The diplomatic reception rooms at the U.S. Department of State constitute forty-two principal rooms and offices where the secretary of state conducts the business of modern diplomacy. Located on the seventh and eighth floors of the Harry S Truman Building in Washington, D.C., the diplomatic reception rooms contain one of the nation’s foremost museum collections of American fine and decorative arts.
John Quincy Adams State Drawing Room. The 1783 Treaty of Paris, ending the Revolutionary War, was signed on the desk in the foreground. The unfinished painting over the mantel depicts Benjamin Franklin and John Adams signing that treaty.
Architect Edward Vason Jones designed several of the rooms between 1965 and 1980. Clement Conger, curator of the collections from 1961 to 1990, assembled many of the art, furniture, and decorative arts objects.[1][2]
Guided tours of the diplomatic reception rooms are available by appointment. Admission is free. Tours can be scheduled online.[3]
The Entrance Hall. Designed by Edward Vason Jones.
The Gallery. Designed by Edward Vason Jones, 1965.
Thomas Jefferson State Reception Room. Used for entertaining, it measures 52 by 34 feet (16 m × 10 m). Designed by Edward Vanson Jones, completed October 4, 1974.
Edward Vason Jones Memorial Hall. Elevator lobby, designed by Edward Vason Jones.
John Quincy Adams State Drawing Room. The first of the reception rooms renovated, it measures 75 by 31 feet (22.9 m × 9.4 m). Designed by Edward Vanson Jones, completed May 16, 1972.
Benjamin Franklin State Dining Room. The largest of the reception rooms, it measures 100 by 47 feet (30 m × 14 m) and is 21 feet (6.4 m) tall. Designed by John Blatteau, completed March 8, 1985. It is used for the grandest of occasions, such as State Dinners and swearing-in ceremonies.
Martha Washington Ladies' Lounge.
Walter Thurston Gentlemen's Lounge. Designed by Walter M. Macomber, completed November 6, 1981.
7th floor
Treaty Room Suite. Three connected rooms used for ceremonial occasions. The center one is elliptical.
Secretary of State's Office. Designed by Allan Greenberg, 1987-89.
Deputy Secretary of State's Office. Designed by Allan Greenberg, completed December 1, 1989.
James Monroe Conference Room.
James Monroe Foyer and Hallway.
James Madison Dining Room. Used for intimate meals.
Martin Van Buren Sitting Room.
Henry Clay Dining Room.
Robert Livingston Executive Dining Room.
Thomas Jefferson State Reception Room.
Benjamin Franklin State Dining Room.
Edward Vason Jones Memorial Hall.
Treaty Room Suite.
Secretary of State's Office
James Monroe Conference Room
James Madison Dining Room.
Collections
Masterpieces in the collections are assembled from the early Federal period, c. 1790-1815. These masterpieces are interwoven into an interpretative narrative that explores U.S. diplomatic history: charting of the new world and the colonial foundations, the nation’s road to independence and birth of the United States, and expansion westward over the years 1740-1840. The Diplomatic Reception Rooms are a national treasure that belongs to the American people. It is the People that support the vital activities of the Diplomatic Reception Rooms. Charitable contributions from private citizens, foundations, and corporations support revitalization and expansion initiatives, collections maintenance and conservation, and educational programming.
On September 3, 1783, the Treaty of Paris, establishing peace with Great Britain after the American Revolutionary War, was signed on this Tambour Writing Table. This diplomatic achievement is depicted in the collection’s unfinished painting, after Benjamin West’s 1782 original, “The American Commissioners of the Preliminary Peace Negotiations with Great Britain.” Hand-wrought silver by patriot-silversmith Paul Revere, porcelain wares from George Washington’s Society of Cincinnati, and companion portraits of John Quincy and Louisa Catherine Adams, 1816, by artist Charles Robert Leslie are among the national treasures.
Portrait of Benjamin Franklin (ca. 1760), by Benjamin Wilson.
