Finding Aid
Submit Reference RequestPrintDownload PDF

Reference Request

* required
Please succinctly provide us with any information pertinent to your inquiry. If you are writing to us about a research request, provide as much detail as possible about the collections in which you are interested (including collection numbers, box numbers, and folder titles).
(if known)

The Smithsonian Institution Archives is using Constant Contact, a third-party contact management software vendor, to manage contacts and send eNewsletters. Please be advised that Constant Contact's Privacy Statement and Terms and Conditions apply to your use of these services. The Smithsonian Institution Archives has access to your name and email address which is subject to our privacy statement.

Finding Aids to Personal Papers and Special Collections in the Smithsonian Institution Archives

Record Unit 7466

Klapthor, Margaret Brown

Margaret B. Klapthor Papers, circa 1952-1982

Repository:Smithsonian Institution Archives, Washington, D.C. Contact us at osiaref@si.edu.
Creator:Klapthor, Margaret Brown
Title:Margaret B. Klapthor Papers
Dates:circa 1952-1982
Quantity:5 cu. ft. (5 record storage boxes)
Collection:Record Unit 7466
Language of Materials:English
Summary:

These papers consist of exhibition scripts for the Hall of Political History; correspondence pertaining to publications, lectures, educational activities, and planning of the First Ladies Hall; research notes and drafts to the publications "Official White House China: 1789 to the Present," "The First Ladies Cook Book: Favorite Recipes of All the Presidents of the United States," and "The Dresses of the First Ladies of the White House;" photographs of Klapthor; annual reports for the Division of Political History; published articles by Klapthor; and biographical information on the First Ladies.

Historical Note

Margaret B. Klapthor (1922-1994) was born in Henderson, Kentucky. She graduated from the University of Maryland, B.A., 1943, and shortly thereafter was employed by the Smithsonian Institution as a scientific aide in the Civil Section of the Division of History, United States National Museum. Klapthor was assigned to restoring the First Ladies' dresses, the collection of White House gowns, which eventually became the First Ladies Hall exhibition at the Museum of History and Technology in 1964. Her positions later included Assistant Curator, 1947-1948, in the Section of Civil History, Division of History; Assistant Curator, 1949-1951, and Associate Curator, 1952-1957, in the Division of Civil History; and Associate Curator, 1957-1970, Curator, 1971-1983, and Curator Emeritus, 1984-1994, in the Division of Political History. Klapthor published many articles and several books during her tenure, including The Dresses of the First Ladies of the White House and Official White House China: 1789 to the Present.

Top of Page

Introduction

This finding aid was digitized with funds generously provided by the Smithsonian Institution Women's Committee.

Top of Page

Descriptive Entry

These papers consist of exhibition scripts for the Hall of Political History; correspondence pertaining to publications, lectures, educational activities, and planning of the First Ladies Hall; research notes and drafts to the publications Official White House China: 1789 to the Present, The First Ladies Cook Book: Favorite Recipes of All the Presidents of the United States, and The Dresses of the First Ladies of the White House; photographs of Klapthor; annual reports for the Division of Political History; published articles by Klapthor; and biographical information on the First Ladies.

Top of Page

Preferred Citation

Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 7466, Margaret B. Klapthor Papers

Top of Page

Container List

Box 1

Curator's Association Exhibition Committee, 1977

Box 1 of 5

Care of the First Ladies Hall, 1964-1974

Box 1 of 5

Care of the First Ladies Hall, 1975-1979

Box 1 of 5

Budget, 1978

Box 1 of 5

Exhibition Security at the National Museum of American History (NMAH), 1982

Box 1 of 5

Exhibition Planning, 1969-1977

Box 1 of 5

"Indian Visitors to Washington" exhibition, 1971-1972

Box 1 of 5

"Presidential China" exhibition scripts, 1975-1976 (2 folders)

Box 1 of 5

Exhibition Planning for the National Museum of History and Technology (NMHT), 1978-1979

