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Rubenstein Center Scholarship

The Washington Collection at Tudor Place

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  • George Washington Letter, Page 2, Tudor Place Collection

    1 of 25

    This letter written by future president George Washington is part of the Tudor Place collection. In it, he addresses being given command of the Continental Army.

    Tudor Place Foundation Inc.
  • George Washington Letter, Page 2, Tudor Place Collection

    2 of 25

    Page two of a letter written by future president George Washington is part of the Tudor Place collection. In it, he addresses being given command of the Continental Army.

    Tudor Place Foundation Inc.
  • Invitation from the Washington's, Tudor Place Collection

    3 of 25

    This rare invitation to dine with President George Washington and First Lady Martha Washington is part of the collection at Tudor Place.

    Tudor Place Foundation Inc.
  • George Washington Letter, Tudor Place Collection

    4 of 25

    George Washington wrote this letter to Thomas Peter regarding a tobacco sale. Peter acted as Washington's agent of sale for the crop grown at Mount Vernon.

    Tudor Place Foundation Inc.
  • John Adams Letter, Page 1, Tudor Place Collection

    5 of 25

    In this December 27, 1799, letter to Martha Washington, President John Adams expressed the respect and condolences of Congress upon the death of her husband and asked her to assent to the interment of his remains under a marble statue erected in the Capitol. (page 1)

    Tudor Place Foundation Inc.
  • John Adams Letter, Page 2, Tudor Place Collection

    6 of 25

    In this December 27, 1799, letter to Martha Washington, President John Adams expressed the respect and condolences of Congress upon the death of her husband and asked her to assent to the interment of his remains under a marble statue erected in the Capitol. (page 2)

    Tudor Place Foundation Inc.
  • Martha Washington Letter, Tudor Place Collection

    7 of 25

    First Lady Martha Washington, in the hand of Tobias Lear, Washington's secretary, wrote this letter in response to one from John Adams dated December 27, 1799. In it, she accepts his and Congress' condolences for the death of President George Washington, and she gives her permission to have his remains buried in the new Capitol. Only the first page was photographed.

    Tudor Place Foundation Inc.
  • Franking Privilege for Martha Washington, Tudor Place Collection

    8 of 25

    This act, conveyed to Martha Washington by President John Adams on April 3, 1800, granted her the privilege of franking letters and packages. This allowed her to send mail free of postage.

    Tudor Place Foundation Inc.
  • Side Chairs, Tudor Place Collection

    9 of 25

    These walnut side chairs are part of the collection at Tudor Place and purportedly belonged to George Washington while he lived in Philadelphia.

    Tudor Place Foundation Inc.
  • Washington Tabouret Stool, Tudor Place Collection

    10 of 25

    This tabouret stool is believed to be the sole survivor of a pair that President George Washington commissioned in Philadelphia in 1793 to complete a suite of Parisian furniture he purchased in New York from French minister Elénor-François-Elie, Comte de Moustier.

    Tudor Place Foundation Inc.
  • Washington Camp Stool, Tudor Place Collection

    11 of 25

    This camp stool is one of two surviving stools of the 18 purchased by George Washington in May 1776 from Philadelphia upholsterer Plunket Fleeson. Thomas and Martha Peter purchased six of these stools at an 1802 estate sale.

    Tudor Place Foundation Inc.
  • Pair of Wall Brackets, Tudor Place Collection

    12 of 25

    George Washington purchased these wall brackets from English immigrant carver and gilder James B. Reynolds on May 16, 1791. The underside of each shelf is carved to mimic a scalloped shell supported by a spine of rococo curves and rosettes. Thomas and Martha Peter purchased them from an 1802 estate sale.

    Tudor Place Foundation Inc.
  • Needlepoint Cushion, Tudor Place Collection

    13 of 25

    Martha Washington cross-stitched twelve worsted wool needlepoint cushions for a set of Windsor chairs at Mount Vernon. This cushion was a gift to Martha Peter, probably one of four she received prior to her grandmother's death.

    Tudor Place Foundation Inc.
  • Portrait Miniature of George Washington, Tudor Place Collection

    14 of 25

    This miniature portrait of President George Washington was done from life by Irish immigrant Walter Robertson, and was given as a wedding gift to Martha Parke Custis prior to her marriage to Thomas Peter.

    Tudor Place Foundation Inc.
  • Portrait Miniature of George Washington, Reverse, Tudor Place Collection

    15 of 25

    The back of the miniature portrait of President George Washington done by Robertson is decorated with a braided lock of hair, 44 prong-set pearls, and blue enamel.

    Tudor Place Foundation Inc.
  • Tableau for Martha Washington, Tudor Place Collection

    16 of 25

    Samuel Fraunces created this tableau, depicting Hector departing for the Trojan War flanked by his wife, Andromache, and a nursemaid holding their son, for Martha Washington. It was made to commemorate the sacrifices Mrs. Washington made for the new republic.

