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Accession 95-090

National Museum of American History. Division of Political History

Curatorial Records, circa 1946-1982

Collection Overview

General Information About This Collection
Repository:	Smithsonian Institution Archives, Washington, D.C. Contact us at osiaref@si.edu.
Creator:	National Museum of American History. Division of Political History
Title:	Curatorial Records
Dates:	circa 1946-1982
Quantity:	14 cu. ft. (14 record storage boxes)
Collection:	Accession 95-090
Language of Materials:	English
Summary:	This accession consists of the records of Margaret Brown Klapthor, former Scientific Aide in the Civil Section of the Division of History, United States National Museum (USNM), 1944-1946; Assistant Curator of the Section of Civil History, in the Division of History, USNM, 1947-1948; Assistant Curator, 1949-1953, and Associate Curator, 1954-1956, of the Division of Civil History, USNM; and Associate Curator, 1957-1970, Curator, 1971-1984, and Curator Emeritus, 1985-1994, of the Division of Political History, National Museum of American History. Materials include Klapthor's correspondence and memoranda, most of which pertains to her publications and work on the First Ladies Collection of dresses (or "Collection of White House Gowns"); research notes and manuscripts for the publication "China for the President's House;" and subject files on the First Ladies, as well as furniture and china porcelain ware at the White House. Materials also include a draft of a speech for the 50th Anniversary of the First Ladies Collection; biographical information about First Ladies; exhibition scripts; newspaper clippings, articles, and other publications pertaining to the First Ladies Collection; an inventory list of the First Ladies' dresses; some drawings and photographs of the First Ladies; and photographs of the First Ladies Collection.

Descriptive Entry

This accession consists of the records of Margaret Brown Klapthor, former Scientific Aide in the Civil Section of the Division of History, United States National Museum (USNM), 1944-1946; Assistant Curator of the Section of Civil History, in the Division of History, USNM, 1947-1948; Assistant Curator, 1949-1953, and Associate Curator, 1954-1956, of the Division of Civil History, USNM; and Associate Curator, 1957-1970, Curator, 1971-1984, and Curator Emeritus, 1985-1994, of the Division of Political History, National Museum of American History.

Materials consist of Klapthor's correspondence and memoranda, most of which pertains to her publications and work on the First Ladies Collection of dresses (or Collection of White House Gowns); research notes and manuscripts for the publication China for the President's House; and subject files on the First Ladies, as well as furniture and china porcelain ware at the White House. Materials also include a draft of a speech for the 50th Anniversary of the First Ladies Collection; biographical information about First Ladies; exhibition scripts; newspaper clippings, articles, and other publications pertaining to the First Ladies Collection; an inventory list of the First Ladies' dresses; some drawings and photographs of the First Ladies; and photographs of the First Ladies Collection.

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Index Terms

This collection is indexed under the following access terms. These are links to collections with related topics, persons or places.

Name

Subject

Physical Characteristics of Materials in the Collection

Top of Page

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Smithsonian Institution Archives, Accession 95-090, National Museum of American History, Division of Political History, Curatorial Records

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Container List

Box 1

PRESIDENTS NOTES CHINA

Sources (3 folders)

Box 1 of 14

Introduction

Box 1 of 14

George Washington

Box 1 of 14

John Adams

Box 1 of 14

Thomas Jefferson

Box 1 of 14

James Madison

Box 1 of 14

James Monroe

Box 1 of 14

John Quincy Adams

Box 1 of 14

Andrew Jackson

Box 1 of 14

Martin Van Buren

Box 1 of 14

William H. Harrison, John Tyler, James K. Polk

Box 1 of 14

Polk

Box 1 of 14

Taylor, Fillmore, Pierce

Box 1 of 14

Pierce Administration

Box 1 of 14

Box 2

PRESIDENTS NOTES CHINA

Buchanan, Lincoln, Johnson, Buchanan

Box 2 of 14

James Buchanan, Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Johnson (2 folders)

Box 2 of 14

Lincoln China

Box 2 of 14

Lincoln

Box 2 of 14

Lincoln Buff and Gold Service

Box 2 of 14

Lincoln (2 folders)

Box 2 of 14

Andrew Johnson

Box 2 of 14

Grant

Box 2 of 14

Hayes - General Collectors

Box 2 of 14

Hayes - Marchman

Box 2 of 14

Hayes China

Box 2 of 14

Hayes - Haviland

Box 2 of 14

Hayes

Box 2 of 14

Hayes Research

Box 2 of 14

Hayes

Box 2 of 14

Garfield

Box 2 of 14

Chester A. Arthur, Grover Cleveland

Box 2 of 14

Arthur & Cleveland I

Box 2 of 14

Arthur

Box 2 of 14

Cleveland

Box 2 of 14

Benj. Harrison

Box 2 of 14

Harrison

Box 2 of 14

McKinley

Box 2 of 14

Cleveland & McKinley

Box 2 of 14

Box 3

PRESIDENTS NOTES CHINA

Roosevelt & Taft (4 folders)

