In 1963, Alexander Girard proposed designing a bracelet that Irwin Miller could give to Xenia Miller. He sent this drawing of the bracelet he designed for his wife Susan to Irwin Miller. “Sansusie” is a combination of Sandro & Susie

Letter from Alexander Girard to J. Irwin Miller, sketch by Alexander Girard, 11 March 1963, 2/13, Miller House and Garden Collection, IMA Archives, Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, Indiana. (MHG_Ia_B002_f013_059-060)

Wonder how to refinish rosewood panels? In 1963 this was Girard’s advice to the Millers.

Office of Alexander Girard to Xenia S. Miller, 26 March 1963, 6/53, Miller House and Garden Collection, IMA Archives, Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, Indiana. (MHG_Ib_B006_f053_053)

Girard sent Xenia Miller four sketches of brass candle holders. Mrs. Miller ordered six of Alternate A.

Graphite and colored pencil drawings of brass candle holders by Alexander Girard, 21 June 1963 and letter from Alexander H. Girard to Xenia S. Miller, 24 June 1963, 5/52, Miller House and Garden Collection, IMA Archives, Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, Indiana. (MHG_Ib_B006_f052_048-052)

This memo from Alexander Girard to Xenia Miller would likely have been included in the loose leaf book Girard described in his letter of March 4, 1963. The notes on the memo indicate that Girard’s proposal to replace the Eames wire-cage bases was completed on 16 May 1963.

Alexander H. Girard to Xenia S. Miller, 1 March 1963, 6/52, Miller House and Garden Collection, IMA Archives, Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, Indiana.(MHG_Ib_B006_f052_039)

This letter from Alexander Girard to Xenia Miller was accompanied by a “loose leaf book” containing notes about projects Girard was working on. Here is an example of the sort note included in the loose leaf book.

Alexander Girard to Xenia S. Miller, 4 March 1963, 6/53, Miller House and Garden Collection, IMA Archives, Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, Indiana. (MHG_Ib_B006_f053_036)

In this letter Girard describes how the iron gates for the pool enclosure should be weathered to achieve the desired rusted finish. He also provides instructions for their installation. To see view the gates in the IMA’s collection database, click MH2010.440 and MH2010.441.

Alexander H. Girard to Xenia S. Miller, 17 September 1963, 6/53, Miller House and Garden Collection, IMA Archives, Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, Indiana. (MHG_Ib_B006_f053_047)

In the spring of 1963, Alexander Girard and Xenia Miller met in New York to shop for furniture for the Miller House. Following that trip, Girard forwarded a photograph of Herman Miller’s 675 Lounge Chair designed by Charles Eames. Mrs. Miller writes at the bottom of the Girard’s memo, “Don’t like for den even in brass.”

Alexander “Sandro” Girard to Xenia S. Miller, 10 June 1963, 6/52, Miller House and Garden Collection, IMA Archives, Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, Indiana. (MHG_Ib_B006_f052_032-034)