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Autumn Newsletter 2013

The President Woodrow is a national historic landmark and house museum.

The museum promotes a greater awareness of President Wilson’s public life and ideals for future generations through guided tours, exhibitions and educational programs. Above photo: Back garden evening party at The President House.

The museum also serves as a community CELEBRATING THE PRESIDENT’S preservation model and Woodrow Wilson’s legacy, resource, dedicated to one hundred years later CENTENNIAL the stewardship and presentation of an Why should anyone care about the President Wilson revived the practice, authentic collection and President Woodrow Wilson House? abandoned for more than a century, of the property. That is a fair question to consider in President delivering the State of the Union 2013, the first of eight years marking the message in person before Congress. He centennial of President Wilson’s term in regularly appeared at the Capitol to The President office, 1913–1921. promote his legislative initiatives. In a Woodrow Wilson “President Wilson imagined the world recent interview, WILSON biographer A. House is a property of at peace and proposed a plan to achieve Scott Berg noted, “There's a room in the National Trust that vision,” answers Robert A. Enholm, Congress called the President's Room. No for Historic executive director of the Woodrow Wilson president has used it since Woodrow Preservation, a House in Washington, D.C. “The Wilson. No president used it before privately funded, non- challenge he issued almost a century ago Woodrow Wilson. He used it regularly.” profit corporation, remains largely unanswered today.” Before President Wilson the national helping people protect, During this centennial period, the government played a smaller role in the enhance and enjoy the Woodrow Wilson House will be developing everyday lives of Americans than is true places that matter to exhibitions and programs to explore the today. Riding the flood tide of the them. history of the Wilson years and the legacy , President Wilson saw the of ideas that President Wilson left to us. establishment of the Federal Reserve “President Wilson is a remarkable System and the Federal Trade subject for study,” notes Enholm. “He Commission, progressive income taxation, revolutionized the role of the presidency in the Internal Revenue Service, the eight- our government, the role of the national hour workday, and the Department of government in America, and the role of Labor. After initial ambivalence, he America in the world.” (continued on page 4)

Tax-deductible donations to Inside this Issue: support the President 1 ▪ Celebrating the President’s Centennial 3 ▪ This Season in History Woodrow Wilson House may be made online at 2 ▪ Note from the Executive Director 3 ▪ Spotlight on our Collection WoodrowWilsonHouse.org or 4 ▪ Calendar of Upcoming Events by mail to 2340 S Street, NW, 2 ▪ The Curatorial Corner Washington, DC 20008. 3 ▪ Recent Happenings 4 ▪ Edith Wilson’s Teacake Recipe

Autumn 2013 2 The President Woodrow Wilson House

A NOTE FROM S T A F F R o b e r t A . E n h o l m Robert A. Enholm EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Executive Director

Welcome to President Woodrow Wilson’s Sarah Andrews neighborhood. Manager of Marketing and

You are a “Friend of the Woodrow Wilson Events

House.” That is why you are receiving this John Pucher newsletter. Manager of Business and Woodrow Wilson possessed an Operations international perspective and saw a new role Amberly Meli for America in the global community. His Curatorial Assistant ideas for the future of our country reflect the The Woodrow Wilson House staff and I notion that the world is increasingly more take seriously our responsibility to develop Stephanie Daugherty interconnected and, as a result, and undertake educational programs that Curatorial Assistant

communities or “neighborhoods” are no engage and challenge modern audiences. It Kelsey Clark is part of our responsibility to you, our longer to limited to physical proximity. Communications Perhaps you live near the Woodrow “neighbors.” We wanted to produce a Coordinator

Wilson House, near Embassy Row in the regular newsletter to communicate with you Elena Popchock Kalorama neighborhood of Washington, DC, and others in the community. Collections Care in which case you are literally a “neighbor.” Thank you for the opportunity to serve as Housekeeper More likely you live farther away. Many of the executive director of the President Ashley Rits you live elsewhere in the United States, and Woodrow Wilson House. As I complete my Intern some of you hail from around the world. first year in this role, the museum staff and I

Nevertheless, you are all part of the growing all sincerely appreciate the support we community that is President Wilson’s receive from the friends of Woodrow Wilson neighborhood. H ouse, our growing community.