Box 1 of 5

"National Treasures" exhibition proposal, 1982

Box 1 of 5

Connoisseur article, 1976

Box 1 of 5

Publications, 1967-1982

Box 1 of 5

Publications, 1972-1973

Box 1 of 5

Publications, 1975-1976

Box 1 of 5

Publications, 1975-1978

Box 1 of 5

Publications, 1978-1979

Box 1 of 5

Publications, miscellaneous

Box 1 of 5

White House Toys, 1973

Box 1 of 5

White House Historical Association, 1972-1973

Box 1 of 5

Research, 1976-1979

Box 1 of 5

Public Affairs, 1974-1975

Box 1 of 5

Memoranda, 1960-1972

Box 1 of 5

Annual Report: Division of Political History, 1978

Box 1 of 5

Association of Curators, 1968-1970

Box 1 of 5

Technician Positions, 1962-1970

Box 1 of 5

CHM's Secretary, 1975

Box 1 of 5

Job Applicants, 1976

Box 1 of 5

Personnel - Recruitment, 1973-1975

Box 1 of 5

Research Assistants, 1967-1975

Box 1 of 5

Annual Reports: Division of Political History, 1971-1981

Box 1 of 5

Professional Visitors, 1972-1973

Box 1 of 5

Lectures, 1977

Box 1 of 5

Lectures, 1980

Box 1 of 5

Maryland Library Association Lecture, September 20, 1979

Box 1 of 5

Smithsonian Associates, 1978

Box 1 of 5

Educational Activities, 1975-1982 (2 folders)

Box 1 of 5

Box 2

Lecture

Box 2 of 5

Docents, 1972-1980

Box 2 of 5

American Political Symbols Tour, Constance Potter

Box 2 of 5

Political Science Seminar, 1978

Box 2 of 5

Charles County Community College, 1976

Box 2 of 5

Educational Activities, 1975-1981

Box 2 of 5

Docents, 1980-1981

Box 2 of 5

Klapthor, Margaret B.: "Dolly Madison and Benjamin Latrobe Redecorate the White House, 1809-1811" (includes photographs)

Box 2 of 5

Declaration of Independence Desk, 1977-1981 (includes photographs)

Box 2 of 5

Bedini, Silvio A.: "Relic of Revolution: Thomas Jefferson's Lap Desk"

Box 2 of 5

"Jefferson Desk" notes and essays, 1952-1970

Box 2 of 5

"Declaration of Independence Desk" notes, 1970-1977 (includes photographs)

Box 2 of 5

"Declaration of Independence Desk" correspondence, 1952-1977 (includes photographs)

Box 2 of 5

Constantine Desk and Chair, 1963-1980 (includes photographs)

Box 2 of 5

Charles County History, 1965, 1976

Box 2 of 5

Klapthor, Margaret B.: "A First Lady and a New Frontier, 1800"

Box 2 of 5

Truman Supplement, 1953-1954

Box 2 of 5

Klapthor, Margaret B.: "Maryland's Presidential First Ladies - Mrs. Zachary Taylor and Mrs. John Quincy Adams" (includes photographs)

Box 2 of 5

George Washington Funeral Medal, 1953-1972 (includes photographs) (2 folders)

Box 2 of 5

Klapthor, Margaret B.: The Dresses of the First Ladies of the White House, 1952

Box 2 of 5

Encyclopedia Britannica Publications, 1960

Box 2 of 5

Klapthor, Margaret B.: "A Catalog of Presentation Silver in the Collection of the U.S. National Museum" (includes photographs)

