abroad. I think he is now recognised as one of the leading garden designers of the 20th century.
I know that
Kew Gardens in London  would be interested in maintaining the archives for future generations in a safe environment but I also recognise that they were trusted to the De Belder family. If you have the opportunity perhaps you could ask that they might consider this.
If you have any information on how many documents and plans are held, I would be very interested. By the way can you tell me where Russell Page was laid to rest after his death?

February 8 - Belgium Garden Writer to England -
Page was indeed not a prophet in his own country. As a homosexual, he had fallen out with his family and was an extremely solitary person. At the De Belders, he found a family who loved and understood him for his qualities, a garden where he could experiment freely and a tremendous source of energy and inspiration.
When studying in
France , he was helped and encouraged by André de Vilmorin, a descendant of a remarkable family, devoted to plants for generations.
He had a good friend and admirer in Gabrielle Van Zuylen (lives in
Paris ), who wrote a book about his gardens. The archives are sorted and kept in an attic in good conditions. I believe all his plans and sketches are there, except  things previous to WWII, which all burnt when the building they were kept in was bombed.  It must not be forgotten that R. Page had offered his archive to the RHS and the Victoria and Albert Museum , who turned down the offer! There had also been contacts, after his death, with Dumbarton Oaks, Washington D.C.
As to the place he was laid to rest, I quote a text on Page, written by Jelena De Belder, in my book : "The burial was simple and intimate. The Duke and Duchess of Beaufort offered a sheltered spot under an oak tree in their park, which he knew well."
It is always a pleasure to discuss remarkable people and ensure the interest in them remains alive.

February 9 - England to Belgium Garden Writer-
Thanks for the additional information. It paints rather a sad picture of his experiences with his family and own country. Fortunately now we are more enlightened about sexuality and I am sure things would have been different today.
I am surprised that the RHS and
V&A Museum turned down the archives but then again perhaps at the time they did not realise the impact that his work would have on people all around the world. The De Belders will be happy to know that if at any time in the future they want to find a home for the Archives then Kew Gardens will be interested.
Thank you for also giving me details about his final resting place. It sent a small shiver down my spine as we live in Beaufort country and are only about 8 miles from Badminton House. I will be contacting them to see if I can see where he is buried and also to have a look at the garden he designed there. (with my camera of course). I will let you have a look at any images I obtain.