By Katie Roxberry, M.A. ’24, Museum Studies
While sifting through the Albert H. Small Washingtoniana Collection, I became enamored with maps, Civil War letters- and 19th-century documents that detail aspects of life in the Washington metropolitan area. Stored among the artifacts was a glossy black and white photograph of President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy. The photograph seemed out-of-place with the rest of the collection, which foregrounds changes to D.C.’s landscape. But the Kennedys’ lives were intertwined with the city; they shaped the District beyond the White House’s gates.
The Kennedys lived on N Street NW in Georgetown before the presidency. Both John F. Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy had degrees from the George Washington University: Jackie Kennedy earned a B.A. in 1951 and John F. Kennedy received an honorary doctorate in 1961. In 1962, John F. Kennedy generated substantial fundraising efforts for the National Culture Center (now the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts). Jackie Kennedy served as an honorary co-chairwoman along with former First Lady Mamie Eisenhower. But the Kennedys’ deeper connection— particularly Jackie’s — to D.C. involves the preservation of several historical buildings.
When John F. Kennedy was sworn in as the nation’s 35th president, Jackie Kennedy was only 31 years old. She quickly became a fashion icon with her pillbox hat and bouffant hairstyle. Indeed many books have been published that exclusively examine the outfits she wore as First Lady. Her youth and style conveyed a sense of stardom to the American public. Her glamorous appeal was heightened by her love of the arts and history.
Before marriage, Jackie Kennedy had studied abroad in France and fell in love with the country’s culture and architecture. She carried that love to D.C., successfully advocating for the preservation of historic buildings around Lafayette Square, the establishment of the White House Historical Association and the restoration of the White House and its furnishings.
It is remarkable, and a bit ironic, that while her husband campaigned for a “new frontier” and Jackie Kennedy espoused “new beginnings,” she believed in preserving Washington’s architectural history. Thanks to Jackie Kennedy’s involvement in the protection and restoration of historical buildings, Americans remain connected with our nation’s history and continue to marvel over the city’s architecture.
The generation of Americans who lived alongside Jackie Kennedy may best remember her sense of fashion and the men she married, but this special blog series will look past Jackie Kennedy’s cultural legacy and focus on her preservation work. The next post will explore her restoration efforts of the White House, the second will shed light on the historical buildings she fought to protect on Lafayette Square, and the last post will demonstrate Jackie Kennedy’s connection to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Stay tuned!
About the Author
Katie Roxberry has a B.A. in history and English and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in museum studies at GW. She enjoys researching and writing on historical objects while working as the digital media editor for the Albert H. Small Center for National Capital Area Studies.
Header image: Photograph of President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy on the White House balcony, c. 1961. Albert H. Small Washingtoniana Collection AS 2017.313a.