Amberly Meli & Stephanie Daugherty GUIDES THE CURATORIAL CORNER Curatorial Assistants Jean Baker In early October, members of our staff Impressionist” and “President Electric,” have Barbara Bates visited the exhibition space at the Woodrow been displayed at several sites in the last Wilson International Center for Scholars. year and continue to travel. These are Barbara Cherry Our objectives were to view their exhibition, examples of recent collaborations with other Mary Kay Cooney which includes several Wilson House President Wilson organizations. Heather Curtis objects, and to speak with members of the These partnerships sharpen and deepen Dick Goodwin Wilson Center staff in order to gain insight the memory of President Wilson, and we will Rich Goodwin on their objectives for promoting President continue to advance these relationships with Marjorie Kavanaugh Wilson’s legacy. pleasure and pride. Collaborations with other institutions that Carol Newell share the goal of keeping President Wilson’s Ivan Mogensen

ideals alive are instrumental to the mission Elizabeth O’Brien On the Road: Traveling Exhibition of the Woodrow Wilson House. The Mary Frances Repko Woodrow Wilson House currently has “The Art of First Lady Ellen Axson Wilson: Barbara Troutner objects on loan to the Wilson Center, the American Impressionist” exhibition opens Betty Van Iersel Woodrow Wilson Presidential Museum and November 14 at the National First Ladies Library in Staunton, , and the Edith Library in Canton, Ohio. The exhibition, Peter Winkler Bolling Wilson Birthplace Foundation and which features the landscape paintings of Museum in Wytheville, Virginia. Further, our Wilson’s artistic first wife, will be in Ohio

traveling exhibitions, “The Art of First Lady until May 2014.

Ellen Axson Wilson: American

Autumn 2013

3 The President Woodrow Wilson House

This Season in History: President Wilson in the

Nov. 25, 1913 – President Wilson’s second daughter Jessie marries Francis Bowes Sayre in the White House.

Dec. 23, 1913 – President Wilson signs From left: His Excellency Petr Gandalovič, Ambassador of the Czech Republic, and Director Bob Enholm at “WILSON” biography book reception; check-in table at the annual Kalorama House and Embassy Tour; C-SPAN camera crew filming at the Wilson House for “First Ladies” series; performing historic restorations on the original 1915 iron gate in the front driveway. into law the . RECENT HAPPENINGS at the House This act set up the central banking system of the Lights! Camera! Action! and Times about President Wilson’s United States of America. The President Woodrow Wilson House Secretary of the Navy. Craig, an expert on enjoyed some time in the spotlight in late economic history, discussed Daniels’ Dec. 26, 1913 – September when C-SPAN broadcast live controversial influence on twentieth-century from the museum during an episode of their President Wilson and politics as a longtime leader of the family begin a three original series First Ladies: Image and Democratic Party and key member of week holiday on the Influence. The special two-hour episode Woodrow Wilson’s cabinet. Both biographies Mississippi Gulf Coast. focused on the two First Ladies Ellen Axson are on sale in the Woodrow Wilson House Wilson and Edith Bolling Wilson. Executive This vacation allowed museum gift shop. Director Robert Enholm served as tour guide Wilson time to recuperate through the house to television viewers, who following a bout of House and Embassy Tour had the opportunity to see the official Wilson September 15 marked the 28th annual influenza. set in the formal dining Kalorama House and Embassy Tour for the «« • «« • « • » • »» • »» room. The excitement of preparing for the live broadcast was in the air at the Woodrow benefit of The President Woodrow Wilson

Wilson House for weeks as the staff pulled House. Ticket holders took a peek inside special objects from collections storage and some of the gorgeous private homes and mapped the route of the on-air tour through embassies in the historic neighborhood.

the museum. The episode featuring the Highlights on the tour this year included the

Wilson First Ladies can be streamed online elegant residence of the Ambassador of at firstladies.c-span.org. Austria, the recently redecorated residence

