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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.
Oval Office Desk Blotter Pad
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Copyright not held by FDR Library

Oval Office Desk Blotter Pad

Artifact IDMO 1947.84.2
Object Type Pad, Desk
Maker (American, founded 1912)
Dateca. 1930s -1940s
Mediumlinoleum, leather, wool felt, cardboard
Dimensionsoverall H 20 in x W 34 1/8 in x D 1/2 in (50.8 cm x 86.7 cm x 1.3 cm )
Physical DescriptionA linoleum desk pad with padded vegetable-tanned leather sides and brown wool felt underside. A decorative floral border is printed in gold leaf along the inside edges of the side pads. The manufacturer's printed paper label on the underside reads: A Polar Product / Polar Mfg Co / Phila PA / LINOLEUM DESK PAD.
Historical NoteWhen FDR died on April 12, 1945, White House staff quickly removed all of the items from his Oval Office desk as they prepared the office for the new president, Harry S. Truman. However, they left one item behind - this leather desk blotter pad. At some point during April or May of 1945, President Truman gave the desk blotter pad to Eleanor Roosevelt. On May 24, 1945, White House reception clerk William D. Simmons forwarded it to the Director of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library and Museum. The hole on the pad's right side was likely created by ashes from a presidential cigarette. It is on display in the FDR’S OVAL OFFICE DESK exhibit in the Museum’s APRIL 12, 1945 gallery.
Additional Details
Custodial History NoteDeposited at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum by Eleanor Roosevelt via the White House on May 28, 1945. Donated to the FDR Library by Eleanor Roosevelt on February 10, 1947.
Credit LinePresented by President Harry S. Truman to Eleanor Roosevelt; Gift of Eleanor Roosevelt
National Archives Catalog CollectionFranklin D. Roosevelt Library Museum Collection (National Archives Identifier 735948)
National Archives Catalog SeriesPersonal Possessions of the Roosevelt Family (National Archives Identifier 782689)
Use Restriction StatusUnrestrictedCopyrightReproduction or other use of these holdings or images thereof is unrestricted.
In Collection(s)
On view
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