
Presented by the White House Historical Association
The History and Making of the Official White House Christmas Ornaments
- Host
- Stewart McLaurin
- Guest
- Richard Rovsek, Board Trustee at Spirit of Liberty Foundation; Dave Marquis, President of ChemArt, Kim Fyfe, Graphics Manager at ChemArt
- Date
- 12/9/21
- Duration
- 29 minutes
Since 1981, the White House Historical Association has created the Official White House Christmas Ornament. Collecting and gifting these unique ornaments has become a holiday tradition for millions of Americans, and all ornament sales support the mission of the Association. In this episode, White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin talks with the individual who came up with the idea to begin the ornament initiative, Richard Rovsek. After that conversation, Stewart talks with Dave Marquis and Kim Fyfe from ChemArt, the exclusive manufacturer of the ornament since 1981.
Episodes
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Freemasons and the White House
Featuring Jason Van Dyke, Director of Communications, Grand Lodge of Washington, DC, and Chris Ruli, Historian & Librarian, Grand Lodge of Washington, DC
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James Hoban, Designer and Builder of the White House
Featuring Dr. Christopher Moran, Chairman, Co-Operation Ireland; Merlo Kelly, Design Fellow, University College Dublin, School of Architecture Planning and Environmental Policy; and Andrew McCarthy, Independent Historian and Scholar
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The First White House Guidebook: Mrs. Kennedy, National Geographic, and the White House Historical Association
Featuring Renee Braden, National Geographic Society’s Senior Director of Library and Archives
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Conversations from History Happy Hour
Featuring Various Guests from Previous History Happy Hour Episodes
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A Tour of White House History with Michael Beschloss
Featuring Historian Michael Beschloss
-
St. John’s, the Church of the Presidents
Featuring Rev. Robert Fisher, Rector at St. John’s Church

President of the White House Historical Association
As President of the White House Historical Association Stewart McLaurin leads the nonpartisan, nonprofit in its mission to preserve, protect, and provide access to White House history. As a lifelong student of history, Stewart is an avid reader and storyteller. His first book, White House Miscellany was published this past year and he authors a quarterly column in the White House History Journal. Drawing on his own experiences, relationships, and knowledge he provides listeners with a front row seat to history at the White House.