This composite is a compilation of materials from the Lorraine Waxman Pearce Collection and other sources. Lorraine Waxman Pearce served as the first White House Curator from 1961 to 1962. This composite may only be used for press and publicity purposes related to the collection. All other uses must be approved by the White House Historical Association in writing.

In this photograph by White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier, a crane lifts a refrigeration unit into the White House Pastry Shop through a window on the north facade of the White House. After years of the pastry team making showstopping desserts in a small corner of the main White House Kitchen, First Lady Nancy Reagan helped Chef Mesnier push for the creation of the Pastry Shop. In the fall of 1992 construction began to establish the pastry shop in the mezzanine between the State Floor and Second Floor. Due to the shop's difficult location, the only option was to bring new appliances in through a window on the north facade of the White House. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for the White House from 1980 to 2004.

In this photograph by White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier, a construction crew lifts large appliances out of a truck in preparation of moving them into the new White House Pastry Shop. After years of the pastry team making showstopping desserts in a small corner of the main White House Kitchen, First Lady Nancy Reagan helped Chef Mesnier push for the creation of the Pastry Shop. In the fall of 1992 construction began to establish the pastry shop in the mezzanine between the State Floor and Second Floor. Due to the shop's difficult location, the only option was to bring new appliances in through a window on the north facade of the White House. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for the White House from 1980 to 2004.

In this photograph by White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier, a crane lifts a large appliance into the new White House Pastry Shop through a window on the north facade of the White House. After years of the pastry team making showstopping desserts in a small corner of the main White House Kitchen, First Lady Nancy Reagan helped Chef Mesnier push for the creation of the Pastry Shop. In the fall of 1992 construction began to establish the pastry shop in the mezzanine between the State Floor and Second Floor. Due to the shop's difficult location, the only option was to bring new appliances in through a window on the north facade of the White House. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for the White House from 1980 to 2004.

In this photograph by White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier, crew members work in preparation of lifting large kitchen appliances into the new White House Pastry Shop through a window on the north facade of the White House. After years of the pastry team making showstopping desserts in a small corner of the main White House Kitchen, First Lady Nancy Reagan helped Chef Mesnier push for the creation of the Pastry Shop. In the fall of 1992 construction began to establish the pastry shop in the mezzanine between the State Floor and Second Floor. Due to the shop's difficult location, the only option was to bring new appliances in through a window on the north facade of the White House. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for the White House from 1980 to 2004.

In this photograph by White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier, a crane lifts a refrigeration unit into the new White House Pastry Shop through a window on the north facade of the White House. After years of the pastry team making showstopping desserts in a small corner of the main White House Kitchen, First Lady Nancy Reagan helped Chef Mesnier push for the creation of the Pastry Shop. In the fall of 1992 construction began to establish the pastry shop in the mezzanine between the State Floor and Second Floor. Due to the shop's difficult location, the only option was to bring new appliances in through a window on the north facade of the White House. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for the White House from 1980 to 2004.

In this photograph by White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier, individuals involved in the creation of the new White House Pastry Shop stand on scaffolding being used to bring appliances through a window on the north facade of the White House. After years of the pastry team making showstopping desserts in a small corner of the main White House Kitchen, First Lady Nancy Reagan helped Chef Mesnier push for the creation of the Pastry Shop. In the fall of 1992 construction began to establish the pastry shop in the mezzanine between the State Floor and Second Floor. Due to the shop's difficult location, the only option was to bring new appliances in through a window on the north facade of the White House. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for the White House from 1980 to 2004.

In this photograph by White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier, a construction crew lifts large appliances out of a truck in preparation of moving them into the new White House Pastry Shop. After years of the pastry team making showstopping desserts in a small corner of the main White House Kitchen, First Lady Nancy Reagan helped Chef Mesnier push for the creation of the Pastry Shop. In the fall of 1992 construction began to establish the pastry shop in the mezzanine between the State Floor and Second Floor. Due to the shop's difficult location, the only option was to bring new appliances in through a window on the north facade of the White House. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for the White House from 1980 to 2004.

In this photograph by White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier, a crane lifts a large appliance into the new White House Pastry Shop through a window on the north facade of the White House. After years of the pastry team making showstopping desserts in a small corner of the main White House Kitchen, First Lady Nancy Reagan helped Chef Mesnier push for the creation of the Pastry Shop. In the fall of 1992 construction began to establish the pastry shop in the mezzanine between the State Floor and Second Floor. Due to the shop's difficult location, the only option was to bring new appliances in through a window on the north facade of the White House. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for the White House from 1980 to 2004.

