Re-Living History at Doris Duke’s ‘Rough Point’

By: Julie Pearson
Posted In: Entertainment

A layer of snow lies like a cover over the ground. Every branch of the trees is lined with snow and ice, and the brick house lay still, seemingly sleeping under the blanket of snow.

The only movement is from the angry Atlantic waves slamming into the rocks below. Suddenly a Greyhound darts out the back door, and a man appears, small in stature with glasses that hide piercing blue eyes.

The dog runs back and jumps on him licking him lovingly, and the two disappear back into the estate.

One may at first think this is a wealthy Newport homeowner, letting his dog out for a morning run along the yard of his estate overlooking the Cliff Walk. Instead, it is the Collections Director of Rough Point, Bruce Macleish.

Constructed in 1891, Rough Point was first home to Frederick Vanderbuilt before he sold it to William Leeds in 1908. In 1922, James and Nanaline Duke purchased the estate which would remain in the family for the next 71 years.

The estate was handed down to the Duke’s child, Doris, at age thirteen upon James’ death in 1925. It was not until her forties that Doris took real interest in the house, and began the legacy of what Rough Point is today.

Over the course of her life, Duke had a passion for collecting art and antiques to decorate her home. She amassed over 5,000 objects in her Newport home alone, not including the collections still found in her Hawaii home and Duke Farm in New Jersey.

Records and receipts of her extravagant purchases were seldom kept, and were stored at Duke Farm if at all. It is now Bruce Macleish’s job to manage and research the collections that Duke filled her home with.

Bruce Before the Point

Macleish first interest in life was English literature which he earned a bachelors degree in. He then worked a number of different jobs, never really feeling fulfilled in any of them. He applied for a position at a museum in Mystic Seaport, Connecticut, and was referring to a graduate program in Cooperstown, New York.

The program was the first of its kind in the country for those working in the museum industry. While studying in Cooperstown, Macleish interned at the New York State Historical Association and the Farmer’s Museum working with instructors from his program.

After completing the program he accepted a position in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The museum had been built in the 1930s but had never been upgraded.

“A suggestion at the museum was using off-white labels so discoloration would be disguised,” said Macleish. He admits to having fun at the outdated museum but not learning much. He did however help to double the size of the original building over seven years.

Macleish then returned to Cooperstown for the next 20 years teaching in the same graduate program he attended, and managed the collections and exhibits of two museums. At this point in his career, he wrote The Care of Antiques and Historical Collections.

In May of 1999, the Director of Rough Point, a former student of Macleish’s, called and inquired about interns to catalogue objects over the summer, and a number of positions that were opening.

“I thought about it for about an hour, then called back and told him I had plenty of interns, but how about those staff positions,” said Macleish. “It worked out.” A turning point had been reached in his career, and he took it at full steam ahead.

The New Duke

Macleish now dedicates most of his time to his position as Collections Director at Rough Point, learning about the pieces in the home, and Doris Duke herself.

When Rough Point was first handed over to the Newport Restoration Foundation, “everything was a great discovery,” said Macleish. As the years have passed, most of the pieces have been researched and discovered, but there is still much to do in organizing the estate.

Macleish determines where and how to move furniture and objects, which is generally not good for the pieces but is sometimes necessary.

He also works with experts in various fields such as furniture and art experts. These experts are help in conservation projects which can include painting walls and ceilings, and wallpaper, fabric, and furniture restorations.

Occasionally, Rough Point will lend objects to other museums. Macleish once accompanied a painting to a museum in Italy. He admits to having fun, but only after stressful airport security measures and the painting arriving safely.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art will also have furniture on display from the estate in the spring. Macleish tends to be hesitant in lending out objects since everything they have is on display and there is nothing in storage to take the place of those lent out.

Of all the paintings in the house, Macleish cites his favorite as one that is not on display. “Lady in Pearls” by Ferdinand Bol was a rare find in the house, as it was not damaged or altered in any way.

“You’ve got what you’ve got,” said Macleish. “The master’s touch is on everything.”

Included in Macleish’s position as Collection Director, is creating different galleries each year to draw visitors back to Rough Point. This year’s gallery is of Duke’s clothing, calling “Jet Set to Jeans.” Three dozen pieces will be on exhibit, all of which she wore. There are a number of ethnic pieces, including a green, silk, Indian dancing outfit with silver sequins adorned the trim.

The top is a midriff, and includes a scarf. Other pieces include jeans and a soft pink, short-sleeved cashmere sweater, a bathing suit on loan from her Hawaii estate, and two Fortuny pieces. Fortuny was a French designer in the 1930s whose pieces are very sought after today, which Macleish himself was unaware of.

Macleish helps to choose which garments will be displayed, and preparing them for viewing on mannequins. Usually the mannequin must first be wrapped so that he clothing fits snuggly and does not pull or stretch. Green latex type gloves must also be worn so sweat and body oils do not rub off on the clothes from hands.

Macleish’s true passion for Rough Point and Doris Duke are evident when he speaks of their history. The passion and knowledge he has about the estate and Duke is astounding.

In Macleish’s third floor office with mint green slanted walls, he sits overlooking the Atlantic and Cliff Walk, and speaks of his favorite quote by Doris Duke.

While on her honeymoon around the world she once said, “It was like falling in love twice at once,” referring to India and Hawaii.

It seems as if Mr. Macleish himself has fallen twice in love, with Rough Point and Ms Duke’s legacy.