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To: The
Honorable Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr.
Governor of Maryland
From: Edward C. Papenfuse,
State
Archivist
Mimi Calver, Director of Exhibits, Outreach, and Artistic Property
Maryland State Archives
Elaine Rice Bachmann, Curator
Maryland Commission on Artistic Property of the Maryland State Archives
Date: April 15, 2003
Re: Proposal for Wye Oak Desk
The State Archives and the Maryland Commission on Artistic Property are delighted to present the following thoughts on a new desk for the governor's office to be created from Maryland's historic Wye Oak. We have researched various styles of desks by Maryland craftsmen, as well as historic desks in public use around the country. We have also researched the history of the governor's office and its furnishings, and all of this information is attached to this proposal. Also included is information about the Wye Oak itself and the Wye Oak Commission which was formed after the tree fell in 2001.
The Archives and Commission strongly recommend that a "pedestal" style
desk be made. It is important to note that this new desk will become the
official desk of all future governors and the pedestal style, of which
the Resolute Desk in the White House (pictured below) is the most notable
example, is the traditional model. A further consideration is that a future,
female occupant of the office would almost certainly be more comfortable
with this style of desk.
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The new desk will also be a cornerstone for all future decoration of the governor's office, so we recommend that less consideration be given to matching the current furnishings than to selecting a style that is sympathetic to the interior architecture of the room and one that will have timeless appeal. The selection need not be confined to a specific "period" design, since the governor's office reflects over 300 years of history and craftsmanship.
The Archives and the Commission have identified a cabinetmaking firm that has the expertise to craft a very high-quality desk. Called McMartin & Beggins Furniture Makers, they have created furniture for some of the most historic homes in Maryland and use almost exclusively Maryland woods which are milled locally. At the moment, they are making tables for Vice President and Mrs. Cheney. They have prepared a proposal for a design of a desk for the governor's office that is included with this package, along with information about their firm, its two prinicipals, and their work. They have examined the Wye Oak wood and believe that there is sufficient figured wood to make a magnificent desk. The beauty of old oak is its grain which provides the ornamentation for the piece. However, an inlay of the Great Seal of Maryland could be added to the design.
This style of desk would be the most practical and traditional choice for long-term use by governors of Maryland. It would also allow the craftsman to use his or her creativity to incorporate symbols of Maryland, most especially the Great Seal of 1634. A beautifully designed and executed desk in this style would be an enduring symbol of the office of governor for generations to come, much as the Resolute Desk has become the symbol of the American presidency. It would be a practical desk for daily use, as well as one that would lend itself well for ceremonial occasions.
It is most fitting for the first Maryland governor elected in the twenty-first century to commission an historic desk for the governor's office. As an example of contemporary master craftsmanship, the "Wye Oak Desk" will add another layer of history and craftsmanship to an office steeped in Maryland tradition and will undoubtedly be treasured by future occupants of the office.
We look forward to working with you on this exciting project.
Attachments:
Four Centuries of History, Four Centuries of Craftsmanship: The Governor's Office in the Maryland State House
Historic Desks in Public Offices: An Overview of Styles
The Wye Oak: Maryland's Most Beloved TreeProposal for Wye Oak Desk by McMartin & Beggins Furniture Makers