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Publisher’s Corner

It Takes a Woman! journalofantiques.com

Publisher
f history has taught us anything, it’s that it takes a the mansion and two hundred Maxine Carter-Lome
woman to get the job done! That has certainly been acres. This was a huge challenge journalofantiques@gmail.com
Ithe case in the collector world as we discover in this at that time—especially for a Maxine Carter-Lome Business Manager
issue dedicated to “Patronesses of History:” women woman—but Miss Cunningham Jeffrey Lome
whose personal collections, preservationist outlook, and knew that to be successful in purchasing Mount Vernon, jeffreylome@gmail.com
philanthropy seeded some of the greatest museum she needed to find a way for her ladies to work with men,
collections in this country. not around them. Managing Editor
One of the country’s earliest role models for women Cunningham structured the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Judy Gonyeau
such as Anna Safley Houston, Electra Havemeyer Webb, Association as an organization run by and entirely editorial.journalofantiques@gmail.com
Florence Griswold, Isabella Stewart Gardner, Abby comprised of women, with never more than one Mount Art Director
Aldridge Rockefeller, and Margaret Woodbury Strong, Vernon Lady representing a given state at the same time. Lynn Cotterman
the six women profiled in this month’s issue, is Ann Even today, the organization thrives under this same
Pamela Cunningham. Cunningham’s pioneering efforts women-led structure. Production
in the field of preservation set an important precedent in What kind of woman constituted a Mount Vernon Lynn Cotterman
our country with regard to collecting and preserving our Lady? Said Cunningham, “She shall be of a family whose Judy Gonyeau
history in its many ways and forms. There is no doubt that social position would command the confidence of the
this seemingly mild -mannered lady from South Carolina State, and enable her to enlist the aid of persons of the Jill Montague-Kaitbenski
recognized the untapped power and determination of widest influence … She must be able to command
American women early on, enlisting their support as considerable leisure, as the duties will require much time 508-347-1960
members of the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association in until stipulated funds are raised. She should also possess Toll free:
undertaking the country’s first and greatest historical liberal patriotism, energy of character, cultivation of
preservation project of the time, Mount Vernon. mind, and such a combination of mental powers as will 888-698-0734
In 1840, John Augustine Washington III became the insure that she shall wisely and judiciously exercise the Fax: 508-347-0911
last Washington family member to inherit Mount power of voting in Grand Council upon the future Mailing:
Vernon, the family estate that belonged to his ancestors, guardianship and improvement of Mount Vernon.” P. O. Box 950
George and Martha Washington. In short, Cunningham was looking for women who Sturbridge, MA 01566
John Augustine III quickly realized that the could get the job done!
deteriorating Mount Vernon estate was a far cry from the Each “Lady Manager” member was required to form
plantation his great-great uncle George Washington once clubs in their state to help raise money. For each member’s journalofantiques@gmail.com
presided over. His primary means of income came from one dollar donation, a gilt-framed copy of a Gilbert Stuart
wheat and potato production, woodcutting, selling portrait of George Washington was sent to the club. UPS and FedEx
Shipping Address:
enslaved people and outsourcing enslaved labor, collecting Interested parties with greater wherewithal could receive 113 Main Street, Unit 2
land rents, and his herring operation on the Potomac an illuminated copy of the first president’s Farewell Sturbridge, MA 01566
River. However, soil degradation, poor harvests, Address in return for a $10 donation. The Association also
inclement weather, and the devastation of crops by insects maintained subscription books of contributors, including Journal of
and pests limited his agricultural returns. those who gave at least a dollar. Antiques and Collectibles
While he managed to slow Mount Vernon’s financial Concerts, dramatic readings, plays, tableaux, fairs, and is published monthly in digital
decline, these endeavors were not enough to stop the festivals also proved to be effective fundraising vehicles. A and quarterly in print by
downward spiral. In addition to facing these hardships, “Ladies’ Strawberry Feast” in Alabama brought in $334. Weathervane Enterprises, Inc.
John Augustine III also experienced constant An open house at the home of Vice Regent, Octavia
interruptions by sightseers, many of whom wanted to Walton Le Vert for Alabama, netted Mount Vernon 113 Main Street, Unit 2
meet the living descendant of George Washington, see the $700. Alabama journalist, politician, and diplomat Sturbridge MA 01566
mansion, and ask questions about Washington’s life. He William Lowndes Yancey, who was a first cousin of Miss Periodicals postage paid at
attempted to sell the property to the federal government Cunningham, lectured widely on behalf of the Sturbridge MA
and the state of Virginia, but both bodies were deeply Association, ultimately raising thousands of dollars.
mired in sectional and political partisanship to take The Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association campaign was
him up on the opportunity to preserve the Founding astonishingly successful. Just nine months after signing POSTMASTER:
Father’s homestead. the purchase agreement, John Augustine Washington III Send address changes to
In 1853, Louisa Bird Cunningham was traveling on had received a total of $85,000 – almost half the purchase The Journal of Antiques
the Potomac River and passed by Mount Vernon. Struck price. By February 1859, two additional payments and Collectibles
by its appearance, and fearing that it would soon be lost to brought the total to $100,000. Ten months later, the ISSN: (1539-5618)
the nation for lack of upkeep, Cunningham wrote a letter Association was within $6,666.66 of paying off the entire P.O. Box 950
to her daughter Ann Pamela Cunningham. In the letter, amount. In June 1860, the MVLA officially took
she commented that if the men of the United States would possession of Mount Vernon. Sturbridge, MA 01566
not save the home of its greatest citizen, perhaps it should Thanks to Ann Pamela Cunningham, the dedicated The Journal of Antiques and Collectibles
be the responsibility of the women. These words Ladies of the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, and the reserves the right to reject any advertising that
galvanized her daughter into action. thousands of members and donors over the past 164 years does not comply with our standards. The
Journal will not be liable for any errors or
Initially writing under the nom de plume “A Southern who supported their mission, Mount Vernon is the most omissions but will print a correction in the
02/23
Matron,” Ann Pamela Cunningham challenged first the popular historic estate in America, welcoming an average following issue if notification of such error is
sent by the appropriate deadline. Original
women of the South, and later the women of the entire one million guests each year and scholars from throughout manuscripts are welcomed by qualified
country, to save the home of George Washington. After the world who want to know more about George writers. We assume no responsibility for loss
of unsolicited material.
convincing John Augustine Washington III to sell the Washington and the founding of our country.
property, Cunningham and the organization she founded, Copyright 2024
the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association of the Union, set All rights reserved
out to raise $200,000, or $5.7 million today, to purchase
Maxine Carter-Lome, Publisher
2 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles