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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.
Lock of Franklin Roosevelt's Hair
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.

Lock of Franklin Roosevelt's Hair

Artifact IDMO 1947.93.5
Object Type Relic, Historic
Collector (American, 1854 - 1941)
Date1883
Mediumlock: hair (human), ribbon
envelope: paper, ink
Dimensionsoverall (lock) H 2 1/2 in x W 1 1/2 in (6.4 cm x 3.8 cm )
Physical DescriptionA lock of Franklin D. Roosevelt's hair, cut when he was a toddler. The lock is tied with a light blue ribbon.

The lock comes with the small envelope in which it was originally stored. On the envelope is a handwritten note by Franklin D. Roosevelt's mother, Sara, that reads: Franklin's hair cut off / by his mother April 1883 / 14 months old __.
Historical NoteLike many boys of his social class, Franklin Roosevelt wore his hair long until he was almost five years old. Until that time, his mother periodically cut and saved locks of hair.
Additional Details
Custodial History NoteDonated as a bequest of Franklin D. Roosevelt to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum in 1947.
Credit LineEstate of Franklin D. 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 StatusUnrestricted
CopyrightReproduction or other use of these holdings or images thereof is unrestricted.
In Collection(s)
Not on view
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