Name/Title
The New Tenants of the White HouseEntry/Object ID
2015.4.182Tags
1890sDescription
Page 3 from the "Ladies' Home Journal" dated October 1897. The front includes eight photographs, with captions.
Text at the left reads: "A Series of New Photographs Never Before Published."
Text at the right reads: "Taken by Francis Benjamin Johnston Especially for the Journal." Beneath all three photos, text reads: "These two portraits of Mrs. McKinley are the first and only ones taken of her during the past ten years. The first photo shows a seated Ida, wearing the white gown she wore to the inaugural. The caption reads: "Mrs. McKinley in her room at the white House, in the gown worn by her at the Inuagural Ball, worn for this portrit at the special request of the President, who thought the gown particularly becoming." To the right is a photo of President McKinley. The caption reads: "President McKinley at his office in the White House. This is the latest photograph taken of the President, and has never before been given to the public." The third photo is of Ida standing, wearing the white inaugural gown. The caption reads "Mrs. McKinley in her Inaugural Ball costume. The gown is of silver and white brocade, with a court train. The high-necked waist has a yoke of pearl passementerie, with a ruffle of d'esprit lace."
The next row features two photographs with captions. The first photo shows the McKinleys' bedroom. The caption reads as follows: The Presidential Bedchamber at the White House. on the North fromt of the mansion, directly west from the portico, overlooking the flowerbeds in front, and Lafayette Square across Pennsylvania Avenue. this room is simply and tastefully furnished. the pictures to the left of the wardrobe are of ex-President Hayes and his wife, both of whom were very close friend of President and Mrs. McKinley." the second photo shows another view of the McKinleys' bedroom. the caption reads: Another View of President and MRs. McKinley's Bedroom, furnished entirely in blue, Mrs. McKinley's favorite color.Mrs. McKinley's devotion to children is shown in the photographs on and around the mantel. The horse-shoes to the left of the mantel and over the door are souvenirs of the last Presidential campaign, which were sent to the President by admirers all over the country." Overlying these two photos, as well as the two beneath them is a small round photo of Mabel McKinley. The caption reads "Mabel McKinley The President's Niece."
The last two photos are near the bottom of the page. The first photo on the left is of the North Front of the White House. The caption reads: "The North Front of the White House facing Pennsylvania Avenue, showing the main entrance and driveway, with lawn and grounds in midsummer." The photo to the right is of the President's Private Gardens. the caption reads: The President's Private Gardens, as Mrs. McKinley sees them from her room. No photograph has ever before been taken from this point of observation."
Text at the bottom of the page reads: "These photographs are protected by copyright, as the exclusive property of The LAdies' Home Journal, and must not be reproduced."
The back (page 4) of the page has the text of the poem "The Autograph Book of Blue" by H.W. Jakeway at the top of the first two columns. The story "The Stockwells' Apple-PAring Bee" by Mary E. Wilkins" completes the page.Collection
ScarmuzziAcquisition
Accession
2015.4.0Source or Donor
Patricia A. ScarmuzziAcquisition Method
Gift