This photograph of First Lady Betty Ford with designer Frankie Welch was taken by Karl Schumacher in the West Sitting Hall on February 15, 1975. Welch was one of the first designers to design “across the aisle,” creating gowns and scarves for first ladies Pat Nixon, Lady Bird Johnson, and Rosalynn Carter in addition to Mrs. Ford. After earning a degree in clothing and design at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, Welch relocated with her husband to Maryland, where she taught “clothes coordination” classes at the local university. Welch’s work is frequently described as “Americana,” and she often used the proceeds of her designs to give back to communities. Welch integrated her love of American culture and history in her designs, leaving a unique mark on the lexicon of American fashion.

This photograph of Jacqueline Kennedy and her son John F. Kennedy, Jr, posing for a photograph with White House butlers in the West Sitting Hall prior to her final departure from the White House was taken by Robert L. Knudsen on December 6, 1963. After removing her personal items, Mrs. Kennedy rearranged the remaining furnishings to cover bare spaces in an effort to make the house more welcoming to President Lyndon B. Johnson and his family. The West Sitting Hall is often a favorite for first families. But until 1869, the room was the location of an open stairwell connecting the State Floor to the private residence. President Ulysses S. Grant had the staircase replaced with a smaller one and the room slowly took shape. During the 1902 Theodore Roosevelt renovation, the stairwell was completely removed, allowing the West Sitting Hall to connect with the Center Hall and the rest of the Second Floor residence. The room is noted for the large arched window that mirrors the one in the East Sitting Hall, on the opposite end of the Center Hall.

This photograph of President John F. Kennedy meeting with Prime Minister Amintore Fanfani of Italy in the West Sitting Hall was taken by Robert L. Knudsen on June 12, 1961. The curtains are the multicolored printed cotton originally chosen by Sister Parish who designed the room in the early stages of the Kennedy restoration project in 1961. Sister Parish was a socialite and interior designer who worked with First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy in the early stages of her restoration project.

This photograph depicts the newly remodeled and refurbished West Setting Hall during the renovation and refurbishment of the family quarters in 1961. The photograph was taken by Robert L. Knudsen on October 30, 1961, during the John F. Kennedy administration. The West Sitting Hall is often a favorite for first families. But until 1869, the room was the location of an open stairwell connecting the State Floor to the private residence, President Ulysses S. Grant had the staircase replaced with a smaller one and the room slowly took shape. During the 1902 Theodore Roosevelt renovation, the stairwell was completely removed, allowing the West Sitting Hall to connect with the Center Hall and the rest of the Second Floor residence. The room is noted for the large arched window that mirrors the one in the East Sitting Hall, on the opposite end of the Center Hall.

This photograph of the West Sitting Hall was taken by Robert L. Knudsen on November 7, 1961, during the John F. Kennedy administration. The West Sitting Hall is captured prior to First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy’s redecoration of the Second Floor. The West Sitting Hall is often a favorite for first families. But until 1869, the room was the location of an open stairwell connecting the State Floor to the private residence. President Ulysses S. Grant had the staircase replaced with a smaller one and the room slowly took shape. During the 1902 Theodore Roosevelt renovation, the stairwell was completely removed, allowing the West Sitting Hall to connect with the Center Hall and the rest of the Second Floor residence. The room is noted for the large arched window that mirrors the one in the East Sitting Hall, on the opposite end of the Center Hall.

This photograph of the West Sitting Hall looking east was taken by Robert L. Knudsen on May 3, 1962, during the John F. Kennedy administration. The image shows the bookcases built for the Kennedys during Sister Parish’s early 1961 decoration of the private quarters. Sister Parish was an interior designer and socialite who helped redecorate the White House in the early stages of First Lady Jaqueline Kennedy's restoration project.

This behind-the-scenes photograph of Tricia Nixon's "60 Minutes" tour of the White House was taken on April 25, 1970 by James E. Russell. Nixon, the eldest daughter of President Richard M. Nixon and First Lady Pat Nixon, guided reporters Harry Reasoner and Mike Wallace through the living quarters used by the First Family, including rooms not often seen by the public. In this photograph, Nixon is seen showing Wallace and Reasoner the West Sitting Hall. The tour was broadcast on May 26, 1970.

This behind-the-scenes photograph of Tricia Nixon's "60 Minutes" tour of the White House was taken on April 25, 1970 by James E. Russell. Nixon, the eldest daughter of President Richard M. Nixon and First Lady Pat Nixon, guided reporters Harry Reasoner and Mike Wallace through the living quarters used by the First Family, including rooms not often seen by the public. In this photograph, Nixon is seen showing Wallace and Reasoner the West Sitting Hall. The tour was broadcast on May 26, 1970.

This behind-the-scenes photograph of Tricia Nixon's "60 Minutes" tour of the White House was taken on April 25, 1970 by James E. Russell. Nixon, the eldest daughter of President Richard M. Nixon and First Lady Pat Nixon, guided reporters Harry Reasoner and Mike Wallace through the living quarters used by the First Family, including rooms not often seen by the public. In this photograph, Nixon is seen showing Wallace, Reasoner, and producer and creator Don Hewitt the West Sitting Hall. The tour was broadcast on May 26, 1970.

This behind-the-scenes photograph of Tricia Nixon's "60 Minutes" tour of the White House was taken on April 25, 1970 by James E. Russell. Nixon, the eldest daughter of President Richard M. Nixon and First Lady Pat Nixon, guided reporters Harry Reasoner and Mike Wallace through the living quarters used by the First Family, including rooms not often seen by the public. In this photograph, Nixon is seen showing Wallace, Reasoner, and producer and creator Don Hewitt the West Sitting Hall. The tour was broadcast on May 26, 1970.

