• Marquis De Lafayette, Blair House Collection
    Unknown
    portraits
    This is a portrait of the Marquis de Lafayette. The framed piece hangs on the left wall in the Entrance Hall of Blair House and is the first work of art guests observe upon entering the house. Blair House is located across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House and has been used as the president's guest house since the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration. Visiting diplomats and dignitaries stay at Blair House while on official visits with the White House and is historically where the president-elect and first family reside prior to taking the oath of office.
  • Montgomery Blair, Blair House Collection
    Unknown
    This portrait is of Montgomery Blair, son of Francis Preston Blair, who served as postmaster general of the United States under President Abraham Lincoln. The Blair family, in addition to being politically active, are also known for residing in their namesake home, Blair House. The house is located across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House and is historically known to serve as the President's Guest House. Visiting diplomats and dignitaries stay at Blair House while on official visits with the White House and it is where the president-elect and first family reside prior to taking the oath of office.
  • Dorothy Quincy Hancock, Blair House Collection
    Unknown
    This is a portrait of Dorothy Quincy Hancock that is part of the Blair family's collection at Blair House. Throughout the house there are images of Blair family members and ancestors. Hancock was Gist Blair's mother's aunt. Blair House is located across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House and has been used as the president's guest house since the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration. Visiting diplomats and dignitaries stay at Blair House while on official visits with the White House and is historically where the president-elect and first family reside prior to taking the oath of office. This portrait has historically been hung in the guest rooms.
  • Hawk Berlin Work, Blair House
    Unknown
    This is a Berlin work embroidered picture of a red-tailed hawk perched among flowers and foliage. Berlin work is an embroidery technique similar to modern-day needlepoint. This piece is one of the many examples of Americana found in the guest rooms of Blair House. Blair House is located across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House and has been used as the president's guest house since the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration. Visiting diplomats and dignitaries stay at Blair House while on official visits with the White House and is historically where the president-elect and first family reside prior to taking the oath of office.
  • John Cook Rives, Blair House Collection
    Unknown
    This is a portrait of John Cook Rives completed in 1822. Rives started a newspaper called "The Globe" with Francis Preston Blair. At first wealthy supporters funded the newspaper but, later, Congress gave federal contracts to the paper. Rives and Blair also started to print the proceedings of Congress. This turned out to be a successful project and is still in practice today as "The Congressional Record." This portrait is a part of Blair's family collection. When he moved his family from Kentucky to Washington, D.C., the family took up residence is in what is now known as Blair House. Blair House is located across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House and has been used as the president's guest house since the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration. Visiting diplomats and dignitaries stay at Blair House while on official visits with the White House and is historically where the president-elect and first family reside prior to taking the oath of office.
  • Blair Family Antique Plate, Blair House Collection
    Unknown
    This is a commemorative plate that is part of the Curio Room collection in Blair House. The plate commemorates the ship "Caroline" which was a passenger ship, but also carried convicts to Australia in the 1820s. Blair House is located across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House and has been used as the president's guest house since the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration. Visiting diplomats and dignitaries stay at Blair House while on official visits with the White House and is historically where the president-elect and first family reside prior to taking the oath of office.
  • Wing Chair Upholstery Detail, Blair House
    Unknown
    This textile is the detail of the upholstery of the wing chair in the Curio Room of Blair House. The chair is an 18th century Queen Anne with cabriole legs and padded feet. The chair is descended from the family of President Theodore Roosevelt before it was donated to Blair House by Selwa "Lucky" Roosevelt, who served as Chief of Protocol for the Department of State during the Reagan administration. Blair House is located across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House and is known as the President's Guest House. Visiting diplomats and dignitaries stay at Blair House while on official visits with the White House and is historically where the president-elect and first family reside prior to taking the oath of office.
  • Sewing Table, Blair House
    Unknown
    This is a sewing table owned by the Blair family, the former residents of Blair House. The lyre shaped support for this table reflects the Greek Revival stylings of the late 18th century. Today this piece is used as a bedside table in the North Bedroom of Blair House. Blair House is located across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House and is known as the President's Guest House. Visiting diplomats and dignitaries stay at Blair House while on official visits with the White House and is historically where the president-elect and first family reside prior to taking the oath of office.
  • Pole Screen, Lee House
    Unknown
    This is a pole screen that is located in the Truman Study of Lee House, part of the four building complex known as Blair House. The screen is covered by a needlework cover that displays fruit in a basket. These screens were used to shield a person from the heat of a fireplace and could be adjusted to shield someone's face from direct heat. Blair House is located across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House and is known as the President's Guest House. Visiting diplomats and dignitaries stay at Blair House while on official visits with the White House and is historically where the president-elect and first family reside prior to taking the oath of office.
  • Lee House Porcelain Elephant Candleholders
    Unknown
    These two porcelain elephant candleholders are from China and are a part of the Blair House Collection. They reflect a desire in the late 18th century for goods from China. These pieces are some of the many porcelain objects that can be found in the Lee House Drawing Room. Lee House is one of four buildings that constitute the Blair House complex, which serves as the President's Guest House. Visiting diplomats and dignitaries stay at Blair House while on official visits with the White House and is historically where the president-elect and first family reside prior to taking the oath of office.
  • Blair Family Cellaret, Blair House Collection
    Unknown
    furnishings
    containers
    This cellaret, a cabinet used to store bottles, was passed down in the Blair family and is a part of the Blair House Collection. Blair House is located across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House and is known as the President's Guest House. Visiting diplomats and dignitaries stay at Blair House while on official visits with the White House and is historically where the president-elect and first family reside prior to taking the oath of office. Francis and Violet Blair, the first of the Blairs to reside there, used this cellaret as both a medicine cabinet and storage for liquor. Violet Blair believed in alcohol based cures and was always ready to use them if needed. The size of the piece allowed it to be taken on trips.
  • Etched Glass Windshades, Blair House Collection
    Unknown
    These two etched glass windshades are part of the Blair family collection. They are made in an hour glass shape and are used to prevent a candle from blowing out. The etched designs in the glass increased the effectiveness of the candle light. The Blair family resided in the eponymous Blair House beginning in 1837. Since 1942, Blair House has been referred to as the President's Guest House. Located across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House, visiting diplomats and dignitaries stay at Blair House while on official visits with the White House and is historically where the president-elect and first family reside prior to taking the oath of office.
  • Blair House Fire Bucket, Blair House Collection
    Unknown
    This leather fire bucket with the name "Clap" painted on the outside is from the Blair House Collection. The bucket possibly descended from Elizabeth Quincy Clapp, the great grandmother of Gist Blair. In the 19th century these buckets were filled with wet sand to put out small fires. These buckets were the predecessors to the fire extinguisher. Fire buckets were common in American and British households at the time and this one was likely used by the Blair family, who lived in Blair House. Blair House is located across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House and has been used as the president's guest house since the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration. Visiting diplomats and dignitaries stay at Blair House while on official visits with the White House and is historically where the president-elect and first family reside prior to taking the oath of office.