About the White House Historical Association

The White House Historical Association is a nonprofit educational association founded in 1961 for the purpose of enhancing the understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment of the Executive Mansion. It was created at the recommendation of the National Park Service and with the support of First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy. All proceeds from the sale of the Associations books and products are used to fund the acquisition of historic furnishings and artwork for the permanent White House collection, assist in the preservation of public rooms, and further its educational mission. The Association also sponsors lectures, exhibits, and other outreach programs. Thousands of schools, universities, and libraries have received free educational materials about the White House.

Since 1981, the Association has commissioned the annual White House Christmas Ornament honoring a historic president. The Official 2024 White House Christmas Ornament honors President Jimmy Carter with its anchor shape, representing Carter's service in the United States Navy. The Association publishes numerous books and journals every year. These publications and many other educational, mission-driven products can be purchased in our online store or at our retail locations, such as the retail shop in the White House Visitor Center.

To learn more about the Association, please visit, www.whitehousehistory.org, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, or Facebook.

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Press & Media

2023 DC Journal, A Presidents’ Day Reflection: The Intertwined History of the U.S. and Nations OverseasThe Edinburgh Reporter, Presidents’ Day ceremony held in Edinburgh
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Press Room
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The White House and the Press

Read Digital EditionForeword: William SealeThe President, the Press, and Proximity: The Creation of the White House Press Center, James A. JacobsBeyond the Press Room: Reporting from the White House Grounds Photo EssayThe White House Remembered: Volume 2, Recollections by Presidents George H. W. Bush and William Jefferson Clinton, Edited by Hugh SideyLincoln in His Shop: How a President Opened His Doors
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2016 White House Ornament Press Collection
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State Dinners

A State Dinner honoring a visiting head of government or reigning monarch is one of the grandest and most glamorous of White House affairs. It is part of an official State Visit and provides the president and first lady the opportunity to honor the visiting head of state and his or her spouse. In this collection, explore the history of
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Becoming FDR: The Personal Crisis That Made a President

Featuring Jonathan Darman, author of “Becoming FDR: The Personal Crisis That Made a President"
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Roosevelt White House 1933-1945

President Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected to office at the height of the Great Depression. He ushered in an environment of hope as he promised prompt, vigorous action for America. His wife, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, broke many precedents by holding press conferences, giving lectures and radio broadcasts, and traveling. The Roosevelts brought change and hope to the American people
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Presidential Retreats

Presidents have found different ways to escape the pressures and politics of the position. For early leaders, it was a matter of course that they would leave the White House for the summer to tend to personal businesses or farms. The modern-day presidency is a year-round job. So while the work often follows, the countryside of Virginia or seaside of
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Eleanor Roosevelt's "My Day"

The White House Historical Association and the Eleanor Roosevelt Papers Project present this collaboration in an effort to open a window into the Roosevelt White House. From 1935 to 1962, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt wrote a syndicated column entitled "My Day." This project selects representative samples of those columns, focused on the White House years, to display Mrs. Roosevelt’s thoughts on a
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Popular Culture in the White House Symposium Contributors

Kathryn Cramer Brownell
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About Our Authors

JAMES ARCHER ABBOTT is the Executive Director of the Lewes Historical Society in Lewes, Delaware. His publications include JANSEN, JANSEN Furniture, and Baltimore’s Billy Baldwin. He is the co-author of Designing Camelot. (WHH #60) WILLIAM ADAIR is a frame historian, conservator, and gilder in Washington, D.C. (WHH #54) MATTHEW ALGEO is a writer and journalist. He is the author of se
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2010 Winning Essay The Hugh S. Sidey Scholarship

Today, the face of news seems to change more rapidly than headlines floating across a cable news program's ticker. Reporters young and experienced alike face an unstable job market and an uncertain future as the journalism industry struggles to find a viable business model. However, some things still hold true. The presidency remains, as Hugh Sidey said in his 2004 book "