In this photograph by White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier, a crane lifts a large appliance into the White House Pastry Shop through a window on the north facade of the White House. After years of the pastry team making showstopping desserts in a small corner of the main White House Kitchen, First Lady Nancy Reagan helped Chef Mesnier push for the creation of the Pastry Shop. In the fall of 1992 construction began to establish the pastry shop in the mezzanine between the State Floor and Second Floor. Due to the shop's difficult location, the only option was to bring new appliances in through a window on the north facade of the White House. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for the White House from 1980 to 2004.

In this photograph by White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier, a crane lifts a refrigeration unit into the new White House Pastry Shop through a window on the north facade of the White House. After years of the pastry team making showstopping desserts in a small corner of the main White House Kitchen, First Lady Nancy Reagan helped Chef Mesnier push for the creation of the Pastry Shop. In the fall of 1992 construction began to establish the pastry shop in the mezzanine between the State Floor and Second Floor. Due to the shop's difficult location, the only option was to bring new appliances in through a window on the north facade of the White House. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for the White House from 1980 to 2004.

In this photograph by White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier, a construction crew lifts large appliances out of a truck in preparation of moving them into the new White House Pastry Shop. After years of the pastry team making showstopping desserts in a small corner of the main White House Kitchen, First Lady Nancy Reagan helped Chef Mesnier push for the creation of the Pastry Shop. In the fall of 1992 construction began to establish the pastry shop in the mezzanine between the State Floor and Second Floor. Due to the shop's difficult location, the only option was to bring new appliances in through a window on the north facade of the White House. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for the White House from 1980 to 2004.

In this photograph by White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier, a crane lifts a large appliance into the White House Pastry Shop through a window on the north facade of the White House. After years of the pastry team making showstopping desserts in a small corner of the main White House Kitchen, First Lady Nancy Reagan helped Chef Mesnier push for the creation of the Pastry Shop. In the fall of 1992 construction began to establish the pastry shop in the mezzanine between the State Floor and Second Floor. Due to the shop's difficult location, the only option was to bring new appliances in through a window on the north facade of the White House. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for the White House from 1980 to 2004.

In this photograph by White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier, a crane lifts a large appliance into the new White House Pastry Shop through a window on the north facade of the White House. After years of the pastry team making showstopping desserts in a small corner of the main White House Kitchen, First Lady Nancy Reagan helped Chef Mesnier push for the creation of the Pastry Shop. In the fall of 1992 construction began to establish the pastry shop in the mezzanine between the State Floor and Second Floor. Due to the shop's difficult location, the only option was to bring new appliances in through a window on the north facade of the White House. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for the White House from 1980 to 2004.

In this photograph by White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier, individuals involved in the creation of the new White House Pastry Shop stand on scaffolding being used to bring appliances through a window on the north facade of the White House. After years of the pastry team making showstopping desserts in a small corner of the main White House Kitchen, First Lady Nancy Reagan helped Chef Mesnier push for the creation of the Pastry Shop. In the fall of 1992 construction began to establish the pastry shop in the mezzanine between the State Floor and Second Floor. Due to the shop's difficult location, the only option was to bring new appliances in through a window on the north facade of the White House. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for the White House from 1980 to 2004.

In this photograph by White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier, individuals involved in the creation of the new White House Pastry Shop stand on scaffolding being used to bring appliances through a window on the north facade of the White House. After years of the pastry team making showstopping desserts in a small corner of the main White House Kitchen, First Lady Nancy Reagan helped Chef Mesnier push for the creation of the Pastry Shop. In the fall of 1992 construction began to establish the pastry shop in the mezzanine between the State Floor and Second Floor. Due to the shop's difficult location, the only option was to bring new appliances in through a window on the north facade of the White House. The individual on the left is likely assistant pastry chef Franette McCulloch. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for the White House from 1980 to 2004.

In this photograph by White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier, individuals involved in the creation of the new White House Pastry Shop stand on scaffolding being used to bring appliances through a window on the north facade of the White House. After years of the pastry team making showstopping desserts in a small corner of the main White House Kitchen, First Lady Nancy Reagan helped Chef Mesnier push for the creation of the Pastry Shop. In the fall of 1992 construction began to establish the pastry shop in the mezzanine between the State Floor and Second Floor. Due to the shop's difficult location, the only option was to bring new appliances in through a window on the north facade of the White House. The individual on the left is likely assistant pastry chef Franette McCulloch. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for the White House from 1980 to 2004.

