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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.
Illustration for Franklin Roosevelt at Hyde Park: Caught in Snow Drifts
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.

Illustration for Franklin Roosevelt at Hyde Park: Caught in Snow Drifts

Artifact IDMO 1981.4.22
Object Type Drawing
Artist (American painter and printmaker, 1904-1981)
Date1945
MediumDrawing: paper (illustration paper), ink (India), paint (gouache), pencil
Frame: wood, paint, glass, matboard
Dimensionsa) sheet H 13 3/8 in x W 18 5/8 in (34 cm x 47.3 cm )
 b) frame H 19 1/4 in x W 25 1/8 in x D 7/8 in (48.9 cm x 63.8 cm x 2.2 cm )
Physical Descriptiona) An original pen and ink and ink wash drawing with gouache highlights showing FDR leading his pony home through snow drifts. The scene depicts a winter storm with snow falling heavily. FDR is seen at the center pulling his horse through deep snow drifts on a small stone bridge. The pond on the Rogers' Estate in Hyde Park, New York is visible on the right, while an evergreen tree and part of hut are visible in the left foreground. The drawing is signed by the artist in ink in the lower right below the image: Olin Dows © 1949.

On the reverse of the drawing is a handwritten note in ink describing the scene: Snowstorm when F.D.R. got caught at Rogers Pond having stayed too late playing at the Rogers. Story told by Anna Boettiger in letter. . . .
Also on the reverse of the drawing is an ink wash drawing of the Troubetzkoy sculpture of FDR. The drawing is unsigned but is apparently a study for finished drawing MO 1956.105.

b) The glass glazing, mat, and 1" gilt wood frame for the drawing, now stored separately. Adhered to the reverse of frame is a framer's sticker for H. Richard Merk of Seattle, Washington.
Historical NoteThis drawing is one in a series of original ink wash drawings created by Olin Dows for his book, "Franklin Roosevelt at Hyde Park," published in 1949 by American Artists Group, Inc. Olin Dows spent two years writing the text and drawing the book's 174 illustrations. This illustration appears on page 37 of the book.

The Dows family had been lifelong friends and neighbors of the Roosevelts and were frequent guests at events at Hyde Park, NY and in Washington, DC, both before and during the presidency. In 1939, Olin Dows received a commission to design and paint the murals in the Rhinebeck, NY Post Office. In 1941, at the suggestion of President Roosevelt, Dows was commissioned to design and paint the murals in the Hyde Park Post Office as well, and worked closely with FDR in the conception and design of the murals.
Additional Details
Custodial History NoteDonated to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum by John R. Boettiger in 1980.
Credit LineGift of John R. Boettiger
National Archives Catalog CollectionFranklin D. Roosevelt Library Museum Collection (National Archives Identifier 735948)
National Archives Catalog SeriesHudson River Valley Materials (National Archives Identifier 778818)
Use Restriction StatusUnrestricted
CopyrightReproduction or other use of these holdings or images thereof is unrestricted.
In Collection(s)
Not on view