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.