Imagine cocktail hour hosted by F. Brooke Whiting II at his inherited 1911 American Bungalow… Cocktails would be brilliantly served in Brooke Whiting’s antique silver mugs. Experiencing his antiques did not end with his drinks. Indeed, guests would circulate through his cozy home and encounter in every room his rather eclectic Master Collection that consists primarily of Asian Works of Art and Eighteenth-Century American Furniture.

Many guests were not only captivated by his exquisite collections; rather, they were even more intrigued by Brooke: a kind, very intelligent, well-versed, very lovely, and entertaining gentleman. He is remembered as one with the best stories and a giving heart. Moreover, he is still known for his fabulous cocktail parties, thrown annually during the winter season to celebrate his return to his Cumberland house from Los Angeles. Even though he served for over thirty-two years as Curator of Rare Books and Literary Manuscripts for UCLA, he never forgot his deep roots in Allegany County.

In addition to spending the holiday season in his native town, Brooke would visit the Gordon-Roberts House, located at 218 Washington Street and known formerly as the History House. Despite residing in California, he remained a faithful member of the Allegany County Historical Society. In fact his parents Frank and Ruth Whiting were instrumental in founding the society. During its infancy, his mother served as house chairman and exhibited in 1954 at the open house family items such as her collection of silver and copper luster ware and European patch boxes. In 1982 Brooke honored the memory of his parents and their fervor for the Society by donating pieces of their furniture: a window seat, a pedestal table, an Empire dresser, and more.

Brooke’s desire to preserve Cumberland’s history and traditions via contributions to the Historical Society extended beyond his membership dues and donating some of his parents antique furnishings. He deeply wished to provide the community with remnants of his rich heritage and the exquisite, rare, and historically valuable collections amassed in his lifetime from world traveling, worldwide associations with prestigious antique dealers and auction houses, and inheritance from his life-partner Wesley S. Griswold. Thus, upon Brooke’s death in 1998, Brooke bequeathed his Cumberland House and its contents to the Society on the condition that his home be opened as a museum. Fully aware of the financial struggles and bleak funding facing the museum world, he left a substantial endowment that guarantees his legacy will be viewed in perpetuity by visitors locally and abroad.

In January 2004 the Allegany County Historical Society opened the F. Brooke Whiting Museum’s doors full-time. Brooke’s wishes are being realized. Visitors from the community and beyond are experiencing his 1911 bungalow and leaving overwhelmed at the treasures seen. The house museum has two floors and overflows with antique furnishings that represent the eighteenth, nineteenth, and early twentieth centuries. Visitors are greeted by a striking Venetian Murano Glass Chandelier and a portrait of the first Duchess of Devonshire, dated 1650. Asian Works of Art also abound and Chinese wares from every dynasty are displayed.

The fascination continues with encountering miniature portraits, Russian and Greek Icons, Staffordshire figures, Allegany County Glass, Persian rugs, and various artwork from around the world such as a Canaletto engraving, a seventeenth-century oil of David and Goliath, and Rowland Emett’s 1954 original drawing entitled “Niagara Falls”.

The splendid and intriguing tour ends in the kitchen which was the heart of the Whiting home. While seated at the original white metal kitchen table, visitors can enjoy Asian tea and view pictures of the Whitings from their various world travels. In fact visitors receive a detailed history of the Whiting family, for the Whitings were significant and influential members of the community.

A brief journey into their lives will reveal such importance: F. Brooke Whiting I was a prominent attorney in Cumberland. Frank was not a native of Allegany County; instead, he was born at Moorefield, West Virginia, in 1873. After completing his undergraduate work at the University of Virginia and obtaining his law degree form the University of Maryland, he served in the Spanish-American War in 1898 and 1899 as first lieutenant with Company C of the First Maryland Regiment. With the war’s completion, he practiced law locally in the firm of Whiting and Eppler. In November 1912 he married Ruth White of Cumberland. Ruth was the daughter of Warren C. White, a Cumberland bigwig. Mr. White was a former mayor of Cumberland, owned a lumber business, founded the German Brewing Company, President of Queen City Brick and Tile Company, and more.

