#Sara Delano Roosevelt

[fdrlibrary]

FDR and Mom

This bust of Franklin Roosevelt's mother, Sara Delano Roosevelt (1854-1941), was presented to FDR on Mother's Day 1934 by the artist, Vincenzo Miserendino. FDR kept the bust on his desk in his private study in the White House residence.

NPx 71-99:7 - FDR in the White House with Marguerite LeHand, 1940

See more artifacts on our Digital Artifact Collection: https://fdr.artifacts.archives.gov/objects/4037

Join us throughout 2023 as we present #FDRtheCollector, featuring artifacts personally collected, purchased, or retained by Franklin Roosevelt, all from our Digital Artifact Collection.

[green-light-kid]

“i have no patience for fools who think they can stop talking pictures by sabotaging this film. destiny’s choice may be the first talkie, but it won’t be the last!”

-(voyagers ep. 17 “destiny’s choice”)

[jimgandolfini]

highlights from tonight’s Roosevelt home movies viewing:

Sara Delano Roosevelt holding a dog, making a flower arrangement in her Hyde Park garden

FDR with his hair looking a hot mess coming out the pool for hot dogs

FDR in his bathing suit in his wheelchair 😭 (when there are only two known still photographs of him in a wheelchair outside of this vid)

His hair looking like he’s in the episode of Seinfeld when the showers water pressure is off kilter

Just some grandkids randomly galloping by on horseback

James Roosevelt (my favorite roosevelt son) sunbathing

This puppy!! that won’t stop licking FDRs face!!!

Eleanor loving this doggie!!

[the1920sinpictures]

1925 Looking north over the Sara Delano Roosevelt Park. From New York City History and Memories, FB.

[deadpresidents]

How many presidents have had both of their parents alive when they were president?

Three Presidents have had both parents alive when they became President:

•Ulysses S. Grant Grant was the first President with both of his parents alive at the time of his inauguration. His father, Jesse Root Grant, died on June 29, 1873 during Grant’s second term. His mother, Hannah Simpson Grant, survived both of his terms and died two years before he did, on May 11, 1883. •John F. Kennedy Not only were both of JFK’s Presidents alive when he became President, but they are the only parents of a President who both outlived him. JFK was assassinated in 1963. His father, Joseph P. Kennedy Sr., died in 1969, and his mother, Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy died in 1995 at the age of 104. •George W. Bush Both of Bush’s parents were alive when he took office and survived his entire two-term Presidency. His father, former President George H.W. Bush, died on November 30, 2018, just six months after the death of his mother, Barbara Bush, in April 2018.

Several Presidents have had either their father or mother still alive when they became President:

FATHER •John Quincy Adams: The first son of a President to be elected President himself was also the first President whose father was still alive at the time of his inauguration. John Adams died July 4, 1826, a little over a year into JQA’s Presidency. •Millard Fillmore: Nathaniel Fillmore lived through his son’s entire Presidency (1850-1853) and died in his 90s during the Civil War, on March 28, 1863. •Warren G. Harding: Harding’s father, George Tryon Harding, lived through his son’s entire Administration and died on November 19, 1928. Harding, who died in office on August 2, 1923, was the first President who was outlived by his father. •Calvin Coolidge: Not only did Coolidge’s father, John Calvin Coolidge, live to see his son become President, but he actually administered the oath of office. Coolidge, the Vice President at the time, was visiting his father when President Harding died in office and the elder Coolidge, a notary public, administered the Presidential oath at the family home in Vermont. Coolidge’s father died on March 18, 1926 during President Coolidge’s second term.

