Julia Morgan Papers

On May 30th, 1898 Julia Morgan wrote to her cousins Lucy and Pierre Le Burn. She explains that a UC Berkeley professor of geology and his ill wife have been staying with her for nearly two months. She writes that the weather has been rainy since it stopped snowing but tells that the gardens are at their best. She communicates her distaste for Rococo. She writes she went to the Opera but is going to save up until Avery (her brother) joins her so they can travel. Her work has been less satisfying at the atelier since the beginning of winter but notes that M. Chaussemiche has returned to the atelier. She describes her Sunday trip to Longjumeau and her trip to Bellefontaine. She asks if her brother Parm has been to see them yet and asks Pierre for a list of book recommendations.

On February 27th, 1998 Julia Morgan writes to her cousins Lucy and Pierre Le Burn. She thanks them for a picture they sent her and tells them that her brother Avery is coming to Paris. She writes she has spent some time at Museé Galliera and Trocadero and gone to the theatre recently. She spent a weekend at Bellafontaine with Madame Arnould where she attended a baptism. She writes that Mrs. Maybeck has been ill for weeks. She writes of meeting Henry Ossawa Tanner at the Maybeck's. Finally, she notes that when Avery arrives they will look for a new apartment in the same neighborhood. Morgan dates the letter February 27, 1897, but the post office stamp on the envelope indicates 1898.

On February 11, 1899 Julia Morgan wrote to her cousins Lucy and Pierre Le Brun. She thanks them for a calendar they sent and writes they've been occupied with work and being ill. She describes the construction going on in Paris in preparation for the Exposition Universelle in 1900. She recounts her trip with Avery to Fontainebleau and the operas they've been to recently. She explains that her École des Beaux Arts work is mostly mathematics and that Avery has made friends at the atelier he is working at. She notes that M. Chaussemiche is kind and helpful. She ends the letter with pleasantries.

On May 7th, 1899 Julia Morgan wrote to her cousins Lucy and Pierre Le Brun. She thanks them for a catalogue they sent and tells them of the interest it garnered. She writes of her preparations for examinations and a boil she got in her ear. She describes the preparations for the Exposition Universelle occurring along the river Seine and of the operas they recently attended. She shares her experience at Notre Dame Cathedral for Easter vespers and her developing plans for vacation with Avery. She notes that one of the California girls studying in Paris died. She ends the letter with pleasantries.

On November 11, 1899 Julia Morgan wrote to her cousins Lucy and Pierre Le Brun. She thanks them for the papers they sent her and writes of their return to Paris from vacation. She updates them on the Beaux Arts courses she is taking and notes that once she reaches the 1st class she plans to return home to the United States. She describes her and Avery's trip in Italy and the south of France and comments on the building preparations for the Exposition Universelle around Paris. She ends the letter with pleasantries.

On December 25th, 1898 Julia Morgan writes to her cousins Lucy and Pierre Le Burn. She sends them Christmas wishes and notes that see has been busy. She explains that her and Avery gathered their friends for a last minute Christmas lunch. She updates them on Avery explaining that he is homesick but his French is progressing and that their new house is very nice. She closes the letter wishing them a happy New Year.

On January 5th, 1898 Julia Morgan wrote to her cousins Lucy and Pierre Le Burn. She thanks them for a calendar they sent her. She writes that a letter from Nina made her homesick. She tells that she had a quiet Christmas day and went to St. Eustache Church in the evening. She explains that she has had trouble doing work because of swelling in her eyelids. She closes the letter with pleasantries and notes that she has spent time with Miss Hasbrouck who will be heading back to America in February.

On July 31, 1898 Julia Morgan wrote to her cousins Lucy and Pierre Le Brun from Provins, France. She describes the family she is staying with and the architectural sites in the town. She explains that she has found a new apartment in Paris on Rue Guénéguad and includes a drawing of the floorplan. She writes that she saw the Prix de Rome and discovered more in the Louvre. She updates them on Miss Husbruck and tells them of her Russian friends. She closes the letter with updates on her family and pleasantries.

On June 8, 1896, Julia Morgan wrote to her cousins Lucy and Pierre Le Brun regarding her tour of France. She describes her arrival in Europe and stop in Rouen on her way to Paris. She details her sightseeing excursions in Rouen and Paris with her travel companion Nina. She visits M. de Monclos atelier and meets some Americans. She closes the letter with their upcoming plans and pleasantries.

On July 5th, 1896, Julia Morgan writes her cousin Lucy Le Brun regarding her time in Paris, France. She tells that Mina had fallen ill, but her health has improved. Morgan describes M. de Monclos' atelier where she works accompanied by a sketch of the atelier's layout. She outlines the connections she is making to study at École des Beaux Arts. She notes her French is improving, but she is not conversational. She describes investigating many of the architectural sites in Paris and the spending significant amounts of time in the museums. Morgan writes of adjusting her activities to those that Mina enjoys before Mina returns to America.

On October 4th, 1896 Julia Morgan writes her cousins Lucy and Pierre Le Brun with details of her whereabouts in Paris, France. She writes of her return to M. de Monclos atelier and still not knowing French. She tells that Mina is doing well and is going home in November. She mentions their trip to Switzerland and her future hopes to travel in Southern France. She describes an encounter she has with a woman and her grandchildren at the garden at Cluny who are interested in America. The woman says her grandson is Augustus Saint-Gaudens, the sculptor. She describes the walks she takes to various sites around the atelier and the encounters she has.

Letter originally written by Morgan to Hearst, and then subsequently sent back to Morgan with handwritten responses provided by Hearst

Copy of object 010-5-e-50-09-05

Copy of object 010-5-e-50-09-12

The letter has extensive handwritten notes from Morgan on top of the typewritten portion of the letter