Diplomats - "The Family" 1906-1924
The Family at 1718 H Street ca. 1914: (top from left) James Logan and Henry P. Fletcher; (2nd row) William Phillips and George Marvin; (3rd row) Basil Miles and Willard Straight; (bott. row) Frank McCoy and unidentified man
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"'The Family' was founded by a group of bachelors who were beginning careers in the military, politics, and diplomacy. In 1907, they rented the home of retired Army General William H. Emery, 1718 H Street, N.W., so they would have a place to stay when they were working in Washington. When Basil Miles, one of the founding and leading members, was assigned to Petrograd in 1914, a decision was made to buy the house to insure a permanent residence and that the group would remain a "family." In 1922, the house at 1718 H Street was destroyed by fire caused by a faulty flue during the legendary snow storm that collapsed the roof of the Knickerbocker Theater, occupying the attention of every available firefighter. The strength of the bonds within the group was demonstrated as members immediately set about rebuilding the residence. Members of the group went on to have distinguished and influential positions in their chosen careers, including Boston Mayor Andrew J. Peters; New York Federal Reserve Bank Governor Benjamin Strong; David A. Bruce, ambassador to France, Germany, Great Britain, and Undersecretary of State; and Joseph C. Grew, ambassador to Japan and Undersecretary of State. The convenient location of the house offered a discreet site for sensitive negotiations away from the press. Reportedly, some of Secretary of State Charles Evans Hughes' discussions on disarmament and war reparations after World War I took place at 1718 H Street. Parties at 1718 H Street from 1912 to 1930 included the elite of Washington society, such as the Longworths and Roosevelts. Most of the members married and were allowed to continue in "The Family," but were restricted in their use of the residence. "The Family" continued to meet for "Homecoming Dinners" until 1950, by which time several of the original members had died and the group began to discuss selling the house and disbanding. Many of the members had retired and joined DACOR, an organization for retired diplomats that had been organized in 1950. In 1954 the residence was sold to DACOR and "The Family" ended." (1)
Joseph Grew in Berlin 1919
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"Waldo Heinrichs has described this establishment--located next door to the Metropolitan Club and a short distance from the State Department--as a "club for the social elite of the Diplomatic Service." Certainly, the silk-stocking credentials of its charter members confirm the group's unabashedly elitist character. William Phillips, Harvard '00, and Willard Straight of Cornell '01 and Manchuria fame shared backgrounds marked by
social respectability, inherited wealth, and superb education. Other early members and Foreign Service pioneers, such as Basil Miles (Oxford), Leland
Frank McCoy in France 1919
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Harrison (Eton and Harvard '07), and Frederick Sterling (Harvard '98), fit the same pattern. Eventually, the club's distinguished State Department contingent included such notables as Fletcher, Grew, Joseph P. Cotton,
James C. Dunn, Francis White, and Norman Armour. The first three career diplomats to serve as Undersecretary of State all resided at 1718 at one time or another. Bound by uniquely intimate ties--they called themselves simply "The Family"--these men regularly corresponded, consulted, and advised one another about professional as well as personal matters." Those at home cultivated the interests of those abroad, while the latter in turn kept 1718 informed with inside information on the latest overseas developments, leading historian Robert D. Schulzinger to describe the house as 'virtually a second foreign office.'" (2)
"Few old timers are around to remember it was early in 1950 that the idea of an organization of retired FSO's was initially suggested. As the idea grained support, a meeting of some three dozen retired officers was held on May 5, 1950 at the home of Richard and Katherine Boyce. Clearly needed, they agreed, was an organization to lobby for legislation which would provide better pensions, surviving wives' benefits, cost of living adjustments and health and hospital insurance. That meeting marked the beginning of limited but concerted activity under the banner of the Retired Foreign Service Officers' Association. On June 11, 1951 the association's first bulletin was circulated to members. On June 2, 1951 by-laws were adopted and officers were elected. As the pace of activities escalated, it became clear that the organization should acquire official status and formalize its business practices. Toward that end the members met in April 1952, changed the organization's name to Diplomatic and Consular Officers, Retired (DACOR) and voted to incorporate the organization. A Certificate of Incorporation was duly filed with the Recorder of Deeds on November 18,1952. The seven directors who signed the certificate were: Mrs. Wilbur J. Carr, Ambassador Robert Woods Bliss, Carol H. Foster, George Gregg Fuller, Ambassador Joseph C. Grew, Ambassador Arthur Bliss Lane and Ambassador Orme Wilson. For the next two years, DACOR held its luncheons, meetings and social gatherings in private homes, the Metropolitan Club, the National Press Club, and the Fort McNair Officers' Club. On occasion they also used the townhouse at 1718 H Street, N.W. owned "The Family," a small group of retired military and diplomatic officers. A prominent member of that group was Ambassador Grew, and it was he who early in 1954 advised DACOR that The Family's townhouse would be sold. He suggested that DACOR purchase it. Following successful negotiations DACOR, on October 22, 1954, for $60,000, took title to the property and all of its contents. On April 26, 1985, the Bacon House Foundation was merged into DACOR's Education and Welfare Foundation and the stage was set for DACOR to move from its small three-bedroom townhouse at 1718 H Street to the 24-room Federal mansion at 1801 F Street. Today, DACOR Bacon House is an elegant setting renowned for intellectual rapport, cultural enlightenment and grand entertainment, a status commensurate with its growth from a membership of three dozen to its current roster of 2,650." (3)
Sources:
- Text quoted from The Historical Society of Washington, D.C. Special Collections
- Bacevich, Andrew J., Jr. "Family Matters," Armed Forces and Society 8, Spring 1982, p. 405-418.
- DACOR 50th anniversary and Family Drinking Cups
Links:
revised 12/7/03 by Schoenherr
