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    "title": "White House - Curator Furnishings and China",
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        "logicalDate": "1975-11-30",
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    "ocrText": "The original documents are located in Box 66, folder \"White House - Curator\nFurnishings and China\" of the Philip Buchen Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential\nLibrary.\nCopyright Notice\nThe copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of\nphotocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald R. Ford donated to the United\nStates of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.\nWorks prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public\ndomain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to\nremain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid\ncopyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.\nDigitized from Box 66 of the Philip Buchen Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library\nWH Currator\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nDecember 26, 1974\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nClement E. Conger\nFROM:\nWilliam E. Casselman II\nN\nSUBJECT:\nWhite House China - Reproduced by Castleton\nIn the October issue of Travel and Leisure Magazine, published by American\nExpress Company (AMEXCO), there is a four page advertisement entitled,\n\"A Series of Eight Authentic Designs of White House China Reproduced by\nCastleton in a Special Edition of True Translucent China. \" In your memorandum\nof November 4, 1974, you have advised me that this advertisement is neither\nauthorized by the White House nor by the White House Historical Association.\nYou have requested advice concerning what steps, if any, can be taken to rectify\nthis situation.\nWe have concluded that the matter should be referred to the Federal Trade\nCommission (FTC) for consideration and appropriate action by them, as they\nare the agency of Government best situated to deal with a situation of this kind.\nNeither the White House nor the White House Historical Association had any\ncontract with AMEXCO or Castleton which would provide a basis for action\nby the White House or by the Association. Your memorandum suggests that\nthe Association and AMEXCO were in the midst of negotiations when this\nadvertisement first appeared, but that these negotiations had not yet rippened\ninto a contract. Hence, there is no basis upon which to predicate a claim for\nbreach of contract. Neither does the advertisement make use of the Presidential\nSeal, the Flag of the United States or violate any of the other statutes which\nprohibit advertising of this sort.\nHowever, there appears to be two areas in which the advertisement may be\nmisleading. The first is that the advertisement may suggest that it has\nbeen authorized by the White House. Secondly, Castleton is described\nBERALD R. FORD LIBRARY\n- 2 -\nas the \"official supplier of state china to the White House, \" and, of course,\nthis is false. The concept of White House sponsorship is suggested only by\ninference and, after careful review, we have concluded that we do not have\na very strong argument that the advertisement is misleading in this respect.\nOn the other hand, the recitation that Castleton is the official supplier of\nstate china appears plainly in the advertisement, and as noted above, this\nis demonstrably false. While the statement is false, the resulting injury\nis suffered by the public at large (not the White House) who persumably\ncould be misled and as a result make a purchase they might otherwise\nwould not have made, Since we believe this to be the case, the matter should\nbe referred to the FTC for whatever action they may think appropriate.\nWe do not believe it would be appropriate for the White House or for the\nAssociation to contact AMEXCO. Since the Association was deprived of\nroyalty payments when the contemplated agreement with AMEXCO did not\nmaterialize, any effort to stop AMEXCO's current merchandising effort,\ninitiated by the Association or by the White House, might be misinterpreted\nand regarded as a threat of governmental action unless the initial negotiations\nwere revived which, of course; is not our purpose. However, if the public\nhas been misled by the advertisement, then, as noted above the FTC should\nbe advised of this fact so that it can take appropriate remedial action.\nI would be pleased to discuss this matter further with you, at your convenience.\ncc: Phil Buchen\nFORD LIBRARY 3\nSaturday 3/8/75\n2:45\nConcerning White House china, I had the attached\nin my files -- is this possibly what you had in mind?\nSEALE R. FORD THERARY\nWH Curator\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nDecember 26, 1974\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nClement E. Conger\nFROM:\nWilliam E. Casselman II\nN\nSUBJECT:\nWhite House China - Reproduced by Castleton\nIn the October issue of Travel and Leisure Magazine, published by American\nExpress Company (AMEXCO), there is a four page advertisement entitled,\n\"A Series of Eight Authentic Designs of White House China Reproduced by\nCastleton in a Special Edition of True Translucent China. = In your memorandum\nof November 4, 1974, you have advised me that this advertisement is neither\nauthorized by the White House nor by the White House Historical Association.\nYou have requested advice concerning what steps, if any, can be taken to rectify\nthis situation.\nWe have concluded that the matter should be referred to the Federal Trade\nCommission (FTC) for consideration and appropriate action by them, as they\nare the agency of Government best situated to deal with a situation of this kind.\nNeither the White House nor the White House Historical Association had any\ncontract with AMEXCO or Castleton which would provide a basis for action\nby the White House or by the Association. Your memorandum suggests that\nthe Association and AMEXCO were in the midst of negotiations when this\nadvertisement first appeared, but that these negotiations had not yet rippened\ninto a contract. Hence, there is no basis upon which to predicate a claim for\nbreach of contract. Neither does the advertisement make use of the Presidential\nSeal, the Flag of the United States or violate any of the other statutes which\nprohibit advertising of this sort.\nHowever, there appears to be two areas in which the advertisement may be\nmisleading. The first is that the advertisement may suggest that it has\nbeen authorized by the White House. Secondly, Castleton is described\nFORD\n- 2 -\nas the \"official supplier of state china to the White House, 11 and, of course,\nthis is false. The concept of White House sponsorship is suggested only by\ninference and, after careful review, we have concluded that we do not have\na very strong argument that the advertisement is misleading in this respect.\nOn the other hand, the recitation that Castleton is the official supplier of\nstate china appears plainly in the advertisement, and as noted above, this\nis demonstrably false. While the statement is false, the resulting injury\nis suffered by the public at large (not the White House) who persumably\ncould be mislead and as a result make a purchase they might otherwise\nwould not have made Since we believe this to be the case, the matter should\nbe referred to the FTC for whatever action they may think appropriate.\nWe do not believe it would be appropriate for the White House or for the\nAssociation to contact AMEXCO. Since the Association was deprived of\nroyalty payments when the contemplated agreement with AMEXCO did not\nmaterialize, any effort to stop AMEXCO's current merchandising effort,\ninitiated by the Association or by the White House, might be misinterpreted\nand regarded as a threat of governmental action unless the initial negotiations\nwere revived which, of course, is not our purpose. However, if the public\nhas been mislead by the advertisement, then, as noted above the FTC should\nbe advised of this fact so that it can take appropriate remedial action.\nI would be pleased to discuss this matter further with you, at your convenience.\nCC: Phil Buchen\n&\nFORD\nSTATE\nWH\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nCurator\nWASHINGTON\nMay 30, 1975\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nClem Conger\nFROM:\nPhil Buchen T.W.B.