Inventory of the White House
2/26/1801
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This document records the first official White House inventory of "furniture and other property," taken in 1801. It was prepared by Thomas Claxton, doorkeeper of the House of Representatives.
The inventory was attached to a Congressional report for the "Joint Committee on Public Property in the Hands of the President" considering whether further accommodations were needed for the "President's House."
Transcript
In Senate of the United States Feb 27th, 1801The Committee appointed to join such committee as may be appointed on the part of the house of Representatives to consider whether any, and if any, what measures ought to be adopted for the further accommodation of the President of the United States for the term commencing the fourth day of March next.
Report,
That, out of the appropriation of fifteen thousand dollars, made for the purpose of providing furniture for the President’s house, by the 2nd section of the Act intituled “An Act to make further provision for the removal and accommodation of the Government of the United States” passed the twenty fourth day of April one thousand eight hundred, a sum of six thousand seven hundred and fifty nine dollars thirty eight cents, has been actually expended; and that there are outstanding accounts for furniture already purchased and received, which may be estimated at something more than two thousand dollars, leaving an unexpended balance of about six thousand dollars, still applicable to the object for which the appropriation was made.
That
That although a number of rooms remain unfurnished, the Committee are of opinion that the said balance of six thousand dollars, will be sufficient to purchase the furniture which may be necessary, in addition to the articles now in the possession of the President, an inventory of which is annexed to this report, and that no further measures are necessary for that object.
City of Washington, Feb’y. 26th.1801
Sir,
Agreeably to you directions, I have taken an Inventory of the furniture and other property in the possession of the President, belonging to the United States. In performing this service, I have given a general view of the Household furniture, omitting in some cases a compleat detail; the time allowed not being sufficient to enumerate and describe such a variety of small articles as compose a part.
Having been informed that the President intends leaving this City early in the morning of the 4th of March, I have thought it my duty to suggest to you the propriety of naming some person to lodge in the House on the night of the 3rd, with authority to receive the Keys, the next morning. This arrangement appears necessary as [illegible] his confidential [illegible].
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your ob” humble servnt.
signed,
Thos. Claxton.
To the Honble Wilson C. Nicholas Esq Chairman of the joint Committee on the arrangements necessary for receiving the Public Property in the hand of the President of the United States.
Inventory of the Furniture in the Presidents’ House, the property of the United States taken February 26, 1801.
First Floor
No.1. Dining Room – North front, West end,
5 Window Curtains
2 Side boards, with table ornaments
4 dozen Chairs, black & gold
1 Brussels Carpet with Green Beige cover
No Glasses
No.2. Leveé room South front, West end
5 Window Curtains
23 Mahogany Chairs
2 Do [ditto] Side Boards
2 Do [ditto] Card Tables
2 Small Looking Glasses.
2 Sconces, & Chimney ornaments
5 Patent Lamps.
1 Pair Andirons fender Shovel & tongs.
1 Brussels Carpet
No. 3. Breakfast Room.
2 Easy Chairs
13 Mahogany Do [ditto]
1 Side Board
1 double Breakfast Table
1 small ditto
2 Window Curtains
1 Looking Glass
3 Girandoles with Lamps
1 Brussels Carpet
1 Pair Shovels & tongs Fender
2 Tapann’d Plate warmer
No. 4.
President’s Drawing Room, (Now serving as the South entrance of the House)
1 Mahogany dining Table in 4 parts
1 Common Carpet
This Room is vastly deficient in furniture.
No. 5. Lodging Room.
1 Bed compleat Window Curtains
5 Mahogany Chairs
1 Sopha
1 Bureau
1 Small Glass
1 Night Table
1 Pair Andirons Shovel & tongs Fender
1 Brussels Carpet
No. 6. Grand Hall.
1 Pine dining Table, in 7 parts
[line folded over - illegible]
1 Clock
1 Side board Table - Floor laid with Common Carpeting
Second Floor
No. 7 Common Bed Room East end, North front
1 FieldBed compleat
1 Sopha
3 Mahogany Chairs
1 Table
1 Small Looking Glass
1 Washing Stand
1 Common Carpet
No. 8 Bed Room.
