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Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Birchbark Canoe
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.

Birchbark Canoe

Artifact IDMO 1942.175.1
Object Type Model
Maker (American-Canadian, 1868 - 1950)
Gifter
Mediumbirchbark, nails
Dimensionsoverall H 6 in x W 41 1/2 in x D 7 1/2 in (15.2 cm x 105.4 cm x 19.1 cm )
Physical DescriptionA model of a birchbark low-end river or hunter's type American Indian canoe. Images at one end depict scenes from Campobello Island where the model was built. Etched on one side: Tomah Josephs. Written on the underside: MALECITE. PASSAMAQUODDY / Orig. by Tomah Josephs. / Model 1/5 E. T. Adney.

The canoe comes with a separate wooden paddle with an illegible note written in pencil on the end.
Historical NoteThis model was presented to Franklin Roosevelt by the maker, Edwin Tappan Adney of Upper Woodstock, New Brunswick, Canada. Text at the bottom of the canoe indicates that it was based on a canoe built by Tomah Joseph (1837-1914), a Passamoquoddy Indian who summered at Campobello Island and taught a young FDR how to paddle a canoe.
Additional Details
Credit LineEstate of Franklin D. Roosevelt
National Archives Catalog CollectionFranklin D. Roosevelt Library Museum Collection (National Archives Identifier 735948)
National Archives Catalog SeriesShip Models (National Archives Identifier 782457)
Use Restriction StatusUnrestricted
CopyrightReproduction or other use of these holdings or images thereof is unrestricted.
In Collection(s)
Not on view