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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.
Poco Camera and Tripod Used by Franklin Roosevelt
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.

Poco Camera and Tripod Used by Franklin Roosevelt

Artifact IDMO 1947.93.206
Object Type Camera
Maker (American, 1891 - 1903)
Maker (American)
Maker (American, founded 1888)
Maker (American)
Maker (American, 1802 - 1902)
Dateca. 1894
Mediummetal, wood, fabric, glass, cardboard, paint, rubber, plastic
Dimensionsbox/case (dimensions of case when closed) H 7 in x W 6 in x D 9 1/2 in (17.8 cm x 15.2 cm x 24.1 cm )
 part b (tripod - diameter at top) H 40 1/2 in x Diam 3 3/4 in (102.9 cm x 9.5 cm )
 part a (camera when open) H 7 3/4 in x W 6 in x D 9 1/2 in (19.7 cm x 15.2 cm x 24.1 cm )
Physical DescriptionA black, Rochester Camera Manufacturing Company Poco folding plate camera (for 5" x 7" plates) with tripod and equipment.
(a) Camera. It is covered with brown leather and has light colored leather bellows and lightly stained wooden parts. The maker's information is found on various places of the camera, including at the front on a metal plate: PAT. MAY 22 - 94; and POCO / R.C.M. CO. / 5X7 SYM. Also embossed on the inside: POCO / ROCHESTER CAMERA MFG. CO.,/ ROCHESTER, N.Y. Inscribed on the top of the camera: F.D.R.
(b) Tripod. The camera can be fixed to this lightly stained wooden tripod that can be folded up for storage.
Equipment consists of:
(c) Seven plate holders, four of which have in written in ink: Franklin D. Roosevelt.
(d) A printer with a name cut in: F.D. Roosevelt.
(e) Five assorted developing pans.
(f) Pieces of black cloth and black oil cloth.
(g) Two unopened and one partially used box of 5 x 7 glass plates: 2 Carbutt's and one Eastman's.
(h) Four boxes of The Scovill & Adams Company rubber finger tips.
(i) A package of National Photo Paper and Chemical Co. Platni photo paper.
(j) One box of Kodak Tri-X Panchromatic Plates, Type B from 1963, unopened.
(k) A small instruction booklet entitled: Pocket Kodak / PART II / Dark Room Primer.
Historical NoteFDR’s many boyhood hobbies included photography. At age 14 he acquired this Kodak Poco camera and tripod. They are on display in the A PRIVILEGED YOUTH 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 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)
On view
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