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by William A. Harris, Director King George VI (MO 1975.90a) and his wife Queen Elizabeth (MO 1975.90b) by Frank Ernest Beresford, 1937, FDR Library. Saturday, May 6th, marks the coronation of King Charles III in London. In 1937, FDR was invited to the crowning of King George VI, the current king's grandfather, the main event in … Continue reading The Coronation of King George VI, May 12, 1937

by William A. Harris, Deputy Director Eleanor Roosevelt prepares for the first broadcast of her new NBC radio series, April 30, 1940. (Harris and Ewing Collection, Library of Congress) On April 30, 1940, with little fanfare, Eleanor Roosevelt commenced a new, commercial radio series on NBC. It is hard to imagine in this media era … Continue reading Eleanor Roosevelt’s Own Program, April 30, 1940

By William A. Harris, Deputy Director Movie producer and Academy president Walter Wanger invited the President to speak at the Academy Awards ceremony on February 4th and three weeks later, the President gave his remarks. The above cross reference in the President's files tracks the process. (FDR Library, President's Official File 73, Motion Pictures) With … Continue reading And the Winner Is… FDR and the 13th Academy Awards Ceremony

By William A. Harris, Deputy Director With water at the ready and microphones arrayed before him, the President prepares for a radio address, 1934. (FDR Library, 47-96 1783) This week marks the 88th anniversary of FDR's first "Fireside Chat." Though not identified as such on March 12, 1933, the President's address to the nation marked … Continue reading Celebrating the First Fireside Chat

The formal program to FDR's first inauguration. (FDR Library, Grace Tully Papers) By William A. Harris, Deputy Director With March upon us, it is once again time to celebrate the first inauguration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, as FDR himself did almost every year (except 1941 and 1945) of his Presidency. In 1933, FDR became … Continue reading Celebrating the Big Day: FDR’s First Inauguration and the Annual Anniversary Celebrations, 1934-1945

By Paul Sparrow, director FDR Library On July 28th, 1943 President Franklin Roosevelt delivered a Fireside Chat to a nation immersed in the deadliest global war in human history that looked to the future. He was pleased to announce that the Italian dictator Mussolini had been arrested. He started his chat saying  “Over a year … Continue reading FDR and the GI Bill

by William A. Harris, Deputy Director FDR on television accepting the Democratic Presidential nomination, July 19, 1940. This photo was taken by a viewer while watching the broadcast and sent to the President. (FDR Library, President's Official File-Television) This year marks a major turning point in Presidential nominating conventions with the impact of the COVID-19 … Continue reading Television, FDR and the 1940 Presidential Conventions

by William A. Harris, Deputy Director For the car and truck enthusiasts, as well as those fascinated by the operation of Federal agency motor vehicle fleets during World War II (and really, who isn't?), we provide a glimpse into the operational world of the FDR Library in the early to mid-1940s, including the paperwork nightmare of a pre-computer … Continue reading Keep on Trucking: Esoterica from the FDR Library Files