Massachusetts Attractions: John F. Kennedy Library and Museum Part 3
http://www.camelotarticles.com/articles/5031/1/Massachusetts-Attractions--John-F-Kennedy-Library-and-Museum-Part-3/Page1.html
Connie Limon
Connie Limon publishes information portals and other websites. By Connie Limon
Published on 08/16/2007
When Jacqueline Kennedy visited the White for the first time as a tourist in 1941, she was disappointed to see so few historical furnishings on display. She also disliked the fact that there were no booklets to inform visitors about the history of the great house. Twenty years later, as first lady, she sought to change things to make the White House “the most perfect house in the United States.”
Massachusetts Attractions: John F. Kennedy Library and Museum Part 3
When Jacqueline Kennedy visited the White for the first time as a tourist in 1941, she was disappointed to see so few historical furnishings on display. She also disliked the fact that there were no booklets to inform visitors about the history of the great house. Twenty years later, as first lady, she sought to change things to make the White House “the most perfect house in the United States.”
Mrs. Kennedy believed the White House should be furnished with antiques in the style of past presidents. She thought it was a museum and should emulate the history of the United States. Visitors who came to see the White House saw practically nothing that dated back before 1948. She wanted every boy who visited the White House to see things that would develop his sense of history. For the girls, the house should look beautiful and lived-in. Mrs. Kennedy wanted the girls to see what a fire in the fireplace and pretty flowers can do for a house. She would not use the word “redecorate” it. She said, it must be “restored.”
Jacqueline Kennedy’s passion for history guided and informed her work in the White House. She was excited to share her knowledge about the past with all Americans, especially children. She felt children often found American history dry and dull. She wanted their visits to the President’s House to be a chance to spark each child’s interest in the people who made the country what it is as of that day in time.
Within a month of being First Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy, established a White House Fine Arts Committee made up of experts in historic preservation and decorative arts. Mrs. Kennedy and her committee were successful in locating and soliciting the donation of furniture and artwork that had been owned by presidents, had been part of the White House collection, or exemplified the period portrayed in the different rooms.
Most important among what they found were items that belonged to Presidents Washington, Lincoln and Madison. Mrs. Kennedy personally went through every White House storage room, uncovering and rediscovering forgotten pieces. She then had them carefully restored and returned to places of prominence within the White House.
Mrs. Kennedy did not use public money for this work. She established the White House Historical Association which would publish the first official White House guidebook (1962). All the profits from the sale of the guidebook to the millions that toured the White House would be used to fund the restoration project and to purchase the furnishings and other historic materials located by the Fine Arts Committee. The book was published with great success. Within six months of publication, 500,000 copies were sold. The book, The White House: An Historic Guide, continues to support the work of the White House Historical Association.
Mrs. Kennedy conducted a televised tour of the Executive Mansion for CBC Television on February 14, 1962. Mrs. Kennedy was awarded an honorary Emmy Award for her achievement by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
Her enthusiasm for historical preservation contributed to the enhanced Americans’ understanding and appreciation of their heritage. I believe I was one of those children influenced and encouraged to appreciate my American heritage from the achievements of our First Lady, Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy, during her stay at the White House.
November 22, 1963, John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. Jacqueline Kennedy became a widow at the age of 34. She planned the President’s State Funeral that was watched by millions around the world. The Kennedy’s time spent in the White House was known as a “Camelot” period of time. The Kennedy restoration of the White House abruptly ended with the death of the President, however, most of the State rooms on the ground and first floors were complete.
Soon after the death of her husband, Jacqueline Kennedy began the work to build the John F. Kennedy Library which would commemorate her husband’s life. She chose an unknown architect at the time, I.M. Pei, to design the Library. She also decided upon the location overlooking Boston Harbor.
In 1968, Jacqueline Kennedy married Aristotle Onassis on his private island of Skorpios. Following his death in 1975, she started a successful career in publishing.
May 19, 1994, Jacqueline Bouvier Kenney Onassis died in her New York City home and was laid to rest beside her first husband, President Kennedy, in the Arlington National Cemetery outside Washington, D.C. Immediately after her passing, her son, John Kennedy, Jr. told the press, “she did her way, and she died alone with her favorite books, and a few close friends and family members.” I remember his statements and his teary-eyed look as he made this announcement to the press just outside her New York City home.
