AIC Newsletter Published four times a year by THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE FOR CONSERVATION OF HISTORIC AND ARTISTIC WORKS Volume 8, Number 1 November 1982 the AIC/FAIC will have use of the entire mansion and AIC NEWS grounds. However, many hidden costs such as insurance, utilities, security system, cleaning and extermination leave little money for the numerous A NEW HOME FOR AIC required items. Members and friends wishing to make tax deductible donations of funds or property It is with keen pleasure that I have the priv- to the FAIC are encouraged to do so. ilege to announce to the AIC membership that we How To Get There have a home. After several exhausting months of Klingle Mansion is situated on a horseshoe drive search and inquiry, the AIC/FAIC has found its at the end of Williamsburg Lane. It is easily reached way to a National Historic House known locally as by several routes. Williamsburg Lane intersects Klingle Mansion. It was built in 1823 by Joshua Porter Street just east of Connecticut Avenue. If Pierce and upon his death passed on to his nephew, driving north on Connecticut, one makes a right Joshua Pierce Klingle. The stone mansion, located turn onto Porter Street and a left turn onto Williams- in a delightful wooded setting, is situated in Rock burg Lane just before the bridge over the Parkway. Creek Park of central Washington, D.C. First The Beach Drive exit to Porter Street off the Rock named "Linnean Hill" after the Swedish botanist Creek and Potomac Parkway also allows quick access Carolus Linneaeus, the house remains much as it by turning north (right) onto Williamsburg Lane. was originally built - a ten room Pennsylvania Dutch There is ample parking behind the house. Klingle Farmhouse style structure of blue granite quarried Mansion is less than a mile from the Cleveland Park near Rock Creek. Metro station at Connecticut and Ordway, one block The United States government purchased the south of Porter Street. Visitors can take the Metro house and estate in 1890 to be incorporated into to Cleveland Park station and then taxi or walk the the natural woodland park of Rock Creek Valley. remaining distance. Metrobuses H2 and H4 travel Since then the house has served as the Natural along Porter Street between Connecticut Avenue and History Museum of the National Zoo (1923-30), pri- 16th Street and stop at Williamsburg Lane. All vate residence (mid 1930Ts), headquarters for the number L buses travel north and south along Con- Rock Creek Nature Center (1956-60), headquarters necticut Avenue and have a Porter Street stop. for the Junior League of Washington (1960-72), Acknowledgements office space for local neighborhood groups (1970!s), Mr. James Redmond, Superintendent and but has often stood empty. The National Park Ms. Georgia Ellard, Assistant Superintendent of Service has been eager to find an appropriate Rock Creek Park, have been exceptionally helpful organization to locate its national headquarters at in arranging our occupancy of Klingle Mansion. Klingle Mansion. We can think of few professions Regional Officer of the National Park Service, more suited to establishing a home in an old house Mr. Gary Scott first informed me of the existence than that of conservator. of Klingle Mansion and the pursuit continued from Background there. In her usual untiring and devoted fashion, The current AIC office consists of 800 square MARTHA MORALES has made dozens of telephone feet on the seventh floor of a downtown Washington calls and appointments bargaining on behalf of the office building, costing a little over $1,000 per AIC/FAIC in order that our move take place with month and scheduled for an increase December 1. ease and efficiency. Heartfeld thanks to MARTHA Any member who has visited the National Office and the many area-wide conservators and friends is aware of the vast space shortage and the moun- who are donating their weekends scraping, spackling, tains of boxes that obscure walls and furniture. sanding, painting, and gardening to give Klingle We have an ever expanding library and a plethora Mansion a new shine. And not to be overlooked are of files and publications. With the addition of the AIC members who responded with suggestions BONNIE YANCEY on a part time basis to MARTHA for other possible site locations. MORALES1 staff, the Executive Office has become COME AND VISIT OUR NEW NATIONAL OFFICE even more overcrowded. Following a suggestion made by CAROLINE KECK in the Spring of 1982, the newly elected AIC SHELLEY STURMAN Executive Board decided to initiate a search for a home appropriate to our growing needs. Klingle Mansion appears to fulfill the needs of the AIC/FAIC for now and for future growth. Our new quarters WE ARE MOVING... JANUARY 1, 1983 consist of approximately 4,690 square feet divided into eight rooms, two bathrooms and a large kitchen. A veranda with fancy