\nAfter Bill Casselman and I reviewed your proposed letter\nto the Department of the Treasury (copy of which is attached),\nI suggest that the letter be sent only if the last paragraph is\nstricken and replaced by language as follows:\n\"This letter is being written merely to provide\nyou with information similar to that which I have\nprovided in cases of gifts of furniture or\nfurnishings by others to the White House and the\nState Department. I have no objections to the public\nrelease of this letter. 11\nIf you have any questions, please call me.\nis\nFORD\n3:35 p.m.\nThursday, May 29\nMr. Conger called about the draft letter he\nwrote about the gifts given by Mr. Tracy.\nSEAL H. FORD LIBRARY\nTHE\nWASHINGTON WHITE HOUSE 5/27/75\nMr. Casalman's\noffice was\nchecking to\nsee if anything\nhad gone out\non this.\nBERALD AMOUNT F. FORD\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\n5/26/75\nRod:\nI'd like your\nVIews on this\nmatter.\nOkay, Ind only it it the\nletter is made public!\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nMay 22, 1975\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nPHIL BUCHEN\nFROM:\nBILL CASSELMAN\nBY\nPer our telephone conversation today, attached is a proposed letter\nfrom Clem Conger to the Internal Revenue Service regarding the\nvaluation of two gifts given by Mr. Berry B. Tracy to the White\nHouse in 1973. Mr. Tracy is the Assistant Curator of the Metro-\npolitan Museum of Art, and has been extremely generous in both\nselling and donating period furniture to the White House for inclusion\nin its permanent collection. However, Mr. Tracy is a man of limited\nmeans. Therefore, in an effort to avoid heavy capital gains tax on\nthe increased value of the furniture which he has sold, he apparently\ndecided to donate two valuable pieces to the White House to help offset\nhis gains. IRS has questioned the valuation placed on these pieces\nby a professional appraiser, Mr. Harold Sack. Clem proposes to\nwrite IRS in support of Sack's appraisal.\nWhen Clem called his proposed letter to my attention, I asked him if\nthe situation had ever arisen before. He advised that on about 10 or\n15 occasions he has written to IRS at the request of donors to support\nthe valuations of gifts given to either the White House or State Department.\nWhite House contact with IRS is always a sensitive matter. Section 11\nof the guidelines to the Standards of Conduct for the White House Staff\nstates that \"As a general rule, no member of the staff should make an\nex parte contact with a regulatory agency involving any matter pending\nbefore that agency, regardless of whether the proceedings are deemed\nto be rule-making or adjudicative, when such a contact may imply\npreferential treatment or the use of influence on the decision-making\nprocess. 11 (We have generally treated IRS as a regulatory agency for\npurposes of these guidelines). However, the guidelines do recognize\n\"exceptional occasions\" when such contacts may be justified. In this\ncase, Clem feels that the White House has a legitimate interest in the\nmanner in which IRS values donations in kind to the White House and,\nbased on his past practices, Clem very much desires to send his\nproposed letter to the IRS.\nFORD\nEnclosure\nCEMALE\nDRAFT\nDepartment of the Treasury\nOffice of Internal Revenue\n469 Broadway\nNewburgh, New York 12550\nAttention: Mr. V. Iannuzzi, Conferee\nDear Mr. Iannuzzi:\nI am writing in connection with the possible reassessment\nof the valuations of two gifts by Mr. Berry B. Tracy to the\nWhite House in 1973. They are two of the most important and\nbeautiful pieces of period furniture recently acquired for the\npermanent collection of the White House.\nOne is an exceptionally beautiful pier table dating about\n1815 by the well-known cabinetma}ker, Charles Honore Lannuier.\nThe other is a very handsome mahogany bedstead of about 1810\nby the equally famous New York cabinetmaker, Duncan Phyfe.\nBoth pieces are of the very highest quality.\nThe acquisition of this furniture was arranged by me as\nCurator of the White House. We would gladly have purchased them at\nwhat in my opinion was their appraised fair market values of $16,000\nand $12,500 respectively had not Mr. Tracy so generously elected\nto give them to the White House for the permanent collection.\nFrequently, when a private owner of an important object is\nsuffered that the donor\ngiven to the White House Collection, we have asked the firm of\nIsrael Sack, Inc., 15 East 57th Street, New York, New York,\nSERALD N. FORD LIBRARY\nto establish its market value for our protection and that of the\ndonor. I can say that in my many years of acquaintanceship with\nMr. Harold Sack of Israel Sack, Inc., that his intergrity and\nknowledge of American furniture and the fair market value of\ngreat pieces is the best available in this country. I rely on\nMr. Sack for vlaues, quality and authenticity frequently.\nIn light of these facts, I wish you to take note of Mr. Sacks\nvaluations and the reality of potential sale of Mr. Tracy's superb\ngifts to the Nation. I hope that you will consider this confidential\ninformation in your consideration of Mr. Tracy's case.\nVery sincerely,\nClement E. Conger\nThe Curator\ncc: Mr. Berry B. Tracy\nP. O. Box 633\nGoshen, New York 10924\nMr. Harold Sack\nIsrael Sack, Inc.\n15 East 57th Street\nNew York, New York\nFORDO & DERAL LIBRARY\nADMINISTRATIVELY CONFIDENTIAL\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nMay 2, 1975\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nJACK MARSH\nTHROUGH:\nBILL CASSELMAN\nA\nFROM:\nBARRY ROTH\nBR\nSUBJECT:\nWriting Table and Desk at San Clemente\nThe Act of September 22, 1961, 75 Stat. 586, provides:\n\"Articles of furniture, fixtures and decorative objects of\nthe White House, when declared by the President to be of\nhistoric or artistic interest, together with such similar\narticles, fixtures, and objects as are acquired by the White\nHouse in the future when similarly so declared, shall there-\nafter be considered to be inalienable and the property of the\nWhite House. Any such article, fixture, or object when not\nin use or on display in the White House shall be transferred\nby direction of the President as a loan to the Smithsonian\nInstitution for its care, study, and storage or exhibition,\nand such articles, fixtures, and objects shall be returned\nto the White House from the Smithsonian Institution on notice\nby the President.\"\nIn addition, 3 U.S.C. 109 requires an annual inventory each June\nof the plates, furniture and public property of the White House. This\ninventory is to be transmitted to the President for his approval and\nthen maintained for reference in the office of the Director of the\nNational Parks Service. The inventory is required to include when\nthe item was purchased, its cost, condition and final disposition.\nIn view of these statutes, the following options are available with\nrespect to the writing table and desk now at San Clemente (a detailed\ndescription of the items is attached):\nADMINISTRATIVELY CONFIDENTIAL\nFORD\nGERAL\nADMINISTRATIVELY CONFIDENTIAI\n-2-\n(1) Leave them there without additional action on our part.\nThis option has several drawbacks. First, the items would be shown\non the annual inventory as being located at San Clemente. Second, it\nis inconsistent with the intent of the above statutes which limit the use\nof White House furniture to the White House or to the Smithsonian\nInstitution for storage or exhibit. A concern has also been expressed\nthat they may be claimed as part of Nixon's estate athis death, and\nthat the White House could permanently lose these items.\n(2) Transfer the items to GSA. Although there is no record\nthat the Presidential declaration required by the Act of September 22,\n1961, has ever been made, Rex Scouten and his predecessors have\ninterpreted this Act to generally apply to all White House furniture\nand property regardless, and Rex feels that a formal declaration is\nunnecessary. Rex also feels that were we to transfer the property\nto GSA, we would clearly be in violation of the Congressional intent\nthat the property remain inalienable to the White House. On the other\nhand, an argument can be made that either an actual declaration by\nthe President, or the delegation to another official who then makes\nthat declaration, is necessary for these items to fall within the scope\nof this statute.