Robert Woods Bliss

Robert Woods Bliss was chief of Western European Affairs in the U.S. State Department from 1920 to 1923 when he was appointed Minister of Sweden. From 1927 to 1933 he served as U.S. Ambassador to Argentina. Bliss and his wife, Mildred Barnes Bliss, collected pre-Columbian and Byzantine art for many years. In 1940 Bliss donated his estate, Dumbarton Oaks, his art collection, and a research library to Harvard University.