"Mrs. M. L. Binckley Dies at Age of 92" (January 1930)

[Newspaper clipping, Washington, D.C., January 19, 1930.

Many thanks to William Myers, Mary Davy, Sally Young and Sue Davis for their ongoing research collaboration; specifically to William for providing a scan of the original document, and in turn many thanks to Peter Johnston Binckley and Patricia D'Arcy "Trish" Binckley (1951-2007), at the source.]

MRS. M. L. BINCKLEY DIES AT AGE OF 92

Niece of Gen. Johnston, She Was Long Prominent in Society Here.
KNEW HAMILTON'S WIFE

Mrs. Mary Louise Binckley, long among the most prominent women in Washington society, died yesterday at the age of 92 years. She was the widow of John M. Binckley, Assistant Attorney General during the Johnston administration, and at one time an editor of the National Intelligencer.

When she was only 10 years old Mrs. Binckley, then Mary Louise Michel, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Michel, enjoyed the intimate friendship of Mrs. Alexander Hamilton, who, then 90 years old, was in Washington to assist Edward Johnston, at that time editor of the Intelligencer, in editing the Hamilton papers. Binckley was a niece of Mr. Johnston, and also of Gen[.] Joseph E. Johnston.

Several years ago Mrs. Binckley started to write her impressions of old Washington, but the task was never completed, although a paper she prepared was read before the Columbia Historical Society in 1928 by John B. Larner.

Mrs. Binckley is survived by three children, Col. George S. Binckley, of Los Angeles, and Miss Nellie F. Binckley and Mrs. Thomas Armat, of Washington.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11 o'clock tomorrow morning by the Rev. H. H. D. Sterrett, rector of All Souls' Espiscopal Church, at the chapel of Oak Hill Cemetery, where burial will be made. 

[Mary Louisa/Louise Mitchell/Michel Binckley (February 16, 1838-January 18, 1930).
Mrs. Alexander Hamilton = Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton (1757-1854).
Edward Johnston = Edward William Johnston (1799-1867). Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Michel = Harvey Mitchell/Michel (1799-1866) and Jane Mary Wood Johnston Mitchell/Michel (1811-1892).
John Milton Binckley (1831-1878).
Mrs. Thomas Armat = Mary "May" Binckley Armat (1875-1969).
Thomas Armat (1866-1948).
Miss Nellie E. Binckley = Ellen/Nellie/Nella Fontaine Binckley (1860-1951).
Colonel George S. Binckley - George Sydney Binckley (1870-1941).
Rev. H. H. D. Sterrett = Henry Hatch Dent Sterrett, Sr. (1880-1953). ] 

"Mrs. Mary Binckley Succumbs in East" (1930)

[Newspaper clipping, presumably California, circa January 1930.

Many thanks to William Myers, Mary Davy, Sally Young and Sue Davis for their ongoing research collaboration; specifically to William for providing a scan of the original document, and in turn many thanks to Peter Johnston Binckley and Patricia D'Arcy "Trish" Binckley (1951-2007), at the source.]

Mrs. Mary Binckley Succumbs in East

Word of the death in Washington, D.C., recently of Mrs. Mary Louis Binckley, formerly resident in San Francisco, at the age of 92 year, was received here yesterday. Mrs. Binckley, long a leader in capital society, as a child was a friend of Mrs. Alexander Hamilton. Mrs. Binckley, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Michel, was the widow of John M. Binckley, assistant Attorney General of the United States during President Johnson's administration. She was buried at Washington. Surviving are Mrs. Thomas Armat of Washington, wife of the inventor of the first moving picture projection machine, and Miss Nellie E. Binckley, also of Washington, and Colonel George S. Binckley of Los Angeles, a son. 

[Mary Louisa/Louise Mitchell/Michel Binckley (February 16, 1838-January 18, 1930).
Mrs. Alexander Hamilton = Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton (1757-1854).
Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Michel = Harvey Mitchell/Michel (1799-1866) and Jane Mary Wood Johnston Mitchell/Michel (1811-1892).
John Milton Binckley (1831-1878).
Mrs. Thomas Armat = Mary "May" Binckley Armat (1875-1969).
Thomas Armat (1866-1948).
Miss Nellie E. Binckley = Ellen/Nellie/Nella Fontaine Binckley (1860-1951).
Colonel George S. Binckley - George Sydney Binckley (1870-1941).] 