\nGSA clearly has the authority under the Former President's Act to\nfurnish an office for the former President at San Clemente, and if\ntransferred to GSA, the items would properly be at San Clemente on\nthat basis. This authority lapses on Nixon's death and thus would\ninsure that the property is reclaimed by the government at that time,\nwhen it could then be transferred back to the White House by GSA.\nThis has the additional advantage that the inventory prepared this\nJune would only show that the items had been transferred to GSA and\nwould not show that they were at San Clemente. Rex is strongly\nopposed to this method to the extent it would be a precedent for future\nPresidents to permanently remove White House furniture, the very\nreason Congress enacted these laws in the first place. In response to\nthat, I think this would not be the case as long as we now make the\nappropriate declarations so that such White House furnishings clearly\nfall within the terms of this Act. On their return, the declarations\nshould also be made for these two items.\n(3) Return the items to the White House. This is clearly\nconsistent with the present law and would eliminate any possible\nFORD\nfuture criticism of the President on this matter.\nGERALE\nLIBRARY\nADMINISTRATIVELY CONF IDENTIAL\nADMINISTRATIVELY CONFIDENTIAL\n-3-\nIn view of the approaching June inventory, a decision is required\nnow.\nDecision\nOption 1.\nTake no further action now\nOption 2. Transfer to GSA\nOption 3.\nReturn to White House\nDiscuss further\ncc: Phil Buchen\nit\nFORD\nBENALD\nANY\nADMINISTRATIVELY CONFIDENTIAL\nTHE WHITE HOUSE.\nWASHINGTON\nWHITE HOUSE ITEMS AT SAN CLEMENTE:\nWRITING TABLE (902.408)\nMahogany writing table, rectangular, with two narrow drawers\nin front of table, each with brass mount handles. Between\nthe drawers is a panel with a carved basket of flowers and\ndrapery tassels on each side, The four legs are cabriole\nshaped with scroll bracket and shell carving at the knee.\nDutch feet.\nThis table was purchased for the White House in the Theodore\nRoosevelt administration in 1902. A label on the table reads:\n\"White House. Theodore Roosevelt President. Col. Theodore\nA. Bingham B. G.\"\nDESK (952.3301)\nMahogany double pedestal desk with overhanging top and canted\ncorners. Flat top has three sections of brown leather. At sides\nof corners near top are carved rosettes and acanthus leaf carving.\nAcross the top are three three narrow drawers and each pedestal\ncontains three drawers graduated in size from top to bottom.\nTable given to White House in 1952. Label on desk reads: Gift\nof John McShain.\nMcasurements: height-30\", length-72\", depth-36\".\nDor\nFortal\nWith\nCurator\nSTEELCASE INC GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN 49501\nJuly 17, 1975\nMr. Philip W. Buchen\nCounsel to the President\nThe White House\nWashington, D.C.\nDear Phil:\nThank you for the interest you have shown\nin our suggested project for the Bicentennial of re-\nproducing the Treaty of Paris desk and chair.\nWe certainly would not wish to go ahead with\nany such program without the approval and cooperation\nof the various departments concerned. There are enough\nproblems without adding one more and we will consider\nthe matter closed.\nThank you again, and Mary joins with me in\nsending our very best wishes to you and \"Bunny\".\nSincerely,\nFave\nDavid D. Hunting, Sr.\n/jvl\nSTATE\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nJuly 7, 1975\nCARBP\nDear Dave:\nWhen I last talked with you about your proposed project\nto reproduce the Treaty of Paris desk and chair, the\noriginals of which are in the State Department, you\nindicated that you wanted to defer to the views of\nClem Conger and the Fine Arts Committee of the State\nDepartment. Now I have been informed that Clem Conger\ndid take up the matter with such Committee and has written\nyou of the Committee's opinion that it should not authorize\nthe project.\nI regret that this was the outcome, but in view of your\nadvice to me of your desire to defer to the judgment of this\nCommittee, I will take no further steps unless you would like\nme to do SO. However, please do not hesitate to propose that\nI ask the Committee to reconsider its action.\nWarmest regards to you and Mary.\nSincerely,\nThil\nPhilip W. Buchen\nCounsel to the President\nMr. Dave Hunting\nStow/Davis Furniture Company\n25 Summer Avenue, N. W.\nGrand Rapids, Michigan 49504\nFORD OF Lingher OTHER\nSTOWIDAVIS\nApril 18, 1975\nDear Phil:\nThank you for your thoughtful note.\nWhen in Washington, I proposed our program to Mr. Conger.\nHe suggested that I outline it in writing which I did as a\nStow/Davis participation in the Bi-Centennial effort.\nThinking that a similar proposal by the Furniture Manu-\nfacturers Association to the Bi-Centennial Commission\nmight be more acceptable than a program sponsored by\nan individual company, the Association wrote also.\nWe would not wish to proceed with either program without\nthe approval of Mr. Conger. If we do not hear favorably,\nwe have no intention of pressing the matter further, or\nasking Administration assistance.\nSorry not to have seen you the other night. This is a\nbig year for the Hunting family, and I was very, very\nbusy.\nWill see you soon, I hope.\nSincerely,\nTave\n8.\nTORD\nmaf\nMr. Philip W. Buchen\nThe White House\nWashington, D.C.\nSTOW|DAVIS FURNITURE COMPANY 25 SUMMER AVENUE, N.W., GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN 49504 TELEPHONE (616) 456-9681\nNEW YORK\nCHICAGO\nLOS ANGELES\nREVOLUTION\nAMERICAN REVOLUTION BICENTENNIAL ADMINISTRATION\nAMERICAN\nBICENTENNIAL\n736 JACKSON PLACE, N.W.\nWASHINGTON, D.C. 20276\n1776-1976\n(202) 382-1776\nJune 24, 1975\nMr. Kenneth Bergsma\nPresident, Furniture Manufacturers\nAssociation of Grand Rapids\n220 Lyon Street, NW.\nGrand Rapids, Michigan 49502\nDear Mr. Bergsma:\nI apologize for the delay in responding to your letter to me of\nMarch 20, 1975, which I apparently misplaced.\nI have discussed your proposal with our Program Staff and a representative\nof the State Department. It is the feeling of our ARBA Program Department\nthat the program outlined in your letter would not meet the ariteria for\ndesignation as a national Bicentennial program of the ARBA.\nConsistent with policy guidelines adopted by the ARBA Board in carrying\nout the Congressional mandate contained in Public Law 93-179, it may be\npossible to accomplish the intent of your program through the ARBA symbol\nlicensing program, which may or may not include limited reproductions of\nthe \"Treaty of Paris\" desk and chair. Under our symbol licensing guide-\nlines, it would be possible to designate as an officially recognized com-\nmemorative a collection of furniture reproductions, assuming all rights\ncould be obtained. Such a collection could be purchased by companies for\ndisplay and subsequent donation to local museums. Such a collection could\nalso be offered for sale to the general public if that was your desire.\nUnder the licensing program, the collection would be done under the auspices\nof the AREA symbol licensing guidelines, and we are in no position to support\nthe presentation of any item as a gift to President and Mrs. Ford. One of\nevery item included under the symbol licensing program will be subsequently\nturned over to the Smithsonian Institution when the ARBA goes out of exist-\nence in July 1977.\nShould this alternative proposal be of interest to you, I would be pleased\nto meet and discuss it with you in detail. My telephone number is (202)\n634-1851.\nSincerely,\nAndy Wahlquist\n(CB)\nR. FORD LIBRAKY\nAndrew F. Wahlquist\nDeputy Assistant Administrator\nfor Symbol Licensing and\nCommemorative Sales\n-2-\nCC: Philip Buchen\nThe White House\nMarjorie Lynch\nARBA Deputy Administrator\nPlease note:\nNEW ADDRESS:\nBERALD W. FORD THE\nAMERICAN REVOLUTION BICENTENNIAL\nADMINISTRATION\n2401 E Street, N. W.\nWashington, D.C. 20276\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nBergana,\nWASHINGTON\nKeb\nApril 9, 1975\nDear Dave:\nThe President has referred to me the copy of the\nletter you sent to him which Ken Bergsma had sent\nto Andy Wahlquist.\nI have checked with Mr. Wahlquist and he advises\nme that the matter is under consideration and that\nthe Furniture Manufacturers Association will have\na reply shortly. As I understand it, the Bicenten-\nnial Administration is only authorized to licensed\nuse of the official Bicentennial insignia. Because\nuse of the insignia on the proposed desk would not\nbe fitting, it appears likely that the Administra-\ntion can only offer encouragement for this project.