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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.
Letter Opener Made from White House Wood
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.

Letter Opener Made from White House Wood

Artifact IDMO 1947.93.440
Object Type Opener, Letter
Maker
Dateca. 1933-1936
Mediumwood, metal
Dimensionsoverall H 1 1/4 in x W 9 5/8 in x D 1 1/4 in (3.2 cm x 24.4 cm x 3.2 cm )
Physical DescriptionA wooden letter opener with a floral design carved on the front of the blade and handle. A metal plate attached to one side of the handle is inscribed: THIS WOOD WAS PART OF THE / WHITE HOUSE ROOF / ERECTED ABOUT 1817 / AND REMOVED IN 1927. Carved on the other side of the handle are the initials: F.D.R.
Historical NotePresident Roosevelt kept this letter opener on his Oval Office desk. His daughter, Anna, later recalled that letter openers like this one were made in the White House carpentry shop for FDR, who presented them as gifts to visitors. This letter opener is on display in the FDR’S OVAL OFFICE DESK exhibit in the Museum’s APRIL 12, 1945 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 StatusUnrestrictedCopyrightReproduction or other use of these holdings or images thereof is unrestricted.
In Collection(s)
On view
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