In this photograph by White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier, a crane lifts a large appliance into the new White House Pastry Shop through a window on the north facade of the White House. After years of the pastry team making showstopping desserts in a small corner of the main White House Kitchen, First Lady Nancy Reagan helped Chef Mesnier push for the creation of the Pastry Shop. In the fall of 1992 construction began to establish the pastry shop in the mezzanine between the State Floor and Second Floor. Due to the shop's difficult location, the only option was to bring new appliances in through a window on the north facade of the White House. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for the White House from 1980 to 2004.

In this photograph by White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier, individuals involved in the creation of the new White House Pastry Shop stand on scaffolding being used to bring appliances through a window on the north facade of the White House. After years of the pastry team making showstopping desserts in a small corner of the main White House Kitchen, First Lady Nancy Reagan helped Chef Mesnier push for the creation of the Pastry Shop. In the fall of 1992 construction began to establish the pastry shop in the mezzanine between the State Floor and Second Floor. Due to the shop's difficult location, the only option was to bring new appliances in through a window on the north facade of the White House. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for the White House from 1980 to 2004.

In this photograph by White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier, individuals involved in the creation of the new White House Pastry Shop stand on scaffolding being used to bring appliances through a window on the north facade of the White House. After years of the pastry team making showstopping desserts in a small corner of the main White House Kitchen, First Lady Nancy Reagan helped Chef Mesnier push for the creation of the Pastry Shop. In the fall of 1992 construction began to establish the pastry shop in the mezzanine between the State Floor and Second Floor. Due to the shop's difficult location, the only option was to bring new appliances in through a window on the north facade of the White House. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for the White House from 1980 to 2004.

In this photograph by White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier, a crane lifts a large appliance into the new White House Pastry Shop through a window on the north facade of the White House. After years of the pastry team making showstopping desserts in a small corner of the main White House Kitchen, First Lady Nancy Reagan helped Chef Mesnier push for the creation of the Pastry Shop. In the fall of 1992 construction began to establish the pastry shop in the mezzanine between the State Floor and Second Floor. Due to the shop's difficult location, the only option was to bring new appliances in through a window on the north facade of the White House. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for the White House from 1980 to 2004.

In this photograph by White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier, a crane lifts a large appliance into the new White House Pastry Shop through a window on the north facade of the White House. After years of the pastry team making showstopping desserts in a small corner of the main White House Kitchen, First Lady Nancy Reagan helped Chef Mesnier push for the creation of the Pastry Shop. In the fall of 1992 construction began to establish the pastry shop in the mezzanine between the State Floor and Second Floor. Due to the shop's difficult location, the only option was to bring new appliances in through a window on the north facade of the White House. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for the White House from 1980 to 2004.

In this photograph by White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier, individuals involved in the creation of the new White House Pastry Shop stand on scaffolding being used to bring appliances through a window on the north facade of the White House. After years of the pastry team making showstopping desserts in a small corner of the main White House Kitchen, First Lady Nancy Reagan helped Chef Mesnier push for the creation of the Pastry Shop. In the fall of 1992 construction began to establish the pastry shop in the mezzanine between the State Floor and Second Floor. Due to the shop's difficult location, the only option was to bring new appliances in through a window on the north facade of the White House. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for the White House from 1980 to 2004.

In this photograph by White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier, individuals involved in the creation of the new White House Pastry Shop stand on scaffolding being used to bring appliances through a window on the north facade of the White House. After years of the pastry team making showstopping desserts in a small corner of the main White House Kitchen, First Lady Nancy Reagan helped Chef Mesnier push for the creation of the Pastry Shop. In the fall of 1992 construction began to establish the pastry shop in the mezzanine between the State Floor and Second Floor. Due to the shop's difficult location, the only option was to bring new appliances in through a window on the north facade of the White House. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for the White House from 1980 to 2004.

This photograph is of unidentified craftsmen handling a piece of the State Dining Room mantel in June 1962. The mantel was a joint gift of the architecture firm Steinmann, Cain, and White, and the Marble Industry Board of New York. The new mantel was installed as part of First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy's restoration program. White House Curator Lorraine Waxman Pearce was responsible for management of the installation mantel. The State Dining Room is located on the State Floor of the White House. The room is often the setting for State or Official Dinners and is the second largest room in the White House. This photograph is part of the Lorraine Waxman Pearce Collection. Lorraine Waxman Pearce served as the first White House Curator from 1961to1962. As curator, she oversaw refurbishment projects, implemented collections policies, and collaborated with First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy to write the first White House guidebook—a joint publication of the National Geographic Society and the White House Historical Association. Since its original publication in 1962, “The White House: An Historic Guide” has been revised, updated, and printed for over 60 years.