Keeping up appearances: furnishings of American embassies in Europe, 1778-1825
| Author(s) | Chase, Juliet B. | |
| Date Accessioned | 2020-06-11T15:43:42Z | |
| Date Available | 2020-06-11T15:43:42Z | |
| Publication Date | 1996 | |
| Abstract | During the early federal period the United States struggled to establish a strong government and culture. The first generation of American diplomats were sent to Europe to represent the federal government in these matters. This study examines manuscripts and objects that reflect the material culture of American diplomacy from 1778 to 1825. Documents in the Library of Congress and those available on microfilm form the bulk of the evidence examined. ☐ The group of diplomats examined expressed their culture and their position in their material surroundings. What they purchased for their temporary homes and the lifestyles they led demonstrated their interest in fitting into the diplomatic and foreign societies around them. Large amounts of federal and personal money were expended on their residences. Many of these ambassadors were conscious of the importance of their image as Americans abroad in conducting their business. ☐ A more intensive examination of the documents and objects pertaining to the embassies of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams provides an in-depth look at how two American diplomats were living during the 1780s. Both men lived in elegant surroundings that were not obviously American in appearance. Yet there are strong similarities between the two houses that may indicate patterns of behavior and purchasing which distinguished these residences from other homes in Europe. | en_US |
| Advisor | Buggeln, Gretchen T. | |
| Degree | M.A. | |
| Program | University of Delaware, Winterthur Program in Early American Culture | |
| Unique Identifier | 1157345199 | |
| URL | http://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/27232 | |
| Publisher | University of Delaware | en_US |
| URI | https://search.proquest.com/docview/304291750?accountid=10457 | |
| dc.subject.lcsh | Embassy buildings -- Europe -- 18th century | |
| dc.subject.lcsh | Embassy buildings -- Europe -- 19th century | |
| dc.subject.lcsh | Furniture -- Europe -- 18th century | |
| dc.subject.lcsh | Furniture -- Europe -- 19th century | |
| dc.subject.lcsh | Interior decoration -- Europe -- 18th century | |
| dc.subject.lcsh | Interior decoration -- Europe -- 19th century | |
| dc.subject.lcsh | Diplomatic and consular service -- United States -- History -- 18th century | |
| dc.subject.lcsh | Diplomatic and consular service -- United States -- History -- 19th century | |
| dc.subject.lcsh | Diplomatic and consular service, American -- Buildings | |
| dc.subject.lcsh | Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826 -- Homes and haunts -- France -- Paris | |
| dc.subject.lcsh | Adams, John, 1735-1826 -- Homes and haunts -- Netherlands -- Hague | |
| Title | Keeping up appearances: furnishings of American embassies in Europe, 1778-1825 | en_US |
| Type | Thesis | en_US |