\nHowever, I cannot anticipate exactly the nature of\nthe forthcoming response.\nIt was good to see Dave, Jr., even briefly, at the\nreception in Grand Rapids; and I was only sorry\nnot to see you but understood fully that you were\nengaged in preparing for Mary's birthday celebration.\nSincerely,\nThil\nPhilip W. Buchen\nCounsel to the President\nMr. David Hunting\nStow/Davis Furniture Company\n25 Summer Avenue, N. W.\nGrand Rapids, Michigan 49504\nCC: Dorothy Downton\nJack Marsh\nSEAL FORD ABRARY\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nMay 27, 1975\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nPHIL BUCHEN\nFROM:\nJACK\nRecalling my earlier memo to you you have any\nfurther guidance?\nIt is my recollection from our meeting on this that you were going\nto take care of it.\nMany thanks.\nFORD - 03 LIBRARY\nApril 7, 1975\nMEMORANDUM FOR: PHIL BUCHEN\nFROM:\nJACK MARSH\nI would appreciate your guidance on the accompany-\ning note from Dorothy Downton together with\nattachments involving a Grand Rapids' project.\nThanks.\nJCM/dl\nSEAL R. 3 FORD\nMAP 26 1975\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nMarch 25, 1975\nMr. Marsh:\nWe received this letter from Mr. Dave\nHunting who is a close friend of the\nPresident's in Grand Rapids. The President\nhas read the letter from Mr. Bergsma to\nMr. Wahlquist. He asked that I send it\nto you to be sure that these gentlemen\nreceive a quick approval if one is necessary.\nThe President also thinks that Mr. Hunting\nshould receive a letter from him indicating\nwhat we have done.\nThanks.\nDorothy Downton\nFORD - LIBRARY\nFrom\nSTOW I DAVIS\nXawe Hunting\nGERALD R. FORD FIBRARY\n*STOW DAVIS FURNITUR RE COMPANY 25 SUMMER AVENUE. NW. GRAND RAPIDS. MICHIGAN 49504 TELEPHONE (613) 456-9631\nNEW YORK CHICAGO . LOS ANGELES\nFURNITURE MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION OF GRAND RAPIDS\nMarch 20, 1975\nMr. Andy Wahlquist\nARBA 2401 \"E\" St., N.W.\nWashington, D. C. 20276\nGentlemen:\nThe members of the Furniture Manufacturers Association of Grand Rapids are\nanxious to participate in the Bi-Centennial program. Our Association is\ncomposed of 36 companies manufacturing wood furniture.\nSubject to your approval and authorization, we propose to manufacture a\nlimited number of reproductions of the \"Treaty of Paris\" desk and chair\nnow on display in the reception rooms of the State Department. These\npieces would be arranged as a display with photographs, flags, replicas\nof treaties, etc.\nThis display would be offered to banks, insurance companies and other\ninterested firms. It would serve as a focal point in their Bi-Centennial\nexhibits and programs.\nWe would probably restrict the release of this exhibit on the basis of\none to each participant. It would be our endeavor to have the parti-\ncipant agree to donate the furniture to a local museum or art gallery\nat the end of the 8i-Centennial year. Our association would guarantee\nthat the desk and chair would be of highest quality suitable for museum\npreservation.\nThe companies involved would send experienced designers to Washington\nto faithfully record the desk and chair, both in detail of design,\nconstruction, character of wood, etc.\nIt is the intent of the Association to present one of these desks and\nchairs to President & Mrs. Ford as a gift from the Association.\nBecause it will require almost twelve months to manufacture the furniture,\nan early decision is imperative.\nAre further steps necessary to secure your authorization?\nSincerely,\nKewittBurand\nKenneth Bergsma, President\nCharle Rober\nBERALD R. FORD LIBRARY\nCharles R. Solon, Managing Director\n220 Lyon\n-103 STREET, N.W., GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN 49502 x (616) 456-969;\nMay 21, 1975\nDear Mr. Hunting:\nAs I promised in my letter to you of March 4, 1974\nyour request for the Fine Arts Committee to grant permission\nto reproduce the Treaty of Paris desk as a Bicentennial project\nwas put on the Agenda for the Spring Fine Arts Committee\nMeeting which was held on May 19, 1975.\nWe explained the proposal of Stow/Davis Furniture Company\nto reproduce the Treaty of Paris Desk in a Inditted number which\nwould then be placed in banks, large firms, etc. I explained\nthat this would be a patriotic rather than a commercial\nendeavor. The consensus of the Fine Arts Committee was that\nwe should not allow the Treaty of Paris Desk to be copied even\nthough they realized your project was a very worthwhile and\npatriotic endeavor.\nWe appreciate your interest in the Americana Project\nfor furnishing the Diplomatic Reception Rooms.\nVery sincerely,\nClement E. Conger\nChairman\nFine Arts Sommittee\nMr. David D. Hunting,\nStow/Davis Furniture Company,\n25 Summer Avenue, N.W.,\nExand Rapids, Michigan 48504.\nFORD of LIBRARY 03\nSTOWIDAVIS\nMarch 7, 1975\nMr. Clement E. Conger\nChairman-Special Fine Arts Committee\nDepartment of State\nWashington, DC\nDear Mr. Conger:\nI have your letter of March 4, and am disappointed that our suggested\nBi-Centennial project does not look more favorable.\nWe are afraid that a delay of four months in obtaining approval from\nyou or the Fine Arts Committee would not give us time to complete\nthe manufacture and distribution of the desk. Is there any way in\nwhich we could start work at our risk, subject to approval at a later\ndate.\nI asked the Director of the Grand Rapids Museum to bring the project\nto the attention of the National Committee for the Bi-Centennial Era\nwhen he was in Washington a few days ago. He talked with Miss\nMarjorie Lynch about our desire to participate as indicated in our\nprevious letter to you.\nIncidentally, I have mentioned our program to a large national insurance\ncompany and to several banks. Their promises of cooperation were most\nencouraging.\nIf you could see any way to expedite the clearance of this program,\nI would be glad to come to Washington for further discussion.\nYours very truly\nD.D Hunting D. D. Hunting\nmaf\nBERAU R. FORD LIBRARY\nSTOW.DAVIS FURNITURE COMPANY 25 SUMMER AVENUE, N.W., GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN 49504 TELEPHONE (616) 456-9681\nNEW YORK\nCHICAGO\nLOS ANGELES\n2) Crate hat. Lile\nMarch 4, 1975\nDear Mr. Hunting:\nThank you for your letter of February 21 regarding\nthe possibility of our granting permission to reproduce\nthe Treaty of Paris desk as a Bicentennial project. As I\nmay have explained to you. on the telephone before, we have\nturned down all previous requests to make reproductions of\nAmerican furniture in the Diplomatic Reception Rooms. Granted\nyour proposal has a somewhat different angle than the others,\nI would be glad to bring this subject to the attention of\nour Fine Arts Committee at its next meeting which will probably\nbe in May.\nVery sincerely,\nClement E. Conger\nChairman\nFine Arts Committee\nMr. David D. Hunting,\nStowiDavis Furniture Company,\n25 Summer Avenue, N.W.,\nGrand Rapids, Michigan 48504.\nAMOUNT BERALD TOTAL\nSTOWIDAVIS\nFebruary 21, 1975\nMr. Clement E. Conger\nChairman-Special Fine Arts Committee\nDepartment of State\nWashington, D. C.\nDear Mr. Conger:\nWhen in Washington I spoke to you over the phone about the possibility of\nthis Company having permission to reproduce the Treaty of Paris Desk as\nour Bi-centennial project.\nBriefly and subject to your suggestions, we would propose to make a limited\nnumber of exact \"museum\" duplicates. These we would place with banks,\ninsurance companies, or large firms as a focal point for their Centennial\nexhibits and programs. We would hope to make the display of this desk\nmost attractive with proper flags, photographs, etc.\nWe would restrict the release of this desk on the basis of one to each\nparticipant. We will make every endeavor to have the participant agree to\ngive the desk to a local museum or art gallery upon the termination of this\nexhibit or display.\nWe do not regard this as a commercial project, but rather as our contribution\nto the Bi-centennial program. The desk will not be advertised for sale. We\nexpect to manufacture the desk of a quality suitable for museum preservation.\nTo do this, we would send an experienced designer to Washington to faithfully\nrecord the desk both in detail of design, construction, character of wood, etc.