Mary Louisa/Louise Mitchell/Michel Binckley (1838-1930)

[From a scan of an undated newspaper clipping, [January 19, 1930, Washington, D.C.], graciously provided by William Myers].

MRS. M. L. BINCKLEY

DIES AT AGE 92

Niece of Gen. Johnston. She 

Was Very Prominent in

Society Here.

KNEW HAMILTON'S WIFE

Mrs. Mary Louise Binckley, long among the most prominent women in Washington society, died yesterday at the [age of] 92 years. She was the [wife/widow of] John M. Binckley, Assistant [Attorney] General during the Johnson [Adm]nistation, and at one time an [edit]or of the National Intelligencer.

When she was only 10 years old Mrs. Binckley, then Mary Louise Michel, daughter of Mr. an Mrs. Harvey Michel, enjoyed the intimate friendship of Mrs. Alexander Hamilton, who, then 90 years old, was in Washington to assist Edward Johnston, at that time editing the Hamilton papers. Mrs. Binckley was a niece of Mr. Johnston, and also of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston.

Several years ago Mrs. Binckley started to write her impressions of old Washington, but the task was never completed, although a paper she prepared was read before the Columbia Historical Society in 1928 by John B. Larner.

Mrs. Binckley is survived by three children, Col. George S. Binckley, of Los Angeles, and Miss Nellie F. Binckley and Mrs. Thomas Armat, of Washington.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11 o'clock tomorrow morning by the Rev. H. H. D. Sterrett, rector of All Souls' Episcopal Church, at the chapel of Oak Hill Cemetery, where burial will be made.  

[Mary Louise Binckley / Mary Louisa Mitchell/Michel Binckley (February 16, 1838-January 18, 1930).

John Milton Binckley (1821-1878).
Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Michel = Harvey Mitchell/Michel (1799-1866) and Jane Mary Wood Johnston Mitchell/Michel (1811-1892).

Mrs. Alexander Hamilton = Elizabeth "Betsey" "Eliza" Schuyler Hamilton (1757-1854).

Edward William Johnston (1799-1866).
Joseph Eggleston Johnston (1807-1891).
John B. Larner of the Columbia Historical Society.

Col. George S. Binckley = George Sydney Binckley (1870-1941).
Miss Nellie F. Binckley = also known as Nella Fontaine Binckley (1860-1951).
Mrs. Thomas Armat = Mary "May" Binckley Armat (1875-1969).

Rev. H. H. D. Sterrett  = Henry Hatch Dent Sterrett, Sr. (1880-1953).]

[Many thanks to William Myers, Mary Davy, Sally Young and Sue Davis for their ongoing research collaboration; in this case, specifically to William for providing a scanned copy of the original document.]

Nella Fontaine Binckley to Cousin Robbie, November 28, 1930

[Nella Fontaine Binckley at Washington, D.C., to Robert Morton Hughes at Norfolk, Virginia, November 28, 1930, Box 1, Folder 8: Nellie Brinkley [i.e. Nella Fontaine Binckley], 1927-1937, Robert Morton Hughes Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Patricia W. and J. Douglas Perry Library, Old Dominion University Libraries, Norfolk, VA 23529]

Apt. 700. Portland Hotel [Portland Flats]. Washington, D.C.
November 28th 1930.

Dear Cousin Robbie:--

I received your letter of Sept. 27th and no answer being required, had not intended to send one. But I kept thinking of the matter, and it seems such a pity. And I have tried to think of some way of carrying out the plan.

None of us are young, and we are getting older every day. If anythings happens to me (life is uncertain), the family could make so advantageous an arrangement with any other artist of equal standing.

I am the poorest one of my family -- I have only what I earn -- also I would gladly paint the portrait for nothing, as a tribute to Uncle Joe. I have been wanting to paint one for years. But my expenses are heavy, and I cannot afford to give the time. And the cost of artists' materials has increased so enormously. For instance, a little bottle of retouching varnish I used to buy for 25 cents now costs me 90 cents! And other materials in proportion.

