Symposium held at the library of virginia in richmond. Our next speaker is john white. John white is an associate professor of american studies at Christopher New Port University in new port news. When i look at johns vida, his academic resume i think of an old graduate School Adviser and im talking about you, jim wittenberg, would say to us when he would come to our offices to find someone to volunteer for a project. Busy people get things done, and we knew we were in for it when dr. Wittenberg talked about that. Jonathan white has to be the busiest young scholar in the field today. Hes not only a prolific hiftor yap, but more projects on more backburners than ive ever seen on the stove award. He won the outstanding faculty award for academic education. Hes a parent of young children, i dont know where john finds the time. Hes been very generous with what remaining time he has from all of that for this museum and our Education Programs for which were all very grateful. As you can see
Our next speaker is he is an associate professor in newport news. When i look at his academic resume, i think of what an old graduate School Advisor talked about, would say to us when he would come into our offices to find someone to volunteer for a project. Busy people will get things done. We knew we were in for it. He has to be the busiest young scholar in the field today. Hes not only a prolific historian, but more projects on more back burners on the stove than i have ever seen for. A dedicated a dedicated educator he won the 2019 outstanding educator award. I do not know where he finds the time. He has been very generous with what remaining time he has. We are all very grateful. As you can see from your printed programs, the topics of his published works are many and varied with something of a focus on Abraham Lincoln and constitutional history as well. And because he lives in newport news, virginia and had a few extra minutes on his hands, he and Anna Holloway wrote our little m
Jonathan pliska, and author of the awardwinning White House Historical association publication, a garden for the a history of the white house grounds. Jonathan will be signing copies of this book later in the day during the reception in the gift shop. You will have an opportunity to meet with him, and talk about how great his presentation was. [laughter] please join me in welcoming jonathan pliska. [applause] yes, hello, i am jonathan pliska. I am absolutely honored to be speaking at this wonderful garden symposium. I would like to thank the White House Historical association, oak spring, and all the other sponsors for having me here today for hosting the event. As well as that splendid reception last evening at the u. S. Botanical garden. Thank you all for attending. I am going to give you the overview of the first 100 years or so of the white house grounds. Focusing on the various uses of the landscape, as well as its physical development, and to squeeze us all in in a little under 3
You this morning, also to kind of see all the pieces come together. And its truly a privilege to introduce our first speaker whos a fellow wisconsinite like myself. So our first speaker this morning will be Jonathan Pliska author of the Award Winning White House Historical Association Publication a garden for the president history of the white house grounds. Jonathan will be signing copies of this book later in the day during the reception in the gift shop. So youll have an opportunity to meet with him and talk about how great haze presentation was. No pressure. So please join me in welcoming Jonathan Pliska. So, yes, hello. I am in fact Jonathan Pliska. And i am absolutely honored to be speaking at this wonderful garden symposium. Id like to thank the White House Historical association, oaks spring and all the other sponsors for having me here today and hosting the events. As well as that splendid reception last evening at the u. S. Botanical garden and thank you all for attending. An
But think about to when johnson pivska visited the class and we talked about the Jackson Magnolia. Who remembers the story . Andrew jacksons wife died right before he went to office so he planted this tree because it was her favorite tree. And he brought the seeds from the hermitage in tennessee and do you remember what jonathan told us . He said there isnt any contemporary evidence, Andrew Jackson never mentions planting a tree, theres nothing in newspapers so it seems like this is a story that has these romantic origins and its continued to grow from that ever since. So this is actually first known exterior photograph of the white house taken by a welsh born photographer named john plume jr. In january 1846. So if youre looking at the white house, this is 1846, so in theory jackson planted his tree already, right . But i dont see a magnolia anywhere. So this also bolsters the case that perhaps the magnolia came a little bit later than people think. Heres an outdoor shot by lewis walt