cast iron grillwork, several PLEASE NOTE OUR NEW ADDRESS old fireplaces, high ceilings, and lead glass windows are some of the appealing features of the historic site. Since the house belongs to the National Park AIC/FAIC Service a favorable cooperative agreement has been Klingle Mansion arranged. In exchange for our talents of care and 3545 Williamsburg Lane maintenance as well as a reduced monthly payment, Washington, D.C. 20008 1 TAX DEDUCTIBLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO KLINGLE HOW PAPERS ARE SELECTED FOR THE ANNUAL MANSION -- AIC'S NEW NATIONAL OFFICE MEETING All of us rejoice over the significant move to All abstracts are reviewed by each member of larger, more attractive, and, we hope—mo^e the Board of Directors. The final choice is made permanent headquarters. In the long run, the move by the Program Chairman, based in part on the is anticipated to constitute a major saving in the comments of each reviewer. Other factors considered costs of housing our national office. However, we are: (1) The general interest of the paper and its are faced with an immediate large expense, approxi- practical usefulness for the AIC membership as a mately $20,000. in the next six months to provide whole; (2) Suitability for oral presentation; (3) The Klingle with the basic necessities for our use as a quality of the contents and significance of the re- working office. sults, and (4) The importance of having an overall Obviously, such a large expense will put a big balance to the meeting. Papers which seem more strain on our financial situation. We would like to suitable for a specialty group session are passed on ask members, friends, and supporters of AIC for to the appropriate Specialty Group Chair. support--to help us overcome this financial burden. Tax deductible contributions should be made out to ELISABETH FITZHUGH FAIC "Klingle Mansion", and be sent to the AIC Program Chairman office, (old address). We need office furniture, air conditioners, dehumidifiers as well as volunteers for cleaning, painting, moving and other activities in SPECIALTY GROUPS and around Klingle Mansion. If you can help with any of these matters contact MARTHA MORALES at The Specialty Groups of the AIC have been Washington, D.C. formed over the past few years in response to the 20005 ). needs of the growing AIC membership for better Your prompt response will be appreciated. This communication among colleagues. The areas of inter- is an opportunity to play an active role in this est now represented by formal Specialty Groups exciting, major step in the growth of our organization. include: Book and Paper, Furniture and Wooden Artifacts, Objects, Paintings, Photographic Materials, AIC BOARD OF DIRECTORS and Textiles. The AIC has promoted and encouraged the Specialty Groups by designating time on the annual NEWSLETTER STAFF CHANGES, NEW TECHNICAL meeting schedules for Specialty Group presentations EDITORS and providing space in the AIC Newsletter for reports on activities. The Specialty Groups have ANGELA FITZGERALD has entered Antioch Law become a vital and energetic part of the AIC, and School this fall. She has been replaced on the their activities thus far have done a great deal to Newsletter staff by NIKKI HORTON. KATHERINE further the intents and purposes of the parent EIRK is also joining the staff, and will be responsible organization. for seeking out new publications for conservators. When the Specialty Groups were first formed, DORIS HAMBURG will continue as technical editor. it was difficult to predict their future needs and Write to our technical editors at the national office problems. AIC, as represented by its elected about new materials, techniques that work or fail, officers to set policy, chose to act as coordinator any items that you think will be of interest to the of the Specialty Groups, thus allowing as much AIC membership. If you discover a new publication freedom as possible to the groups while safeguarding do bring it to KATHERINE EIRK's attention. If you the interests of the AIC as a whole. The Specialty prefer to call: DORIS HAMBURG , Groups were encouraged to govern themselves, set NIKKI HORTON , and KATHERINE EIRK their own dues and budgets, and propose activities . and presentations for the annual meeting and other The next deadline is January 14, 1983. meetings if desired. As with any new venture, questions and proce- dural problems arose involving the Specialty Groups which had to be addressed by the AIC. The Board of AIC, in its role as coordinator of the Specialty Groups, dealt with each issue as presented at its regular meetings. Each question was examined with fflQfnfrrrr^ a view to its implications for the Specialty Groups AIC - ANNUAL MEETING - BALTIMORE and its impact on the AIC as a professional organi- zation. The decisions made became the AIC policy Planning for the meeting is well underway.