ABSTRACT One for the Books: a Case Study of the Interpretation Of
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ABSTRACT One for the Books: A Case Study of the Interpretation of Personal Libraries in Historic House Museums Casey M. Schumacher, M.A. Mentor: Julie L. Holcomb, Ph.D. Libraries in historic house museums often suffer identity confusion due to the varying interpretational methods of libraries and museums. Eighteenth century prodigy house museums in particular include large libraries that, although they reveal a great deal about their owners’ character and life, are passed over in museum interpretation. This is due to the fact that books are not consistently recognized as objects of material culture among museum professionals. Eighteenth century print culture, however, suggests that books from this time period should be considered authentic signposts for both public and private behavior. Whether or not a historic house museum chooses to acknowledge these signposts is determined by each institution’s respective mission, audience, and resources. One for the Books: A Case Study of the Interpretation of Personal Libraries in Historic House Museums by Casey M. Schumacher, B.A. A Thesis Approved by the Department of Museum Studies Kenneth C. Hafertepe, Ph.D., Chairperson Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of Baylor University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts Approved by the Thesis Committee Julie L. Holcomb, Ph.D., Chairperson Kenneth C. Hafertepe, Ph.D. Dan Walden, Ph.D. Gary N. Smith, M.A. Accepted by the Graduate School May 2016 J. Larry Lyon, Ph.D., Dean Page bearing signatures is kept on file in the Graduate School. Copyright © 2016 by Casey M. Schumacher All rights reserve TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................... vi LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................... viii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ................................................................................................. ix DEDICATION ................................................................................................................... xi CHAPTER ONE: Introduction ........................................................................................... 1 Project Summary ......................................................................................................... 1 Slavery Disclaimer ...................................................................................................... 6 CHAPTER TWO: Historic Houses .................................................................................... 8 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 8 Virginia Houses ......................................................................................................... 10 Virginia Libraries ...................................................................................................... 28 CHAPTER THREE: Eighteenth Century Print Culture and Twenty-first Century Material Culture ........................................................................................................ 40 Print Culture .............................................................................................................. 40 Material Culture ........................................................................................................ 53 Opposition or Confirmation? .................................................................................... 57 CHAPTER FOUR: Monticello ......................................................................................... 61 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 61 Jefferson in France .................................................................................................... 63 Building Monticello ................................................................................................... 69 From Home to House ................................................................................................ 74 The Sanctum Sanctorum ............................................................................................ 76 Current Interpretation ............................................................................................... 87 Conclusion ................................................................................................................. 96 CHAPTER FIVE: Montpelier........................................................................................... 99 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 99 iv Building Montpelier ................................................................................................. 100 From Home to House .............................................................................................. 107 Current Interpretation ............................................................................................. 109 Conclusion ............................................................................................................... 120 CHAPTER SIX: Mount Vernon ..................................................................................... 123 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 123 Gentleman Farmer .................................................................................................. 124 From Home to House .............................................................................................. 136 Current Interpretation ............................................................................................. 137 Conclusion ............................................................................................................... 146 CHAPTER SEVEN: Conclusion .................................................................................... 150 Institutional Differences .......................................................................................... 150 Interpretational Trends............................................................................................ 155 Final Thoughts ......................................................................................................... 156 BIBLIOGRAPHY ........................................................................................................... 159 v LIST OF FIGURES 2.1. Elevation of the Villa Rotunda for Almerico 2.2 Jefferson’s drawing of the Presidential House 2.3 Carter’s Grove, Gunston Hall, and Monticello facades 2.4 Carter’s Grove, Gunstall Hall, Mount Airy, and Westover floor plans 2.5 Carter’s Grove, Gunston Hall, and Montpelier room use 2.6 Jefferson’s design for Monticello I 2.7 Design from Palladio, Book II, Plate 64 2.8 Chimneypiece from Swan’s British Architect, plate 58 2.9 Exterior of New Room window at Mount Vernon 2.10 Design for a window by Batty Langley 4.1 Thomas Jefferson’s early rendering of Monticello I 4.2 Monticello. The North front 4.3 Jefferson’s Book Room 4.4 Jefferson’s Cabinet 4.5 Jefferson’s Bedroom 4.6 One of several panels explaining the Palladian Orders. 4.7 A panel showing public and private spaces in Monticello I and II 4.8 Panel showing Jefferson’s architectural notebooks 5.1 Madison’s Temple 5.2 . DuPont additions to Montpelier vi 5.3 Montpelier’s exterior after 2008 restoration 5.4 New Library 5.5. Old Library 5.6 Old Library bookshelves 6.1 Genuine Washington bookplate with counterfeit 6.2 Mount Vernon façade 6.3 Washington’s Library, August 2013 6.4 Washington’s Library, June 2009 vii LIST OF TABLES 1. Genres represented in one hundred eighteenth century Virginia libraries 2. Subject content of Washington and Jefferson’s libraries 3. Results from Jackson Turner Main’s study 4. Excerpt from Washington’s Inventory viii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The completion of this paper would not be possible without the committed and helpful supervision of my thesis committee chairperson, Dr. Julie Holcomb, and my committee members Dr. Kenneth Hafertepe, Dr. Dan Walden, and Professor Gary Smith. The museum professionals I interviewed were also especially helpful; they include Melanie Lower, Endrina Tay, Anna Berkes, Jack Robertson, and Emilie Johnson at Monticello; Grant Quertermous and Sterling Howell at Montpelier; and Michele Lee, Amanda Isaac, and Adam Erby at Mount Vernon. A very special, sincere thanks to Meg Kennedy, Director of Museum Services at Montpelier, who contributed significant effort and essential resources for my travel arrangements and itinerary. Quite literally, this thesis would never have been finished without your help. On a more personal note, I would like to thank my best friend Megan Pala for her faith in this project, her history jokes, and the general discord she brings to my life. My sincerest thanks goes out to my mentor, Dr. Phil Cavalier; your unwavering encouragement from day one has made James Madison, Oxford, and Baylor what they are for me. To my high school teachers Bob Lindsay and Don Shields, it is your fault I’m still writing about history; I will always blame you both for sparking the passion I never knew I had. Matthew, you are my formatting genius and I love you so very much. Finally, I would like to thank my family for being all that they are. Austin, you have no idea how many pages of this