Diplomatic Reception Rooms, U.S. Department of State

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Object Details

Maker
Stephen Arnold Douglas Volk (American, 1859-1935)
Date
1922-1923
Geography
United States: New York: New York City
Culture
North American
Medium
oil on canvas
Dimensions
Overall: 45 in x 37 in; 114.3 cm x 93.98 cm
Provenance
This portrait of Bainbridge Colby, which was painted from life in New York City in 1922-1923, was purchased by the Department of State from Mr. Colby on May 19, 1923.
Inscriptions
Signed "Douglas Volk"
Credit Line
The Diplomatic Reception Rooms, U.S. Department of State, Washington, D.C.
Collection
The Diplomatic Reception Rooms, U.S. Department of State, Washington, D.C.
Accession Number
RR-1981.0114

Biography

Bainbridge Colby (1869–1950) was born in St. Louis, Missouri, to a prominent New York family. He graduated from Williams College before studying law at Columbia University and New York Law School. A successful lawyer, he served in the New York State Assembly and in various positions during the Woodrow Wilson administration, including secretary of state, appointed in 1920.

Despite Colby’s efforts, the U.S. Senate refused to ratify the Versailles Treaty ending World War I on account of its clause regarding membership in the League of Nations, the international organization Wilson had created for maintaining world peace. Colby denounced the communist regime in the new Soviet Union, successor to the Russian Empire following the Revolution of 1917, and he described the threat international communism posed to existing governments. In Latin America, he promoted goodwill, touring on behalf of the president to promote hemispheric cooperation. He also worked to restore diplomatic relations with the Mexican government following the Mexican Revolution of 1910 and a decade of political instability and military revolts. 

Colby left office at the end of the Wilson administration in 1921 and returned to private practice.