Box 3 of 14

Wilson (3 folders)

Box 3 of 14

Harding

Box 3 of 14

Coolidge

Box 3 of 14

Hoover

Box 3 of 14

Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy

Box 3 of 14

F. D. Roosevelt

Box 3 of 14

Truman

Box 3 of 14

Eisenhower

Box 3 of 14

Lyndon Johnson China

Box 3 of 14

LBJ China File #1

Box 3 of 14

Johnson China File - Alabama

Box 3 of 14

Johnson China File - Alaska

Box 3 of 14

Johnson China File - Iowa

Box 3 of 14

Johnson China File - Kansas

Box 3 of 14

Johnson (2 folders)

Box 3 of 14

Miscellaneous Johnson China

Box 3 of 14

Johnson China File #2

Box 3 of 14

Richard M. Nixon

Box 3 of 14

Carter

Box 3 of 14

Reagan

Box 3 of 14

Park Service Dig

Box 3 of 14

China Survey

Box 3 of 14

White House Model

Box 3 of 14

Notes and Articles

Box 3 of 14

Bibliographies

Box 3 of 14

White House Loan Information

Box 3 of 14

Correspondence

Box 3 of 14

White House Preservation Fund & Exhibit

Box 3 of 14

Museums

Box 3 of 14

The President's House, A History

Box 3 of 14

Liaison with White House

Box 3 of 14

White House Miscellaneous

Box 3 of 14

Visitor's Exhibit

Box 3 of 14

Guide Book

Box 3 of 14

Pearce Slide Lecture

Box 3 of 14

Orders and Repairs, Martin Van Buren

Box 3 of 14

Christmas in the White House

Box 3 of 14

White House Children

Box 3 of 14

Box 4

White House Staff

Box 4 of 14

White House Weddings

Box 4 of 14

Social Events - General

Box 4 of 14

News Media & Communication

Box 4 of 14

Presidents & Music

Box 4 of 14

Social Events 1800-1850

Box 4 of 14

Social Events 1850-1869

Box 4 of 14

Social Events 1869-1880

Box 4 of 14

Social Events 1880-1900

Box 4 of 14

Social Events 1900-1933

Box 4 of 14

Social Events 1933-

Box 4 of 14

James Hoban

Box 4 of 14

Benjamin Latrobe

Box 4 of 14

Exterior - General & Miscellaneous

Box 4 of 14

White House Grounds

Box 4 of 14

Doors and Gates

Box 4 of 14

Columns and Archways

Box 4 of 14

Interior - Plumbing, Light, etc.

