National Park Service Arlington House U.S. Department of the Interior The Robert E. Lee Memorial The Spectacle From the Office Down the Hall When Holidays Take a Holiday We are entering the eleventh month. Frost warnings are posted and the winter enclosure, our one rampart against the chill wind, is being readied for the mansion. It is dark when we enter the House to clean and gloaming when we leave. But although the trees are turning stony and spare and the grass will soon turn brown, there is, none- the-less, a genuine sense of celebration beginning to sound. In October, 1863, Lincoln said, “The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies.” And so it has. It is holiday season! Lincoln’s words opened his proclamation establishing Thanksgiving as a federal holiday. But Thanksgiving had already been around a long time. President George Custis violin played by Risa Browder at 2005 Open House Washington, G.W.P. Custis’ “father,” proclaimed November 26, 1789 to be a treats (which sounds suspiciously like and was, despite contemporary accounts of Thanksgiving Day. But his successor, Halloween today). Yet, there are very few costumes and treats, primarily a religious President Jefferson, felt it was historic references to these holidays— observance. Still there is no mention of it at unconstitutional to create a federal holiday. especially Thanksgiving mischief—at Arlington House. So Arlington was already in Federal hands Arlington House. before we got the day off. Now there are ten Christmas, however, has figured prominently federal holidays—and 40% of them fall in Halloween (and, to a lesser degree: All Saints at Arlington House over the years. In 1852, these coming dark days of mid-November to Day) appear to have arrived in the United Agnes Lee wrote: “I am flying about New Years Day! States primarily on the wave of immigrants preparing presents and hanging stockings…I from Ireland. Therefore, George Washington spent the whole morning…being as happy as And this is not to mention the parisology of Parke Custis, a famous champion of the Irish, possible.” But while Lee missed few Halloween, All Saints Day, Election Day and must surely have been aware of this quaint, if Christmas’ at home and made huge efforts to Totensonntag (also called Ewigkeitssonntag). somewhat Pagan celebration. Yet it does not be with his family (from Mexico Lee wrote And of course there is also Columbus Day, seem to have been practiced at Arlington. Mary in 1846: “…I have been absent on two Kwanzaa, Daylight Savings Day, Boxing Day This is not overly surprising considering or three other occasions on the day itself, yet and Solstice. It is a happy time of year, and Halloween was new to the U.S. (and Irish have not been far distant & always arrived apparently, during Lee’s time, people even jack-o-lanterns were often made in potatoes during the holy days.”), where was the celebrated Thanksgiving with children in and turnips!) Thanksgiving, on the other (continued on page 3) costume and the making of mischief and hand, had been observed by Custis’ “father,” Volunteers Monthly Newsletter - Volume VI, Number 11 - November 2005 History Happenings The Mystery of Mr. Custis’ Paintings “I have an excellent studio fitted up in the quills of porcupines.” Three weeks earlier, South wing of the house. .” RE Lee had written: “The ‘big Picture’ has George Washington Parke Custis been exhibited in the Capitol and has December 30, 1852 attracted some severe animadversions from the Critics . .” according to another letter in Many of you have asked about the history of the UVA archives. Yet Murray Nelligan Mr. Custis’ paintings. The history of his identified the painting as that of the Battle of Revolutionary War battle scenes is quite Trenton and claimed that it measured 13 by 11 convoluted. Primary and secondary feet. Nelligan’s source was a letter (12/8/1835) accounts often contradict one another. At from Custis to Jared Sparks. The letter to this time, four of the paintings are on exhibit Sparks is owned by Harvard College; in the morning room: Monmouth, the unfortunately, Nelligan did not make a copy largest, Trenton, Princeton, and for the files. Neither Trenton nor Princeton Germantown. Museum records do not measures 13 by 11. establish a firm date for any of the paintings. Although the identity of the painting As a young boy, Custis acquired an interest in exhibited in the 1830s remains something of a painting from Nelly’s tutor, William Dunlap, mystery, Custis’ disappointment at its us put it in the ribber, we is going to and his exposure to a wide variety of artists removal is well documented. Custis cut it up and make aprons wid it.” As it who visited Mount Vernon. As an adult, maintained that his picture was returned to was unrolled dim