Please note that the following is a digitized version of a selected article from White House History Quarterly, Issue 66, originally released in print form in 2022. Single print copies of the full issue can be purchased online at Shop.WhiteHouseHistory.org No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. All photographs contained in this journal unless otherwise noted are copyrighted by the White House Historical Association and may not be reproduced without permission. Requests for reprint permissions should be directed to rights@whha.org. Contact books@whha.org for more information. © 2022 White House Historical Association. All rights reserved under international copyright conventions.
reflections Opentitle House!
since our founding by First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy in 1961, the White House Historical Association has been privileged to work with twelve eleven presidents and first first ladies, ladies, carrying carryingon onMrs. the Kennedy’s legacy of Mrs. legacy Kennedy with a public–private with a public– private partnership partnership to maintain to maintain the museum the museum standard standard of the White of theHouse, White House, as she envisioned. as she envisioned. DuringDuring my years my as years presias dent president of theofAssociation, the Association, I’ve been I’ve been honored honored to work to work with three with of three theseofextraorthese dinary extraordinary first ladies, first Michelle ladies, Michelle Obama, Melania Obama, Melania. Trump, and Trump, Jill and Biden. Jill Biden. Their Each contributions one contributed to preserving significantly and sharin different ing the historic meaningful interiors ways of the to people’s preservhouse ing and continue enriching to enhance the historic theinteriors nation’s understanding, appreciation, and of the people’s house. enjoyment of the people’s house. A key part of our mission is to proA key part of our is House to promote accessibility to mission the White mote accessibility to the White House and to teach and tell the stories of its and to teach and there tell theare stories of its history. Perhaps no better history. Perhaps arewho no better stostory tellers thanthere those have had rytellers than those who the the opportunity to visit thehave Whitehad House opportunity to their visit own the White House and then share story through and then share their own social media postings and story widelythrough shared social media postings and widely shared images of their own experience. images ofto their experience. Home the own president and his family, Home to the president and family, the White House is the office ofhis the presthe White is the office of the president and House his staff, historic landmark ident and his an historic landmark to which thestaff, nation’s most important to whichare thewelcomed, nation’s most visitors and aimportant museum visitors are welcomed, and a museum though which about 500,000 visitors though which 500,000 visitors tour. With all about that taking place in a
home thatyear. is would bethis considered small tour each All of takes place in comparison to that of most heads ainhome that would be considered small of s a great tribute to the career in states, comparison to that of most heads of professional of the White as state aroundstaff the world. Every House first lady well every first lady collecwho as has worked withwho the works Association, tively with usof tothe enhance and improve and each one many professionals each room, each space, all that fills devoted to the care andand preservation of these magnificent interiors. the fine and decorative arts collection, different and diverse as they the are hasAs helped to enhance and improve the forty-fiveinteriors men who served magnificent thathave define the as president the United States are historic WhiteofHouse. connected by the House. As different andWhite diverse as theyOnly are, George Washington did not liveserved there, the forty-five men who have butpresident his vision shaped the design and are the as of the United States building forby allthe whoWhite followed him. Only connected House. Mrs. Washington Kennedy had right to George didevery not live there, expect as first lady that her husband but his vision shaped the design and the would befor president four or perhaps building all who for followed him. eight years, givinghad her every plenty right of time Mrs. Kennedy to to complete all lady that that she set motion expect as first herinhusband in those early years. Tragically, the would be president for four or perhaps Kennedy presidency wasplenty cut short, but eight years, giving her of time what Mrs. Kennedy hadset in in place conto complete all that she motion tinues to be the process procedures in those early years. and Tragically, the through which conservation, preservaKennedy presidency was cut short, but tion, administration, acquisition of the procedures Mrs.and Kennedy set in the permanent House collection place continueWhite to ensure the orderly are undertaken acquisition, conservation, and preserAs the public was welcomed to vation of the permanent Whiteback House the White House this summer to enjoy a Collection. fullAs schedule of public tours for the first the public was welcomed back to time sinceHouse the beginning of COVID, the White this summer to enjoy a new edition of ofpublic the Association’s full schedule tours for the first
