Presidential and Rare Historical White House Collection

This room contains personal articles and furnishings used for several decades and generations of White House residents.

War Room Fireplace Mantle - Truman Era 1945
On this mantle in the presence of his Secretary of State and Secretary of War, Harry S. Truman signed the order to drop the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, forever changing the world.
Mechanical Sewing Machine - James K. Polk Era 1848
This sewing machine was the first mechanical sewing machine to be used in the White House.
LEFT: A jacket from President Ronald Reagan

BELOW: The pen used to sign the Social Security amendment of 1983

ABOVE: A hand-crafted walking stick used by President Benjamin Harrison.
William Morris Chair - Roosevelt Era 1935
This chair was a special gift from William Morris to Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1935. It was used in the President’s personal study.
ABOVE: A wooden dresser with several personal articles - used in the White House during the Kennedy administration. These include a gold perfume atomizer, nail file, bottle of perfume, makeup, a hairbrush, and a collection of Jaqueline Kennedy's clothing.
Children’s Couch And Chair - Theodore Roosevelt Era 1907
This set of children’s furniture was personally owned by Theodore Roosevelt and used in the main residence of the White House by his many children.
ABOVE: These two dresses are from the wardrobe of First Lady Ladybird Johnson. The items on the shelf are personal belongings of President Lyndon Johnson and his wife Ladybird. They include some gloves, eyeglasses, watches, and a couple of the President's prized hats he was so famous for.
Rocking Chair - Kennedy Era
This rocking chair was given to Cardinal Cushing as a gift from longtime friend John F. Kennedy. Cardinal Cushing married the Kennedy family, baptised thier children, offered the inaugural prayer and presided over his funeral.
A collection of white house clocks - Several clocks that have done everyday duty in the White House for many decades under many Presidencies.
LEFT: This grandfather clock was given as a gift in 1950 by the presiding Senate. It was used in the East Room and also in the East Hall.
RIGHT - Seth Thomas Wall Clock
Andrew Jackson - 1833
This is a Seth Thomas signed, standard estate clock. It was given to the White House in 1833 during Andrew Jackson’s second term as President. This clock is the oldest artifact in this museum’s collection.
LEFT: Market Garden Clock - Eisenhower Era 1944

This clock was presented to General Eisenhower by the exiled Dutch government in honor of Operation Market Garden, an allied attempt to capture bridges across the rivers in Holland so that the allied army could advance rapidly northward and turn left into the lowlands of Germany, skirting around the German defense line. The operation proved to be “a bridge too far”, perhaps the most famous quote from WWII.

When the clock was hung in the White House during the Eisenhower Administration, President Eisenhower insisted it not be wound or used at all, because it reminded him of failure.

Kane Back Chair With Ottoman - Eisenhower Era 1953
This chair was personally owned by Dwight D. Eisenhower and brought into the White House in 1953. Used in the Oval Office.
Franklin Furniture Chair - Lincoln Era 1862
This chair was given to President Abraham Lincoln as a gift in 1862 By Franklin Furniture of Illinois. It was used in the President’s personal study in The White House.
ABOVE: Two dresses from First Lady Roslyn Carter
ABOVE: This suit and dresses are from President Richard Nixon and wife Pat Nixon. Also pictured is Pat Nixon's hat from an African safari as well as a telephone and directory from the White House
ABOVE: These gloves were placed on President Eisenhower's casket by his wife Mamie.