Annual Holiday Book Festival on December 1st

Nov 13, 2023 Washington, D.C. —

The White House Historical Association published its first book, The White House: An Historic Guide, in 1962. It was the wish of First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy that such a book be written, and she participated actively in the editing. For more than sixty years, the Association has continued to produce award-winning books on a wide range of subjects related to the history of the President’s House, from its architecture, gardens, fine and decorative arts to the presidents and first ladies who lived there over the years. Our list includes titles that will appeal to history buffs and art lovers, connoisseurs and curious amateurs, scholars and tourists, adults and children.

More than twenty authors of popular and award-winning White House Historical Association titles will be on hand to sign their books at our 2023 Holiday Book Festival. The public will be greeted by President Thomas Jefferson (as portrayed by historical actor-interpreter Bill Barker of Monticello).

Free and open to the public Friday, December 1, 2023, 9:30 am - 3:00 pm The White House History Shop, 1610 H Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006

ARTISTS AT WORK

Artist Peter Waddell will be at work painting an historical scene of the White House throughout the day. He will be available to sign An Artist Visits the White House Past.

Artist John Hutton will offer lessons on how to draw the presidents throughout the day and will be signing his book How to Draw the Presidents as well as seven children titles in the Association's popular children's series.

FOOD AND WINE

Chef Matthew Wendel, the personal chef to President and Mrs. George W. Bush at Camp David and Prairie Chapel Ranch, will be on hand to sign his award winning memoir and cookbook Recipes from the President’s Ranch: Food People Like to Eat.

Nancy Haller Bender, Susan Haller Capps, and Bob Haller, children of the late Executive White House Chef Henry Haller, will share memories of their father’s life and White House experiences. Chef Haller's White House Family Cookbook will be available for sale.

Chef Mark Ramsdell, a longtime colleague of the late White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier, will share memories of working with Chef Mesnier on elaborate White House gingerbread houses, and will be available to sign The White House in Gingerbread: Memories and Recipes and Creating the Sweet World of White House Desserts.

Presigned copies of the award-winning Wine and the White House: A History by Frederick J. Ryan, Jr. will be available.

FOR CHILDREN

Author Rocco Smirne will sign A White House Alphabet, Rocco Travels with the Presidents, and Rocco at the White House Easter Egg Roll.

Landscape historian and author Jonathan Pliska will sign Presidents Play!, Kids Play at the White House! He will also sign his authoritative history A Garden for the President.

THE WHITE HOUSE COLLECTION

Former White House curators William G. Allman and Lydia Tederick, and Melissa Naulin, the current White House associate curator of decorative arts, will sign the new Furnishing the White House: The Decorative Arts Collection and The White House: An Historic Guide.

Former White House Curator William G. Allman will also sign Official White House China.

THE PRESIDENT'S NEIGHBORHOOD

Author Katherine Malone-France will sign The Stephen Decatur House: A History.

Photographer Bruce M. White will sign At Home in the President’s Neighborhood.

To Live on Lafayette Park: Society and Politics in the President's Neighborhood will be available presigned by the late William Seale.

WHITE HOUSE EVENTS

Journalist Ann Compton will be on hand to sign "Covering the President from the Last Plane in Flight September 11, 2001," a White House History Quarterly article detailing her experience witnessing history unfold aboard Air Force One.

BIOGRAPHY AND MEMOIR

Historical interpreter and actor Bill Barker will sign Becoming Jefferson: My Life as a Founding Father and his White House History Quarterly article on outfitting Jefferson.

Mary Jo Binker will sign her recent White House History Quarterly article as well as her books, If You Ask me: Essential Advice from Eleanor Roosevelt and What Are We For? The Words and Ideals of Eleanor Roosevelt

Melinda Dart will sign A Glimpse of Greatness: The Memoir of Irineo Esperancilla and her recent White House History Quarterly article that tell the story of her grandfather, a Filipino Navy Steward, who served Presidents Hoover, FDR, Truman, and Eisenhower.

Rebecca Roberts will sign Untold Power: The Fascinating Rise and Complex Legacy of First Lady Edith Wilson and Suffragists in Washington, DC: The 1913 Parade and the Fight for the Vote.

Matthew Algeo will sign his recent White House History Quarterly article as well as his books When Harry Met Pablo: Truman, Picasso; Harry Truman's Excellent Adventure; and Abe & Fido: Lincoln’s Love of Animals and the Touching Story of His Favorite Canine Companion.

John Dalton, Former Secretary of the Navy, will sign At the Helm: My Journey with Family, Faith, and Friends to Calm the Storms of Life.

THE FIRST LADIES

Anita McBride, Diana Carlin, and Nancy Kegan Smith will sign U.S. First Ladies: The Legacies of America's History Making Women.

Fashion historian Christina Ewald will display her reproductions of two of First Lady Jaqueline Kennedy’s iconic dresses and will sign the White House History Quarterly article which tells the story of their creation.

FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Author Marcia Anderson will sign The Official White House Christmas Ornament: Collected Stories of a Holiday Tradition.

CLOSE OUT SALE

Remaining inventory of a limited number of popular titles will be available at reduced prices­– while supplies last!

Books and exclusive gifts are also available at shop.whitehousehistory.org.

For more information about this event, contact press@whha.org.