Curtains, draperies, and upholstery, 1947-1950

Kimball's zealous campaign to acquire through loans, purchases and gifts as many pieces of Jefferson's original furniture and decorative arts as possible for the Jefferson Memorial Foundation is documented here. Relying in large part on his contacts with the Coolidge family and other Jefferson descendants, initially gained when editing Jefferson's architectural drawings for the Massachusetts Historical Society, Kimball successfully located, and in more cases than not, acquired a large portion of the original Jefferson furnishings held by descendants. Kimball also acted as arbiter, determining what pieces offered for sale to the Foundation were authentic and which were fake, basing these decisions on his broad knowledge of French and American furniture, as well as his extensive research and writings on Jefferson. Working with André Carlhain in Paris, Kimball also negotiated the purchase of period pieces to supplement the original furnishings.

These files also document Kimball's involvement in the recreation of curtains, draperies, and bedspreads for Monticello, as well as the reupholstering of chairs and sofas, all in the manner he felt was most historically accurate. In one case, Kimball went so far as to have silk fabrics especially woven. The subseries also includes Kimball's inventories, object labels, and installation records, as well as correspondence with the house's caretaker. Object labels in the hand of Kimball's wife, Marie, attest to the couple's collaboration on some curatorial functions.