Object Details
- General
- Woodberry Forest in Madison County, Virginia, also known as "The Residence," was built around 1793. It was originally the estate of William Madison, member of the Virginia House of Delegates for seven consecutive terms and brother of President James Madison. In 1793 James Madison asked Thomas Jefferson to supply plans for a house for his brother. Jefferson, a close friend of the president, suggested a floor plan for a seven-room house in a geometric configuration that is a hallmark of Jefferson's residential design. James Madison later wrote to Jefferson saying that William had adopted the plans. No Jefferson drawings have been positively identified as the Madison design, but the correspondence authenticates the Jefferson connection. The original, unacademic two-column portico suggests, however, that Jefferson was not involved in the execution. Although Woodberry Forest is in Madison County, sources sometimes identify it as being in Louisa County or Orange County.
- In 1870 the property was purchased by Robert Stringfellow Walker, who remodeled the house in 1884. It was here that Walker founded Woodberry Forest School in 1889, naming it after the Madison plantation. The house was renamed "The Residence" and became the headmaster's house.
- Former owner
- Walker, Joseph, Mrs
- Architect
- Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826
- Former owner
- Madison, William
- Walker, John Scott
- Walker, Robert Stringfellow
- Walker, Joseph G.
- Provenance
- Dolley Madison Garden Club
- Collection Creator
- Garden Club of America
- Place
- United States of America -- Virginia -- Louisa County
- Woodberry Forest (Madison County, Virginia)
- United States of America -- Virginia -- Madison County -- Woodberry Forest
- Topic
- Gardens -- Virginia -- Madison County -- Woodberry Forest
- Former owner
- Walker, Joseph, Mrs
- Architect
- Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826
- Former owner
- Madison, William
- Walker, John Scott
- Walker, Robert Stringfellow
- Walker, Joseph G.
- Provenance
- Dolley Madison Garden Club
- See more items in
- The Garden Club of America collection
- The Garden Club of America collection / Series 1: United States Gardens / Virginia
- Sponsor
- A project to describe images in this finding aid received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care Initiative, administered by the National Collections Program.
- Custodial History
- The Dolley Madison Garden Club facilitated the documentation of this garden.
- Archival Repository
- Archives of American Gardens
- Identifier
- AAG.GCA, File VA099
- Type
- Archival materials
- Collection Citation
- Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, The Garden Club of America collection.
- Collection Rights
- Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
- Scope and Contents
- The folder includes a copy of a chapter on Woodberry Forest from "Homes and Gardens in Old Virginia," edited by Frances Archer Christian and Susanne Williams Massie and a copy of the National Park Service's "Journey Through Hallowed Ground" online description of "The Residence."
- Collection Restrictions
- Access to original archival materials by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
- Record ID
- ebl-1643208220039-1643210188038-0
