Colonel McCormick acquired his love of books from his father, Robert Sanderson McCormick, who was well known in the diplomatic circles of Europe as a collector of rare, first editions of French literature.  The Colonel followed his father’s lead and collected first editions of historical books.  The 1870s Italian Renaissance Revival-style bookcase holds many of McCormick’s first edition books.  Many of the books in this bookcase are signed by their authors.

Some of the photographs on display in the drawing room include one that depicts Colonel McCormick in a beige suit standing next to Eva Peron. Note how tall McCormick was compared to the others in the photograph. The brunette standing next to Eva Peron is Maryland McCormick, and Juan Peron, the President of Argentina, stands next to Maryland.  Another photograph depicts Colonel McCormick’s mother and father Katherine Medill McCormick and Robert Sanderson McCormick.  The couple looks like royalty in their formal attire, for they are dressed for a royal ball in Vienna.  Other photographs include an image of Hedda Hopper, the Hollywood gossip columnist; the Monsigneur who blessed McCormick’s Dam in Baie Comeau, Quebec; and an image of Katherine Medill McCormick riding in a carriage with Maryland Hooper’s mother.

While working as a diplomat in England, Colonel McCormick’s father also collected fine art.  The 18^th century portrait of Nell Gwynn by Sir Peter Lely represents one of the finest paintings that Robert Sanderson McCormick acquired.  Gywnn was one of the first female actresses to portray female roles on the English stage in the 1500s.  Before this, men played the parts of women on the English stage.

Another English artist probably painted the portrait of the unknown woman above the mantel. That dates from the early 1600s.  At that time, many English artists painted portraits in the style of Dutch artist Van Dyke.  The woman depicted in this portrait is wealthy, since she wears a satin dress.  The artist is unknown.

Other notable portraits in this room are of Colonel McCormick as a child.  E. Rosset Granger painted the portrait of Colonel McCormick as a young boy at age three. To the modern eye, it appears as if McCormick is a girl in this portrait, but it was customary in the late Victorian age to dress boys and girls in dresses, until they reached the age of three. It was easier for parents to potty-train a boy if he were in a dress, instead of in pants. McCormick’s first wife Amy, who enjoyed creating oil paintings from photographs, painted the other portrait of McCormick as a 12 year-old boy.