Bombé desk and bookcase (1753), by Benjamin Frothingham Jr., Massachusetts.
Chippendale high chest (ca. 1760), unknown maker, Philadelphia.
Marlborough-leg camel-back sofa (ca. 1775-1800), attributed to Thomas Affleck, Philadelphia.
References
^Files, John (January 13, 2004). "Clement Conger, 91, Curator Who Beautified Federal Halls". The New York Times.
^Kempster, Norman (August 7, 1990). "Insider : He Took Charge of a Shabby State Department : Clement Conger is his name and furnishing is his game. For the last 30 years, he has made sure that foreign VIP's like what they see in Washington D.C". Los Angeles Times.
Conger, Clement E. and Alexandra W. Rollins. Treasures of State: Fine and Decorative Arts in the Diplomatic Reception Rooms of the U.S. Department of State. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1991.
Ward, Gerald W.R., ed. Becoming a Nation: Americana from the Diplomatic Reception Rooms U.S. Department of State. New York: Rizzoli, 2003.
Further reading
www.MuseumsUSA.org
For Kids Ages 12 and Up Beth Rubin, Frommer's Washington D.C. with Kids, Part Three. www.googlebooks.com. Retrieved 2011-01-12.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Diplomatic Reception Rooms (Harry S. Truman Federal Building).
The Diplomatic Reception Rooms Official Website
Reception Room Tours - U.S. Department of State (Official tour information page)
Official U.S. Department of State Flickr Gallery of the Reception Rooms Collection
March 22, 2023
diplomatic, reception, rooms, department, state, diplomatic, reception, rooms, white, house, diplomatic, reception, room, white, house, this, article, external, links, follow, wikipedia, policies, guidelines, please, improve, this, article, removing, excessive. For the Diplomatic Reception Rooms at the White House see Diplomatic Reception Room White House This article s use of external links may not follow Wikipedia s policies or guidelines Please improve this article by removing excessive or inappropriate external links and converting useful links where appropriate into footnote references January 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message The diplomatic reception rooms at the U S Department of State constitute forty two principal rooms and offices where the secretary of state conducts the business of modern diplomacy Located on the seventh and eighth floors of the Harry S Truman Building in Washington D C the diplomatic reception rooms contain one of the nation s foremost museum collections of American fine and decorative arts John Quincy Adams State Drawing Room The 1783 Treaty of Paris ending the Revolutionary War was signed on the desk in the foreground The unfinished painting over the mantel depicts Benjamin Franklin and John Adams signing that treaty Architect Edward Vason Jones designed several of the rooms between 1965 and 1980 Clement Conger curator of the collections from 1961 to 1990 assembled many of the art furniture and decorative arts objects 1 2 Guided tours of the diplomatic reception rooms are available by appointment Admission is free Tours can be scheduled online 3 Contents 1 Management 2 8th floor 3 7th floor 4 Collections 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksManagement EditThree teams at the State Department collaborate on the use of the receptions rooms The Office of the Chief of Protocol administers official visits by guests of the secretary The facilities themselves are managed by the Bureau of Administration while their contents are managed by the Office of Fine Arts an office that is headed by the Director of the Diplomatic Reception Rooms 4 Both report to the under secretary of state for management 8th floor EditThe Entrance Hall Designed by Edward Vason Jones The Gallery Designed by Edward Vason Jones 1965 Thomas Jefferson State Reception Room Used for entertaining it measures 52 by 34 feet 16 m 10 m Designed by Edward Vanson Jones completed October 4 1974 Edward Vason Jones Memorial Hall Elevator lobby designed by Edward Vason Jones John Quincy Adams State Drawing Room The first of the reception rooms renovated it measures 75 by 31 feet 22 9 m 9 4 m Designed by Edward Vanson Jones completed May 16 1972 Benjamin Franklin State Dining Room The largest of the reception