DACOR Bacon House History: Academic Library




Most Recent Articles



Mr. Carroll and His Bibles

Feb 17 2025
William Thomas Carroll, Clerk of the U.S. Supreme Court and occupant of 1801 F Street for almost thirty years, provided the Bible on which Abraham Lincoln was sworn in as president in 1861. It is currently kept in the Library of Congress and has recently been used in presidential inaugurations. Another of Mr. Carroll’s lesser-known Bibles is kept in the Smithsonian. A third, belonging to the Carroll family, is also in existence. The story of the multiple Bibles owned by Mr. Carroll is explained herein.


Ruth McCormick McCormick and Senator Medill McCormick, Renters of 1801 F Street 1919-1923

Feb 3 2025
Senator Medill McCormick and his wife rented 1801 F Street from Mrs. Alice Thaw Whitney during the years 1919-23. They were a political power couple when they resided in the house. They entertained simply but frequently, and the house became a place where important people could be encountered and when good, if simple, food was served buffet-style. Ruth Hanna McCormick was a powerhouse by herself, daughter of the famous senator from Ohio, Marcus Hanna, a politically savvy woman who worked tirelessly to see ensure that Illinois adopted the women’s suffrage amendment.


“Old Brick Top”: Gen. Samuel Sprigg Carroll, 1832-1893

Jan 27 2025
Gen. Samuel Sprigg Carroll (aka Sprigg Carroll) was the most notable character among the Carroll family children, rivaling only his younger sister, Sally Carroll, Countess Esterhazy. A hero of the Civil War – one of the “forts” on the perimeter of Washington was named after him – he is remembered as a brave and daring soldier – a daredevil among the Union army generals who was much admired by his troops. He was badly wounded and obliged to retire from active duty in 1864. In the years after the war, his reputation was tarnished by his consorting with prostitutes and a highly publicized divorce due to his social standing. Nonetheless when he died, his notoriety was forgotten, and his sparkling military career was lauded in the newspapers. He was laid to rest in the Carroll Mausoleum in Oak Hill in 1893.

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Our Authors


Terence Walz is the resident historian at DACOR Bacon House. He is a historian of modern Egyptian history with a doctorate from Boston University. He is the author and editor of two published books and has recently contributed articles to the Journal of Supreme Court History and the website of the White House Historical Association. Dr. Walz’s work in international organizations led him to the DACOR Bacon House where he has been a member for six years. He has taken on the task of researching and documenting the history of the DACOR home, its history, and its inhabitants, particularly the first one hundred years. This archive is a growing collection of his work.



Elizabeth Warner, a lawyer by training and DACOR member, is researching the life of Virginia Murray Bacon, the last private owner of the DACOR Bacon House from 1925 to 1980. She is an adjunct professor at New England College, where she designs and teaches courses in law and political science. A long-term resident of the Washington, D.C. area, she also lived and worked throughout Europe, the Middle East and Asia for 14 years, often in extremely challenging environments. In addition to articles about Mrs. Bacon, she has published material on human rights, international law and other subjects. Ms. Warner has law degrees from the University of Michigan and Georgetown University.