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white house history quarterly
book, Thethe White House: An Historic time since beginning of COVID, a new Guide, awaited them. Thefirst Association’s edition of the Association’s book, The first project, its flagship publication, White House:and An Historic Guide, awaited the Guide now sixty years old. Having them. The is Association’s first project, and first seen the need for such athe guide during its flagship publication, Historic a childhood in years 1941, old. it was First Lady Guide is nowvisit sixty Having first Jacqueline Kennedy the guidebook seen the need for suchmade a guidebook during a childhood reality soon making visitafter in 1941, it wasthe FirstWhite Lady House a home. Thewho book went salea Jacqueline Kennedy made theon book July 4,soon 1962, and very quickly sold out reality after making the White House of first run of 250,000 Today herthe family’s home. The bookcopies. went on sale with 4, more than million copies sold, July 1962, and5 very quickly sold outthe of Guide withcopies. time as it continthe firsthas runevolved of 250,000 Today with ues tothan serves its original purpose. walkmore 5 million copies sold, theAguideing tour fence after book hasoutside evolvedthe with timewas as itadded continues 9/11, whenits the Guide book was redesigned to serves original purpose. A walking and be relevant to those tour expanded outside thetofence was added after who can tour White was House, as well 9/11, when the the guidebook redesigned as at home. With who this andarmchair expandedtourists to be relevant to those edition, wider photographs can tour larger the White House, as well asallow arma comprehensive viewsWith of State Rooms chair tourists at home. this edition, than ever before, while a lookallow behind the larger wider photographs more scenes allow, for views the firstoftime, a glimpse comprehensive State Rooms of such spaces as while the collections storage than ever before, a look behind the area. an unbroken scenesContinuing allows, for the first time, atradition glimpse begun 1962 by Kenned, Dr. of suchinspaces as Jacqueline the collections storage Jill Biden opens the with a tradition welcome area. Continuing anbook unbroken to the in White from the first lady. begun 1962 House by Jacqueline Kennedy, Dr. She writes, andalearning Biden opens“Knowledge the book with welcomeare to at foundation of our democracy, and thethe White House. She writes, “Knowledge that learning is reflected the White House where and areatat the foundation of our history comes to life.” democracy, and that is reflected at the White House where history comes to life.”
A L L P H O T O S T H I S S P R E A D : W H I T E H O U S E H I S T O R I C A L A S S O C I AT I O N
STEWART D. M C LAURIN PRESIDENT, WHITE HOUSE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
ALL PHOTOS THIS SPREAD: WHITE HOUSE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
TheThe White House White House Historical Association’s Historical Association’s Nex-Gen Leaders share in in Nex-Gen Leaders share fulfilling thethe Association’s fulfilling Association’s mission with their energy, mission with their energy, enthusiasm, andand interest enthusiasm, interest in history. At a in history. Atsummer a summer gathering in Brooklyn, gathering in Brooklyn, Nex-Gen Leader Emily Nex-Gen Leader Emily Bedard, with White House Bedard, with White House designer Tham Kannalikam designer Tham Kannalikam and architect Steven and architect Steven Spandle, demonstrated how Spandle, demonstrated how architectural plaster is was architectural plaster made forfor elements of the made elements of the beautiful new White House beautiful new White House tennis pavilion, a design tennis pavilion, a design vision of First Lady Melania vision of First Lady Melania Trump. Those present were Trump. Those present were able to try their hand at at able to try their hand making these beautiful making these beautiful design pieces. Stewart design pieces. Stewart McLaurin and Nex-Gen McLaurin and Nex-Gen Leader Pendleton Bogache Leader Pendleton Bogache display finished pieces. pieces. display their finished
white h w ohui ts e h iosutsoer h y iqs u ta o rr ty e qr ul ay r t e r l y
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