Biographies of the Ambassador of Portugal and the

This season has marked the release of modern Embassy of the Republic of two Wilson-related biographies. In mid- Slovenia. Gorgeous weather and a hearty Spotlight on September the biography WILSON by volunteer force made the event a success for Pulitzer prize-winning author A. Scott Berg our collection attendees as well as for the Wilson House. was released. To celebrate the Woodrow flag Wilson House invited guests to a reception at Repair and Maintenance Alice H. Allen of the residence of the Czech Ambassador. His Excellency Petr Gandalovič welcomed With a building that is nearly a century Springfield, Ohio created old, the museum staff is diligent about and patented in 1918 this guests, and museum director Robert Enholm attending to maintenance and repair. Earlier design known as the read a passage from the biography highlighting the drama of Wilson’s this season we restored a hinge on the Golden Rule Standard for Peace and Unity. In presidency. Reports of a Hollywood version original 1915 iron gate in the driveway. The March 1919, Mrs. Allen of Berg’s book on the big screen seem welders who worked on the project remarked promising with the names of well-known sent the flag to President on the ingenious design of the historic hinge. movie stars floating around to take on the roll Wilson in New York with of the 28th President. Now with cold weather on the horizon, the the request that it be The Woodrow Wilson House hosted museum staff has turned their attention to a adopted as the flag of the author Lee Craig for a book signing and certain historic boiler in the basement that League of Nations. presentation on Josephus Daniels: His Life needs some TLC of its own.

Autumn 2013 4 The President Woodrow Wilson House

« • « CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS » • » Edith Bolling Wilson’s Tea Cake Recipe Speakeasy Bash! Holidays through History First Lady Edith Wilson Wednesday, November 6, 2013 Saturday, December 14, 2013 frequently served these 7 pm – 9 pm 4 pm – 8 pm treats at White House parties, until WWI curtailed In 1919, President Wilson vetoed the Celebrate the season with this special entertaining. Try these

Volstead Act, the enabling law for tour through four of the District’s historic treats at home this Prohibition that outlawed all alcoholic beautiful historic homes – Anderson holiday season.

beverages stronger than one-half of 1 House, Dumbarton House, Tudor Place percent. (His veto was overridden.) and the President Woodrow Wilson ¼ cup butter (½ stick) 2 cups brown sugar House. Join us as we open the doors to the 5 eggs former President’s house for an old- Enjoy festive period decorations and 1 tsp. baking soda 1 tsp. salt fashioned speakeasy bash. music from the Federal period through the Roaring Twenties. Free shuttle 1 tsp. nutmeg 8 cups flour (un-sifted) Live music, dancing and demos, vintage service provided among the sites. Sugar for dusting

cocktails and a costume contest! Prizes for the best 1920s attire. The Wilson House will feature a ten-foot tree adorned with electric lights in the 1. Preheat oven to 375°F.

Light refreshments served with an open solarium, seasonal treats, music and a 2. In a large bowl, cream bar featuring vintage cocktails. butter with sugar. holiday craft to make and take home.

3. Beat in eggs, baking Ticketed event (21+ only). Ticketed event. soda, nutmeg, and salt.

Tickets and more information available on our website, WoodrowWilsonHouse.org 4. Stir in flour until dough is smooth.

5. Chill about 4 hours.

6. Place dough on a floured CELEBRATING THE PRESIDENT (continued from page 1) surface and roll out thin supported the Constitutional Amendment To receive updates and announcements (¼ to ½ inch); cut with cookie cutters. granting women the right to vote. of upcoming events at the Woodrow When the United States entered World Wilson House, sign up at our website: 7. Dust cookies with sugar.

War I, and later when Wilson became www.WoodrowWilsonHouse.org. 8. Bake on greased cookie involved in the Paris Peace Conference sheets for about 6 to 10 where he proposed his idea for a League minutes. , , of Nations, the role of America on the world stage changed dramatically. The Serve with fruit or a country assumed for the first time a role of flavorful ice cream. political, economic, diplomatic and military

preeminence.

Upcoming programs at the Woodrow «« • «« • « • » • »» • »» Wilson House will address President

Wilson’s first term domestic policy Find us online

achievements, the outbreak of the Great War in Europe, and some of the social movements that gained momentum during the early part of the 20th century. “Examining the history of President Wilson is like holding a mirror up to our own faces,” says Enholm. “He was one of the first leaders to take on some of the important issues with which we continue

to wrestle in the modern world.” decorated forthe holidayseason. Photo:Front door at the President Woodrow WilsonHouse

Autumn 2013