\nShould you be inclined to favorably consider this request, we would like to\npresent our program to and request the cooperation of:\nThe National Council for Historical Preservation\nThe American Association for State and Local History\nFORD\nThe Amer ican Association for Museums\nThe National Committee for the Bicentennial Era\nGERALD\nSTOW DAVIS FURNITURE COMPANY 25 SUMMER AVENUE, N.W., GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN 49504 TELEPHONE (616) 456-9681\nNEW YORK\nCHICAGO\nLOS ANGELES\nMr. Clement E. Conger\n-2-\nFebruary 21, 1975\nWe would propose to present one desk to President Ford as a gift from\nthe Furniture Manufacturers Association of Grand Rapids.\nWe have said nothing about this project to others. For information about\nour company and our responsibility, you could question Mrs. William Seidman,\nformerly President of the Grand Rapids Art Gallery, and now in Washington\nwith her husband William Seidman of the White House staff.\nI also had the good fortune to be escorted through the White House by\nMichael J. Farrell, who may remember our group.\nBecause it will require almost twelve months to manufacture these desks,\nwe would appreciate your early consideration, and I will phone you in a\nfew days to arrange a personal interview.\nYours very truly,\nD.Hunting\nDavid D. Hunting\nmaf\nFORD\nDERALT\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nFORD - LIBRANT e\nMr. Conger\nis not in\nthe WH yet -\nbut I've left\nword for\nhim to call me.\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nEvo:\nPlease tell\nClem Congor I\nmust talk to him\nbefore Monday.\nAsk where I might\nroach him ou Saturday\nin case I can't\ncoll before then.\nP\nFORDO - LIBRARY\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nSeptember 25, 1975\nMr. Buchen,\nAttached is a copy of the memorandum\nto Clem Conger that Mrs. Ford discussed\nwith you this afternoon.\nNancy\nNancy Chirdon\nSeptember 5, 1975\nMEMORANDUM TO CLEM CONGER, CURATOR'S OFFICE\nFROM: Mrs. Ford\nAfter careful consideration, I have come to the following\nconclusions regarding the items which have been placed for my\napproval both in the East sitting Hall and the Queen's Bedroom:\nEast Sitting Hall\nThe orienial rug that was selected does not appeal to me,\nand I feel that it is unsuitable. In view of the fact that we\noften use this area for entertaining, I would much prefer\neither something more cheerful and warmer or the return of the\noriginal carpet. I also want to confirm that the new drapes will\nbe an exact duplication of those which we now have.\nQueen's Bedroom\nAt this time, I must reiterate my strong feelings that the\nbed is such an historic piece of furniture and, therefore, request\nthat it not be removed from this room. I am sure there will be\nno problem in having someone come into the room to drape it. I\nalso must express my great disappointment at the selection of the\nsofa by Samuel HcIntire. 7 have found that it is most uncomfort-\nable -- your feet do not even touch the floor while sitting in it.\nAlthough I have agreed that the martle should be replaced, at\nthis time I wish to confirm that this does not include the above\nmirror.\nAfter again reviewing the Queen's Bedroom and reflecting your\nsuggested changes, I must admit that I am particularly partial to\nthe effectiveness of the present fabric. Therefore, I feel I must\nbe absolutely positive that all the changes create an equally\nattractive atmosphere. I believe this will require more of my\npersonal attention.\nThank you.\nUERA FORD UNIVERSITY\nMonday 10/27/75\n1:20\nMr. Hills:\nThe grandfather clocks are taken care of by the\n2550\nW.H. Curator's office.\nThere is apparently no one in the office today; we will\ntry again tomorrow.\nGERATO 2. FORD LIBEARY\nE\nThursday 11/20/75\n6:15 Clem Conger left these materials for you.\nHe must talk with you before you take the materials\nto Mrs. Ford -- he has things to tell you which he\ndid not include in the material.\nFORDS a LIBRARY\nNovember 20, 1975\nMEMORANDUM FOR MRS. FORD\nSUBJ:\n\"Materials for the Queens' Bedroom\"\nThe original discussions with Mrs. Nixon on refurbishing the\nQueens' Bedroom began back in the Spring of 1973. We do not have\nnotes on all the meetings with Mrs. Nixon, but we do have a note\ndated June 6, 1973, in which she approved the architectural im-\nprovements to the room and upgrading the mediocre collection of\nfurniture by using the best pieces of the Seymour collection of\nfurniture for the Queens' Bedroom, the Queens' Sitting Room,\nand the East Sitting Hall.\nThe wonderful collection of very beautiful and rather feminine\nAmerican furniture by John and Thomas Seymour of Salem,\nMassachusetts was acquired from Mr. Vernon Stoneman of Boston\nduring 1972. Mr. Stoneman gave the tambour pedimented secretary\nby the Seymours, now in the East Sitting Hall, valued in excess of\n$50,000.\nThe basic fabrics for the Queens' Bedroom (draperies,\nbed hangings, upholsteries) were approved by Mrs. Nixon in the\nSpring of 1974 after a series of discussions on the improvements\nin the Room, dating back into 1973. This basic order was placed\nwith Scalamandre in April 1974 and delivered to Browne Decorating\nBENAU 11. FORD LIBRARY\n- 2 -\nCompany, Atlanta, Georgia, in June 1974. The first bill for fabrics\namounting to $3, 907 was received in July 1974 but was not paid\nuntil December 1974. Supplemental orders for guimpe, fringe,\njabots, and other materials were placed thereafter, after extensive\nconsultations on colors and examination of samples by Mr. David\nByers, Browne Decorating Company, Atlanta, and Mr. Edward\nJones but not all items were delivered until early 1975. (See\nattached letter of October 28, 1975 from Mr. Byers).\nThese consultations, which happen on most fabrics for every room,\nare carried on between Mr. Jones and Mr. Byers in Georgia.\nI am not concerned with most details once the basic fabric orders\nare placed. The bills for these fabrics to date amount to $13,068\nand have been paid for in 1975. Guimpe, fringe and jabots, etc. are\noften more expensive than the basic fabrics but are very correct\nand very necessary.\nAfter the basic decisions are made, Mr. Jones or I place the\nbasic orders for fabrics with Scalamandre or such other firms as\nmay be necessary. Materials are delivered to Mr. Byers at\nBrowne Decorating Company, Atlanta, Georgia. Mr. Byers is one\nof many interior designers whose work is done in an independent shop\nin the very large firm of Browne Decorating Company, Atlanta.\nBERALD . FORD\n- 3 -\nThis is the finest firm in the United States for restoration type\ndraperies, bed hangings, etc. As the Metropolitan Museum and other\nmajor collections and collectors place their orders with Browne\nDecorating Company and because of the large volume of work done\nby this firm, deliveries are often quite slow. They try when possible\nto give preference to the White House. The person in charge of the\nshop has been absent for some time. Normally, we do not pay final\nbills until all the work in a room is finished. Because of the passage\nof so much time, we have paid part of the Scalamandre bills but not\nall. We do not pay Browne Decorating until an installation is completed.\nPer Mr. Byers' letter of October 21, attached, total cost of the new\ndraperies in the new materials will be $6206 which is not bad as costs\ngo now. Cost of dressing the bed in the new materials amounts to\n$3945.\nThe Queens' Bedroom is treated as a restoration room, and\nin our opinion the fabrics and designs should be the best and most\nauthentic possible of the first quarter of the 19th century.\nWe now realize you like the rose taffeta material which is\npresently in the draperies and bed hangings in the room. As we have\nsaid in the past, however, we wish to have you at least see the\nproposed new draperies before you make a final decision. I think that\nwhen you see the new draperies and bed hangings, you will most likely\nTORD & LIBRARY\n- 4 -\nagree that they are much more beautiful than the present rose\ntaffeta draperies. The new draperies and bed hangings are properly\ndesigned whereas the present draperies and bed hangings most\ndo\ndefinitely are not. The new draperies and bed hangings willalso\nbe related & to the other new upholsteries on chairs and sofa alroady in the\nRoom. If you do not like the new draperies and bed hanging materials,\nthey can of course be stored. Then we could make correctly designed\ndraperies in place of the present ones with the present rose taffeta\nmaterial. Perhaps most of the present rose taffeta material could\nbe re-used, we are not sure. Boudin of Paris in the Kennedy Admini-\nstration selected these materials. Boudin designed the draperies\nand bed hangings. Mr. DuPont, then Head of the Fine Arts Committee,\ndid not approve Mrs. Kennedy's using Boudin's designs as they were\nnot correct to an American period house.