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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.
Sail On, O Ship of State!
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.

Sail On, O Ship of State!

Artifact IDMO 2010.10.10
Object Type Broadside
Poet (American, 1807 - 1882)
Date1941
Mediumpaper
Dimensionsframe H 15 5/8 in x W 13 3/8 in x D 1 in (39.7 cm x 34 cm x 2.5 cm )
 print H 8 3/4 in x W 6 3/4 in (22.2 cm x 17.1 cm )
Physical DescriptionA lithographic broadside in gray, black, and orange featuring several lines from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem, The Building of the Ship. The broadside is adorned with the illustration of a galleon intertwined in the initial "S" of the verse. Printed following verse is the text: The Longfellow verse in / MR. ROOSEVELT'S MESSAGE / TO MR. CHURCHILL. The original ink signatures of Franklin D. Roosevelt (upper right) and Winston S. Churchill (lower left) are located on the face of the broadside.

The broadside is mounted to cardstock and matted, glazed, and framed in a 3/4" black stained wood frame.
Historical NoteIn January 1941, a low point in the war for Great Britain, FDR sent Churchill a note of encouragement that included verses from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem, The Building of the Ship. The Prime Minister had the verses reproduced in a limited set of lithographs. He brought two copies to the Atlantic Conference to be signed by him and the President. This is President Roosevelt’s copy.

Additional Details
Credit LineGift of the Chicago Newspaper Liquidation Corp. f/k/a Sun Time Media Group, Inc.
National Archives Catalog CollectionFranklin D. Roosevelt Library Museum Collection (National Archives Identifier 735948)
National Archives Catalog SeriesOriginal Posters from World War I and World War II (National Archives Identifier 739394)
Use Restriction StatusRestricted - Possibly
CopyrightCopyright or other proprietary rights may be held by individuals or entities other than the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum. The Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum does not warrant that the use of materials will not infringe on the rights of third parties holding the rights to these works, or make any representations or warranties with respect to the application or terms of any international agreement, treaty, or protections that may apply. It is your responsibility to determine and satisfy any copyright or other use restrictions. Pertinent regulations can be found at 36 C.F.R 1254.62.
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