White House China of the Lincoln Administration in the Museum of History and Technology

by Margaret Brown Klapthor

WHITE HOUSE COLLECTION

Figure 1: A table setting showing the Lincoln china being used for a luncheon
during the administration of President Lyndon B. Johnson.

Margaret Brown Klapthor

WHITE HOUSE CHINA
OF THE
LINCOLN ADMINISTRATION

In the Museum of History and Technology

This article on the china of the administration of President Abraham Lincoln is intended to be the first of a series of articles on Presidential china based on the collection in the Smithsonian Institution. From contemporary records in National Archives, newspaper articles and family records it is our hope to assemble material which will ultimately present the story of White House and Presidential china of every administration. Myths and facts surrounding this interesting topic will be examined and presented to assist the many collectors of this porcelain as well as others who admire and appreciate its historical interest.

In this first article, the author describes the efforts of Mrs. Abraham Lincoln to acquire porcelain suitable for official entertaining in the White House.

The Author: Margaret Brown Klapthor is associate curator of political history in the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum of History and Technology.