Carved Portraits of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt (MO 1941.4.12-13) Noted African American artist Leslie Garland Bolling (1898-1955) presented these carved figures of the Roosevelts to the President and First Lady in 1940. Born in Richmond, Virginia, Bolling was a largely self-taught artist who captured the attention of the art public with his busts and sculptures … Continue reading From the Museum
NRA Buttons A key element of FDR’s economic revival plan during his First 100 Days in office was the National Industrial Recovery Administration (NRA). The NRA sought to end cut-throat competition that was reducing wages and prices to disastrous levels. It encouraged businesses in hundreds of industries to create codes of “fair competition.” The codes … Continue reading From the Museum
Carved Wooden Pig (MO 1947.93.412) President Roosevelt liked to display souvenirs and small trinkets he received as gifts on his desk in the White House Oval Office. Some of these items reflected whimsical aspects of FDR's personality. This carved wooden pig is certainly among them. Roosevelt enjoyed collecting pig figurines. His private secretary Grace … Continue reading From the Museum
New Photo Exhibit is Open! From May 1, 2012 to late summer 2013 -- while the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum’s permanent exhibit galleries are closed for the final stage of a $35 million renovation -- the Roosevelt Library is presenting the largest photography exhibition ever assembled on the lives and public careers … Continue reading “The Roosevelts: Public Figures, Private Lives”
Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt's Wedding Anniversary MO 1968.25.33 - Usher's Stickpin MO 1949.4.1.1-3 - Wedding Veil Lace MO 1948.80.3 - Artificial Orange Blossoms MO 1968.25.53 - Lace Handkerchief On March 17, 1905, after a year and a half long engagement, Franklin Delano Roosevelt married Anna Eleanor Roosevelt. The 20-year-old bride was escorted down the aisle … Continue reading From the Museum
Assassination Attempt Lead Bullet Fragment in Case (MO 1946.81.1) On February 15, 1933, President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt attended a reception at Bayfront Park in Miami, Florida. After addressing a crowd of supporters from atop the back seat of an open car, Roosevelt slid back down his seat. Suddenly, gunshots rang out. An unemployed bricklayer … Continue reading From the Museum
FDR’s Naval Boatcloak (MO 1981.54) FDR wore this distinctive wool and velvet cloak during his trip to the Yalta Conference in the Crimea, Ukraine, in February 1945. It is a U.S. Navy regulation officer’s boatcloak. Roosevelt wore similar boatcloaks during other trips he made during his presidency. The image of FDR in these cloaks is … Continue reading From the Museum
Marion Dickerman’s Toga Costume (MO 1975.38a-b) Franklin Roosevelt’s harsher critics sometimes compared him to a dictator. In 1934, the President and his staff turned this criticism into a lighthearted joke at FDR’s 52nd birthday party. The party was held on January 30, 1934, at the White House by members of the Cuff Links Gang, … Continue reading From the Museum
Fala's Christmas Stocking (MO 2006.347) In 1941, the staff at the Roosevelt Library celebrated the new institution’s first Christmas by decorating President Roosevelt’s private study. The adornments included this small, blue stocking for FDR’s beloved Scottish terrier, Fala. The stocking can be seen in the photo above hanging next to the President’s. The scene … Continue reading From the Museum
"Remember Pearl Harbor" Weathervane (MO 2005.377) Tomorrow, December 7, marks the 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. In the early morning hours of that December Sunday in 1941, Japan unleashed a devastating surprise attack on American military installations in the Pacific. The worst blow came at Hawaii, site of the giant Pearl Harbor … Continue reading From the Museum
You must be logged in to post a comment.