The Historic Collection at Mount Vernon

Our thanks go to James Rees, Excecutive Director and Linda Ayres, Director of Collections of Mount Vernon for providing this article.

When the Mount Vernon Ladies´ Association purchased the estate in 1858, there were but a handful of original Washington artifacts remaining at Mount Vernon. After the deaths of George and Martha Washington, their possessions were dispersed through bequests and private and public auctions. Luckily, a few objects, for instance Jean-Antoine Houdon´s remarkable terracotta bust (pictured below) --- the most accurate likeness of Washington-- the key to the Bastille, and the globe Washington purchased as president, were still in the Mansion by the late 1850s. Since that time, the Association has sought to bring back those objects that the Washingtons sat upon, ate with, wore, read, and wrote.


Through the generosity of many donors and through selected purchases, Mount Vernon´s historic collections continue to grow. They now number some 30,000 objects, ranging from original Washington letters and books, 18th century portraits and prints, furniture, ceramics, metals, and glass, textiles, cooking utensils, tools, and, yes, Washington´s fabled dentures and locks of his hair. In recent years, we have begun to expand the collections beyond domestic objects to include those related to Washington´s military career and presidency.

While our collecting priority is focused on objects owned or used by Washington and his family, we also collect period pieces that replicate objects that were at Mount Vernon -- for the purpose of enhancing the interpretation and understanding of the Washingtons and their estate - as well as memorabilia, commemorative items, and other objects that relate to the Washingtons after their deaths, to George Washington´s legacy, and the history of the Mount Vernon Ladies´ Association.

The Mount Vernon collections are displayed in the Mansion and its outbuildings and in a newly renovated but small Museum. Plans are underway for an ambitious building campaign that will provide an Orientation Center, Education Center, and larger Museum, all of which will allow much more of our collections to be on display. Thanks to a new group of distinguished collectors of 18th century Americana that support acquisitions and other Collections activities and to a newly endowed acquisitions fund (established by the late antiques dealers Jess and Grace Pavey), Mount Vernon is poised to become even more active in the enhancement of its historic collections.

We have compiled a binder of our "desiderata" which is constantly being updated and would be happy to share a copy with anyone who is interested in helping us search for those pieces we are seeking for our collections.

Below are some selected acquisitions from the past few years:

Fine and Decorative Arts

Miniature portrait of Martha Washington’s daughter, Martha Parke Custis ("Patsy") by Charles Willson Peale, 1772. Purchase and partial gift of an anonymous donor. Pair of pear-shaped garnet earrings made for "Patsy" Custis in London, c. 1775. Gift of Elizabeth T. Wise and Henry A. Wise, II, M.D. Mahogany knife box, England, c. 1770. Descended in the family of George Washington Parke Custis. Purchase. (pictured at left) Chinese export porcelain patter, c. 1760-75. Bequeathed from Martha Washington to her granddaughter, Nelly Custis. Purchase. Mahogany side chair, Philadelphia, 1760-1780, acquired by Congress for us in Washington´s executive residence. Purchase and gift of several friends of Mount Vernon.

Historical Artifacts Hand-held three-draw telescope marked Dollond, London, c. 1790, with leather carrying case marked "John Parke Custis Peter." Gift of the Barra Foundation. (pictured at right)

(click photo to enlarge)

Land survey prepared by George Washington for Edward Kinniston, Jr., April 5, 1750. Purchased with funds donated by the Monica and Hermen Greenberg Foundation. Letter from George Washington to Governor Benjamin Harrison, March 19, 1783. Gift of the Forbes Collection. Letter from George Washington to Robert Lewis & Sons, April 12, 1785. Gift of Robert Stein, M.D., Cincinnati, Ohio. (pictured at left) The Gazette of the United States, December 11, 1790. Contains Washington´s second state of the union address. Purchase. Engraved invitation to dine with President and Mrs. Washington (probably Philadelphia, 1790-1797). Purchase. Lease for Mount Vernon land, April 23, 1770. Gift of Bruce M. Waldack. The American Military Pocket Atlas (London, 1776). Duplicate edition of a title owned by Washington. Purchase.

• Conclusion de la Compagne de 1781 en Virginie.../Marquis de Lafayette. Engraved by Moel Le Mire, after Le Paon, c. 1783. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley DeForest Scott.
• Death of General Wolfe. Cooper plate engraving by William Woollett, after Benjamin West (London, 1776). Duplicate edition of an original engraving owned by Washington. Purchase.