The White House: Its Historic Furnishings and First Families [Hardcover]

Betty C. Monkman (Author), Bruce M. White (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2000

With an anecdotal text by the curator of the White House, this illustrated work is a comprehensive survey of the furnishings of the President's house and the changing taste of the first families. The book focuses on some of the most historically important decorative objects in the White House, including those with presidential association that have been collected since the establishment of the Office of Curator. There are also photographs of rooms shown on tours of the White House, as well as views of rooms that are not open to the public.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Publication of this well-written, beautifully photographed book coincides with the 200th anniversary of White House occupancy. Monkman, the White House curator, documents the furnishings and decorative objects as well as the metamorphoses of White House interiors. The impact of the presidents and first ladies is particularly intriguing. Monkman traces the house's history from its humble beginningsDJohn and Abigail Adams moved in to a partially finished building in November 1800Dthrough its sacking during the Madison administration to Jacqueline Kennedy's impressive efforts to keep the history of the house alive. Her work led to the institutionalization of the White House as a museum, which the American Museum Association accredited in 1988. The back of the book features a catalog of the illustrated objects. This important work is highly recommended for any collection.DJennifer Mayer, Univ. of Wyoming Libs., Laramie
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Betty C. Monkman has worked in the White House curator's office since 1967; in 1997 she was named curator. She has written numerous articles on White House decorative arts. Bruce White, formerly a staff photographer at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, specializes in photographing art and architecture.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Abbeville Press; 1 edition (November 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789206242
• ISBN-13: 978-0789206244
• Product Dimensions: 12.3 x 10.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #328,894 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BRAVO! BRAVO!, October 4, 2000

By 

C. J. Allen (Orefield, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The White House: Its Historic Furnishings and First Families (Hardcover)

Once again Betty Monkman has given us WHITE HOUSE FANS a magnificant chronicle! What a glorious, beautiful absolutely stunning work of art! Betty has included everything in this piece! Bruce White's photography cannot be topped! Looking at the old photos of days gone by and then seeing the "latest versions" of those historic rooms is truly a treat! The details on the historic furntiure, art pieces, glassware, china and more within those walls is fascinating! During this - the 200th Anniversary year of the White House getting it's first occupants, this book is really a treasure and a great addition to anyone's library to help mark this historic anniversary! I thought I knew a lot about the White House - once again Betty Monkman has taught me more! Thanks Betty! :-)

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A misleading title, June 5, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The White House: Its Historic Furnishings and First Families (Hardcover)

This is a beautiful book with exquisite layout and photographs. However, the title gives the impression that we will find information on the First Families, which certainly is not so. It is a very good coffee table book on interior design, design, furnishings, architecture, etc. but since I expected photos and information on people, I was somewhat dissappointed with its contents. But it is a work of art.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars President's Park, January 13, 2006

By 

Shannon Deason (Houston) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The White House: Its Historic Furnishings and First Families (Hardcover)

The White House is just an amazing facility, it's a museum, the President's Residence, and the embodiment of the Executive Branch. This book is exhaustively researched, and the photographs are well done. Though it is really not a history of the first families, the book really consentrates on furnishings, and the changes made to the structure over the centuries. The White House serves so many duties and thanks to Jackie O, the historic furnishing have returned and subsequent first ladies and curators have continued her pursuit of historic period furnishings. This book does a wonderful job of highlighting the best of the White House Collection. If you like books of this sort then you will enjoy this book dedicated to one of the iconic symbols of democracy.