rooms it measures 100 by 47 feet 30 m 14 m and is 21 feet 6 4 m tall Designed by John Blatteau completed March 8 1985 It is used for the grandest of occasions such as State Dinners and swearing in ceremonies Martha Washington Ladies Lounge Walter Thurston Gentlemen s Lounge Designed by Walter M Macomber completed November 6 1981 7th floor EditTreaty Room Suite Three connected rooms used for ceremonial occasions The center one is elliptical Secretary of State s Office Designed by Allan Greenberg 1987 89 Deputy Secretary of State s Office Designed by Allan Greenberg completed December 1 1989 James Monroe Conference Room James Monroe Foyer and Hallway James Madison Dining Room Used for intimate meals Martin Van Buren Sitting Room Henry Clay Dining Room Robert Livingston Executive Dining Room Thomas Jefferson State Reception Room Benjamin Franklin State Dining Room Edward Vason Jones Memorial Hall Treaty Room Suite Secretary of State s Office James Monroe Conference Room James Madison Dining Room Collections EditMasterpieces in the collections are assembled from the early Federal period c 1790 1815 These masterpieces are interwoven into an interpretative narrative that explores U S diplomatic history charting of the new world and the colonial foundations the nation s road to independence and birth of the United States and expansion westward over the years 1740 1840 The Diplomatic Reception Rooms are a national treasure that belongs to the American people It is the People that support the vital activities of the Diplomatic Reception Rooms Charitable contributions from private citizens foundations and corporations support revitalization and expansion initiatives collections maintenance and conservation and educational programming On September 3 1783 the Treaty of Paris establishing peace with Great Britain after the American Revolutionary War was signed on this Tambour Writing Table This diplomatic achievement is depicted in the collection s unfinished painting after Benjamin West s 1782 original The American Commissioners of the Preliminary Peace Negotiations with Great Britain Hand wrought silver by patriot silversmith Paul Revere porcelain wares from George Washington s Society of Cincinnati and companion portraits of John Quincy and Louisa Catherine Adams 1816 by artist Charles Robert Leslie are among the national treasures Portrait of Benjamin Franklin ca 1760 by Benjamin Wilson Portrait of Thomas Jefferson ca 1791 by Charles Willson Peale Bombe desk and bookcase 1753 by Benjamin Frothingham Jr Massachusetts Chippendale high chest ca 1760 unknown maker Philadelphia Marlborough leg camel back sofa ca 1775 1800 attributed to Thomas Affleck Philadelphia References Edit Files John January 13 2004 Clement Conger 91 Curator Who Beautified Federal Halls The New York Times Kempster Norman August 7 1990 Insider He Took Charge of a Shabby State Department Clement Conger is his name and furnishing is his game For the last 30 years he has made sure that foreign VIP s like what they see in Washington D C Los Angeles Times https receptiontours state gov Sinopoli James December 2014 Pacheco Isaac ed Dining Diplomacy State Magazine No 595 Washington D C Bureau of Human Resources United States Department of State p 11 ISSN 1099 4165 Retrieved August 1 2019 Conger Clement E and Alexandra W Rollins Treasures of State Fine and Decorative Arts in the Diplomatic Reception Rooms of the U S Department of State New York Harry N Abrams Inc 1991 Ward Gerald W R ed Becoming a Nation Americana from the Diplomatic Reception Rooms U S Department of State New York Rizzoli 2003 Further reading Editwww MuseumsUSA org For Kids Ages 12 and Up Beth Rubin Frommer s Washington D C with Kids Part Three www googlebooks com Retrieved 2011 01 12 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Diplomatic Reception Rooms Harry S Truman Federal Building The Diplomatic Reception Rooms Official Website Reception Room Tours U S Department of State Official tour information page Official U S Department of State Flickr Gallery of the Reception Rooms Collection Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Diplomatic Reception Rooms U S Department of State amp oldid 1145955465, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
