Category: Uncategorized
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An Historian Remembers Chancellor Livingston
Reposted by permission of Tom Shanahan from the Register Star of Hudson, NY: It’s an anniversary which passed with little public notice – even here in his home county. That’s a shame.February marked the death, 200 years ago, of Chancellor Robert R. Livingston. A leader in politics, diplomacy and business, he played a critical role…
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It All Started Here: Livingstons and the Mansions of the Hudson Valley
At Clermont, we love to say that \”it all started here\”–the Hudson River Valley mansions, that is. It\’s a bit of an overstatement, but you may be surprised to know the number of mansions that were built by Livingston family descendants. When the Historic American Building Survey (HABS) was done as part of the National…
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Postcards from the Sea
In honor of the Titanic\’s 101st anniversary this weekend, I thought I\’d take a moment to note some ship-themed images from Ollie\’s stash of early 20th century post cards. Ocean liner travel was often portrayed as grand and luxurious in the early 20th century, and images of the vessels highlights their massive size, towering above…
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Well Served: A Disgruntled Servant Misses the Livingstons
It was purely by luck that I happened across this post card in a stack about 8 inches thick. Somehow post cards from Ollie Christiansen Meyers, the Livingston\’s nursemaid from 1909 to about 1917, made it back to Clermont and are now in our collections. The post cards date from 1906, when she emigrated from…
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Games People Play: Keeping Busy Indoors at Clermont
Spring seems to be a little late in coming to the Hudson Valley this year. I was just getting hopeful when a big snowstorm swept in on the first day of spring and ruined everything. Even now that the snow is melting off, the annual big mud spots are moistening up, and parts of Clermont…
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A Little More About Nancy\'s Mother
Clermont\’s connection to the notorious story of Nancy Shippen Livingston has been the source of quite a few blog entries here. But what about her mom? While I was doing some other research, I came across this great article about Alice from her family home Stafford Hall, including a magnificent portrait of Nancy and her…
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Playing Jane: Getting Ready for Our Regency-Era Tea Party
You\’ve probably heard about it on the news–if you didn\’t know already. This year is the 200th anniversary of the first publishing of Jane Austen\’s \”Pride and Prejudice.\” News programs all over the country are giving a little attention to one of England\’s most popular early female authors, and each one of these news spots…
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Volunteers are a Precious Resource
I\’ve just completed one of the biggest logistical winter programs of my eight years at Clermont: The Out of Time Fashion Show. And as I was bouncing around from room to room of Central House Hotel, looking for emergencies to solve (because that is what I do at events), I was amazed to watch a…
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Winter Blues? Not here!
So where have I been these past several weeks? When this blog started, back 2009, a couple of us were working together to keep Clermont\’s blog updated about every week. Through staff changes, we\’ve whittled it down to just me, and lately I haven\’t been quite up to snuff! Things look quiet around Clermont in…
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Beau Ned: The Chancellor\'s Younger Brother
Edward was the youngest son of dear old Margaret Beekman and Judge Robert R. Livingston. Throughout his life he was known for being extremely even-tempered–so much so that the family tells a story in which, when Edward \”was charged with violent conduct\” towards a sister, his mother punished the sister since she must have done…
Clermont State Historic Site 