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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.
March of Dimes Money Clip
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.

March of Dimes Money Clip

Artifact IDMO 1947.93.112
Object Type Clip, Money
Maker (American, founded 1837)
Gifter
Date1944
Medium14k gold
Dimensionsobject (bill clip) H 2 1/4 in x W 1 in x D 1/2 in (5.7 cm x 2.5 cm x 1.3 cm )
 box/case H 1 1/4 in x W 2 7/8 in x D 2 1/2 in (3.2 cm x 7.3 cm x 6.4 cm )
Physical Descriptiona) A 14k gold bill clip with a picture of a young female infantile paralysis patient in a wheelchair. The clip is inscribed on the reverse: To Franklin D. Roosevelt / Happy to Serve / Nicholas M. Schenck / 1944 March of Dimes. Also stamped on the reverse is the manufacturer's information: TIFFANY & CO. 14 K.

b) A small, blue leather Tiffany & Company, New York box in which the bill clip was stored when not on exhibit.
Historical NoteNicholas M. Schenck, chair of the Motion Pictures Theatres Committee for the March of Dimes, presented FDR with this gold money clip in 1944. FDR created the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (which became known as the March of Dimes) in 1938 to support the polio rehabilitation center he had established in Warm Springs, Georgia and aid polio victims around the nation. The Foundation urged Americans to send their loose change to the President in a “march of dimes.” The March of Dimes supported the research and development of a polio vaccine by Jonas Salk in 1955 that eradicated the disease throughout most of the world.

This money clip is on display in THE MARCH OF DIMES AND FDR exhibit in the Museum’s FOUNDATIONS OF A PUBLIC LIFE gallery.

Additional Details
Custodial History NoteDonated to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum as a bequest of Franklin D. Roosevelt on February 20, 1947.
Credit LineEstate of Franklin D. Roosevelt
National Archives Catalog CollectionFranklin D. Roosevelt Library Museum Collection (National Archives Identifier 735948)
National Archives Catalog SeriesGift Items and Commemorative Artifacts (National Archives Identifier 782690)
Use Restriction StatusRestricted - PossiblyCopyrightCopyright 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.
In Collection(s)
On view
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