\nIf after seeing the new materials in place, you want to go back\nto the-old rose taffeta material, new replacement rose taffeta material can be\nexisting\nof the same design\nA\nordered from Jensen of Paris at $150 if necessary. Cost of making\nthe draperies in the rose taffeta material would be $3699. Redoing the\npresent bed correctly in the Jensen rose taffeta material would be\n$4887 (see Mr. Byer's letter attached, dated November 7, 1975).\nWe have contributed funds on hand to complete all work done\nBERALD FORD LIBRARY\n- 5 -\nto date and any foreseeable work in the future.\nUpgrading of the collection of furniture in the Queens' Bedroom\nand replacing some very poor reproductions and second-rate antiques\nwith the beautiful Seymour furniture (already in the Room) as well\nas using beautiful new materials for draperies and upholsteries will\nbe a real step forward in the continuing work of refurbishing White\nHouse rooms correctly as they need it.\nAccordingly, While you and the President are in China, we\npropose to install the mantel and chair railing which you have\nalready approved. We will hang the new draperies in the new\nmaterials for you to see. We will install the new bed temporarily\nand take the present bed to Atlanta for redressing, hopefully in the\nnew materials.\nIncidentally, once the Queens Room is finished, I think it\nquite possible that I can find a donor to underwrite the entire cost\nof improvements to the Room.\nFORD . LIBRARY DERALD\nNovember 1975\nQUEENS BED ROOM\nSummary\n1972\nSeymour furniture collection acquired - part\ngiven, part purchased from Mr. Vernon Stoneman,\nBoston, Massachusetts\nDecember 1972 Paid Mr. Vernon Stoneman for Seymour\nCollection of furniture\n$70,000\nMay 1973\nPaid Mr. Vernon Stoneman for Seymour\nCollection of furniture\n$53,550\nSeymour Secretary\n$45,000 pd. April 1974\n30,000 pd. Dee 1974\n15,000 pd. Feb. 1975\nSpring 1973\nOriginal discussions with Mrs. Nixon, Mr. Jones,\nand Mr. Conger on changes in Queens Room fabrics,\nfurniture, draperies, upholsteries.\nJune 6, 1973\nMrs. Nixon approved architectural changes\n(mantel, chair rail, cornices, etc.). Upgrade\nfurniture with Seymour pieces.\nSpring 1974\nMrs. Nixon approved all basic fabric designs.\nApril 1974\nBasic fabric orders placed by Mr. Conger with\nScalamandre. (Basic fabrics delivered July 1974);\nbills paid December 1974:\n$3,907\nApril 1974\nSupplemental orders placed by Mr. Byers and\nand later\nMr. Jones in 1974 and early 1975 after extensive\nconsultations and reorders.\ndeliveries made\nSupplemental fabric bills paid in 1975\n$13,048\nUnpaid fabric bills\n$ 387\nFall 1975\nBrowne Decorating Company to be paid:\n(work already done months ago)\nNew draperies\n........\n$6206\nDressing new bed\n$4975\nFORD LIBRARY GREATO\nAlternative Possibilities\nRecommended: No. 1: Redress present bed in new materials -$3945\nNot Recommended:\nNo. 2: Rework and redress present bed in our\nown rose taffeta material\n$4887\n(same price if new rose taffeta materials used)\nNot Recommended:\nNo. 3: Redo in correct 7designed present draperies using\nA\nin,rose material\n$3699\npresent\nNew trimmings - jabots, guimpe, etc. for draperies\nand bed to match rose taffeta would cost an un-\ndetermined amount, but approximately\n-\n$9000\nNot Recommended:\nCost of new rose taffeta material for draperies\nand bed hangings only if needed\n$20,000\n2\nFORD\nGREATE\nMonday 11/24/75\n4:10\nClem Conger brought in the attached for you to\ntake to Mrs. Ford (needs to be approved before\nthey leave).\nMr. Conger would like to talk with you (on the phone\nat least) before you take the package to Mrs. Ford.\nBERATE 2. FORD LIBRARY\nNovember 25, 1975\nMEMORANDUM FOR MRS. FORD\nFROM\nCLEM CONGER\nBack a long time ago when we had the rug made by\nMr. Frank M. Michaelian, Spinning Wheel, in New York that\nis presently in the State Dining Room. Mr. Scouten suggested\nthat we have an alternate rug made inasmuch as that one was\nsuch a bargain at $12,000. It would be worth in the general\nmarket somewhere in excess of $30,000. Mrs. Nixon, Mr. Scouten,\nMr. Jones and I all worked on this subject of a second rug and\nthe idea was to make it virtually identical in many ways, but a little\nbit warmer in feeling. These rugs are made in India, the only\nplace in the world we are told, where there is a loom that can make\na rug so wide. The State Dining Room rug measures 43\" 5\" X\n28' X 9\". Normally rugs cannot be made wider than 21 feet.\nThis alternate rug took about a year to make and has been\nat the warehouse for several months. We have been wanting to getita\nin for you to see. Unfortunately because of the large size, we\n$15,000\nwould have to rent a truck at some expense to bring it in here.\nMr. Scouten and I wonder if when you come back from China if\nyou would mind going with me to the warehouse for just a few minutes\nto see it there. If this is not convenient, we will of course go ahead\nand have it brought in to the White House.\nBecause of the constant usage and constant spillage on the\nrug in the State Dining Room, it more than any other room needs\nan alternate rug. As you know, we try to have alternate rugs for\nall the principal rooms.\nFORD . LIBRARY 01V838\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nNovember 26, 1975\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nMRS. BETTY FORD\nFROM:\nPHIL BUCHEN\nPhil\nAttached is a memorandum prepared by Clem Conger\nafter several consultations with me and after he\nhad obtained the letters which are attached.\nI am sending a copy at the same time to\nRex Scouten, and I would be glad to meet with\nyou and him whenever it is convenient for you\nlate this afternoon.\nAttachment\nCC: Rex Scouten\nFORD LIDRARY à SECURE\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nNovember 24, 1975\nMEMORANDUM FOR MRS. FORD\nSUBJ:\n\"Materials for the Queens' Bedroom\"\nThe original discussions with Mrs. Nixon on refurbishing\nthe Queens' Bedroom began back in the Spring of 1973. We do not have\nnotes on all the meetings with Mrs. Nixon, but we do have a note\ndated June 6, 1973, in which she approved the architectural im-\nprovements to the room and upgrading the collection of furniture\nby using the best pieces of the Seymour collection of furniture for\nthe Queens' Bedroom, the Queens' Sitting Room, and the East\nSitting Hall.\nThe wonderful collection of very beautiful and rather feminine\nAmerican furniture by John and Thomas Seymour of Salem,\nMassachusetts was acquired from Mr. Vernon Stoneman of Boston\nduring 1972. Mr. Stoneman gave the tambour pedimented secretary\nby the Seymours, now in the East Sitting Hall, valued in excess of\n$50,000.\nThe basic fabrics for the Queens' Bedroom (draperies,\nbed hangings, upholsteries) were approved by Mrs. Nixon in the\nSpring of 1974 after a series of discussions on the improvements\nin the Room, dating back into 1973. This basic order was placed\nwith Scalamandre in April 1974 and delivered to Browne Decorating\nSEALED #. FORD\n- 2 -\nCompany, Atlanta, Georgia, in June 1974. The first bill for fabrics\namounting to $3, 907 was received in July 1974 but was not paid\nuntil December 1974. Supplemental orders for guimpe, fringe,\njabots, and other materials were placed thereafter, after extensive\nconsultations on colors and examination of samples by Mr. David\nByers, Browne Decorating Company, Atlanta, and Mr. Edward\nJones but not all items were delivered until early 1975. (See\nattached letter of October 28, 1975 from Mr. Byers).\nThese consultations, which happen on most fabrics for every room,\nare carried on between Mr. Jones and Mr. Byers in Georgia.\nI am not concerned with most details once the basic fabric orders\nare placed. The bills for these fabrics to date amount to $13, 068\nand have been paid for in 1975. Guimpe, fringe and jabots, etc. are\noften more expensive than the basic fabrics but are very correct\nand very necessary.