1 Bed, compleat
5 Mahogany Chairs
1 Wardrobe
1 Bureau
1 Table
1 Washing Stand
1 Looking Glass
1 pair Andirons – Fender – Shovel & tongs
1 Window Curtain
1 Common Carpet
No. 9 Store Room (Containing)
Cornice for Windows, pieces of Carpeting &c &c [etc.]
No. 10 Dressing Room_ West end_South front
1 Bed, compleat / excepting Curtains
1 Sopha
1 Wardrobe
2 Chairs
1 Night Table
1 Common Carpet
No. 11 President’s Bed Room.
1 Bed Compleat White [illegible] Curtains
1 Easy Chair
5 Mahogany Chairs
1 Washing Stand
1 Wardrobe
1 Night Table
1 Bureau
1 Breakfast Table
1 Pine Toilet Table
1 Pair Andirons_ Shovel & tongs _ Fender.
1 Brussels Carpet
1 Chamber Glass
1 Draping [in tolerable order]
No. 12 President’s Office.
2 Mahogany Tables, Covered with Green cloth
1 Wardrobe
1 Desk
1 Washing Stand
1 Small Table
1 pair Shovel & tongs Fender
Window Curtains
Brussels Carpet
Chamber Looking Glass
No. 13 Ladies Drawing Room
32 Mahogany Chairs
2 Sophas
2 Card Tables
1 pair brass Andirons _ Shovel & tongs_ Fender
1 Brussels Carpet
5 Damask Window Curtains
2 Looking Glasses too small for the room
1 pair of Lusters
4 Girandoles with Lamps, compleat. Belonging to this room is a Chandelier of considerable value, not yet unpack’d
No. 14 Secretary’s Office.
1 Bed compleat
1 Desk and Book Case
7 Mahogany Chairs
2 Do [ditto] Tables, covered with Green Cloth
1 Card Table
2 Pine Cases for Papers
1 Washing Stand
2 Window Curtains
1 pair Shovel & tongs _ Fender
1 Brussels Carpet
No. 15 Hall.
1 Common Carpet
1 Sopha.
No. 16 Back Stair Case.
Carpetted compleat
Basement Story.
No. 17 Room _ East and North Sided
Tubs, Buckets and a variety of Lumber
No. 18 Room.
1 Painted floor cloth, not in use
1 Safe
No. 19 Kitchen.
Furniture of all kinds in abundance
No. 20 Washing Room.
Benches, Tables &c &c [etc.]
No. 21 Steward’s Room. West and south front.
1 Bed Compleat
1 Looking Glass
1 Bureau
1 Mahogany Table
1 Writing Desk
1 Dozen Common Windsor Chairs
1 Carpet _ Fender_ Grate &c [etc.]
No. 22 Servants Bed Room.
4 Beds and Bedsteads
1 Small Looking Glass
A few old Chairs
1 Small Grate & Fender
No. 23 Servants Hall.
1 Pine Table
1 Grate and Fender
No. 24 Housekeepers Room.
1 Bed, compleat
2 Window Curtains
1 old Looking Glass
1 Breakfast Table
1 Desk & Book Case
1 dozen Windsor Chairs
1 Common Carpet
Solid Plate.
2 Large Punch Urns and Ladles
2 Cream Urns
2 Sugar Urns
2 Bread Baskets
4 Bottle Stands
10 Salts
3 Castors
5 Soup Ladles
5 Sauce Do [ditto]
8 Ragout Spoons
2 Fish Trowels
3 dozen and two Desert Spoons
11 Smaller of the same kind
6 dozen and 9 Table spoons
13 Silver handled knives
5 dozen Tea Spoons
2 pair Sugar Tongs
18 Spoons & 18 French forks
2 Cream Spoons
10 Salt Do [ditto]
4 Bottle Stands
3 Mustard Spoons
17 Wine Labells
[handwritten in lower left hand corner] Plated
Plated Ware.
