American Hospitality


American Hospitality: 1776-1976

Philadelphia PoliticaFest 2016  

National Liberty Museum July 23rd-27th, 2016


Utilizing rare historic ephemera, the exhibit traces the birth of American Hospitality back to 1775, when Dorothy Quincy married John Hancock and began the tradition of entertaining congress, political financiers, public officials and Continental Army officers at the President’s house in Philadelphia. 


The hospitality exhibit continues by mapping out the transformation of the United Colonies of North America into the United States of America under the Declaration of Independence and then the Republic’s metamorphosis into the “Perpetual Union” established by Articles of Confederation, whose government created the U.S. Department of Foreign Affairs and assigned its Secretary the duty of entertaining foreign military officers, diplomats and ambassadors. The exhibit then turns to the birth of current republic, which established a U.S. Chief Executive, changed the Department of Foreign Affairs to Department of State and fostered the emergence of an important hospitality role of First Ladies under the Constitution of 1787. The exhibit culminates with the unveiling of the Mary Edith Wilroy Presidential Hospitality Collection, which she assembled as the Manager of the Blair House from 1961-1976. Exhibit includes:






United Colonies of North America (1774-1776) – Articles of Association 1774 printing with important colonial letters and manuscripts featuring Dorothy Quincy Hancock - Wife of Continental Congress President John Hancock.






United States of America formed under the laws and resolutions of the Continental Congress (1776-1781) – Declaration of Independence 1776 printing, the 1776 Dunlap Journals of Congress, 1783 printing of the Treaty of Paris & important Continental Congress letters and manuscripts featuring Sarah Livingston Jay – Wife of Continental Congress President John Jay. 




United States of America under the Articles of Confederation (1781-1789) - Articles of Confederation 1777 Dunlap printing, Decree of Trenton 1782 Manuscript (First Federal Court case that settled Wyoming Valley land dispute between PA and CT), President Elias Boudinot 1783 U.S. Army Mutiny Proclamation forcing the U.S. to move the Seat of Government from Philadelphia to Princeton and important USCA letters and manuscripts featuring Annis Boudinot Stockton – Sister of USCA President Elias Boudinot AND Lady Christina Griffin – Scottish Noblewoman and wife of USCA President Cyrus Griffin.




United States of America under the U.S. Constitution (1789-Present) – Acts of Congress 1789: Includes the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, Louisiana Purchase 1803 Congressional printing, Treaty of Ghent 1815 Congressional printing, Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo 1848 Congressional printing, U.S. and Russia Treaty for the Purchase of Alaska, 1867 Congressional printing, 19th Amendment original printing, and important U.S. political documents, letters and manuscripts featuring Martha Washington – Dolley Madison - Sarah Polk – Caroline Harrison - Edith Wilson - Eleanor Roosevelt.



The exhibit also includes the papers of Mary Edith Wilroy, who, as the manager of the Blair House (the President's Guest House) entertained some 225 heads of state. Mary Edith Wilroy began her profession as Blair House Manager on March 2, 1961, only 40 days after John F. Kennedy took the Presidential oath of office. Mrs. Wilroy served her nation in this capacity for 15 years ending her career on July 19, 1975, shortly after hosting Walter Scheel, the President of West Germany.



Mary Edith Wilroy on the John and Jackie Kennedy: “As I watched, a large black limousine, flags flying from both front fenders, pulled up to the curb and President John F. Kennedy and President Habib Bourguiba of Tunisia emerged.  Just behind the two men came the First Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy, and Mrs. Bourguiba  … I admit that I was just a little nervous.  But then, as their presidential party reached the door, I realized that this was the young President’s first visit from a head of state as well as mine.  It hit me that the Kennedys might be just as apprehensive as I was, and that calmed me down.”

Mary Edith Wilroy on President Truman:   "In April, at the invitation of President Johnson, former President Truman was at the Blair House overnight.  He had come for the annual Gridiron Club Dinner given by the Washington Press corps.  In addition to good food, the dinner always features a song and dance performance that gently and not so gently ribs Washington's famous people.  Mr. Truman arrived on Saturday.  Our regular butlers were not available, so I hired a butler with the usual security clearance.  He couldn't have been a security risk since the poor fellow turned out to be almost totally deaf.  Luckily I discovered quickly that he couldn't even hear the front door bell.  During the entire visit the parlor maid or I had to be nearby, ready to open the door for any callers.  Mr. Truman followed his usual routine, rising early on Sunday morning for one of his famous morning walks.  He was  accompanied by a small group from the press and was hailed by passersby who were thrilled to see the former President striding by in the manner that had become familiar to everyone all over the country.  When he was recognized by people who called, "Hello Mr. President," or "How are you, Harry?"  he would stop and shake hands and chat with them for a few minutes.    Then he came back, had a leisurely breakfast, and left almost immediately for the trip back to Independence.  Since it was a Sunday the front gate was locked as soon as he left, and a small staff was tidying things up inside when all of a sudden the side door bell rang.  Because I was in my office I was closest to the door.  I went to see who it could possibly be at that time of day on Sunday.  I opened the door and there stood President Truman.  He had come back to use the bathroom.  I showed him the elevator and Rigoberto accompanied him upstairs to the room he had vacated only about a half hour before.  When he came back down, President Truman apologized and said he was sorry to have been "such a nuisance."  I, in turn, apologized for the locked front gate.  Graciously he said he didn't mind using the side door at all. It saved him from walking up the front steps.  But we never again locked the front gate after a departing visitor until we were sure they arrived at the airport."

