Summary of the Use and Restoration of the Secretary's Room
M-101
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Madison Occupation
This small room, added during the 1812 renovations, was most likely used by the Madisons as storage space or a changing room until James Madison moved his chamber downstairs. Margret Bayard Smith recounts on a visit to Montpelier,
“After the first salutations were passed, Mrs. M. invited us to a chamber, where we might make ourselves comfortable, she said. She led the way to an elegant little chamber, on the same floor and adjoining her own, furnished with crimson damask and looking out on the beautiful lawn. She sent a maid to attend us and said she would return by the time we had exchanged our damp clothes. This she soon did and she then carried us in to her own chamber.” [1]
Smith’s recollection implies that before Madison fell ill and moved downstairs Dolley occupied room M-104 as a sitting room/chamber, and the connecting room served as a dressing room. It was not until Madison’s later years that he moved downstairs, and Dolley moved to the larger chamber in the north wing. It was then that Madison took over this small room to be used as a secretary’s office. At this point in Madison’s life, he was relying on others to write his letters due to arthritis in his hands. This gave them a space in direct contact with Madison to complete his correspondence and copy his papers. [2]
Post-Madison Alterations
During the duPont occupation, this room was altered to create a passage across the north wing. Therefore, the north wall was removed, a door was cut into the east wall, and a new door was cut into the south wall. For the most part, the east, south, and west walls are original. The door to the passage (M-102) is also original; although, the door hardware had been replaced in 1902. [3]
Floor Plans
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![](https://cdn.arcgis.com/sharing/rest/content/items/701fb5bb5497494dbf92d264d937528d/resources/ioVciXbkuIYRearguQ4Pp.jpeg?w=20)
Location of room M-101 on both the Madison and Dupont floor plans
Restoration
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To further explore the model, click here
References
[1] Margaret Bayard Smith, letter, August 1828.
[2] "Secretary’s Office / M-101," curatorial binders, James Madison's Montpelier Curation and Research Department.
[3] Wenger, Mark, "M-101 - Dolley's Dressing Room (South End duPont Room 116)" James Madison's Montpelier Architecture and Historic Preservation Department, June 26, 2002.
[4] Ibid
[5] Buck, Susan, "Montpelier Interior Paint Investigation –Section 3 Room 101," James Madison's Montpelier Architecture and Historic Preservation Department, July 2007, p. 34-42.
[6] Wenger, "M-101 - Dolley's Dressing Room (South End duPont Room 116)."
[7] Ibid
[8] Ibid
[9] Ibid
[10] Buck, "Montpelier Interior Paint Investigation –Section 3 Room 101," p. 34-35.
[11] Wenger, "M-101 - Dolley's Dressing Room (South End duPont Room 116)."