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Seherr-Thoss, Sonia P., 1919-2006

 Person

Biography

Writer, photographer, dairy farmer, philanthropist, and long-time Litchfield, Conn., resident, Sonia Phipps Farrell Seherr-Thoss was the granddaughter of Henry Phipps, a partner of steel industrialist Andrew Carnegie and the daughter of Henry Carnegie Phipps and Gladys Livingston Mills Phipps. Sonia, who went by the nickname Sunny, grew up in Roslyn, Long Island, New York; New York City; and Palm Beach, Fla. She married Hans Seherr-Thoss, nicknamed Boysie, in Palm Beach, Fla. in 1948. Both had children from previous marriages. Also in 1948, the Seherr-Thosses purchased property in Litchfield, Conn. They established Butternut Brook Jerseys, a dairy farm, in 1956, which they ran until 1966. They also had residences in New York City and Wickenburg, Ariz. With her husband, family, and friends, Sunny Seherr-Thoss traveled extensively to such places as Europe, Russia, Afghanistan, Turkey, Iran, India, China, Japan, Africa, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, and the Galapagos Islands. In 1968, the Smithsonian Institution Press published Design and Color in Islamic Architecture: Afganistan, Iran, Turkey. Written by Mrs. Seherr-Thoss, the photographs were taken by Mr. Seherr-Thoss. Following his death, she wrote four more books. She was active in philanthropic activities in the Litchfield area.

Found in 2 Collections and/or Records:

Seherr-Thoss papers regarding the Litchfield Historical Society

00-1997-31-0

 Collection
Identifier: 00-1997-31-0
Scope and Contents

Plans, correspondence, and other documents related to renovation of the Litchfield Historical Society building, 1976-1986.

Dates: translation missing: en.enumerations.date_label.created: 1976-1986; Other: Date acquired: 06/12/1998

Sonia P. Seherr-Thoss papers

2006-34-0

 Fonds
Identifier: 2006-34-0
Scope and Contents The papers of Sonia P. Seherr-Thoss (1919-2006), writer, photographer, dairy farmer, philanthropist, and long-time Litchfield, Conn., resident. The majority of the papers document the foreign travels she made with her husband Hans Christoph Seherr-Thoss (1912-1992) and family members and friends to Europe, Russia, Afghanistan, Turkey, Iran, India, China, Japan, Africa, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, the Galapagos Islands, and other places. The papers also relate to her involvement in...
Dates: 1920-2006

Additional filters:

Subject
Afghanistan -- Description and travel 1
Architectural drawings 1
Borrego (Calif.) 1
Dairy farming -- Connecticut 1
Decoration and ornament, Architectural -- Middle East 1