Mary Edith Wilroy on President Johnson: "In February 1964 I was invited to a diplomatic reception. I received hundreds of invitations every year to all sorts of events, and although I was always pleased to have been included I just couldn't go to all of them. I did try to accept White House invitations whenever possible, however, and on this occasion I got to dance with Washington's most sought after dancing partner, the President. The next day the newspapers were calling to ask how I felt about dancing with the President, was he a good dancer, and other weighty questions of that sort. I couldn't really tell them if he was a good dancer or not. The idea of dancing with the President had me dancing on air, I just followed his lead, and before I knew it, the music had ended and I was back at the side talking to Robin. It was really a great treat for me and something I still tell my grandchildren about."



Mary Edith Wilroy on Lady Bird Johnson:  "Mrs. Johnson, now the First Lady, came for lunch with Robin and several other members of the Fine Arts Committee for a formal tour of the house so that she could see the progress that had been made.  Although she was an enthusiastic honorary chairman of the Fine Arts Committee, she now had so many duties as First Lady that she was unable to do much of the actual work on the committee.  She will probably always be better known for what she did to help make America's landscape more beautiful.  She encouraged people all over the country to plant flowers and clean up neighborhoods.  To set an example for such projects elsewhere, she was responsible for many of the lovely plantings of spring flowers that bloom in Washington Parks."

Students and Teachers of US History this is a video of Stanley and Christopher Klos presenting America's Four United Republics Curriculum at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. The December 2015 video was an impromptu capture by a member of the audience of Penn students, professors and guests that numbered about 200. - Click Here for more information


The Congressional Evolution of the United States of America 

Continental Congress of the United Colonies Presidents 
Sept. 5, 1774 to July 1, 1776


September 5, 1774
October 22, 1774
October 22, 1774
October 26, 1774
May 20, 1775
May 24, 1775
May 25, 1775
July 1, 1776

Commander-in-Chief United Colonies & States of America

George Washington: June 15, 1775 - December 23, 1783



Continental Congress of the United States Presidents 
July 2, 1776 to February 28, 1781

July 2, 1776
October 29, 1777
November 1, 1777
December 9, 1778
December 10, 1778
September 28, 1779
September 29, 1779
February 28, 1781



Presidents of the United States in Congress Assembled
March 1, 1781 to March 3, 1789

March 1, 1781
July 6, 1781
July 10, 1781
Declined Office
July 10, 1781
November 4, 1781
November 5, 1781
November 3, 1782
November 4, 1782
November 2, 1783
November 3, 1783
June 3, 1784
November 30, 1784
November 22, 1785
November 23, 1785
June 5, 1786
June 6, 1786
February 1, 1787
February 2, 1787
January 21, 1788
January 22, 1788
January 21, 1789


Presidents of the United States of America

D-Democratic Party, F-Federalist Party, I-Independent, R-Republican Party, R* Republican Party of Jefferson & W-Whig Party 


(1789-1797)
(1933-1945)
(1865-1869)
(1797-1801)
(1945-1953)
(1869-1877)
(1801-1809)
(1953-1961)
 (1877-1881)
(1809-1817)
(1961-1963)
 (1881 - 1881)
(1817-1825)
(1963-1969)
(1881-1885)
(1825-1829)
(1969-1974)
(1885-1889)
(1829-1837)
(1973-1974)
(1889-1893)
(1837-1841)
(1977-1981)
(1893-1897)
(1841-1841)
(1981-1989)
(1897-1901)
(1841-1845)
(1989-1993)
(1901-1909)
(1845-1849)
(1993-2001)
(1909-1913)
(1849-1850)
(2001-2009)
(1913-1921)
(1850-1853)
(2009-2017)
(1921-1923)
(1853-1857)
(20017-Present)
(1923-1929)
*Confederate States  of America
(1857-1861)
(1929-1933)
(1861-1865)

