The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-11-25
KANSAS OF COURSE.
Mrs. Abby G. Baker Responsible for
Collection of Presidential Ware.

Washington, Nov. 25.-There is
nearing completion in the White
House one of the most interesting his
toricaI collections to be found in the
country. writes Mrs. Abby G. Baker in
the Century. II is a collection of
of pieces of china, but also containing
a few pieces of plate-begun by Mrs.
Roosevelt soon after she became mis-
tress of the famous old mansion.
Credit for the collection of this
china is largely due to the efforts of
Mrs. Baker, who Is Kansas woman.
Since coming to Washington several
years ago she has won fame as
magazine writer and stands in the
highest esteem in official social circles
where her labors are almost exclusive
" directed. It was through her per
sonaI efforts that Mrs. Roosevelt be-
came interested in maxim collection
of the old presidential china. Mrs.
Baker is not only. We'll known at her
former home in Fort Scott, but
throughout the literary circles of the
Sunf1oweF state.
The inception of the china collection
was almost by accident While Gen
eraI Theodore A. Bingham, now police
commissioner Of Greater New York,
was superintendent of public buildings
and grounds in Washington, position
which entails supervision of the White
House, he found that there was COM
para lively little of the china or the
plate left which had been used
through the administrations of the
various chief executives.
Before his appointment as Superin-
tendent. he had served as military aid
to our American embassies at both
Berlin and Rome. and While there had
noted the veneratiOn and care beStow-
ed upon the royal residences and their
belongings 1t did not take him long
to discover the painful lack in that re-
gard in the presidents home. Meet
Ing Mrs. Baker one day in the early
n -, IL 10 h he
did not write a STORY on the presi-
Dental china in the White House and
awaken an interest in it that would
lead to its preservation.
eff somebody does not do that pretty
soon" he added. energeticallv. there
won't be any left TO preserve"
When the article was published
President Roosevelt and his family
occupied the White House and Colonel
Thomas w. Symons had succeeded as
superintendent of public buildings and
grounds. The article. however, came
under his notice and he called it to
the attention of the presidents wife
Mrs Roosevelt has always taken the
greatest interest in everything pertain
ing to American history, and she saw
that it Law within her power to pre-
serve at least specimens of the his
toric ware. She designed two cabinets
and had them placed in the lower east
corridor of the mansion, where they
could be inspected by all visitors. and
then asked Mrs. Baker to come to the
White House and select the pieces of
china which should be placed in the
cabinets
While this work was BENZ done the
new state dining set which Mrs. ROose-
welt had ordered for the White House
arrived and, including the pieces
chosen from it, eight shelves We're fill
ed with china which was used during
the administrations of Lincoln. Grant,
Hayes, Arthur, Harrison, Cleveland,
Mckinley and Roosevelt shelf to
each administration
The china selected by Mrs Roose-
welt for the state dining set could not
be in better taste. 1t is Wedgwood
and is decorated in a simple colonial
pattern in gold, with the diverse of
the great seal enameled in colors on
each dish. There are over 1900 pieces
in the set. and to accompany it she
ordered IA pieces of glassware. A