Whitney Museum Director’s Copy: Jacqueline Kennedy Sends a Scarce First Edition of the First White House Guide Book to the Man Who Helped Make the Book Possible

The Kennedy years are known as the Camelot era. They were years of the flourishing of the arts.  Jacqueline Kennedy made the White House a museum and brought in works of historical import and catalogued them.  The White House Historical Association was established in 1961 as a non-profit organization to enhance the understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of the White House.  In 1962, Mrs. Kennedy published the first ever guide book of the White House, and the first publication of the association, with a first printing of only 100 copies.   A wealth of drawings and photographs in this book give the reader a look at the interior of America’s most famous house. Rooms and objects are described not only in terms of interesting furniture and pictures, but the human history that took place in each room during presidential life. For half a century, each First Lady has continued a tradition of involvement with the association.   Jacqueline created a later printing with a  red binding. This printing precedes that and is the First Edition.

Lloyd Goodrich was a famed art historian and Director of the Whitney Museum.  As his New York Times obituary reads, "…A leading author and advocate of American art for more than a half century… He was also instrumental in starting the American Art Research Council, in 1942, a consortium of museums devoted to collecting written and visual records about contemporary works of art, in such areas as catalogues, press announcements and other documents."  Goodrich must have helped the First Lady compile images of the illustrations, which came from various people and institutions. 

Autograph letter signed, as First Lady and on White House letterhead, Washington, no date but 1962.  "Dear Mr. Goodrich, I thought you might like this bound copy of the first edition of our guide book – so you can see which illustrations you made possible!  Jacqueline Kennedy."  With the original, first edition guide book, 132 pages, in original binding and plastic slip, number 58 of the original 100.

A fascinating combination demonstrating the fascinating connection between principals in the art world that Mrs. Kennedy made possible.  We have found only one other such book having been publicly offered and that one by our firm.