    Tudor Place Foundation Inc.
  • General Washington, Tudor Place Collection

    17 of 25

    English artist Thomas Cheesman engraved this portrait of General George Washington from American artist John Trumbull's oil on canvas painting General George Washington at Trenton, which was painted in 1792. First Lady Martha Washington bequeathed it to Martha Peter.

    Tudor Place Foundation Inc.
  • Martha Washington's Banyan, Tudor Place Collection

    18 of 25

    Martha Washington's banyan, a gown worn over finer clothes to protect them from soiling, dates from the 1780s to early 1790s. Mrs. Washington gave the banyan to her granddaughter Martha Peter.

    Tudor Place Foundation Inc.
  • Martha Washington's Redingote, Tudor Place Collection

    19 of 25

    Originally owned by Martha Washington, this redingote (riding jacket or riding habit) was acquired by Martha Peter, possibly as a gift or as part of a larger lot from the 1802 estate sale.

    Tudor Place Foundation Inc.
  • Locket, Side B, Tudor Place Collection

    20 of 25

    Martha Peter gifted this circular gold locket to her friend Eliza Quincy, wife of Congressman and leading Federalist Josiah Quincy, upon the anniversary of George Washington's birthday, February 22, 1810. The locket contains locks of George and Martha Washington's hair. Pictured above is the side that contains a lock of George Washington's brown hair.

    Tudor Place Foundation Inc.
  • Locket, Side A, Tudor Place Collection

    21 of 25

    Martha Peter gifted this circular gold locket to her friend Eliza Quincy, wife of Congressman and leading Federalist Josiah Quincy, upon the anniversary of George Washington's birthday, February 22, 1810. The locket contains locks of George and Martha Washington's hair. Pictured above is the side that contains a lock of Martha Washington's blond hair.

    Tudor Place Foundation Inc.
  • Washington Cruet Set, Tudor Place Collection

    22 of 25

    George and Martha Washington owned this silver-plated cruet set and it was used to serve and display various condiments.

    Tudor Place Foundation Inc.
  • Tea Bowl and Saucer, Tudor Place Collection

    23 of 25

    The Niderviller porcelain factory's proprietor, Adam Philippe (or Philibert), Comte de Custine-Sarreck (1740-1793), presented this French porcelain tea and coffee service to Martha Washington at Mount Vernon on July 20, 1782.

    Tudor Place Foundation Inc.
  • Wine Decanter, Tudor Place Collection

    24 of 25

    George and Martha Washington owned this decanter, delicately cut with sunbursts, swags and floral bouquets.

    Tudor Place Foundation Inc.
  • Wine Glass and Rummer, Tudor Place Collection

    25 of 25

    This wine glass and rummer belonged to a much larger glassware set owned by George and Martha Washington. These glasses are replete with a constellation of tiny cut stars and supported by faceted stems.

    Tudor Place Foundation Inc.

The Washington Collection is comprised of manuscripts and more than two hundred objects, making Tudor Place one of the largest public repositories of items owned by Martha and George Washington. Of particular note is a letter written from Philadelphia on June 18, 1775, by George Washington to Martha Washington at Mount Vernon upon his assuming command of the Continental Army. This significant letter is one of three existing letters sent by George Washington to his wife; all other personal correspondence was burned by Martha Washington.

Among the Washington Collection manuscripts held in the Tudor Place Archive are four condolence letters written to Martha Washington after the death of George Washington. These include letters from John Adams; replies to condolence letters from Martha Washington in the hand of Tobias Lear, Washington’s secretary; twenty-seven documents relating to the settlement of Martha Washington’s estate, including bills and receipts; and correspondence between George Washington and Thomas Peter.

Purchase Tudor Place: America's Story Lives Here

The objects in the Washington Collection were used by George and Martha Washington throughout the eighteenth century at their various residences, including the president’s residences in New York, Philadelphia, and the couple’s beloved Mount Vernon. Martha Parke Custis Peter, the second oldest granddaughter of Martha Washington, acquired personal accessories, furnishings, and memorabilia directly from her grandmother and step-grandfather. The majority of objects in the collection were purchased by Martha and Thomas Peter at the July 20, 1802, estate sale following Martha Washington’s death on May 22. The Peters spent more than $750 at the sale—a significant sum considering the average daily wage was $1 a day in early Washington, D.C. The large collection remained intact at Tudor Place until their daughter Britannia Wellington Peter Kennon’s death in 1911, when it was divided among her five grandchildren. Today the Washington Collection includes objects from this division that became the property of the third owner of Tudor Place, Armistead Peter, Jr.; objects inherited and later donated by his siblings and their heirs; and objects that came into the collection through marriage.

All manuscripts and objects are from the bequest of Armistead Peter, 3rd, unless otherwise noted.

This was originally published in Tudor Place: America's Story Lives Here on Fall 2016

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