MOTHER •George Washington: Mary Ball Washington died August 25, 1789, a little less than four months after his first inauguration. •John Adams: Susanna Boylston Adams died  April 21, 1797, just under two months after Adams became President. •James Madison: Eleanor Conway Madison lived through both of her son’s terms as President (1809-1817) and died February 11, 1829 at the age of 98. •James K. Polk: Polk was the first President who didn’t outlive his mother. She died on January 11, 1852, almost three years after Polk left office and died. •James Garfield: Garfield’s mother, Eliza Ballou Garfield, lived to see him become President and die in office. She died on January 21, 1888, almost seven years after he was assassinated. •William McKinley: McKinley’s mother, Nancy Allison McKinley, lived to attend her son’s first inauguration, but died several months later, December 12, 1897. •Franklin D. Roosevelt: FDR’s mother, Sara Delano Roosevelt, lived to see her son inaugurated three times. She died during her son’s third term, on September 7, 1941. •Harry S. Truman: Truman’s mother, Martha Young Truman, lived to see her son succeed to the Presidency in April 1945. She died during his first term, on July 26, 1947, at the age of 94. •Jimmy Carter: Lillian Carter lived through her son’s entire Presidency and was even sent to represent him at events overseas several times, which made her a celebrity in her own right during his Presidency. She died on April 30, 1983, two years after Carter left the White House. •George H.W. Bush: Bush’s mother, Dorothy Walker Bush, lived to see her son become President. She died on November 19, 1992, two weeks after her son lost his bid for re-election. •Bill Clinton: Virginia Cassidy Kelley, Clinton’s mother, lived to see him become President but died less than a year later, on January 6, 1994.

[archduchessofnowhere]

This was about another not-the-best mother-in-law relation in history with First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and her mother-in-law Sara Delano Roosevelt, but it was Eleanor's daughter Anna who wrote how much she loved her grandmother and the stable and constant love she got from her growing up. It was another aspect of their story I hadn't considered. I think I remember either Rudolf or Gisela (or maybe both) saying something similar about Archduchess Sophie?

Hello! I also remember reading something along those lines but I couldn't find anything :( I'll keep looking for it, meanwhile the closest I have is this letter Rudolf wrote to Sophie upon learning of Maximilian of Mexico's death, which I think shows that he cared a lot for his grandmother:

My dear Grandmama! I hoped until today that it wasn’t true that dear Uncle Max was shot, but I learned today that unfortunately it is true. I am very unhappy for poor Uncle Max and I feel very sorry for you, dear Grandmama because you feel so much pain and sorrow again. I want to do everything possible, dear Grandmama, to bring you joy.

[reportwire]

The First Lady (2022) Official Trailer | SHOWTIME

The First Lady (2022) Official Trailer | SHOWTIME

A revelatory reframing of American leadership through the lens of the First Ladies. Starring Viola Davis as Michelle Obama, Michelle Pfeiffer as Betty Ford and Gillian Anderson as Eleanor Roosevelt, this series delves deep into the Ladies’ personal and political lives. Exploring everything from their journeys to Washington, family life, and world-changing political contributions, the impact of…

[immigrationnewsdigest]

At the Crossroads: A Portrait of 8 New York City Blocks and One Man - Tenement Museum

[vision35mm]

Untitled Women getting ready for a performance on Falun Dafa Festival (2019)

[alliluyevas]

His first marriage was in 1930 to philanthropist Betsey Maria Cushing (1908–1998), the middle daughter of surgeon Harvey Williams Cushing and Katharine Stone Crowell. They had two daughters, Sara (1932–2021) and Kate (b. 1936), before divorcing in 1940. His daughter, Kate Roosevelt, married the Kennedy family aide William Haddad and later CEO of the Ford Foundation Franklin A. Thomas.[26][27]

James married his nurse, Romelle Therese Schneider (1915–2002), the next year. They had three children, James (b. 1945), Michael Anthony (b. 1947), and Anna Eleanor "Anne" (b. 1948). They were divorced in 1956.

In 1956, he married Gladys Irene Owens (1916–1987),[28] his receptionist, and they had a son together named Hall Delano (called "Del") in 1959. They were divorced in 1969.

He married his fourth wife, Mary Winskill (b. 1939), teacher to his youngest son Del, in 1969. They had one daughter, Rebecca Mary, in 1971.

