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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.
44-Gun Frigate Constitution 1812
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.

44-Gun Frigate Constitution 1812

Object numberMO 1948.41.3
Name Lithograph
Artist (American, 1868 - 1940)
Date1925
Mediumpaper
Dimensionsoverall H 15 3/8 in x W 19 1/4 in (39.1 cm x 48.9 cm )
DescriptionA sepia tone lithograph of the frigate, CONSTITUTION. It depicts a side view of the large, three-masted sailing ship at anchor in calm waters with the sails unfurled. Two other sailing ships are seen in the background. The print is initialed and dated in the lower right corner of the image: G.C.W. / 1925. The title is centered below the image: AMERICAN SHIPS / V / 44-GUN FRIGATE / Constitution / 1812. The print is signed by the artist in pencil below the image, lower right: George C. Wales. Below the image, lower left, is a pencil notation that reads: No.11.
Label TextThis 1925 print was included in a series of etchings and lithographs by George C. Wales entitled, "American Ships," published in 1927. Franklin Roosevelt was an avid, lifelong collector of prints, engravings, and paintings illustrating the history of the United States Navy. He purchased the print in 1926 from Goodspeed's in Boston, Massachusetts.

The print is one of ten maritime pictures (MO 1948.41.1-10) that had hung in FDR's New York office at the Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland when he was a Vice President of the Company from 1920-1928. They stayed there until FDR sent them in 1933 to Basil O'Connor as a gift. O'Connor, in turn, presented the pictures to the FDR Library in 1947.

Daniel Basil O'Connor (1892-1972) was a longtime friend and political adviser to FDR. He was Roosevelt's law partner from 1925 to 1933, and later served as president of the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis-March of Dimes drive against poliomyelitis.
Additional Details
Credit LineGift of Basil O'Connor
National Archives Catalog CollectionFranklin D. Roosevelt Library Museum Collection (National Archives Identifier 735948)
National Archives Catalog SeriesUnited States Navy Materials (National Archives Identifier 782673)
Use Restriction StatusUnrestrictedCopyrightReproduction or other use of these holdings or images thereof is unrestricted.
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