This finding aid was digitized with funds generously provided by the Smithsonian Institution Women's Committee.
Descriptive Entry:
These papers consist of exhibition scripts for the Hall of Political History; correspondence pertaining to publications, lectures, educational activities, and planning
of the First Ladies Hall; research notes and drafts to the publications Official White House China: 1789 to the Present, The First Ladies Cook Book: Favorite Recipes
of All the Presidents of the United States, and The Dresses of the First Ladies of the White House; photographs of Klapthor; annual reports for the Division of
Political History; published articles by Klapthor; and biographical information on the First Ladies.
Historical Note:
Margaret B. Klapthor (1922-1994) was born in Henderson, Kentucky. She graduated from the University of Maryland, B.A., 1943, and shortly thereafter was employed by
the Smithsonian Institution as a scientific aide in the Civil Section of the Division of History, United States National Museum. Klapthor was assigned to restoring the First
Ladies' dresses, the collection of White House gowns, which eventually became the First Ladies Hall exhibition at the Museum of History and Technology in 1964. Her positions
later included Assistant Curator, 1947-1948, in the Section of Civil History, Division of History; Assistant Curator, 1949-1951, and Associate Curator, 1952-1957, in the Division
of Civil History; and Associate Curator, 1957-1970, Curator, 1971-1983, and Curator Emeritus, 1984-1994, in the Division of Political History. Klapthor published many articles
and several books during her tenure, including The Dresses of the First Ladies of the White House and Official White House China: 1789 to the Present.