1 Tea Caddy with Silver Spoon
4 Bottle Stands
1 Sett of Casters, complete
1 Tea Urn
2 Coffee Do. [ditto]
2 Large Waiters
6 small do [ditto]
16 Beer Goblets
1 Lamp with two branches
4 Glass Baskets
4 Wine Coolers
4 Beer Canns
3 Dish Crosses
24 Candlesticks
10 Branches
6 Snuffer Plates
Table Linen.
39 Table Cloths, in tolerable condition.
36 Napkins, good
33 pair of Sheats, generally good.
28 pair of Pillow Cases
A Large quantity of coarse and fine Towels
5 large Trunks containing a variety of Household Linen.
2 Side boards, with table ornaments
4 dozen Chairs, black & gold
1 Brussels Carpet with Green Beige cover
No Glasses
No.2. Leveé room South front, West end
5 Window Curtains
23 Mahogany Chairs
2 Do [ditto] Side Boards
2 Do [ditto] Card Tables
2 Small Looking Glasses.
2 Sconces, & Chimney ornaments
5 Patent Lamps.
1 Pair Andirons fender Shovel & tongs.
1 Brussels Carpet
No. 3. Breakfast Room.
2 Easy Chairs
13 Mahogany Do [ditto]
1 Side Board
1 double Breakfast Table
1 small ditto
2 Window Curtains
1 Looking Glass
3 Girandoles with Lamps
1 Brussels Carpet
1 Pair Shovels & tongs Fender
2 Tapann’d Plate warmer
No. 4.
President’s Drawing Room, (Now serving as the South entrance of the House)
1 Mahogany dining Table in 4 parts
1 Common Carpet
This Room is vastly deficient in furniture.
No. 5. Lodging Room.
1 Bed compleat Window Curtains
5 Mahogany Chairs
1 Sopha
1 Bureau
1 Small Glass
1 Night Table
1 Pair Andirons Shovel & tongs Fender
1 Brussels Carpet
No. 6. Grand Hall.
1 Pine dining Table, in 7 parts
[line folded over - illegible]
1 Clock
1 Side board Table - Floor laid with Common Carpeting
Second Floor
No. 7 Common Bed Room East end, North front
1 FieldBed compleat
1 Sopha
3 Mahogany Chairs
1 Table
1 Small Looking Glass
1 Washing Stand
1 Common Carpet
No. 8 Bed Room.
1 Bed, compleat
5 Mahogany Chairs
1 Wardrobe
1 Bureau
1 Table
1 Washing Stand
1 Looking Glass
1 pair Andirons – Fender – Shovel & tongs
1 Window Curtain
1 Common Carpet
No. 9 Store Room (Containing)
Cornice for Windows, pieces of Carpeting &c &c [etc.]
No. 10 Dressing Room_ West end_South front
1 Bed, compleat / excepting Curtains
1 Sopha
1 Wardrobe
2 Chairs
1 Night Table
1 Common Carpet
No. 11 President’s Bed Room.
1 Bed Compleat White [illegible] Curtains
1 Easy Chair
5 Mahogany Chairs
1 Washing Stand
1 Wardrobe
1 Night Table
1 Bureau
1 Breakfast Table
1 Pine Toilet Table
1 Pair Andirons_ Shovel & tongs _ Fender.
1 Brussels Carpet
1 Chamber Glass
1 Draping [in tolerable order]
No. 12 President’s Office.
2 Mahogany Tables, Covered with Green cloth
1 Wardrobe
1 Desk
1 Washing Stand
1 Small Table
1 pair Shovel & tongs Fender
Window Curtains
Brussels Carpet
Chamber Looking Glass
No. 13 Ladies Drawing Room
32 Mahogany Chairs
2 Sophas
2 Card Tables
1 pair brass Andirons _ Shovel & tongs_ Fender
1 Brussels Carpet
5 Damask Window Curtains
2 Looking Glasses too small for the room
1 pair of Lusters
4 Girandoles with Lamps, compleat. Belonging to this room is a Chandelier of considerable value, not yet unpack’d
No. 14 Secretary’s Office.
1 Bed compleat
1 Desk and Book Case
7 Mahogany Chairs
2 Do [ditto] Tables, covered with Green Cloth
1 Card Table
2 Pine Cases for Papers
1 Washing Stand
2 Window Curtains
1 pair Shovel & tongs _ Fender
1 Brussels Carpet
No. 15 Hall.
