Mildred Bliss

Background

Bliss, Mildred was born in September 1879 in New York City. Daughter of Demas and Anna Dorinda (Blaksley) Barnes.

Education

Student Miss Porter’s School, Farmington, Connecticut, also private school, Paris, France.

Career

Vice president Enfants de la Frontier, Franco-American organization for relief frontier children of World War I, 1914. Founder, maintained American Distributing Service, until integrated with American Red Cross in France, 1915-1917. Assisted British-adminstered military hospital for French wounded, Nevers, France, World War I.

Contributed to reconstruction La Loupe, France, and rehabilitation of inhabitants, end World World War II. Founder with husband and conveyed to Harvard, 1940, the Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, with it’s gardens, in Washington. Director American Women’s Volunteer Services, Santa Barbara Botanical Gardens.

Trustee Museum Modern Art New York, Washington Housing Association, National Recreation Association, National Symphony Association Washington, international scholarships American Field Service.

Membership

Member American Horticultural Society (2d vice president), United States-Argentine Society (1st vice president), Atlantique (advising committee), American Society Landscape Architects, National Federation Music. Clubs: Colony Hroswitha, Needle and Bobbin (New York City).

Connections

Married Robert Woods Bliss, April.

Father:

Demas Barnes

Mother:

Anna Dorinda (Blaksley) Barnes

Spouse:

Robert Woods Bliss