National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Media Development Group Harpers Ferry Center Historic Furnishings Report Natchez National Historical Park Natchez, Mississippi Melrose APPROVED: Bob Dodson Superintendent, Natchez National Historical Park August 30, 2000 Historic Furnishings Report Melrose Natchez National Historical Park Natchez, Mississippi by Carol Petravage Staff Curator Media Development Group Harpers Ferry Center National Park Service, 2004 Contents Acknowledgments 1 Administrative Information 3 Interpretive Objectives 4 Operating Plan 6 Prior Planning Documents 9 Historical Information 11 A Note on Sources 13 History of Melrose 16 Analysis of Historic Occupancy 18 Evidence of Room Use and Furnishings 47 Furnishings Plan 135 List of Recommended Furnishings with Working Drawings 137 Front Hall 137 Dining Room 139 Service Hall 143 Dining Room Side Hall 144 Stair Halls 145 Library 146 Parlor 150 Drawing Room 155 Center Hall 159 Upstairs Front Hall 162 North Front Bedroom 165 East Corner Bedroom 170 Middle Bedroom 174 West Front Bedroom 178 Center Hall, Second Floor 183 Galleries 185 Illustrations 187 List of Illustrations 189 Illustrations with Captions 192 Appendixes 289 Appendix A: McMurran/Turner Genealogy 291 Appendix B: 1976 inventory of Melrose furnishings, taken upon the sale of Melrose by the heirs of Ethel Moore Kelly to John and Betty Callon. 293 Appendix C: 1990 inventory of Melrose furnishings, taken upon the sale of Melrose by the Callons to the National Park Service. 308 Appendix D: Comparative inventories from other Natchez houses 370 William C. Conner, 1843 370 Catherine Minor, Concord, 1844 372 Anna M. Linton, Clifton, 1848 380 Henry L. Conner, 1849 385 Catherine L. Wilkins, [probably Gloucester], 1849 387 Sarah Fyler, [probably Woodlands], 1853 390 William St. John Elliot, Devereux, 1855 392 Frederick Stanton, Stanton Hall, 1859 396 George Malin Davis, Choctaw, 1865 400 Thomas Henderson, Magnolia Hall, 1866 403 George Malin Davis, Choctaw, 1883 406 Appendix E: Notes from telephone interview with Marian Kelly Ferry by Carol Petravage, November 8, 1993 409 Appendix F: Description and placement of furnishings objects at Melrose during the Kelly occupancy as remembered by Marian Kelly Ferry. 417 Appendix G: Notes from taped interview with Betty Callon by Carol Petravage and Kathleen Jenkins, August 24, 1994. 441 Bibliography 445 Acknowledgments The author would like to thank the staff at Natchez National Historical Park, particularly Kathleen Jenkins, who spent countless hours photocopying, taking photographs, and dis- cussing details on the telephone. Descendants of the McMurran and Davis families provided photographs and documents that made the writing of this document possible. Mrs. Marian Ferry tirelessly answered hun- dreds of questions about the furnishings at Melrose and her life there. John and Betty Callon shared thoughts and information concerning their renovation of and residence at Melrose. I would also like to thank Mimi and Ron Miller for their willingness to answer any and all questions and for their insight into furnishings in Natchez. MELROSE: HISTORIC FURNISHINGS REPORT ACKNOWLEDGMENTS NATIONAL PARK SERVICE HISTORIC FURNISHINGS REPORT Administrative Information Natchez National Historical Park was estab- tended public school in Natchez, and has 3 lished by Congress on October 7, 1988, by many fond memories of the years she lived Public Law 100-479. The National Park Ser- there. Mrs. Ferry’s recollections of how Mel- vice purchased Melrose in 1990 from Mr. and rose was furnished in the first half of the 20th Mrs. John Callon. At that time, Melrose con- century are corroborated by a large number of sisted of a circa 1848 house, approximately 80 photographs taken of the downstairs rooms acres, and a large collection of furnishings during Pilgrimages. The Pilgrimages are tours dating from the early 19th century to the late of Natchez homes held three times a year, 20th century. The furnishings included many jointly sponsored by the three main garden objects acquired by the original owners of clubs in Natchez—the Natchez Garden Club, the house. The house has unusual historic the Pilgrimage Garden Club, and the Auburn value not only because of its large collection Garden Club. Fred Page, who has been at of original furniture but also because of the Melrose since 1950, has shared his experi- survival of original window treatments and ence of living and working there during the two original floorcloths, items that do not 20th century from an African American per- generally endure from the mid-19th century. spective. John and Betty Callon spent many One of the floorcloths is an exceptionally years rehabilitating Melrose and have eagerly large one block-printed to mimic a floral- shared