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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.
United States Frigate, Constitution 44 Guns
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.

United States Frigate, Constitution 44 Guns

Object numberMO 1948.41.9
Name Drawing, Architectural
Artist
Mediumink and watercolor on paper
Dimensionsimage H 28 1/4 in x W 42 3/4 in (71.8 cm x 108.6 cm )
 frame H 33 3/4 in x W 48 in x D 3/4 in (85.7 cm x 121.9 cm x 1.9 cm )
Descriptiona) A colored pen and ink drawing, believed to be an architect's rendering, of the frigate, USS CONSTITUTION. The piece is titled in the upper right quadrant: United States / Frigate, / Constitution / 44 guns. It depicts a close-up side view of the three-masted ship, sails unfurled, and flying an American flag at the stern. The drawing is currently unframed.

b-c) Stored separately from the painting is a ½" black wood frame with gilt inner trim and a piece of acrylic glazing.
Label TextFranklin Roosevelt had a deep interest in the USS Constitution (“Old Ironsides”), the most famous ship of the early American navy. He collected manuscripts, a ship log, prints, paintings, and manuscripts connected to its rich history.

This drawing of the USS CONSTITUTION 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.
Collections
Non exposé