Found in the Archives

Eleanor Roosevelt and Queen Elizabeth II In the United Kingdom, 2012 marks the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. While the Queen's reign began after the Roosevelt years in the White House, there was a relationship between the Roosevelts and the Royals. Her parents, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, had visited the … Continue reading Found in the Archives

1940 Census – The Roosevelts

On April 2, 2012, the National Archives publicly released over 3 million images containing 1940 census responses. The information had been closed for a mandated 72 years, but is now available for free and online at http://1940census.archives.gov. There were 132 million people living in the United States in 1940, Americans who had lived through the Great … Continue reading 1940 Census – The Roosevelts

From the Museum

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

Found in the Archives

2012: The Girl Scouts of America turns 100 March 12, 2012 marks the 100th anniversary of the first organized meeting of the Girl Scouts, hosted in Georgia by founder Juliette Gordon Low.  Several years later, as First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt served as Honorary President of that organization throughout her tenure in the White House. In … Continue reading Found in the Archives

Found in the Archives

We thought this would be a great photo to share in celebration of International Women's Day: The United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10, 1948 in the midst of an especially bitter phase of the Cold War. Many people contributed to this remarkable achievement, but most observers believe … Continue reading Found in the Archives

Franklin D. Roosevelt Day by Day – March

March 17, 1935 marked Franklin and Eleanor's 30th wedding anniversary. They were married on St. Patrick's Day in 1905 in New York City at the home of Eleanor's aunt, Mrs. Henry Parrish Jr. The bride was given away by her uncle, President Theodore Roosevelt. They took their honeymoon over the summer and visited England, France, … Continue reading Franklin D. Roosevelt Day by Day – March

Found in the Archives

How the Roosevelts Spent Christmas, 1936 As the holiday season approaches, we often get asked for details about how the Roosevelts spent Christmas in the White House. This memorandum describes the plans for Christmas 1936, including how the White House was decorated, the First Family's schedule and house guests, and even procedures for opening presents. … Continue reading Found in the Archives

Found in the Archives

First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and "Chief" Charles Alfred Anderson, 1941 In 1941, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt flew with one of America's first black pilots, Charles Alfred Anderson, over Tuskegee, Alabama. Mrs. Roosevelt's flight was well-publicized, and it demonstrated to the public and the military that African Americans could be competent pilots. Shortly after the flight, … Continue reading Found in the Archives

49th Anniversary of Eleanor Roosevelt’s Death

The following is an excerpt from the Fall 2009 Rendezvous article, “Eleanor Roosevelt at 125,” by Allida Black: In 1962, as ER battled fatal illness, she also sought to complete her final call to action. In Tomorrow is Now, she dared us to recognize the power we had as citizens and to use our power … Continue reading 49th Anniversary of Eleanor Roosevelt’s Death

From the Museum

Eleanor Roosevelt's Engagement Ring (MO 1974.375)   On November 22, 1903, 21-year-old Franklin Roosevelt asked 19-year-old Eleanor Roosevelt to be his wife. Eleanor accepted, but Franklin’s mother, Sara, opposed the match, believing her son was too young to marry. She convinced the couple to keep their engagement secret for a year—hoping their ardor would cool. … Continue reading From the Museum