their thoughts about their work there. patterned Brussels carpet. Many items of The Callons completed their renovations furniture are marked not only with the in 1978 and offered tours of Melrose to the family’s name but also with the name of the general public from 1978 to 1990. After the manufacturer or the retailer, which makes the National Park Service acquired Melrose in collection a valuable resource in the study of 1990, the guided tours continued. Uniformed American decorative arts. rangers normally give these tours. Special Another unusual and valuable characteris- events are also held at the house, including tic of this site is the existence of two 19th- and living history presentations and special the- two 20th-century inventories and a large body matic tours. The staff at Melrose also partici- of correspondence written by the McMurran pate in community-wide events, such as the family, the original owners. This information Natchez Pilgrimages, the Natchez Antiques gives us excellent documentation for the his- Forum, and the Natchez Literary Celebration. toric furnishing of the rooms and provides an The implementation of the furnishings incredibly rich source of interpretive material plan recommended in this report will require about the people who lived at Melrose. some physical changes to the structure, in- Lastly, Melrose is favored with the enthu- cluding painting, wallpapering, and hanging siastic interest of several people who actually draperies, pictures, and other objects. Section lived in the house during the 20th century. 106 compliance procedures will be required Mrs. Marian Ferry grew up at Melrose, at- for a number of these recommendations. MELROSE: HISTORIC FURNISHINGS REPORT ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION Interpretive Objectives 4 In Natchez National Historical Park’s en- ery.”2 Alternative 2 expands the interpretation abling legislation, the National Park Service at the park to include “the larger story of is directed to Natchez and its beginnings”3 However, most • preserve and interpret the history of of the larger themes and stories would be cov- Natchez, Mississippi, as a significant city ered at the other sites in the park and at the in the history of the American South; visitor center located in downtown Natchez. • preserve and interpret the sites and “The story at Melrose would show how a structures associated with all the peo- wealthy cotton planter lived and tell how this ples of Natchez and its surrounding wealth depended on cotton crops and the area, from the earliest inhabitants to slave labor system on plantations that were the people of the modern era, and in- outside of Natchez.”4 Under alternative 3, cluding blacks, both slave and free; “development and use at Melrose would be • preserve and interpret the region’s much the same as in alternative 2,” except that social, political, and economic devel- a visitor contact station would be constructed opment, with particular emphasis on at Melrose to include exhibits that “would in- the pre- and post-Civil War eras; and troduce the various owners of Melrose and • preserve and interpret the region’s focus on the relationship of Melrose to the commercial and agricultural history, cotton plantations owned by John T. McMur- especially in relation to the Mississippi ran and the relationship of Melrose to other River and cotton.1 wealthy cotton planters’ estates in Natchez.”5 The period of interpretation for Melrose has Three potential periods of interpretation been a subject of much discussion, inside and exist for Melrose, corresponding with three outside the National Park Service. The draft ownership periods. The first period, c. 1843–65, General Management Plan (GMP)/Develop- corresponds with the construction of the ment Concept Plan (DCP)/Environmental house and its occupancy by the McMurran Impact Statement (EIS) outlines three alter- family. The collection contains many native proposals, but all three alternatives es- McMurran objects, and the house remains sentially define the same period of interpre- almost exactly as built, with changes largely tation for the house. Under alternative 1, confined to the decorative finishes. Much “visitors would learn about Melrose and the site-specific evidence exists, including an in- workings of the estate household—the story ventory taken in 1865, a journal written by a of a rich cotton planter’s life and urban slav- member of the McMurran family, and a large body of correspondence by various family 1 National Park Service, Draft General Management Plan, Development Concept Plan, and Environmental Impact Statement, Natchez National Historical Park, 2 Ibid., 32. Mississippi (Denver: U.S. Department of Interior, Na- 3 Ibid., 45. tional Park Service, Denver Service Center, March 4 Ibid.,