For 200 years the White House has served as the residence of our nation's president and his family. John and Abigail Adams were the first residents, and each family ever since has been able to make the White House a comfortable home and to acquire the necessities for handsomely carrying out its additional functions as nexus for state ceremony and entertaining. In captivating detail, this volume--produced in association with the White House Historical Association--reveals how the decoration of the White House has reflected the personal style of our first families and their countless forays into redecorating. Illustrated largely with photographs especially commissioned for this book, as well as historic pictures, The White House focuses on some of our nation's most important heirlooms, including furniture, silver, glass, porcelain, and textiles. Enlivened with stories about the first families and how their furnishings often clashed with the politics of the time, this book is an ideal gift for those interested in the decorative arts, biography, and history.

The White House: Its Historic Furnishings and First Families

Arts & Photography

Monkman, Betty C.

History & Criticism

Abbeville Press

For nearly two centuries, the White House has served as the residence of our nation's president and his family. John and Abigail Adams were the first residents, and each family ever since has been encouraged, through congressional appropriations and private contributions, to make the White House a comfortable home and to provide the necessities for handsomely carrying out its additional functions as nexus for state ceremony and entertaining. As a result, the decorative objects acquired for the White House cover a wide range of genres, all rich with historic association. This treasury of our nation's valuable heirlooms, selected by the curator of the White House, includes some of the finest examples of American paintings, sculpture, furniture, silver, glass, and porcelain. In addition to excellent pictures of the objects, there are photographs that show them as arranged in state rooms. A concise essay introduces the collection and places it in historic context, and two additional pieces survey both the fine arts and the decorative arts in the president's house. This pocket-size book is an ideal gift for those interested in beautiful historic objects or those who would like a comprehensive memento of a visit to the nation's capital.

Treasures of the White House (Tiny Folios)

New edition features never-before-published photographs of rooms decorated during the Obama and Bush presidencies. Published in conjunction with the White House Historical Association. Ever since the White House was built over 200 years ago, its decor has been of great interest to visitors, historians, and anyone interested in our nation's history and how it was manifested in our country's most famous residence. Influenced not only by styles of the moment, the White House interiors are even more affected by the sensibilities of its occupants, our presidents and their first families. This updated edition features new photos and information from recent renovations of the Green Room, the Queens' Bedroom, Family Dining Room, Lincoln Bedroom and Lincoln Bed, Lincoln Sitting Room, and the Oval Office. Also highlighted will be china from the Clinton and Bush administrations and a fire screen acquired during the Obama administration. Author Betty Monkman shares historical facts and anecdotes revealing how the furnishings and artwork showcased in this book came to the White House, sometimes under controversial circumstances. She describes how Mary Todd Lincoln earned public criticism for indulging in excessive shopping expeditions and expenditures during the early days of the Civil War. Readers also learn how Jacqueline Kennedy took a vastly different approach to changes in the president's residence, by working to transform the White House into a place where visitors could learn about the history of the country.

History

Americas

The White House: Its Decorative Arts and First Families (Third Edition)

"Presents more than 200 years of the history of life in the White House with hundreds of pictures of past and present first families, children and pets; workers and daily routines; State occasions and public celebrations."

Living White House (White House Historical Association)

Applewood Books

This large-format book features the nearly 500 paintings, sculptures, and drawings in the White House collection and includes 100 full page color reproductions.

Art in the White House: A Nation's Pride

Bolger, Doreen

Curry, David Park

Kloss, William

Wilmerding, John.

White House Historical Assn

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Monkman, Betty C.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Monkman, Betty C.

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Monkman, Betty C.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

The White House: Its Historic Furnishings and First Families

Treasures of the White House (Tiny Folios)

The White House: Its Historic Furnishings and First Families

The White House: Its Decorative Arts and First Families (Third Edition)

Living White House (White House Historical Association)

Art in the White House: A Nation's Pride