Frank Whiting was quite active in community organizations. He was president of the Queen City Brewing Company, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Cumberland Savings Bank, President of the Western Maryland Building and Loan Association, President of the Maryland Glass Company, and local Chairman of the Republican State Central Committee. Moreover, he served as city solicitor during Chief Judge George Henderson’s term of office as mayor in 1932 and 1933. He also belonged to many fraternal organizations such as Potomac Lodge, No. 100, Cumberland Lodge, No. 60, Knights of Pythias, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Junior Order United American Mechanics, and more.

The Whitings had three children. Their last child Blaine died tragically as an infant. Anne Frances was the first Whiting child born in 1913. She graduated from Bryn Mawr School and College. During World War II, after finishing a two-month course of training at Midshipman’s school, in Northampton, MA, was commissioned as an ensign in the United States Naval Reserve. Previously, the Times and Alleganian Company had employed her. She was initially assigned to duty in the Bureau of Navy Personnel in Washington, DC and later assigned to the headquarters of the Army of Occupation in Germany. After leaving the navy, she had a distinguished and honorable career with the C.I.A.

Anne Frances resided in Washington, D.C. but would visit her Cumberland house periodically. She was an avid reader and an intelligent and stunningly beautiful lady. The F. Brooke Whiting Museum displays her Chinese Porcelain Collection, Queen Anne Furniture, and Persian Rug Collection.

F. Brooke Whiting II had a successful and impressionable career. His educational esteem began with attending Tome School for his high school years. Like his father, he attended the University of Virginia for his undergraduate studies and attained his Bachelor’s Degree in 1941. During World War II he was in the American Field Service with the British Army and drove an ambulance in Africa and Italy. From August 1951 - June 1956 he was principal librarian assistant for the Clark Library of UCLA. Then he attended Columbia University and acquired his Master’s in Library Sciences in 1957 and returned to UCLA.

His career initiated as Literary Manuscripts Librarian and followed in 1971 as Curator of Rare Books and Assistant Director of Special Collections. He was instrumental in the following exhibits: “Antiquarian Booksellers of California,” “Not Tantamount to Rarity: Fifty Years of Collecting,” “Picturing Childhood,” and more. He retired in April of 1983 after over thirty years with UCLA. His efforts and contributions to the advancement and specialization of UCLA’s library department were honored in October and November 2000 with “A Tribute to Brooke Whiting” in the faculty exhibit area of the Charles E. Young Library. Moreover, the foreword to the library’s illustrated children’s book collection applauds the foresight of Brooke and others who began accumulating the book collection.

The F. Brooke Whiting Museum has around 1500 books collected by the Whiting family. Most are rare, first-edition literature, history, and children’s works. Familial documents dating from the eighteenth century onward also comprise the Whiting Museum’s Archives. The plantation register dating from the 1850s - 1870s of Brooke’s grandfather James Whiting, the Moorefield, West Virginian farmer, was recently discovered. Numerous photographic materials and slides from their travels are also included.

The splendid cocktail parties of Brooke Whiting exist in history. However, his various collections that reveal the material culture of Cumberland, the Nation, Europe, Britain, the Middle East, and Asia are still present and awaiting to be admired. In fact his last wish was for his hometown and elsewhere to be a guest in his family’s home and to encounter his historical treasures and curiosities.

Accept his invitation by visiting the F. Brooke Whiting Museum at 632 Washington St. in Cumberland, Maryland. The museum is open Tuesday - Saturday with hourly tours given at 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00 and specially by appointment.

Inquiries can be made at (301) 777-7782 and fbrookewhitingmuseum@allconet.org. Visit the museum online at: www.whitinghousemuseum.com.

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