\nAfter the basic decisions are made, Mr. Jones or I place the\nbasic orders for fabrics with Scalamandre or such other firms as\nmay be necessary. Materials are delivered to Mr. Byers at\nBrowne Decorating Company, Atlanta, Georgia. Mr. Byers is one\nof many interior designers whose work is done in an independent shop\nin the very large firm of Browne Decorating Company, Atlanta.\nFORDO is Street LIBRARY\n- 3 -\nThis is the finest firm in the United States for restoration type\ndraperies, bed hangings, etc. As the Metropolitan Museum and other\nmajor collections and collectors place their orders with Browne\nDecorating Company and because of the large volume of work done\nby this firm, deliveries are often quite slow. They try when possible\nto give preference to the White House. The person in charge of the\nshop has been absent for some time. Normally, we do not pay final\nbills until all the work in a room is finished. Because of the passage\nof so much time, we have paid part of the Scalamandre bills but not\nall. We do not pay Browne Decorating until an installation is completed.\nPer Mr. Byers' letter of October 21, attached, total cost of the new\ndraperies in the new materials will be $6206 which is not bad as costs\ngo now. Cost of dressing the bed in the new materials amounts to\n$3945.\nThe Queens' Bedroom is treated as a restoration room, and\nin our opinion the fabrics and designs should be the best and most\nauthentic possible of the first quarter of the 19th century.\nWe now realize you like the rose taffeta material which is\npresently in the draperies and bed hangings in the room. As we have\nsaid in the past, however, we wish to have you at least see the\nproposed new draperies before you make a final decision. I think that\nwhen you see the new draperies and bed hangings, you will most likely\nSTATE E. FORD LIBRARY\n4\nagree that they are much more beautiful than the present rose\ntaffeta draperies. The new draperies and bed hangings are properly\ndesigned whereas the present draperies and bed hangings most\ndefinitely are not. The new draperies and bed hangings do relate to\nthe other new upholsteries on chairs and sofa already in the Room.\nIf you do not like the new draperies and bed hanging materials,\nthey can of course be stored. Then we could make correctly designed\ndraperies in place of the present ones with present rose taffeta\nmaterial. Perhaps most of the present rose taffeta material could\nbe re-used, we are not sure. Boudin of Paris in the Kennedy Admini-\nstration selected these materials. Boudin designed the draperies\nand bed hangings. Mr. DuPont, then Head of the Fine Arts Committee,\ndid not approve Mrs. Kennedy's using Boudin's designs as they were\nnot correct to an American period house.\nIf after seeing the new materials in place, you want to go back\nto the existing rose taffeta material, replacement material of the same\ndesign can be ordered from Jensen of Paris at $150 if necessary.\nCost of making the draperies in the rose taffeta material would be $3699.\nRedoing the present bed correctly in the Jensen rose taffeta material\nwould be $4887 (See Mr. Byer's letter attached, dated November 7, 1975).\nWe have contributed funds on hand to complete all work done\nto date and any foreseeable work in the future.\n-\nFORD\nDERRED\nLIBRARY\n- 5 -\nWhile you and the President are in China, we propose to\ninstall the mantel and chair railing whch you have already approved.\nWe will hang the new draperies in the new materials for you to see.\nWe will install the new bed temporarily and take the present bed\nto Atlanta for redressing, hopefully in the new materials.\nFORDO 1. WHEN LIBRARY\nNovember 1975\nQUEENS BED ROOM\nSummary\nSpring 1973\nOriginal discussions with Mrs. Nixon, Mr. Jones,\nand Mr. Conger on changes in Queens' Room fabrics,\nfurniture with Seymour pieces.\nJune 6, 1973\nMrs. Nixon approved architectural changes (mantel,\nchair rail, cornices, etc.). Upgrade furniture, with\nSeymour pieces.\nSpring 1974\nBasic fabric orders placed by Mr. Conger with\nScalamandre. (Basic fabrics delivered July 1974);\nbills paid December 1974: $3,907\nApril 1974\nSupplemental orders placed by Mr. Byers and\nand later\nMr. Jones, deliveries made in 1974 and early 1975\nafter extensive consultations and reorders.\nSupplemental fabric bills paid in 1975\n$13,048\nUnpaid fabric bills\n$ 387\nFall 1975\nBrowne Decorating Company to be paid:\n(work already done months ago)\nNew draperies\n$6206\nDressing new bed\n$4975\nAlternative Possibilities continued next page\nFORD 1. STATE LIBRA\n- 2 -\nAlternative Possibilities\nRecommended: No. 1: Redress present bed in new materials - $3945\nNot Recommended:\nNo. 2: Rework and redress present bed in our\nown rose taffeta material\n$4887\n(same price if new rose taffeta materials used)\nNot Recommended:\nNo. 3: Redo in correctly designed draperies using\npresent rose material\n$3699\nNew trimmings - jabots, guimpe, etc. for draperies\nand bed to match rose taffeta would cost an un-\ndetermined amount, but approximately\n$9000\nNot Recommended:\nCost of new rose taffeta material for draperies\nand bed hangings only if needed\n$20,000\nGETALD F FORD\nC\nW.E.BROWNE DECORATING CO.\n443 Peachtree Street, N.E.\nATLANTA 30308\nNOVEMBER 7, 1975\nRec's iN CURATORS OFF\nNovember 17, 1975\nMR. CKEMENT E. CONGER\nCURATOR\nWHITE HOUSE\n1600 PENNSYLVANIA AVONUE\nWASHINGTON, D. C. 20006\nDEAR MR. CONGER:\nI AM SORRY ABOUT THE DELAY IN GETTING THIS QUOTATION\nTO YOU BUT I WAS ANXIOUS TO BE SURE OF ITS ACCURACY AND IT WAS\nNECESSARY TO GET THE YAROAGE PRICES THAT THE WHITE HOUSE WOULD\nHAVE TO PAY FOR EACH ITEM REQUIRED.\nTHE BED THAT IS AT PRESENT IN THE QUEEN'S BEDROOM\nIS OF COURSE LARGER THAN THE BED WHICH WE HAVE ALREADY COMPLETED,\nBUT AFTER CAREFUL PRICE ESTIMATES WE HAVE COME UP WITH THE FOL-\nLOWING FIGURES. THE BED THAT IS AT PRESENT IN THE QUEEN'S BED-\nROOM WOULD COST $4,887.50 TO RE-DRAPE EXACTLY AS IT IS NOW DONE\nroal VI\nTHE SAME BED DONE WITH THE FABRICS WHICH ARE USED ON THE UPHOL-\nSTERY OF THE CHAIRS AND ON THE DRAPERIES WOULD COST $3,945.00. new made\nTHE PRINCIPAL REASON IS THAT THE MATERIAL USED IS LESS COST PER\nYARD THAN THE MATERIAL NOW ON THE BED, AND WE WERE ALSO USING A\nSLIGHTLY DIFFERENT DESIGN WHICH WE THOUGHT MIGHT BE PRETTIER IN\nTHE ROOM WITH THE NEW FABRICS.\nIT WOULD TAKE US APPROXIMATELY FOUR WEEKS TO RE-DO\nTHE BED AND GET IT BACK TO THE WHITE HOUSE. IN THE MEANTIME, IF\nIT IS SATISFACTORY WITH YOU, THE BED WE HAVE ALREADY DONE COULD\nSTAY IN THE ROOM UNTIL THE OTHER IS COMPLETED.\nSINCERELY,\nW. E. BROWNE DECORATING COMPANY\nDavid Richmand r5yers\nDAVID RICHMOND BYERS 111\nVICE PRESIDENT\nSERVICES k. FORD LIBRARY\nDRB:RM\nW.E.BROWNE DECORATING CO.\n443 Peachtree Street, N. E.\nATLANTA 30308\nOctober 3, 1975\nMr. Clement E. Conger,\nCurator,\nWhite House,\n1600 Pennsylvania Avenue,\nWashington, D. C. 20006\nDear Mr. Conger:\nPursuant to your request of several weeks ago we will give you some idea of\nthe transaction discussed involving potential delivery of work for the Queen's\nBedroom on the second floor.\nMr. Conger, you may recall that the initial discussion was made in the spring\nof 1973 after the furniture and an Aubusson rug was acquired. When we made\nan installation in Washington in the fall of 1973 we discussed the potentiality\not using and working a scheme around the Stoneman Collection of New England (S\nmost WAS PURC\nfurniture donated to the White House for this room. At that time we discussed\nthe idea of reworking the plaster work, cornice and the treatment in the room,\ni.e., the dado and moldings to conform with the New England scale and\ncharacter of the mantelpiece selected. Also, at that time, the First Lady was\nvery interested and understood our reasoning, as well as the architect, Mr.\nJones', behind the rescaling of the design and the period precedent for the\ndetail and treatment of this room.