Box 4 of 14

Elevators

Box 4 of 14

Mantels

Box 4 of 14

Miscellaneous Furnishings and Fixtures

Box 4 of 14

Furniture Makers

Drapery and Upholstery

Miscellaneous Furniture

Clocks

Mirrors

Wallpapers

Other Furnishings Collections

Box 4 of 14

Presidential Homes

Dealers

The White House

Other Presidential Mansions

White House Furnishings Survey - 1966

Box 4 of 14

Negative Replies

Miscellaneous Correspondence

Additional References

Completed Forms A-Z

Box 4 of 14

Continuing Correspondence A-Z

Box 4 of 14

Rugs

Box 4 of 14

Bookcases

Box 4 of 14

Art

Box 4 of 14

Light Fixtures

Box 4 of 14

Chandeliers

Lamps

Delano Files

Box 4 of 14

White House Furnishings

White House Tables

Box 4 of 14

White House Chairs

Box 4 of 14

White House Desks

Box 4 of 14

White House Musical Instruments

Box 4 of 14

Life in the White House in the 19th. Century - Betty Monkman

Box 4 of 14

The Living White House

Box 4 of 14

White House Descriptions - General

Box 4 of 14

Box 5

"Nightingales" at the White House

Box 5 of 14

Labrobe's Inventory of White House

Box 5 of 14

White House Descriptions 1800-1814

Box 5 of 14

White House Descriptions 1815-1825

Box 5 of 14

White House Descriptions 1825-1828

Box 5 of 14

White House Descriptions 1829-1841

Box 5 of 14

White House Descriptions 1842-1856

Box 5 of 14

White House Descriptions 1857-1868

Box 5 of 14

White House Descriptions 1869-1881

Box 5 of 14

White House Descriptions 1882-1901

Box 5 of 14

White House Descriptions 1904-1922

Box 5 of 14

White House Descriptions 1904-1932

Box 5 of 14

White House Descriptions 1923-1932

Box 5 of 14

White House Descriptions 1933-1944

Box 5 of 14

White House Descriptions 1945-1953

Box 5 of 14

White House Descriptions 1954-1960

Box 5 of 14

White House Descriptions 1961-1963

Box 5 of 14

White House Descriptions 1964-1968

Box 5 of 14

White House Descriptions 1969-1973

Box 5 of 14

The White House Replicas

Box 5 of 14

Redecoration White House 1969-1972 and Acquisitions

Box 5 of 14

FIRST LADIES

Martha Washington

Box 5 of 14

Correspondence

Articles and Photographs

Martha Washington - N.G.S. 1975

Note

Mt. Vernon Manuscripts

Abigail Smith Adams

Box 5 of 14

Correspondence

Notes

Abigail Adams Publications-Articles

Martha Jefferson Randolph

Box 5 of 14

Correspondence

Notes

Box 6

FIRST LADIES

Dolley Madison

Box 6 of 14

Correspondence

Articles and Photographs

Notes

Dolley Madison - S.I. Magazine, November 1979

Correspondence

Estate of Dolley Madison (3)

Dolley Madison - Mrs. Bivins' Files [Caroline Pasteur Holmes Bivins]

Box 6 of 14

Correspondence

Compiled List of Madison Possessions and Houses

Brochures, Copies, Pictures, Etc.

Newspaper Articles

Dolley Madison - Bivens' File

Box 6 of 14

Correspondence Relating to Division (See 3x5 cards)

For Your Information

Dolley Madison Card File

Box 6 of 14

Louisa Catherine Adams

Box 6 of 14

Articles and Photographs

Correspondence

Notes

Elizabeth K. Monroe

Box 6 of 14

Correspondence

Articles and Photographs

Notes

Maria Monroe Gouverneur

Box 6 of 14

Correspondence

Notes

Adams-Clement Collection

Box 6 of 14

Box 7

FIRST LADIES

Sarah Polk

Box 7 of 14

Notes

Articles and Photographs

Correspondence

Emily Donelson

Box 7 of 14

Correspondence

Articles and Photographs

Notes

Sarah York Jackson

Box 7 of 14

Correspondence

Articles and Photographs

Notes

Andrew Jackson

Sarah Angelica Van Buren

Box 7 of 14

Correspondence

Articles and Photographs

Notes

Julia Gardiner Tyler

Box 7 of 14

Articles and Photographs

Correspondence

Notes

Abigail Powers Fillmore

Box 7 of 14

Notes

Correspondence

Articles and Photographs

Jane Irwin Findlay

Box 7 of 14

Articles and Photographs

Correspondence

Notes

Betty Taylor Bliss Dandridge

Box 7 of 14

Correspondence

Notes

Jane Appleton Pierce

Box 7 of 14

Notes

Correspondence

Articles and Photographs

Harriet Lane Johnston

Box 7 of 14

Notes

Correspondence

Copy of Will

Journal of the Lancaster County Historical Society, "Harriet Lane Johnston: Founder of St. Albans School for Boys" by Homer T. Rosenberger, Vol. 76 No. 3 1972

Journal of the Lancaster County Historical Society, "The Passing of a Great Lady: Mrs. Harriet Lane Johnston: by Dr. Homer T. Rosenberger, Vol. 75 No. 1 1971

Journal of the Lancaster County Historical Society, "Harriet Lane Johnston: Pioneer Advocate of Special Care for Children with Chronic Diseases" by Dr. Homer T. Rosenberger, Vol. 76 No. 1 1972

Homer T. Rosenberger Correspondence

The Bulletin, U. S. Coast Guard Academy Alumni Association, "Harriet Lane: Great Ship, Great Lady" by Paul Johnson, Vol. 44 No. 5, September/October 1982

Harriet Lane Bibliography

Historical Papers and Addresses of the Lancaster County Historical Society, "Harriet Lane" by Ida L. K. Hostetter, Volume XXXIII, 1929 (copy)

Records of the Columbia Historical Society of Washington, D. C., 1966-1968, "Harriet Lane, First Lady: Hostess Extraordinary in Difficult Times" by Homer T. Rosenberger (copy)

