This archivist has a bad case of Royal Wedding Fever. I wasn’t around for the Prince Charles-Lady Di extravaganza, so I refuse to miss a single minute of Kate Middleton and Prince William’s nuptials! I have plans to wake up in the middle of the night to watch the wedding on television complete with a champagne toast in my pajamas.
For those of you who can’t get enough of the glitz and glamour, we have plenty of royal records at the Archives of American Art to feed the need. The papers of painter, writer, and minor noble John D. Graham, born Ivan Dombrowsky, are fully digitized and online. They come complete with a certificate of nobility from the Russian Crown.
Along the same lines, within Edith Halpert’s 1962–63 oral history interview with Harlan Phillips, the art dealer describes the time she saw a procession of the Tsar and Tsarina of Russia. Unfortunately, they did not adhere to her fairytale image of royalty (no crowns or tiaras!).
If an American-style of royalty is more up your alley, why not gaze at the lovely Jackie Kennedy holding court while touring the under-construction Whitney Museum of American Art. Or maybe you prefer fashion icon Gloria Vanderbilt, a true American royal.
Jayna Hanson is a processing archivist at the Archives of American Art and an aspiring royal.
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Comments
Great post! I had no idea the Archives of American Art had so much on international royals. My favorite royal was always Prince William. He and Kate make such a cute couple. Thanks for sharing this!
Posted by Lisa Pasquinel… on January 31, 2011
Cheers to the happy couple! I'll be toasting as well!
Posted by joan meyer on January 31, 2011
The photo of Jackie Kennedy is great. She is not as interesting as the group of men staring down upon her.
Posted by Anonymous on February 4, 2011
I love Princess Diana and I just hope that Prince William's marriage with Kate lasts for a lifetime. That'll make her mom really happy and proud.
Posted by Anonymous on February 9, 2011
My favorite royalty of all times is definitely Napoleon and Josephine. Although, not royalty by blood, theirs is a facilitating story. I always admired self-made kings and emperors, or other great leaders, who came from nowhere and conquered the world. Napoleon gave Josephine a medallion for their wedding on which he inscribed the words "To Destiny" - and what a destiny they both had!
Posted by Anonymous on February 14, 2011
Living in Britain its a big thing this wedding. We all get a day off to celebrate and its a national holiday, Now everyone is trying to get married on the same day to make the event even more special. I wish them all the happiness for the future
Posted by Anonymous on February 27, 2011
Really interesting post, I also live in Britain and it seems there is a split, those who are excited and planning street parties or those who are completely indifferent to all the fuss!!!
I am looking forward to watching it I remember Charles and Diana's wedding when I was my daughters age so it will be interesting to see how interested she is!!! Iam married to an Irish man who couldn't care less!!
Posted by Carole Book on March 30, 2011
It is lovely for the couple and we will watch the ceremony wish them all the best!
Posted by Anonymous on March 30, 2011
I remember when I was a kid, the street parties for Charles and Di... even up in Scotland! It was a magical time when everyone really got caught up in the fairytale. I think we're all a bit more realistic now, but it's no less special.
Posted by Anonymous on May 10, 2011
Oh royalty, I don't know what's up with people, but it seems they always want somebody to dominate them. And that's the fact, otherwise kings and queens would be long forgotten.
Posted by Anonymous on June 29, 2011
<strong>Elizabeth Awad</strong>
Major thanks for the blog post.Much thanks again. Keep writing.
Comments
Great post! I had no idea the Archives of American Art had so much on international royals. My favorite royal was always Prince William. He and Kate make such a cute couple. Thanks for sharing this!
Cheers to the happy couple! I'll be toasting as well!
The photo of Jackie Kennedy is great. She is not as interesting as the group of men staring down upon her.
I love Princess Diana and I just hope that Prince William's marriage with Kate lasts for a lifetime. That'll make her mom really happy and proud.
My favorite royalty of all times is definitely Napoleon and Josephine. Although, not royalty by blood, theirs is a facilitating story. I always admired self-made kings and emperors, or other great leaders, who came from nowhere and conquered the world. Napoleon gave Josephine a medallion for their wedding on which he inscribed the words "To Destiny" - and what a destiny they both had!
Living in Britain its a big thing this wedding. We all get a day off to celebrate and its a national holiday, Now everyone is trying to get married on the same day to make the event even more special. I wish them all the happiness for the future
Really interesting post, I also live in Britain and it seems there is a split, those who are excited and planning street parties or those who are completely indifferent to all the fuss!!!
I am looking forward to watching it I remember Charles and Diana's wedding when I was my daughters age so it will be interesting to see how interested she is!!! Iam married to an Irish man who couldn't care less!!
It is lovely for the couple and we will watch the ceremony wish them all the best!
I remember when I was a kid, the street parties for Charles and Di... even up in Scotland! It was a magical time when everyone really got caught up in the fairytale. I think we're all a bit more realistic now, but it's no less special.
Oh royalty, I don't know what's up with people, but it seems they always want somebody to dominate them. And that's the fact, otherwise kings and queens would be long forgotten.
<strong>Elizabeth Awad</strong>
Major thanks for the blog post.Much thanks again. Keep writing.