As your branch of the family is so very small, and, more over, its share of the expenses falls entirely on your shoulders alone, I would gladly wait for that $100. till you could spare it. This arrangement could be between us two, and no one else know of it.

If you could do the arranging of the matter with the other branches of the family, and got the thing started, I could get at the work. I paint much more rapidly than most other artists, but a large and important portrait would necessarily take me a good while to do, -- especially from a photograph. From life I can work much more quickly.

As Coralie offered to raise $100 from her branch -- and as their circumstances are, as far as I have heard, substantially the same as at that time -- I should think she could do it. Aunt [Sue?] told me, some time ago, that Joe was retired, on a small pension, I understood. That branch is so large the expense would fall lightly on the individual. 

Cousin Lavalette lives here, you know. Her daughter Mary had recently had a legacy, I understand. The last of the Riggs sisters for whom she kept house for many years, died last summer. They were very wealthy -- the Riggs National Bank family, you know. 

Our branch of the family is much larger than yours, also, though considerably smaller than Coralie's.

Aunt Sue has a comfortable pension, and her son Bennett is comfortable. Her daughter, Lil, has married again to a man of property, who is also Chief of the Forestry Service,-- without doubt at a very handsome salary.

My sister's husband, as you know, is a man of wealth. My brother George is comfortable, and all three of his children are doing well.

I am the Cinderella of the family. But I am willing to give more, individually, than anyone else,-- unless yourself. The frame would cost at least $100. I am sure.

I wish so much Mother could have had the very great joy and satisfaction which seeing the portrait would have given her. If the matter had only been put through at the time you broached the subject to Aunt Sue, -- more than three years ago -- it could have been concluded before she died, last January. My brother Harvey died this year too, you know.

Aunt Sue is now very old. I hope she may live to see it. It would give her, also, very great joy and satisfaction, I know.

Can you not get the ball rolling, and give her this satisfaction?

It would assuredly be a satisfaction to all of us to have an adequate portrait of Uncle Joe in Richmond and painted, moreover, by one who knew and loved him. I am perhaps the only artist now living who did know him.

It seems to me it would not only be a  thing we all would enjoy, but it is also a duty we own to Uncle Joe's memory. There is that statue in Georgia, but nothing in Virginia, -- is there? Except, of course, the bad picture you spoke of.

My own hands are tied in this matter, as you can see. My position is a delicate one. I cannot afford to do the work without some compensation. So I am reluctant to urge the affair, with the others. I am doing so with you as you were the one who proposed the plan to Aunt Sue, and she gave me your letter to answer, suggesting I should paint the portrait myself. And besides, I know you, and moreover, feel sure you will understand.

Coralie and Joe I knew as a child, but not since. The other Richmond cousins I have never seen. I have never been to Richmond. So they have hardly even heard of me. We are complete strangers.

Cousin Lavvie's family I never saw till about two years or so ago, when Mother went to board with them. 

If you could write to Aunt Sue and Coralie and ask them to arrange things with their respective cousins, and get things started before some of us die, I would get right to work. Time is slipping by so fast.

Then there are a lot of preliminaries  to settle before I could actually begin. The photograph has to be selected by the family before anything else can be done by me. You said you had plenty of them. I have only one, and an engraving. All this detail will take time. Cant [can't] we get at it?