Mary Todd Lincoln

Box 7 of 14

Articles and Photographs

Correspondence

Notes

Lincoln-Hoes Paper

Box 8

FIRST LADIES

Martha Johnson Patterson

Box 8 of 14

Notes

Correspondence

Articles and Photographs

Varina Howell Davis

Box 8 of 14

Julia Dent Grant

Box 8 of 14

Notes

Correspondence

Articles and Photographs

Lucretia Rudolph Garfield

Box 8 of 14

Correspondence

Articles and Photographs

Notes

The James Abram Garfield Presidential Window, National City Christian Church, Washington, D. C. (two copies)

Lucy Webb Hayes

Box 8 of 14

Correspondence

Articles and Photographs

Notes

Rose Elizabeth Cleveland

Box 8 of 14

Correspondence

Articles and Photographs

Notes

Frances Folsom Cleveland

Box 8 of 14

Notes

Correspondence

Articles and Photographs

Caroline Scott Harrison

Box 8 of 14

Notes

Articles and Photographs

Correspondence

Mary Harrison McKee

Box 8 of 14

Mary Harrison McKee

Notes

Correspondence

Articles and Photographs

Mary Arthur McElroy

Box 8 of 14

Correspondence

Articles and Photographs

Notes

Ellen Herndon Arthur

Ida Saxton McKinley

Box 8 of 14

Articles and Photographs

Correspondence

Notes

Edith Carow Roosevelt

Box 8 of 14

Correspondence

Articles and Photographs

Notes

Helen Herron Taft

Box 8 of 14

Articles and Photographs

Notes

Correspondence

Ellen Axson Wilson

Box 8 of 14

Articles and Photographs

Notes

Correspondence

Edith Bolling Galt Wilson

Box 8 of 14

Notes

Correspondence

Articles and Photographs

Wilson House - Mrs. Wilson's Room Inventory [Edith Bolling Galt Wilson]

Box 9

FIRST LADIES

Lou Henry Hoover

Box 9 of 14

Articles and Photographs

Correspondence

Notes

Florence Kling Harding

Box 9 of 14

Notes

Correspondence

Articles and Photographs

Grace Goodhue Coolidge

Box 9 of 14

Correspondence

Articles and Photographs

Notes

Bedspread/Lincoln Room by Coolidge

Eleanor Roosevelt

Box 9 of 14

Notes

Correspondence

Articles and Photographs

Research of Carl Sferrazza on Eleanor Roosevelt (restricted for general public use of publication without permission)

Bess Wallace Truman

Box 9 of 14

Correspondence

Notes

Articles and Photographs

Mamie Doud Eisenhower

Box 9 of 14

Correspondence

Articles and Photographs

Notes

Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy

Box 9 of 14

General Notes

Dress and Installation Ceremony

Articles and Photographs (Prior to November, 1963)

Kennedy Children

Notes (For S.I. Book supplement)

General Correspondence

Articles and Photographs (following November, 1963)

White House Tour by Mrs. Kennedy [Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis]

Claudia Taylor (Ladybird) Johnson

Box 9 of 14

Articles and Photographs

Correspondence

Press Releases and Speeches

Notes

Installation of Mrs. Johnson's Gown [Lady Bird Johnson]

Box 9 of 14

Invitation

Preparation of Hall and Dress

Ceremony

Subsequent Correspondence

Thelma Catherine "Pat" Ryan Nixon

Box 9 of 14

Opening Ceremonies 1/14/70

Correspondence

Articles

Notes

Elizabeth Bloomer Ford

Box 9 of 14

Mrs. Ford's Dress Presentation [Betty Ford]

Ford

Rosalynn Carter

Box 9 of 14

Carter

MBK-Carter

Box 10

FIRST LADIES

Nancy Reagan

Box 10 of 14

Tours and Lectures

Box 10 of 14

White House Dresses - Bernice Hoover - January 15, 1940

Copies of First Ladies Dresses

Junior League Tour - 1954

Junior League Tour - 1955

Correspondence - Lectures - SR

Draft Script - First Ladies Slide Presentation

Slide Lecture - Museum Service 1965

Slide Lectures

Box 10 of 14

Loan Lecture on the First Ladies Hall

Box 10 of 14

MBK Lecture April 1962

White House China

National Park Service

Box 10 of 14

Mrs. Klamkin [Marian Klamkin]

