The White House Historical Association’s Designing Camelot and James Hoban Books Honored with Spring Awards

May 11, 2022 Washington, D.C. —

The White House Historical Association has announced that two of its 2021 titles, Designing Camelot: The Kennedy White House Restoration and Its Legacy, and James Hoban: Designer and Builder of the White House, have recently been honored with a host of respected industry awards, including the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards and the Independent Publisher Book Awards, known as the IPPYs.

"Our books are yet another reflection of our commitment to advancing public understanding of the White House,” said Stewart McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association. “The Association is honored, as am I personally, that our titles have been recognized for that impact.”

Designing Camelot: The Kennedy White House Restoration and Its Legacy by James Archer Abbott and Elaine Rice Bachmann celebrates the sixty-year legacy of one of the most influential interior design projects in American history: First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy’s restoration of the historic White House interiors. First-person reflections, personal and public correspondence, media accounts, and photographs are included with detailed room-by-room analyses of the restoration, anecdotes about the people involved, and insights into the decisions made by Mrs. Kennedy.

James Hoban: Designer and Builder of the White House by Stewart D. McLaurin tells the story of the Irish builder who was responsible for the design of one of the most recognizable landmarks in the world, the White House. With this anthology, the world’s most knowledgeable scholars on James Hoban introduce us to him, presenting the story of his life, influences, and work. The essays are followed by an illustrated catalog of nearly 100 images of historic Dublin, Irish Country Houses, the White House, and sites known to James Hoban in America.

Designing Camelot: The Kennedy White House Restoration and Its Legacy was awarded four medals, including:

• Gold, Regional History, Benjamin Franklin Awards
• Silver, History, Benjamin Franklin Awards
• Gold, Regional Non-Fiction, Independent Publisher Book Awards
• Silver, History, Independent Publisher Book Awards

James Hoban: Designer and Builder of the White House was awarded three medals, including:

• Silver, History, Benjamin Franklin Awards
• Silver, Regional, Benjamin Franklin Awards
• Bronze, Architecture, Independent Publisher Book Awards

Purchase a copy of Designing Camelot: The Kennedy White House Restoration and Its Legacy here.

Purchase a copy of James Hoban: Designer and Builder of the White House here.

About the Benjamin Franklin Awards

The IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award is regarded as one of the highest national honors for independent publishers. The Award is given by the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) of which the Association is a member, More than 100 judges evaluate the books. To learn more, visit www.ibpabenjaminfranklinaward.com.

About the Independent Book Publisher Awards

The Independent Publisher Book Awards is an unaffiliated awards program open to members of the independent publishing industry worldwide who produce books intended for an English-speaking audience. The awards are open to independently owned and operated publishers; publishers operated by a foundation or university; and long-time independents that became conglomerated but operate autonomously and publish fewer than 100 titles a year. To learn more, visit www.ippyawards.com.

About the White House Historical Association’s Publishing Program

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 industry of the President’s House, from its architecture, gardens, and 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, and adults and children.