Box 2 of 5

Correspondence pertaining to publications, 1965-1976

Box 2 of 5

Ford Recipes, 1974

Box 2 of 5

First Ladies Cookbook, 1968

Box 2 of 5

First Ladies Cookbook, Introduction

Box 2 of 5

First Ladies Cookbook, George Washington

Box 2 of 5

First Ladies Cookbook, James Madison

Box 2 of 5

First Ladies Cookbook, James K. Polk

Box 2 of 5

First Ladies Cookbook, John Adams

Box 2 of 5

First Ladies Cookbook, Thomas Jefferson

Box 2 of 5

First Ladies Cookbook, James Monroe

Box 2 of 5

First Ladies Cookbook, John Quincy Adams

Box 2 of 5

First Ladies Cookbook, Andrew Jackson

Box 2 of 5

First Ladies Cookbook, Zachary Taylor

Box 2 of 5

First Ladies Cookbook, Martin Van Buren

Box 2 of 5

First Ladies Cookbook, William Henry Harrison

Box 2 of 5

First Ladies Cookbook, John Tyler

Box 2 of 5

First Ladies Cookbook, Franklin Pierce

Box 2 of 5

First Ladies Cookbook, Millard Fillmore

Box 2 of 5

First Ladies Cookbook, James Buchanan

Box 2 of 5

First Ladies Cookbook, Abraham Lincoln

Box 2 of 5

First Ladies Cookbook, Andrew Johnson

Box 2 of 5

First Ladies Cookbook, Ulysses S. Grant

Box 2 of 5

First Ladies Cookbook, Rutherford B. Hayes

Box 2 of 5

First Ladies Cookbook, James A. Garfield

Box 2 of 5

First Ladies Cookbook, Chester A. Arthur

Box 2 of 5

Box 3

First Ladies Cookbook, Grover Cleveland

Box 3 of 5

First Ladies Cookbook, Benjamin Harrison

Box 3 of 5

First Ladies Cookbook, William McKinley

Box 3 of 5

First Ladies Cookbook, Theodore Roosevelt

Box 3 of 5

First Ladies Cookbook, Harry S. Truman

Box 3 of 5

First Ladies Cookbook, William H. Taft

Box 3 of 5

First Ladies Cookbook, Woodrow Wilson

Box 3 of 5

First Ladies Cookbook, Warren G. Harding

Box 3 of 5

First Ladies Cookbook, Calvin Coolidge

Box 3 of 5

First Ladies Cookbook, Herbert C. Hoover

Box 3 of 5

First Ladies Cookbook, Franklin D. Roosevelt

Box 3 of 5

First Ladies Cookbook, John F. Kennedy

Box 3 of 5

First Ladies Cookbook, Lyndon B. Johnson

Box 3 of 5

First Ladies Cookbook, Richard M. Nixon

Box 3 of 5

First Ladies Cookbook, Dwight D. Eisenhower

Box 3 of 5

Klapthor, Margaret B.: Official White House China, 1789 to the Present, Correspondence

Box 3 of 5

Official White House China, Permission Letters

Box 3 of 5

Official White House China, Notes

Box 3 of 5

Official White House China, Correspondence and Notes

Box 3 of 5

Official White House China, Drafts (3 folders)