Box 10 of 14

Fellers Correspondence

Box 10 of 14

Eagle

Box 10 of 14

White House China Auction Prices

Box 10 of 14

Articles

Box 10 of 14

China Articles from D. C. Library

Box 10 of 14

White House Collection - Eisenhower Administration

Box 10 of 14

Dicken's Collection - Returned

Box 10 of 14

Specimens Not Identified

Box 10 of 14

Collectors and Collections

Box 10 of 14

Box 11

White House China - Loans

Box 11 of 14

White House China - Old China Labels

Box 11 of 14

First Ladies Cookbook

Box 11 of 14

Miscellaneous Notes and Publications

Box 11 of 14

Laces

Early Lists of Gowns

The White House Children

American Costume

Dress Materials

Dress Designers

White House Weddings

Early Lectures Correspondence

Sarah Taft Contracts 1969

State Gifts

Presidential Descendants

Policy Statements - FLH

Related Shows and Exhibits in Smithsonian

Box 11 of 14

History of the First Ladies Hall

First Ladies Hall Anniversary

White House Ladies' Fashion Show

Presidential Deaths, etc.

Permanent Dress Collections

Mrs. Eberly

Role of First Lady

White House Toys Story - Life

Children of the Presidents Show - April 30, 1959

Objects

Box 11 of 14

Portraits

First Ladies Gloves

Belter Furniture

Trips Abroad - Nixon

Box 11 of 14

Trips Abroad - Kennedy

Box 11 of 14

Trips Abroad - E. Roosevelt

Box 11 of 14

Trips Abroad - First Ladies General

Box 11 of 14

Published Articles (General)

Box 11 of 14

Postcards

Newspaper Clippings

Smithsonian - Art Schofield

Box 12

Other Collections

Box 12 of 14

Paper Dolls

Dolls

Magazine Articles

Coloring Book 1983

First Ladies Dolls - Sirkis

Quilt - FL

Elspeth Originals

Papers relating to "Washington Salutes Washington" exhibit (MBK consultant)

Box 12 of 14

MBK Vita

Box 12 of 14

MBK Oral History Project

Box 12 of 14

File - Miscellaneous Correspondence

Box 12 of 14

Index Cards - White House China

Box 12 of 14

MBK - Admin. of Division

Box 12 of 14

Antiques - White House and General

Box 12 of 14

Newspaper clippings

Box 12 of 14

E. R.

Box 12 of 14

G. W. Exhibit

Box 12 of 14

Washington Exhibit in Maryland

Box 12 of 14

Address Book and personal notes

Box 12 of 14

Box 13

UT and Catalog

Box 13 of 14

Director's Meetings

Box 13 of 14

Director's Meetings

Box 13 of 14

Washington Exhibit

Box 13 of 14

Presidential China Research Notes (4 folders)

Box 13 of 14

National Portrait Gallery "Symposium of the Art of Biography" The Record, "Southern Maryland During the War of 1812" by Margaret Brown Klapthor, April 1965 (two copies)

Box 13 of 14

Midwest Antiques Forum Lecture: "Silver Presents American History, Margaret Klapthor, 1966

Box 13 of 14

Calvert County Historical Society Annual Banquet, May 20, 1966

Box 13 of 14

Miscellaneous Correspondence

Box 13 of 14

Research Manuscripts

Box 13 of 14

Box 14

Lecture Notes

Archives Lecture May 8

Box 14 of 14

First Ladies Jewelry & Accessories, March 1977

Box 14 of 14

Woodlawn Lecture - Nellie Custis - Lewis and the Lewis Collection

Box 14 of 14

Lecture at Wilson House, May 22, 1983 on Edith Boiling Wilson

Box 14 of 14

Fashion Lecture

Box 14 of 14

"We the People" lecture

Box 14 of 14

Inaugural Lecture, 1969

Box 14 of 14

Washington Collection lecture

Box 14 of 14

China returned to White House lecture

Box 14 of 14

Presentation Silver lecture

Box 14 of 14

Tennessee Lecture, 1970

Box 14 of 14

George Washington, Virginia Gentleman, May 5, 1982, Kenmore Association, Fredericksburg, Virginia

Box 14 of 14

Neighbor Washington, Charles County Historical Society, February 1982

Box 14 of 14

Abigail Smith Adams and Abigail Adams Smith

Box 14 of 14

Dedicatory Address at the Dolley Madison Birthplace Memorial Dedication, May 20, 1974

Box 14 of 14

First Ladies

Box 14 of 14

Hayes China Lecture

Box 14 of 14

Presidential Social Customs

Box 14 of 14

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Reference Request

Accession 95-090

National Museum of American History. Division of Political History

Curatorial Records, circa 1946-1982

Collection Overview

Descriptive Entry

Index Terms

Name

Subject

Physical Characteristics of Materials in the Collection

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Container List

Box 1

Box 2

Box 3

Box 4

Box 5

Box 6

Box 7

Box 8

Box 9

Box 10

Box 11

Box 12

Box 13

Box 14