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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.
Prinz Eugen
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.

Prinz Eugen

Artifact IDMO 1943.233.5
Object Type Model, Instructional
Maker (American, 1917 - 2004)
Dateca. 1943
Mediumwood, metal
Dimensionsobject (model) H 3 3/4 in x W 15 in x D 2 7/8 in (9.5 cm x 38.1 cm x 7.3 cm )
 box/case H 5 1/4 in x W 16 in x D 4 3/8 in (13.3 cm x 40.6 cm x 11.1 cm )
Physical Descriptiona) A small, wooden scale model of the German cruiser, PRINZ EUGEN. The model is mounted to a wood base on the underside of which is a paper label which reads: "NAVY MODEL SHOP GILA RELOCATION CENTER RIVERS, ARIZONA / PROJ. DIRECT. L.H. BENNETT / DIV. HEAD OSCAR JULIUS / 8: 4-23-43 / GERMAN HEAVY CRUISER PRINZ EUGEN SCALE: 1" = 50' MADE BY WATARU ICHINOTSUBO."

b) A custom-built wood case with solid wood sides and a removable access panel on the end. The case is only for the storage and transportation of the ship model, not display.

Historical NoteThis instructional model of the PRINZ EUGEN was constructed by Wataru Ichinotsubo at an instructional ship model workshop at the Gila River Relocation Center in Arizona. Ichinotsubo and approximately 10,000 other people of Japanese descent were incarcerated at the camp during World War II. Eleanor Roosevelt visited the Gila River camp on April 23, 1943. During her visit, Mrs. Roosevelt toured the shop where workers built identification models for the United States Navy. Workers in the shop presented her with this model and asked her to give it to President Roosevelt. It was later shipped to the White House in the custom built wood case. Identification models were used to teach Navy sailors how to identify enemy ships.
Additional Details
Custodial History NoteDeposited at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum by Franklin D. Roosevelt, June 1, 1943. It was donated as a bequest of FDR to the Library in 1947.
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
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