MONTPELIER MANSION ARCHIVAL PERMANENT COLLECTION Accession Montpelier Mansion Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission Laurel, MD Karen Whitehair 2014
Accession 2014.001.01.2 CU.FT. 5 folders Scope and Content Note This collection consists of materials primarily related to the years when the David and Susan Buswell lived at Montpelier as its caretakers (1961-1964) as well as to Ms. Buswell s involvement with the Friends of Montpelier. Contents include the initial correspondence to Christine Long Willcox to inquire about serving as caretakers of Montpelier as well as a list of repairs needed on the house and related correspondence; various articles about Montpelier or the renovation work being done at Montpelier, David Buswell s History of Montpelier; and a 30 th anniversary program for the Friends of Montpelier celebration. In addition, this collection contains a bound scrapbook once owned by Breckenridge Long that displays telegrams related to the negotiations taking place at Palace of Versailles during the world-wide peace negotiations of 1919. Processing Notes: The collection materials were divided up between five folders and two boxes. The first folder focuses in on the Buswell-Willcox correspondence. The second folder contains Mr. Buswell s History of Montpelier. The third folder contains articles that had been photocopied from original journal or newspaper articles, party invitations and related Friends of Montpelier materials. [PLEASE NOTE: The photocopied materials will have paper paperclips if the copying of the complete article required multiple pages of photocopies. Please respect these paperclips for they are there to help you as well as any researcher who follows you.] The fourth folder holds a black and white photograph showing the south wing of the mansion c. 1961. Cautionary Note for Researchers: Some contents contain information that has been superseded by more recent historic preservation evaluation and tests as well as research in primary source documentation. However, we encourage the study of these materials as a way to see a snapshot in time as it relates to our ongoing quest to learn more about the history of Montpelier. Thus, we strongly recommend viewing these resources in concert with more recent academicallysupported sources. Series Description: This collection consists of two series: 1) Buswell Materials; and 2) Breckinridge Long Materials 2
Related Collection Materials: 2014.001.01: Victorian Style Chandelier that once hung in the South Hyphen of the mansion. 2014.001.05: Black and white photograph showing the US Capitol building on the night the US declared war on Germany, April 2, 1917. The photograph is framed and matted with a caption. It was owned by Breckenridge Long and supposedly displayed in Mansion. 2011.002.01: A sampler created by Priscilla Brashear in 1771. Found in a drawer of a chest of drawers located on the property c. 1961. Origin unknown. 3
FOLDER LIST Series 1: Buswell Materials Box 1 Fd. 1: The Buswell Caretakership Item 1: A typed introductory letter requesting to become caretakers, from David Hastings Buswell to Mrs. Christine L. Long, dated May 9, 1961 Item 2: A three-paged typed explanation of how the caretakership came to be Item 3: Estimates from the Martin Company regarding repairs. Typed, some ink notations Item 4: Two page itemized and descriptive list of needed repairs Item 5: Letter from David H. Buswell to Mr. Arnold A. Willcox, dated August 30, 1961, regarding completed repairs and expenses Item 6: Handwritten note in ink from Arnold A. Willcox, dated May 17, 1961, giving David Buswell authorization to make needed repairs Fd. 2 A Brief History of Montpelier by David H. Buswell, May 1962 11 pages typed. Contains genealogy and ownership listings; a Beltsville Research Center Map showing Montpelier; and First Floor Plan of Montpelier Fd. 3: Various Articles and Events Related to Montpelier Item 1: Journal Article: Adventure in the Mansion Morton Salt Company Magazine, July-August 1962 Item 2: Notice/Invitation about the Buswell s move into Montpelier Mansion [folded], n.d. Item 3: Invitation to a party to visit the Buswell s at Montpelier, n.d. Item 4: Program Friends of Montpelier 30 th Anniversary Celebration Saturday April 8, 2006 Montpelier Mansion Item 5: Newspaper Article: Montpelier rehab to take 5 months The Laurel Leader, March 1, 1984, by Karen Yengich. 3 pages of photocopy Item 6: Newspaper Article: Gazebo-raiser The Laurel Leader, 9-22 [ 84? handwritten date]. 1 page of photocopy Item 7: Newspaper Article: Montpelier Mansion subtle restoration may start in Feb. The Laurel Leader, January 5, 1984. 1 page of photocopy Item 8: Newspaper Article: Time for a Facelift The Laurel Leader, 10/6 [ 83? Handwritten date]. 2 pages of photocopy 4
Fd. 3 (cont.) Item 9: Newspaper Article: New Uses for Old Buildings Prince George s Journal, Tuesday, August 2, 1983, by Peter D. Pichaske. 5 pages of photocopy Item 10: Newspaper Article: Montpelier restored house show place again The Laurel Leader, April 18, 1985, by Karen Yengich. 6 pages of photocopy Item 11: Newspaper Article: Montpelier to be preserved as reminder of a gracious past Maryland Living June 14, 1964, story and pictures by David Buswell. 4 pages of photocopy Item 12: Journal Article: Servant of the Young Republic Life Magazine, May 25, 1962. Only relevant pages copied, 3 pages of photocopy Fd. 4 Black and white, 8 x 10 photograph. Image shows the south wing of the mansion, c. 1961, representing how the Buswell s lived in the mansion Series 2: Breckenridge Long Materials Box 2 --Scrapbook of Telegrams: History of the signing of the Treaty of Peace as recorded by original telegrams filed at the U.S. Signal Corps Telegraph Office Palace of Versailles, June 28, 1919 Contains 15 telegrams plus one glued-in handwritten letter. No items are originals photographs (photostat) of original records. 5