in 1882, struve was posted as minister to the united states. struve and his wife were noted washington society habitués, holding soirees and a sunday salon for washington’s diplomatic and political elite. their residence in washington was in farragut square, near the home of united states senator leland stanford of california. from 1882 to 1892, a variety of powerful men and women passed through the struves’ door: the theodore roosevelts, henry adamses, james g. blaines, leland stanfords, and many others. the struves were also noted collectors, donating ethnological prints of russians to the smithsonian institution and a vast teapot collection (more than 900) to various european collectors. in line with german practice, he was entitled to use the title of baron von struve while abroad, though this was denied him while resident in germany or russia. the american press generally rendered his title and name as baron de struve.