Affectionately your cousin
Nellie

[Ellen/Nellie/Nella Fontaine Binckley (September 1, 1860- April 27, 1951; she was not born in 1877 as she successfully hoaxed some time after returning from the West Coast to the East Coast in the early 1900s)
Cousin Robbie = Robert Morton Hughes, Sr. (1855-1940)
Coralie Henry Johnston (1861-1954), childhood friend of her cousin Nella Fontaine Binckley (1860-1951), educated at Johns Hopkins and Old Dominion, nurse and longtime (for three decades) reference librarian at the Virginia State Library (The Library of Virginia) in Richmond
Uncle Joe = Joseph Eggleston Johnston (1807-1891)
Portland Flats (1880-1940)
Aunt Sue = Sue Henry Mitchell/Michel Taliaferro (1845-1940)
Joe = Joseph Beverly Johnston (1859-1943)
Lavalette = Lavalette Estelle Johnston McMullen (1850-1941)*
Mary = Mary McMullen (1872-?)*
Riggs sisters = Alice Lawrason Riggs (1841-1927) and Jane Agnes Riggs (1853-1930)*
Bennett = Bennet/Bennett Crawford Taliaferro (1868-1943)
Lil = Lilian Johnston Taliaferro (1877-1965), first married to John Moncure Conway (1870-1922), then Herbert Augustine Smith (1866-1944)
My sister's husband = Mary "May" Binckley (1875-1969), married to Thomas Armat (1866-1948)
My brother George = George Sydney Binckley (1870-1941)
And all three of his children = Sydney William Binckley (1898-1971), Milton Johnston Binckley (1902-1991) and Helen Louise "Elena" Binckley, later married to Frank Edward Blauvelt (1899-1963) 
Mother = Mary Louisa Mitchell/Michel Binckley (1838-1930)
My brother Harvey = Harvey Mitchell Binckley (1864-1928)
*A wealth of material looks to be in the McMullen Family Papers, 1783-1969, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Duke University, link to guide here]

Many thanks to William Myers, Mary Davy and Sally Young for their ongoing research collaboration; in this case, specifically to William for providing a scan of the original letter, and in turn thanks to Mr. Mel Frizzell, Special Collections Specialist. 

Nella Fontaine Binckley to Cousin Robbie, September 25, 1930

Thomas Circle from Portland Flats, 1921 (Library of Congress)

[Nella Fontaine Binckley at Washington, D.C., to Robert Morton Hughes at Norfolk, Virginia, September 25, 1930, Box 1, Folder 8: Nellie Brinkley [i.e. Nella Fontaine Binckley], 1927-1937, Robert Morton Hughes Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Patricia W. and J. Douglas Perry Library, Old Dominion University Libraries, Norfolk, VA 23529]

ARTS CLUB OF WASHINGTON

2017 I STREET NORTHWEST

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Apt. 700, Portland Hotel [Portland Flats]
Sept, 25th 1930.

Dear Cousin Robbie:--

I have been extremely busy -- ever since last writing you. I always am, for that matter. But just now, I have more than I probably will have later on.

So I have thought of the portrait of uncle Joe which you and Coralie suggested. Do you feel like planning for it now? Time is slipping by.

I should be willing to paint it for the price named,-- $300. And my contribution would be a handsome frame,-- which would make a considerable hole in the $300.

Unless the picture was entirely satisfactory to the family, I would not expect it to be accepted. I would not wish it to be. Being a member of the family myself, I am willing to do it on approval, which few (if any) other first class artists would do.

It would probably be exhibited in Washington before being sent to Richmond,-- at the Arts Club, or one of the best galleries.

I hope you and the others are well.

Affectionately your cousin
Nellie

Thomas Circle from Portland Flats, 1930 (Library of Congress)

Address

Portland Hotel

Apt. 700.

Thomas Circle

Washington, D.C.  

[Ellen/Nellie/Nella Fontaine Binckley (September 1, 1860- April 27, 1951; she was not born in 1877 as she successfully hoaxed some time after returning from the West Coast to the East Coast in the early 1900s)
Cousin Robbie = Robert Morton Hughes, Sr. (1855-1940)]
Coralie Henry Johnston (1861-1954), childhood friend of her cousin Nella Fontaine Binckley (1860-1951), educated at Johns Hopkins and Old Dominion, nurse and longtime (for three decades) reference librarian at the Virginia State Library (The Library of Virginia) in Richmond
Uncle Joe = Joseph Eggleston Johnston (1807-1891)
Portland Flats (1880-1940)] 

Many thanks to William Myers, Mary Davy and Sally Young for their ongoing research collaboration; in this case, specifically to William for providing a scan of the original letter, and in turn thanks to Mr. Mel Frizzell, Special Collections Specialist.