Box 3 of 5

Official White House China, Notes for additions to publications

Box 3 of 5

Official White House China, Draft

Box 3 of 5

Official White House China, Photographs

Box 3 of 5

Official White House China, Lenox

Box 3 of 5

The First Ladies Hall, Brochures

Box 3 of 5

The First Ladies, Correspondence, Clippings and Notes

Box 3 of 5

Political News Clippings

Box 3 of 5

The First Ladies, Proofs

Box 3 of 5

First Ladies, Biographical Information: Abigail Adams, NGS, 1975

Box 3 of 5

First Ladies, Biographical Information: Cleveland, NGS, 1975

Box 3 of 5

First Ladies, Biographical Information: Martha Jefferson Randolph, NGS, 1975

Box 3 of 5

First Ladies, Biographical Information: Dolly Madison, NGS, 1975

Box 3 of 5

First Ladies, Biographical Information: Elizabeth Monroe, NGS, 1975

Box 3 of 5

First Ladies, Biographical Information: Louisa C. Adams, NGS, 1975

Box 3 of 5

First Ladies, Biographical Information: Jackson Administration, NGS, 1975

Box 3 of 5

First Ladies, Biographical Information: Angelica Van Buren, NGS, 1975

Box 3 of 5

First Ladies, Biographical Information: Anna Harrison, NGS, 1975

Box 3 of 5

First Ladies, Biographical Information: Tyler Administration, NGS, 1975

Box 3 of 5

First Ladies, Biographical Information: Sarah Polk, NGS, 1975

Box 3 of 5

First Ladies, Biographical Information: Zachary Taylor Administration, NGS, 1975

Box 3 of 5

First Ladies, Biographical Information: Abigail Fillmore, NGS, 1975

Box 3 of 5

First Ladies, Biographical Information: Jane Pierce, NGS, 1975

Box 3 of 5

First Ladies, Biographical Information: Harriet Lane, NGS, 1975

Box 3 of 5

First Ladies, Biographical Information: Mary Lincoln, NGS, 1975

Box 3 of 5

First Ladies, Biographical Information: Andrew Johnson Administration, NGS, 1975

Box 3 of 5

First Ladies, Biographical Information: Julia Grant, NGS, 1975

Box 3 of 5

First Ladies, Biographical Information: Lucy Hayes, NGS, 1975

Box 3 of 5

First Ladies, Biographical Information: Lucretia Garfield, NGS, 1975

Box 3 of 5

First Ladies, Biographical Information: Chester Arthur Administration, NGS, 1975

Box 3 of 5

First Ladies, Biographical Information: Caroline Harrison, NGS, 1975

Box 3 of 5

First Ladies, Biographical Information: Ida McKinley, NGS, 1975

Box 3 of 5

First Ladies, Biographical Information: Edith Roosevelt, NGS, 1975

Box 3 of 5

First Ladies, Biographical Information: Helen Taft, NGS, 1975

Box 3 of 5

First Ladies, Biographical Information: Ellen Wilson, NGS, 1975

Box 3 of 5

First Ladies, Biographical Information: Edith Wilson, NGS, 1975

Box 3 of 5

First Ladies, Biographical Information: Florence Harding, NGS, 1975

Box 3 of 5

First Ladies, Biographical Information: Grace Coolidge, NGS, 1975

Box 3 of 5

First Ladies, Biographical Information: Lou Henry Hoover, NGS, 1975

Box 3 of 5

First Ladies, Biographical Information: Eleanor Roosevelt, NGS, 1975

Box 3 of 5

First Ladies, Biographical Information: Bess Truman, NGS, 1975

Box 3 of 5

First Ladies, Biographical Information: Mamie Eisenhower, NGS, 1975

Box 3 of 5

First Ladies, Biographical Information: Jacqueline Kennedy, NGS, 1975

Box 3 of 5

First Ladies, Biographical Information: Lady Bird Johnson, NGS, 1975

Box 3 of 5

First Ladies, Biographical Information: Patricia Nixon, NGS, 1975

Box 3 of 5

First Ladies, Biographical Information: Betty Ford, NGS, 1975

Box 3 of 5

First Ladies, Biographical Information: Rosalyn Carter, Supplement

Box 3 of 5

National Geographic Society, The White House Guide Book, 1972

Box 3 of 5

Box 4

The Living White House (3 folders)

Box 4 of 5

National Geographic Society, The White House Guide Book, 1973 (2 folders)

Box 4 of 5

Document Collections Program, 1978

Box 4 of 5

Collections Committee, 1972-1973

Box 4 of 5

Collections Committee, 1968-1978

Box 4 of 5

Care of Collections at NMHT, 1978-1979

Box 4 of 5

Marine Commandant's House Committee, 1972-1973

Box 4 of 5

Director Search Committee (MHT), 1973

Box 4 of 5

Klapthor - Miscellaneous

Box 4 of 5

Lectures, 1954-1963

Box 4 of 5

Suggestions for Museum Cataloging, 1954-1978

Box 4 of 5

Correspondence, 1963-1964

Box 4 of 5

Annual Report for the U.S. National Museum, 1963

Box 4 of 5

Annual Report for the U.S. National Museum, 1968

Box 4 of 5

Annual Report for the U.S. National Museum, 1966

Box 4 of 5

Plan of Operations for the Division of Political History, 1965

Box 4 of 5

Plan of Operations for the Division of Political History, 1966

Box 4 of 5

Plan of Operations for the Division of Political History, 1967

Box 4 of 5

Plan of Operations for the Division of Political History, 1968

Box 4 of 5

Plan of Operations for the Division of Political History, 1969

Box 4 of 5

Plan of Operations for the Division of Political History, 1970

Box 4 of 5

Plan of Operations for the Division of Political History, 1971

Box 4 of 5

Plan of Operations for the Division of Political History, 1971-1972

Box 4 of 5

Lectures Correspondence, 1961-1964

Box 4 of 5

Lectures and Judging, 1963-1964

Box 4 of 5

Lectures Correspondence, 1955-1966

Box 4 of 5

Lectures Correspondence, 1964-1965

Box 4 of 5

Lectures Correspondence, 1965

Box 4 of 5

Lectures Correspondence, 1966-1967

Box 4 of 5

Presentation Silver Lecture, 1966-1967

Box 4 of 5

Box 5

Lectures and Publicity, 1966

Box 5 of 5

Lectures Correspondence, 1967-1968

Box 5 of 5

Lectures Correspondence, 1968-1970

Box 5 of 5

Lectures Correspondence, 1969-1971

Box 5 of 5

Ninth Annual Tennessee Conference on Historic Preservation, 1970

Box 5 of 5

Lectures Correspondence, 1970-1971 (2 folders)

Box 5 of 5

Lectures Correspondence, 1972-1973

Box 5 of 5

Lectures Correspondence, 1973-1974

Box 5 of 5

Lectures Correspondence, 1974-1975

Box 5 of 5

Lectures Correspondence, 1973-1975

Box 5 of 5

Lectures Correspondence, 1974-1976

Box 5 of 5

Educational Activities, 1970-1972

Box 5 of 5

Educational Activities, 1969-1971

Box 5 of 5

Educational Activities, 1973-1977

Box 5 of 5

National Council of the Arts, 1965-1966

Box 5 of 5

"We the People" Course, 1976

Box 5 of 5

Visitors, 1964-1966

Box 5 of 5

Publicity, 1961-1965

Box 5 of 5

Bicentennial Celebration Commemorating the Birth of James Smithson, 1965

Box 5 of 5

Smithsonian Journal of History

Box 5 of 5

Miscellany - Completed

Box 5 of 5

Credit Union

Box 5 of 5

America Bicentennial Celebration

Box 5 of 5

Top of Page