In my opinion, there has never been another First Lady as fascinating as Jackie Kennedy!
Written by: Connie Limon. For more information about the history of, visiting and living in Massachusetts visit: http://smalldogs2.com/VisitingMassachusetts To submit articles and find a variety of FREE reprint articles visit http://www.camelotarticles.com
This article is FREE to publish with the resource box.
© 2007 Connie Limon All Rights Reserved
Mrs. Kennedy believed the White House should be furnished with antiques in the style of past presidents. She thought it was a museum and should emulate the history of the United States. Visitors who came to see the White House saw practically nothing that dated back before 1948. She wanted every boy who visited the White House to see things that would develop his sense of history. For the girls, the house should look beautiful and lived-in. Mrs. Kennedy wanted the girls to see what a fire in the fireplace and pretty flowers can do for a house. She would not use the word “redecorate” it. She said, it must be “restored.”
Jacqueline Kennedy’s passion for history guided and informed her work in the White House. She was excited to share her knowledge about the past with all Americans, especially children. She felt children often found American history dry and dull. She wanted their visits to the President’s House to be a chance to spark each child’s interest in the people who made the country what it is as of that day in time.
Within a month of being First Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy, established a White House Fine Arts Committee made up of experts in historic preservation and decorative arts. Mrs. Kennedy and her committee were successful in locating and soliciting the donation of furniture and artwork that had been owned by presidents, had been part of the White House collection, or exemplified the period portrayed in the different rooms.
Most important among what they found were items that belonged to Presidents Washington, Lincoln and Madison. Mrs. Kennedy personally went through every White House storage room, uncovering and rediscovering forgotten pieces. She then had them carefully restored and returned to places of prominence within the White House.
Mrs. Kennedy did not use public money for this work. She established the White House Historical Association which would publish the first official White House guidebook (1962). All the profits from the sale of the guidebook to the millions that toured the White House would be used to fund the restoration project and to purchase the furnishings and other historic materials located by the Fine Arts Committee. The book was published with great success. Within six months of publication, 500,000 copies were sold. The book, The White House: An Historic Guide, continues to support the work of the White House Historical Association.
Mrs. Kennedy conducted a televised tour of the Executive Mansion for CBC Television on February 14, 1962. Mrs. Kennedy was awarded an honorary Emmy Award for her achievement by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
Her enthusiasm for historical preservation contributed to the enhanced Americans’ understanding and appreciation of their heritage. I believe I was one of those children influenced and encouraged to appreciate my American heritage from the achievements of our First Lady, Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy, during her stay at the White House.
November 22, 1963, John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. Jacqueline Kennedy became a widow at the age of 34. She planned the President’s State Funeral that was watched by millions around the world. The Kennedy’s time spent in the White House was known as a “Camelot” period of time. The Kennedy restoration of the White House abruptly ended with the death of the President, however, most of the State rooms on the ground and first floors were complete.
Soon after the death of her husband, Jacqueline Kennedy began the work to build the John F. Kennedy Library which would commemorate her husband’s life. She chose an unknown architect at the time, I.M. Pei, to design the Library. She also decided upon the location overlooking Boston Harbor.
In 1968, Jacqueline Kennedy married Aristotle Onassis on his private island of Skorpios. Following his death in 1975, she started a successful career in publishing.
May 19, 1994, Jacqueline Bouvier Kenney Onassis died in her New York City home and was laid to rest beside her first husband, President Kennedy, in the Arlington National Cemetery outside Washington, D.C. Immediately after her passing, her son, John Kennedy, Jr. told the press, “she did her way, and she died alone with her favorite books, and a few close friends and family members.” I remember his statements and his teary-eyed look as he made this announcement to the press just outside her New York City home.
In my opinion, there has never been another First Lady as fascinating as Jackie Kennedy!
Written by: Connie Limon. For more information about the history of, visiting and living in Massachusetts visit: http://smalldogs2.com/VisitingMassachusetts To submit articles and find a variety of FREE reprint articles visit http://www.camelotarticles.com
This article is FREE to publish with the resource box.
© 2007 Connie Limon All Rights Reserved