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Collection
Holiday Cheer at the White House
The White House observance of Christmas before the twentieth century was not an official event. First families decorated the house modestly with greens and privately celebrated the Yuletide with family and friends. President Calvin Coolidge was the first chief executive to preside over a public celebration during the holidays with the lighting of the National Christmas Tree in 1923. In 1979, President
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Collection
A Tour of the White House
In 1961, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy resolved to make the White House a “living museum” by restoring the historic integrity of the public rooms and displaying the very best of American artwork, furniture, and décor. In order to fulfill her vision, Mrs. Kennedy founded the White House Historical Association, a private, non-profit organization created in partnership with the National Park Servi
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Collection
The Kennedy White House 1961-1963
At age 43, John Fitzgerald Kennedy was the youngest person ever elected to the presidency. Before his vibrant presidency was cut short by an assassin's bullets on November 22, 1963, he had reinvigorated the American spirit. His optimism and belief in America's responsibilities to the world live on as part of his legacy.
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Art in the White House
The collection of fine art at the White House has evolved and grown over time. The collection began with mostly presidential portraits, commissioned or purchased by Congress, or donated by presidential descendants. In the era before photography, some presidents invited painters to set up studios in the White House to record significant events and paint their likeness. In the late
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Podcast
The Decorator-In-Chief
Featuring Michael S. Smith, Interior Designer for the Obama White House
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Collection
Decorative Arts in the White House
Many people approach the decor of their homes as a reflection of oneself. But what happens when a home's interior must be a reflection of a country's history? While the president and first lady make decisions regarding the White House interiors while they live there, they also recognize the importance of maintaining and preserving the public spaces and their accompanying
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Research Fellows
The David M. Rubenstein National Center for White House History awards research fellowships annually. These fellowships support new research related to the White House, its occupants, workers, staff, and/or its fine and decorative arts collections. Early career scholars, as well as doctoral candidates and students, are encouraged to apply.
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2023 National History Day Resources
The White House Historical Association (WHHA) offers many different resources for students working on National History Day projects.
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About the White House Historical Association
The White House Historical Association is a nonprofit educational association founded in 1961 for the purpose of enhancing the understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment of the Executive Mansion. It was created at the recommendation of the National Park Service and with the support of First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy. All proceeds from the sale of the Associations books and products are used to
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"This Art is Your Art" National Student Competition
The White House Historical Association, Artsy, and the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation partnered together in the late spring of 2016 for an unprecedented opportunity for university students in the United States to engage with the artwork and artifacts in the White House by creating a short video about the historical and artistic context of a particular work in the Executive Mansion. The
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2022 National History Day Resources
The White House Historical Association (WHHA) offers many different resources for students working on National History Day projects.
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Slavery and Freedom in the White House Collection
The White House Collection and the Atlantic World Jennifer L. Anderson, Mahogany: The Costs of Luxury in Early America (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2012). Vernon C. Stoneman, John and Thomas Seymour, Cabinetmakers in Boston, 1794-1816 (Boston, MA: Special Publications, 1959). Sarah Fling, “Sugar, Slavery, and the Washington China,” White House Historical Association, https://www.whitehousehistory.org/sugar-slavery-and-the-washington-china.Hannah Boettcher and Ronald W. F