"French Influence on American Decorative Arts of the Early Nineteenth Century," Lorraine Waxman Pearce Collection
This thesis titled “French Influence on American Decorative Arts of the Early Nineteenth Century: The Work of Charles-Honoré Lannuier" was written by Lorraine Waxman Pearce to the University of Delaware in June 1958. The thesis analyzes the influence of France on America's decorative arts through the lens of émigré cabinetmaker Charles Honoré Lannuier and the emergence of the Empire style in the United States in the early nineteenth century. Pearce graduated with a Masters of Arts degree from the Winterthur Program in Early American Culture—a partnership between the Winterthur Museum and the University of Delaware.
During her time in graduate school, Pearce worked as a registrar at the Winterthur Museum where she met its founder, Henry Francis du Pont. Shortly after President John F. Kennedy’s inauguration, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy took steps towards preserving the historic integrity of the White House and appointed du Pont as the chair of the newly established Fine Arts Committee of the White House in 1961. Upon du Pont's recommendation, Mrs. Kennedy hired Lorraine Waxman Pearce as the inaugural White House Curator that same year.
Pearce joined the White House in March of 1961. As curator, she oversaw refurbishment projects, implemented collections policies, and collaborated with Mrs. 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.
This thesis is part of the Lorraine Waxman Pearce Collection. Lorraine Waxman Pearce served as the first White House Curator from 1961 to 1962.