James Madison's Montpelier We The People Spring 2018 WTP_Spring_2018_FINAL_web | Page 5

SPRING 2018
BRINGING THE PAST TO THE PRESENT
TERESA TEIXEIRA, CURATOR OF COLLECTIONS
Teresa Teixeira leads the Museum Programs’ Collections
Department as Curator of Collections, coming from the
Textiles and Historic Interiors departments of Colonial
Williamsburg. In the two years since she’s been at
Montpelier, she’s been involved in the furnishing
plans for the South Yard quarters, the acquisition of
the artwork in the South Passage of the House, and the
most recent furnishing of John Payne Todd’s bedroom
and a guest bedroom. Teresa explains that all of the
installations and acquisitions are based, at least in part,
on the work and discoveries of other departments like
Archaeology, Research, and Architectural Preservation.
She believes that the greatest challenge for her
Teresa Teixeira in the South Passage
department is defending new research-based changes.
Some of the previous interpretation, such as the large upstairs bedchamber that was originally interpreted as
the Madisons’ “master bedroom,” was based on faulty assumptions and modern ideologies. Guests’ accounts
and research on bedroom use support the idea that during the Madisons’ period, the largest and finest chamber
of the house was the best guest chamber, and that room is now interpreted as such. Upcoming projects include
refurnishing one of the guest chambers with multiple beds to show how the Madisons accommodated such
large numbers of overnight guests and filling another room entirely with reproductions so visitors can interact
with the objects. Plan a visit to Montpelier soon to see all of the exciting changes!
VISIT US: BEHIND THE
SCENES HOUSE TOURS
CONTACT VISITOR SERVICES AT
540.672.2728 x141
MEET THE MADISONS
Thursday-Sunday, April-October
Friday-Saturday, November-March
James and Dolley Madison left their mark
on more than just politics. Get to know the
Madisons and how they lived their lives in
this special tour.
“LET IT BE RED” CURATORIAL TOUR
September 7 & 21; October 5 & 19
Dolley Madison once asked a friend to purchase
for Montpelier fabric of any color, but “let it
be red.” Learn how Montpelier’s curators are
implementing their latest discoveries and
expanding the Montpelier collection.
PAGE 4
Top right: The South Passage
Bottom left: John Payne Todd’s bedchamber
Bottom right: A guest chamber
PAGE 5
Left: Venetian carpeting by Rabbit Goodey, on the North stairs
Right: “Bee and Star” wallpaper by Adelphi, in John Payne Todd’s bedchamber,
together with a wine bottle bearing the seal of James Madison Jr.
Bottom: Doorway between the South Passage and Nelly’s Best Room
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