This behind-the-scenes photograph of Tricia Nixon's "60 Minutes" tour of the White House was taken on April 25, 1970 by James E. Russell. Nixon, the eldest daughter of President Richard M. Nixon and First Lady Pat Nixon, guided reporters Harry Reasoner and Mike Wallace through the living quarters used by the First Family, including rooms not often seen by the public. In this photograph, Nixon is seen showing Wallace, Reasoner, and producer and creator Don Hewitt the West Sitting Hall. The tour was broadcast on May 26, 1970.

This behind-the-scenes photograph of Tricia Nixon's "60 Minutes" tour of the White House was taken on April 25, 1970 by James E. Russell. Nixon, the eldest daughter of President Richard M. Nixon and First Lady Pat Nixon, guided reporters Harry Reasoner and Mike Wallace through the living quarters used by the First Family, including rooms not often seen by the public. In this photograph, Nixon is seen showing Wallace, Reasoner, and producer and creator Don Hewitt the West Sitting Hall. The tour was broadcast on May 26, 1970.

This behind-the-scenes photograph of Tricia Nixon's "60 Minutes" tour of the White House was taken on April 25, 1970 by James E. Russell. Nixon, the eldest daughter of President Richard M. Nixon and First Lady Pat Nixon, guided reporters Harry Reasoner and Mike Wallace through the living quarters used by the First Family, including rooms not often seen by the public. In this photograph, Nixon is seen showing Wallace, Reasoner, and producer and creator Don Hewitt the West Sitting Hall. The tour was broadcast on May 26, 1970.

This photograph of the Center Hall looking into the West Sitting Hall was taken by George F. Mobley in September 1963 during the John F. Kennedy administration. The Center Hall is located on the Second Floor of the Executive Mansion and connects the East and West Sitting Halls. The West Sitting Hall is recognized for its grand, arched window and serves as a comfortable and quiet location for the First Family to relax.

This photograph of the West Sitting Hall, as seen through a chandelier crystal in the Center Hall, was taken by George F. Mobley in September 1963 during the John F. Kennedy administration. The Center Hall is located on the Second Floor of the Executive Mansion and connects the East and West Sitting Halls. The West Sitting Hall is recognized for its grand, arched window and serves as a comfortable and quiet location for the First Family to relax.

This photograph of the West Sitting Hall, as seen through a chandelier crystal in the Center Hall, was taken by George F. Mobley in September 1963 during the John F. Kennedy administration. The Center Hall is located on the Second Floor of the Executive Mansion and connects the East and West Sitting Halls. The West Sitting Hall is recognized for its grand, arched window and serves as a comfortable and quiet location for the First Family to relax.

This photograph of the West Sitting Hall, as seen through a chandelier crystal in the Center Hall, was taken by George F. Mobley in September 1963 during the John F. Kennedy administration. The Center Hall is located on the Second Floor of the Executive Mansion and connects the East and West Sitting Halls. The West Sitting Hall is recognized for its grand, arched window and serves as a comfortable and quiet location for the First Family to relax.

This photograph of the West Sitting Hall, as seen through a chandelier crystal in the Center Hall, was taken by George F. Mobley in September 1963 during the John F. Kennedy administration. The Center Hall is located on the Second Floor of the Executive Mansion and connects the East and West Sitting Halls. The West Sitting Hall is recognized for its grand, arched window and serves as a comfortable and quiet location for the First Family to relax.

This photograph of the West Sitting Hall, as seen through a chandelier crystal in the Center Hall, was taken by George F. Mobley in September 1963 during the John F. Kennedy administration. The Center Hall is located on the Second Floor of the Executive Mansion and connects the East and West Sitting Halls. The West Sitting Hall is recognized for its grand, arched window and serves as a comfortable and quiet location for the First Family to relax.

This photograph of the Center Hall looking into the West Sitting Hall was taken by George F. Mobley in September 1963 during the John F. Kennedy administration. The Center Hall is located on the Second Floor of the Executive Mansion and connects the East and West Sitting Halls. The West Sitting Hall is recognized for its grand, arched window and serves as a comfortable and quiet location for the First Family to relax.

This photograph of the West Sitting Hall, as seen through a chandelier crystal in the Center Hall, was taken by George F. Mobley in September 1963 during the John F. Kennedy administration. The Center Hall is located on the Second Floor of the Executive Mansion and connects the East and West Sitting Halls. The West Sitting Hall is recognized for its grand, arched window and serves as a comfortable and quiet location for the First Family to relax.

This photograph of the Center Hall looking into the West Sitting Hall was taken by George F. Mobley in September 1963 during the John F. Kennedy administration. The Center Hall is located on the Second Floor of the Executive Mansion and connects the East and West Sitting Halls. The West Sitting Hall is recognized for its grand, arched window and serves as a comfortable and quiet location for the First Family to relax.

This photograph of the Center Hall looking into the West Sitting Hall was taken by George F. Mobley in September 1963 during the John F. Kennedy administration. The Center Hall is located on the Second Floor of the Executive Mansion and connects the East and West Sitting Halls. The West Sitting Hall is recognized for its grand, arched window and serves as a comfortable and quiet location for the First Family to relax.

This photograph of the Center Hall looking into the West Sitting Hall was taken by George F. Mobley in September 1963 during the John F. Kennedy administration. The Center Hall is located on the Second Floor of the Executive Mansion and connects the East and West Sitting Halls. The West Sitting Hall is recognized for its grand, arched window and serves as a comfortable and quiet location for the First Family to relax.

This photograph of the Center Hall looking into the West Sitting Hall was taken by George F. Mobley in September 1963 during the John F. Kennedy administration. The Center Hall is located on the Second Floor of the Executive Mansion and connects the East and West Sitting Halls. The West Sitting Hall is recognized for its grand, arched window and serves as a comfortable and quiet location for the First Family to relax.