This Member's desk (and its mate, 1837.3) is among the surviving furnishings from Federal Hall, the home of the first United States Congress located at the corner of Wall and Broad Streets. Federal Hall was remodeled for that purpose in 1788 by the French-born architect and engineer Pierre L'Enfant, who may have influenced the design of the furniture created for the government officials. The original furnishings, used by Congress for less than a year, were still stored in the building when the New-York Historical Society was headquartered there in 1809. Founder John Pintard petitioned the Common Council for use of six semi-circular tables, and they agreed. In 1837, the city donated two of the tables, two pedestal desks, two desks used by members of Congress, and four armchairs to the Historical Society.

According to the accession records, the donors believed that this chair and its mates belonged to their ancestor, John Watts (1749-1836). Close examination, however, has shown the chairs to be late nineteenth- or early twentieth-century reproductions. Evidence includes the quality of the carving, the color of the wood, and the fact that there are band-saw marks inside the seat rails (see publications).

According to family history, this is the desk on which George Washington signed the death warrant of Major John André in September, 1780 at his headquarters in the De Windt House in Tappan, New York.

This mantel clock, once owned by the Livingston family, represents the allegory of Venus and Adonis. It depicts the goddess of love in a swan-pulled chariot gazing at her lover, and with her son Cupid nearby. A similar clock, thought to have belonged to Napoleon Bonaparte’s mother, is at the emperor’s home, Malmaison, located outside of Paris. Livingston’s relationship to the Napoleonic court was often strained during his time there as the United States Minister. Yet, the Chancellor cautiously admired the French, writing to his sister Alida in 1802 that "Pleasure is in short the only pursuit of the gay world here."

Samuel Verplanck, the original owner of this chair, was a New York importer and banker. He resided at 3 Wall Street at the time he acquired the chair.

According to the donor, the mantel clock and associated urns were used in the Van Rensselaer mansion.

This was one of the clocks in E. Ingraham Company's line of six shelf clocks commemorating military heroes. The American Clock and Watch Museum in Bristol, Connnecticut, also owns an example of this clock.

According to the accession records, this chair and its mate were used by the Livingston family.

According to the accession records, this clock was once the property of President Chester A. Arthur.