[Panoramic Photo]: Pi Beta Phi Eastern Conference at White House. April 11th 1924

Large gelatin silver panoramic photograph. Approximately 44" x 10". Group photograph of several hundred women posed before The White House, and a single man, the artist Howard Chandler Christy (posed in the front row beside his wife), standing a few places away from their hostess, the First Lady, Grace Coolidge. Christy, well-known for his illustrations and paintings of society women, was attending the event to unveil his portrait painting of Mrs. Coolidge that was (and is) her official White House portrait. The sororal society Pi Beta Phi was originally founded in Illinois in 1867. At her alma mater, The University of Vermont, Grace Coolidge was a founding member of the Pi Beta Phi Chapter and remained active in sorority affairs for the rest of her life. The sorority commissioned the painting of Grace, wearing a flame red dress known as "The Red Portrait," as their gift to The White House. The Keynote Speaker for the event, Carrie Chapman Catt, appears in the photo to Mrs. Christy's left. Approximately 1300 women attended this event, and it looks like a good faith effort was made to include them all in this image. Note that Grace is the only woman not wearing a hat, as she was the person being "visited." A fine image of a notable event. By all accounts, Grace made up in spades with the charisma and joie de vie that her laconic husband lacked.…