Chart Comparing Presidential Powers - Click Here

United Colonies and States First Ladies
1774-1788


United Colonies Continental Congress
President
18th Century Term
Age
09/05/74 – 10/22/74
29
Mary Williams Middleton (1741- 1761) Deceased
Henry Middleton
10/22–26/74
n/a
05/20/ 75 - 05/24/75
30
05/25/75 – 07/01/76
28
United States Continental Congress
President
Term
Age
07/02/76 – 10/29/77
29
Eleanor Ball Laurens (1731- 1770) Deceased
Henry Laurens
11/01/77 – 12/09/78
n/a
Sarah Livingston Jay (1756-1802)
12/ 10/78 – 09/28/78
21
Martha Huntington (1738/39–1794)
09/29/79 – 02/28/81
41
United States in Congress Assembled
President
Term
Age
Martha Huntington (1738/39–1794)
03/01/81 – 07/06/81
42
07/10/81 – 11/04/81
25
Jane Contee Hanson (1726-1812)
11/05/81 - 11/03/82
55
11/03/82 - 11/02/83
46
Sarah Morris Mifflin (1747-1790)
11/03/83 - 11/02/84
36
11/20/84 - 11/19/85
46
11/23/85 – 06/06/86
38
Rebecca Call Gorham (1744-1812)
06/06/86 - 02/01/87
42
02/02/87 - 01/21/88
43
01/22/88 - 01/29/89
36

Constitution of 1787
First Ladies
President
Term
Age
April 30, 1789 – March 4, 1797
57
March 4, 1797 – March 4, 1801
52
Martha Wayles Jefferson Deceased
September 6, 1782  (Aged 33)
n/a
March 4, 1809 – March 4, 1817
40
March 4, 1817 – March 4, 1825
48
March 4, 1825 – March 4, 1829
50
December 22, 1828 (aged 61)
n/a
February 5, 1819 (aged 35)
n/a
March 4, 1841 – April 4, 1841
65
April 4, 1841 – September 10, 1842
50
June 26, 1844 – March 4, 1845
23
March 4, 1845 – March 4, 1849
41
March 4, 1849 – July 9, 1850
60
July 9, 1850 – March 4, 1853
52
March 4, 1853 – March 4, 1857
46
n/a
n/a
March 4, 1861 – April 15, 1865
42
February 22, 1862 – May 10, 1865
April 15, 1865 – March 4, 1869
54
March 4, 1869 – March 4, 1877
43
March 4, 1877 – March 4, 1881
45
March 4, 1881 – September 19, 1881
48
January 12, 1880 (Aged 43)
n/a
June 2, 1886 – March 4, 1889
21
March 4, 1889 – October 25, 1892
56
June 2, 1886 – March 4, 1889
28
March 4, 1897 – September 14, 1901
49
September 14, 1901 – March 4, 1909
40
March 4, 1909 – March 4, 1913
47
March 4, 1913 – August 6, 1914
52
December 18, 1915 – March 4, 1921
43
March 4, 1921 – August 2, 1923
60
August 2, 1923 – March 4, 1929
44
March 4, 1929 – March 4, 1933
54
March 4, 1933 – April 12, 1945
48
April 12, 1945 – January 20, 1953
60
January 20, 1953 – January 20, 1961
56
January 20, 1961 – November 22, 1963
31
November 22, 1963 – January 20, 1969
50
January 20, 1969 – August 9, 1974
56
August 9, 1974 – January 20, 1977
56
January 20, 1977 – January 20, 1981
49
January 20, 1981 – January 20, 1989
59
January 20, 1989 – January 20, 1993
63
January 20, 1993 – January 20, 2001
45
January 20, 2001 – January 20, 2009
54
January 20, 2009 to date
45



Capitals of the United Colonies and States of America

Philadelphia
Sept. 5, 1774 to Oct. 24, 1774
Philadelphia
May 10, 1775 to Dec. 12, 1776
Baltimore
Dec. 20, 1776 to Feb. 27, 1777
Philadelphia
March 4, 1777 to Sept. 18, 1777
Lancaster
September 27, 1777
York
Sept. 30, 1777 to June 27, 1778
Philadelphia
July 2, 1778 to June 21, 1783
Princeton
June 30, 1783 to Nov. 4, 1783
Annapolis
Nov. 26, 1783 to Aug. 19, 1784
Trenton
Nov. 1, 1784 to Dec. 24, 1784
New York City
Jan. 11, 1785 to Nov. 13, 1788
New York City
October 6, 1788 to March 3,1789
New York City
March 3,1789 to August 12, 1790
Philadelphia
Dec. 6,1790 to May 14, 1800       
Washington DC
November 17,1800 to Present




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U.S. Dollar Presidential Coin Mr. Klos vs Secretary Paulson - Click Here

The United Colonies of North America Continental Congress Presidents (1774-1776)
The United States of America Continental Congress Presidents (1776-1781)
The United States of America in Congress Assembled Presidents (1781-1789)
The United States of America Presidents and Commanders-in-Chiefs (1789-Present)


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