figures of men and Custis turned to his artwork as one of his him for political reasons. In a letter (4/25/36) horses were to be seen, these were to many outlets to pay tribute to George to the Superintendent of the Capitol, Custis be boiled off, that the canvas might be Washington. Eventually, Custis used the observed: “I might have hoped for more made use of. morning room and office as a studio. charity from the Public toward a production According to Markie Williams and other from a self taught artist. A set of H ___(?) Calvert’s account, which confirms Mr. guests, Mr. Custis always asked visitors for scribblers who infest the Capitol must abuse Custis’ version of the story, suggests that the their opinion of his artwork, and some were some one. I have now ordered my agent to painting in question was destroyed by the hard pressed to find a diplomatic answer! remove the picture, and on his return to cast slaves during the 1840s. Benson Lossing, the historian who painted it from the bridge into the Potomac, that it the famous watercolor of the mansion, may offend no more.” Unfortunately, Custis According to Nelligan, in 1852 Custis “was praised the battle scenes for their historical did not provide the name of the painting in retouching four paintings – Monmouth, accuracy and style during his 1853 visit. After his letter. Germantown, Trenton, and Princeton.” That the Civil War, he dismissed them as “very same year, he began working on his poor specimens.” Interestingly, Elizabeth Randolph Calvert Surrender at Yorktown. When Benson (Childhood Days at Arlington manuscript) Lossing visited in March, 1853, he indicated When did Custis produce his epic canvases, recalled a similar incident when she recorded that the Yorktown painting was nearly and which was displayed in the Capitol? A her memories of her c. 1845 visit to Arlington. finished. He also claimed that Trenton, review of sources indicates that Mr. Custis Calvert gave this account in her memoir: Germantown, Monmouth, the Surrender at displayed his artwork in the Capitol Rotunda He painted a picture for one of the Yorktown, and Washington at Yorktown had twice. In 1836, one of his battle scenes was spaces of the Rotunda of the capitol, all been painted within 6 years of each other. displayed temporarily in the capitol. VIP which was not accepted, his Lossing declared the Surrender at Yorktown Elizabeth Pryor recently viewed a letter mortification was so great that he told “the largest and best of his paintings.” (5/23/1836) at the University of Virginia in the men he sent to bring it away, to “Markie” Williams was living at Arlington which Charles Carter Lee wrote: “His throw it in the river. Some years after I during this period. In November, 1853, she (Custis’) grand Picture, the battle of was playing about in the court yard, in noted in her journal that the Yorktown Princeton is being exhibited in the rotunda the rear of the house, two colored men painting was finished. On March 6, 1854, of the Capitol, but if the public have brought out a large, brown greasy Markie recorded: neglected it, the pens of the little tribe of looking bundle. I found on inquiry (continued on page 3) scribblers have become as fretful at it as the that it was “Master big picture, he told 2 The Spectacle History Happenings (continued) AN IMPORTANT dear uncle and myself were out this The picture on which he is now at REMINDER morning by times superintending the work is the battle of Trenton. It is getting ready of the great picture to go almost finished and very fine. “The Please contact Delphine Gross no later than the to the Capitol. Uncle said last night Chief” (Washington) as the dear old 20th of each month with availability dates and times to be posted the following month (Please “Markie as you write such a bold hand, gentleman delights to call him is an call byNovember 20th with December I must ask you to write a card to admirable figure. Mr. Custis hopes to information). Even if you are a regularly accompany my picture. Just write said soon begin another picture, the “battle scheduled VIP please contact Delphine to confirm your availability. Again, the contact he “Surrender of York Town Oct. 19 of Monmouth.” He is quite number is (703) 235-1530 ext. 227. Please 1781. Designed and executed by GWP enthusiastic about “Molly Pitcher.” leave the dates and times you are available on the voice mail. Your cooperation is greatly Custis of Arlington.” Interestingly, on August 19, 1856, Markie appreciated. observed that Custis was “busily engaged in Markie’s journal notation, in addition to painting the feet of his large white horse in other sources, clearly indicates that the the battle of Trenton.” Surrender at Yorktown was the painting which was displayed in the Rotunda in 1854.