\nWe got together a scheme for you of an antique wallpaper of the period of the\nroom which we were suggesting as a softening effect for the pictures and the\nscale of the furniture to be used. We discussed the potentiality of obtaining\na rug that would conform more in period and character, scale and coloring\nSEAL R. FORD LIBRARY\nto the proposed arrangement. At that time we got together a scheme of fabrics\nto blend with the antique wallpaper that we were suggesting to be reproduced\nfor the room and using the existing antique mirror from the dressing room\nabove the mantel to conform with the scale of the room. We proposed a scheme\nof special stripe to be woven in colors as sample submitted, to be used for cur\ntains and the antique bed treatment, with a brocaded lining tor the bed, inside\ncurtains and bedspread of strawberry patterned silk on a special blue green\nbackground as submitted. After the presentation of our scheme and proposed\nsuggestions of fabrics to be especially woven were approved the first of the\nyear, we donfirmed the orders with Scalamandre in April. 1974 Sufficient striped\nfabric to be fabricated in special colors, as approved, for the curtains and bed\nhangings was then ordered from Paris to go with the Scalamandre brocade.\nThe manner of treatment was approved from the suggestion made, as photostat\nénclosed from Mr. Montgomery's book.\nIt was discussed that we would do a curtain treatment on the window with cur-\ntains draped with tassel mold fringe and a valance on rod similar to that treat-\nment at the 19th Century show at the Metropolitan Museum exhibition, this\nseemed to delight the First Lady.\nDuring the season following we were able to find examples of an antique braid,\nfringe trimming, etc. to be fabricated for this room by Scalamandre. It took\nsome months to get the silk dyed, wood molds made for the fringe and samples\napproved. During this time Miss Olsen had retired from Scalamandre. There\nwas some delay in the approval of the samples woven after the trimming depart-\nment was taken over by Mr. Stagmier. After all of the trimmings, brocade, etc.\nwere approved from samples prepared, the orders went into work with\nScalamandre with the exception of the stripe for the curtains which we were to\nsupply from our sources in France. After fabrication of the fabrics and\ntrimmings, it took some months to receive the order given in total and these\nwere billed to the White House by Scalamandre at cost upon receipt of same by\nus, as ordered April 1974.\nWhen the above fabrics were received, they were put into work by our work-\nrooms to be installed at your convenience. It was understood that the fireplace\nin the room is to be changed and that the room would be painted and wallpaper\neliminated; the architectural changes are not to be made as originally discussed,\nbut the mantel and special facings are to be completed in the fall, meaning\napproximately mid November, as you recently confirmed. We are planning to\nmake installation upon completion of these alterations. It is not unusual to take\neighteen months to assemble orders for a decorating job when special fabrica-\ntions and dying are necessary for execution of the scheme.\nIt will be necessary to bring the present bed to Atlanta to develope the design\nand execute the patterns properly.\nTrusting that the above explanations will clarify the time sequence of the\nexecution of the order.\nSincerely,\nW. E. BROWNE DECORATING COMPANY\nDavid David Richmond Rilmond Byers III 55yen\"\nVice President\nDRB:dt\nSEAL FORD LIBRARY\nIND\n19\nA\nW.E.BROWNE DECORATING CO.\nRediu Curators\n443 Peachtree Street, N.E.\nATLANTA 30308\nMifice Nov. 3,19\nOCTOBER 28, 1975\nMR. CLEMENT E. CONGER\nCURATOR\nWHITE HOUSE\n1600 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE\nWASHINGTON, D. C. 20006\nDEAR MR. CONGER:\nIN ACCORDANCE WITH YOUR RECENT REQUEST TO SEND YOU\nINFORMATION FROM OUR RECORDS AS TO SCHEDULED ORDERS OF MATERIALS\nAND PROGRESS OF WORK ON THE QUEEN'S BEDROOM, I HAVE THE FOLLOW-\nING TO REPORT.\nAs I RECALL, A RUG WAS OBTAINED FOR THIS ROOM BY YOU\nTO REPLACE THE MODERN AUBUSSON IN THE ROOM IN THE LATE SUMMER\nOF 1973. I WAS INFORMED BY MR. JONES THAT FABRICS HAD BEEN SUB-\nMITTED AND APPROVED BY YOU AND THE COMMITTEE AND WHAT DESIGNS\nWERE SUGGESTED. I MADE STUDIES AND QUANTITY ESTIMATES AND PLACED\nTHE ORDER FOR ALL MAJOR QUANTITIES OF MATERIALS JUST AFTER THE\nFIRST OF APRIL 1974. THIS INCLUDED FABRICS FOR DRAPERIES, BED\nAND ALL UPHOLSTERING. OF COURSE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT BRAID, TRIM-\nMINGS AND SPECIAL FRINGES ARE ALWAYS ORDERED LATER AS THE SCHEME\nIS DEVELOPED AND SPECIAL SAMPLES ARE APPROVED. As SAMPLES ARE\nAPPROVED, SOMETIMES AFTER FOUR OR FIVE SUBMISSIONS, THEY ARE PUT\nINTO WORK. As A CONSEQUENCE, DELIVERIES OF THESE SPECIAL ITEMS\nEXTENDED INTO LATE 1974 AND EARLY 1975.\nFOR YOUR INFORMATION, UPON THIRTY DAYS NOTICE WE COULD\nHAVE INSTALLED THIS ROOM AS EARLY AS NOVEMBER 1974.\nSINCERELY,\nW. E. BROWNE DECORATING COMPANY\nDavid VICE DAVID PRESIDENT RICHMOND Richmond BYERS III Byen\nDRB:RM\nFORD LIBRARY\nWH Irrnshings\nDecember 4, 1975\nDear Mrs. Klapthor:\nI am returning your most wonderful\nbook .. \"Official White House China -\n1789 to the Present. #\nIt was very helpful to us, and we thank\nyou for se generously loaning us your\npersonal copy.\nSincerely,\nEva Daughtrey\nSecretary to\nPhilip W. Buchen\nCounsel to the President\nMrs. Margaret Brown Klapthor\nRoom 4109\nHistory and Technology Building\nDivision of Political History\nWashington, D. C. 20560\nTORDS - LIBRARY\nIn connection with a request from Rod Buchen,\nI checked to get information about White House\nchina.\nBorrowed from the Smithsonism a\nbook entitled \"Official White House China - 1789 to\nthe Present\" -- which I borrowed from\nMrs. Margaret Brown Klapthor (Division of Political\nHistory, Room 4109 History and Technology Building\n(between 12th and 14th Streets on Constitution),\nWashington, D. C. 20560.\nTalked with Edie Mayo\n381-5244\nBook can be obtained through the McGraw-Hill Book Store\nat the Smithsonian.\nTORDO - LIBRARY DEPART\nW.E.BROWNE DECORATING CO.\n443 Peachtree Street, N.E.\nATLANTA 8\nOctober 21, 1975\nMr. Clement E. Conger, Curator,\nWhite House,\n1600 Pennsylvania Avenue,\nWashington, D.C. 20006\nDear Mr. Conger:\nListed herewith are the itemized decorations to complete the Queen's\nBedroom; the room is to be installed at your convenience after the completion\nof alterations around mid November:\nA. Two pairs of curtains of special imported pink and\ngreen stripe, fabricated with a draped valance on\npole, as per engraving by Mesangeres Marbles et\nObjets de Gout 1796-1830 and interpreted by us for\nthe Metropolitan Museum show in 1970 and approved\nby the Fine Arts Commission. We have used own\nspecial trimmings and braid, faced back with own\nspecial green taffeta using antique pole ends.\nLabor for all above:\n$ 3,699.00 Pr.\n63 yds. special stripe @ $24.00 yd.\n(Approx. forty (40) yds. will be\n(retained for future use.\n17 yds. billed 1/31/75, work order\n7861, sent to Le Volsie for covering\nown sofa by him)\n1,512.00\n2 Pr. Antique pole ends in gilt\nwood deacquisitioned for the above\nMetropolitan show:\n995.00\n$6,206\nB. The antique teaster bed (from the White House Collection)\nfor use in the Queen's Bedroom will have side and back cur-\ntains and outside valance draped to conform to the photograph\nshown from Mr. Montgomery's book of Wintheur, approved\nby The Fine Arts Committee using own braid and fringe; the\nceiling and inside curtains have been fabricated from own\nespecially made silk strawberry pattern brocade. The bed-\nspread and bolster made from the same, and special green\ntaffeta is used for the flounce. The outside curtains and\nSEAL R. FORD LIBRARY\nvalance made from the special imported stripe as the cur-\ntains.\n-2-\nPrice for installation of the bed will\ninclude the posts extended, polishing,\nrestoring the antique bowknot for the\ncanopy, special fitted box springs and\nmattress:\n$ 3,995.00\n40 yds. of special imported striped\ntaffeta from France:\n980.00\n(Approximately twenty (20) yds. will be\nretained for future use.)\ntotal 11, 181\nto here\nWe have had four antique New England\nside chairs restored in paint and gilt\nfor this room, these chairs purchased from\nArpad by The Fine Arts Committee:\n895.00\nTrusting the above is the information desired, I am\nSincerely,\nW. E. BROWNE DECORATING COMPANY\nDavid Rulman 15gen\nDavid Richmond Byers III\nVice President\nDRB:dt\nGENERAL N. FORD LIBRARY\nWIS Ournishings\nFriday 11/28/75\n10:05\nClem Conger is in his State Dept. office -- will be\nback in his White House office at noon and will be\navailable any time after that to discuss your meeting\nwith Mrs. Ford.\nMr. Buchen said\nRex Bonten Buown-\ndiscussit with him.\n1:10 advised Congers office\nTORO LIBRARY GIVEST"
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