1 Common Carpet
1 Sopha.
No. 16 Back Stair Case.
Carpetted compleat
Basement Story.
No. 17 Room _ East and North Sided
Tubs, Buckets and a variety of Lumber
No. 18 Room.
1 Painted floor cloth, not in use
1 Safe
No. 19 Kitchen.
Furniture of all kinds in abundance
No. 20 Washing Room.
Benches, Tables &c &c [etc.]
No. 21 Steward’s Room. West and south front.
1 Bed Compleat
1 Looking Glass
1 Bureau
1 Mahogany Table
1 Writing Desk
1 Dozen Common Windsor Chairs
1 Carpet _ Fender_ Grate &c [etc.]
No. 22 Servants Bed Room.
4 Beds and Bedsteads
1 Small Looking Glass
A few old Chairs
1 Small Grate & Fender
No. 23 Servants Hall.
1 Pine Table
1 Grate and Fender
No. 24 Housekeepers Room.
1 Bed, compleat
2 Window Curtains
1 old Looking Glass
1 Breakfast Table
1 Desk & Book Case
1 dozen Windsor Chairs
1 Common Carpet
Solid Plate.
2 Large Punch Urns and Ladles
2 Cream Urns
2 Sugar Urns
2 Bread Baskets
4 Bottle Stands
10 Salts
3 Castors
5 Soup Ladles
5 Sauce Do [ditto]
8 Ragout Spoons
2 Fish Trowels
3 dozen and two Desert Spoons
11 Smaller of the same kind
6 dozen and 9 Table spoons
13 Silver handled knives
5 dozen Tea Spoons
2 pair Sugar Tongs
18 Spoons & 18 French forks
2 Cream Spoons
10 Salt Do [ditto]
4 Bottle Stands
3 Mustard Spoons
17 Wine Labells
[handwritten in lower left hand corner] Plated
Plated Ware.
1 Tea Caddy with Silver Spoon
4 Bottle Stands
1 Sett of Casters, complete
1 Tea Urn
2 Coffee Do. [ditto]
2 Large Waiters
6 small do [ditto]
16 Beer Goblets
1 Lamp with two branches
4 Glass Baskets
4 Wine Coolers
4 Beer Canns
3 Dish Crosses
24 Candlesticks
10 Branches
6 Snuffer Plates
Table Linen.
39 Table Cloths, in tolerable condition.
36 Napkins, good
33 pair of Sheats, generally good.
28 pair of Pillow Cases
A Large quantity of coarse and fine Towels
5 large Trunks containing a variety of Household Linen.
China.
3 Table setts, complete
Tea China, a considerable quantity
3 Table setts, complete
Tea China, a considerable quantity
Queen’s Ware
Dishes, and Plates, a large quantity
Glass Ware
A plentiful quantity.
[handwritten in lower right corner] Stable
Stable.
7 well looking Horses, chiefly advanced in years.
1 Sett elegant Plated Harness, for four Horses, in good order.
1 Sett brass Do. [ditto] for four Horses
1 Elegant Chariot
1 Good Coachee
1 Saddle Holster.
1 Market Waggon.
Dishes, and Plates, a large quantity
Glass Ware
A plentiful quantity.
[handwritten in lower right corner] Stable
Stable.
7 well looking Horses, chiefly advanced in years.
1 Sett elegant Plated Harness, for four Horses, in good order.
1 Sett brass Do. [ditto] for four Horses
1 Elegant Chariot
1 Good Coachee
1 Saddle Holster.
1 Market Waggon.
This primary source comes from the Records of Joint Committees of Congress.
National Archives Identifier: 306526
Full Citation: Report of the Joint Committee on Public Property in the Hands of the President concerning furniture for the President's House, attaching an inventory of the furniture and other property in the possession of the President; 2/26/1801; Records of the Joint Committee on Public Property in the Hands of the President, ca. 12/2/1799 - 2/27/1801; Records of Joint Committees of Congress, Record Group 128; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/white-house-inventory, March 26, 2025]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.
