Return to Simplicity: Featuring Some Colonial Revival Houses of the Main Line and Chester County (Virtual)

With a special focus on houses and interiors of the Main Line and Chester County, this talk looks at the early Colonial Revival and then the widespread enthusiasm for Colonial and Federal architecture, antiques and style that blossomed in the 1920s and 1930s. It was especially influenced by the new American Wing at the Metropolitan Museum, Colonial Williamsburg, and noted collectors like H.F. du Pont, and even is seen in many Hollywood movies.

About the Speaker: Jeff Groff retired in 2021 as Estate Historian at Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library. For sixteen years he was Executive Director of Wyck Historic House and Garden in the Germantown section of Philadelphia. For over forty-five years he has studied and lectured on American country houses and gardens, particularly those of Philadelphia’s “Main Line” and surrounding areas, with an emphasis on country life and sports, and gentleman farming. Currently he is assisting Chanticleer Garden in Wayne PA in developing an updated interpretive plan and history.

Admission is Pay as You Wish! Your donation is greatly appreciated. All proceeds benefit the development of future programming and the preservation of the History Center and its collections. The History Center is home to over 750,000 manuscripts, 100,000 photographs, and 70,000 artifacts. Your donation helps us to preserve and share those resources.

Presentation is via Zoom, and will be recorded and available for 7 days for all registered participants. We will email out a Zoom link the day of the program, and email a link to the recording within 24 hours. Note: the Zoom link emailed out the day of the presentation only takes you to the live Zoom; the link emailed out the day after will contain the recorded version.

This program is made possible with the support of the Chester County Community Foundation and the Chester County History Center Special Fund in honor of 18th century botanist Humphry Marshall.