Grant Quertermous
Curator & Director of Collections – Richard Hampton Jenrette Foundation
Diplomacy at Home: The Domestic Lives of the Founding Families opened June 28 at the Katonah Museum of Art, drawing on objects from some of the nation’s most significant founding-era homes (including John Jay Homestead) — furniture, fine art, personal possessions, and the quiet details that reveal how the Founders actually lived. Grant Quertermous at the Richard Hampton Jenrette Foundation has been at the center of bringing this exhibition together.
What is the core idea behind “Diplomacy at Home”?
The exhibit uses objects to tell a story that focuses on the domestic experiences of the individuals responsible for the founding of the United States and the earliest period of our nation’s history—the era known today as the Early Republic. The title of the exhibit includes the phrase “Founding Families” rather than “Founding Fathers” because I wanted to not only recognize the role of individuals like George Washington, John Jay, and Thomas Jefferson, but also the equally important role played by spouses like Sarah Jay, Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton, Martha Washington, and Abigail Adams who were critical to the development of the political and diplomatic culture in the newly formed United States.
The exhibit also looks at the concept of “home” and what it meant to the Founders, many of whom were away from their families for long periods of time—residing in rented rooms in New York City or Philadelphia or even living abroad in a European city while serving in a diplomatic role. Their correspondence is filled with sentiments about a desire to return home and to their families, yet they also realized the importance of the work they were doing and expressed a belief in it. Another focus examines the Founders in retirement—what they did after they completed their public service. John Jay of course was devoted to his farm—commenting in 1816 that he hadn’t been to Manhattan in over eight years. Similarly, Jefferson, following the conclusion of his second term in office and departure from Washington in the spring of 1809, never set foot in the nation’s capital again for the rest of his life instead focusing on what became his retirement project, the founding of the University of Virginia. All of this is to say that we often forget that the founders were human. Yes, their likenesses now appear on our currency and postage stamps, and their statues are found throughout the United States, but they were human. They needed chairs and tables and ate dinner on plates, and we can use all of these objects to help tell their story.
What objects or loans are you most excited about?
That’s a difficult question as we have so many amazing objects in the exhibit, and I’m grateful to each and every lending institution who helped make it possible. Sarah Jay’s List of Dinner Guests—from the John Jay Homestead collection—has become my favorite document. Hands down. As a curator who has spent twenty plus years focused on this period of the Early Republic, I think the significance of that document cannot be overstated. It’s an amazing historical record, and it’s almost like Sarah recognized the importance of those gatherings and the people seated around her dining table. Just think of the conversations they were having! Another favorite object is a simple bronze and iron door handle from the Philadelphia President’s House now in the collection of the Museum of the American Revolution. During George Washington’s Presidency, the nation’s capital was briefly in New York City then moved to Philadelphia for a period of ten years starting in 1790. While in Philadelphia, George and Martha Washington resided in a house located at Third and Market Streets that served as his Executive Mansion from 1790 until 1797. The house, owned by financier Robert Morris, was later occupied by President John and Abigail Adams for the first three years of his administration as well, until they moved to Washington in late 1800. And while this door handle is a very utilitarian object, think about the many hands that touched it—President and Mrs. Washington as well as the enslaved individuals whom the Washingtons brought to Philadelphia to labor within their household. The door handle is a rare survivor and a powerful object, especially since the house no longer stands.
Why does this moment — America’s 250th — matter for a show like this and how does align with your mission at Jenrette?
America’s 250this a pivotal moment in our nation’s history and an opportunity to reflect on the past two and a half centuries of its history. We can use the objects, portraits, and documents like those in the Jenrette Foundation collection and those from other institutions, such as the John Jay Homestead, included in “Diplomacy At Home” to understand all of the individuals who had a role in the founding of the nation. I also urge everyone to use the opportunity to re-read the key texts of our nation—The Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, and Bill of Rights as well as essays from The Federalist by Hamilton, Jay, and Madison. Bonus points if you also include the writings of Thomas Paine.
The exhibition and partnership with the Friends of the John Jay Homestead and the Katonah Museum of Art is just one of the many ways the Jenrette Foundation is promoting public engagement and stewardship through programs, grants, our historic properties, and significant collection of fine and decorative arts. A key aspect of that mission focuses on providing opportunities for emerging and established professionals in decorative arts, historic preservation, and historic landscapes. We recently launched the Collection Loan Network, a program designed to increase the visibility of our notable collection and really enrich exhibitions at partnering institutions, so I’m happy that we can feature so many objects from the Jenrette collection in the exhibition.
Which Founder would you most like to have dinner with?
Hmm… can I say all of them? Can I say I’d love to attend one of John and Sarah Jay’s dinners where I could just listen to the conversations taking place around the table with the Washingtons? But If I had to pick a single founder, I’d probably say James Madison since I spent nine years of my professional career refurnishing his house, Montpelier. Or maybe DeWitt Clinton. While not a successful Presidential candidate like many of the other Founders examined in the exhibit, his greatest legacy is probably his advocacy for the Erie Canal, and my son and I love reading books about the canal together.