Yellow Oval Room, John F. Kennedy Administration

This photograph of the Yellow Oval Room looking toward the president’s bedroom was taken by Robert L. Knudsen on May 8, 1962, during the John F. Kennedy administration. Among First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy's personal items included in the decoration of the room were the large fur placed over the sofa and the assembled pair of consoles. The Yellow Oval Room has served as a family library, study, and sitting room. Under the direction of Mrs. Kennedy, it was made into a formal drawing room for the first family. The room is also where the president greets guests of honor before State Dinners. The room's color scheme echoes the yellow damask furnishings and curtains selected by First Lady Dolley Madison.