...

In Geneva in May 1969, during the unraveling of IOS, Roosevelt's third wife, Irene Owens, stabbed him "eight times" with his "own Marine combat knife"[17] while he was preparing divorce proceedings.[18

did you guys know that FDR and Eleanor's five surviving children had a combined NINETEEN marriages.

[fdrlibrary]

FDR the Stamp Collector

Franklin Roosevelt was an avid, lifelong stamp collector who gathered over 1.2 million stamps into his personal collection during the course of his life. He began collecting stamps at the age of eight at the suggestion of his mother, Sara Delano Roosevelt, who passed on her collection to him. This is the very first stamp album from the President’s collection. It includes a number of foreign stamps. Many members of the Delano side of FDR’s family were involved in overseas trade, and young Franklin consequently received a steady supply of foreign stamps from his Delano relatives that he carefully stored in this and other early stamp albums.

After FDR's death, his personal stamp collection, including this album, was sold at public auction in 1946 in accordance with his wishes: https://fdr.artifacts.archives.gov/objects/33569

Join us throughout 2023 as we present #FDRtheCollector, featuring artifacts personally collected, purchased, or retained by Franklin Roosevelt, all from our Digital Artifact Collection.

[thehistorygirlnj]

It’s been almost exactly four years since we have been to the National Park sites in Hyde Park, #NewYork, so yesterday we revisted the three sites that are located within a few miles of each other. All of the buildings are currently closed, but the grounds are open. The second I am featuring is Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site. #Springwood, as the house is named, was the birthplace, lifelong home, and burial place of the 32nd President of the United States, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The original section of the home is believed to have been built about 1800. Roosevelt's father, James, purchased the property in 1866. Over the next 34 years, many improvements and additions were made to the house. In 1915, the final major addition and remodeling of the house took place under the guidance of Franklin D. Roosevelt, and his mother Sara, which gives the home a Colonial Revival appearance. In 1943, Roosevelt donated the estate to the American people and the National Historic Site was established January 15, 1944. The site is also home to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, the first presidential library in the United States, dedicated June 30, 1941. #ny #nyhistory #SpreadTheHistory #historygirl #FindYourPark #travelblog #travelblogger #blog #blogger #explore #exploreny #history #nationalparkservice #goparks #nps #nps103 #nationalparkgeek #explore #nationalpark #optoutside #franklinroosevelt #natinalhistoricsite #iloveny #hydepark #hydeparkny #hudsonrivervalley #hudsonrivervalleynha #smallparksaturday (at Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site) https://www.instagram.com/p/CESo-iojUUN/?igshid=ns1ycw7ujrm6

[schmergo]

I counted and I think I saw 25 plays and musicals in 2019! Here's my summary of my top 5 favorite shows that I saw this year. I have to say, I was a little less impressed this year by the straight plays that I saw in DC than I have been in some years past-- but I saw some really killer musicals!

***

1.THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL semi-staged concert at Lincoln Center. This is the only non-DC show on the list and it's kind of cheating because this would be the top of my list no matter what, but I LOVE this weird, cheesy, awkwardly-constructed musical and have since I was a kid, and I've never seen a professional production of it because it's so rarely performed. Seeing this show at long last with such a great cast and with Wren was maybe the most excited I've been all year. Tony Yazbeck blew me away with his hilarious yet deeply-felt portrayal of Percy and I almost fainted when I heard my favorite musical theatre performer, Norm Lewis, sing the villain song, "Falcon in the Dive." I wish I could bottle how it felt to watch this show.

***

2. AMADEUS at the Folger Shakespeare Library. This was definitely the best straight play that I saw this year. Amadeus has always been one of my favorite plays (and movies!), but the intimate setting at the Folger and Ian Merrill Peakes' intense and deeply human portrayal of Salieri was, like, life-changing. Young actors Samuel Adams and Lilli Hokama totally held their own as the childish genius Mozart and his conflicted wife. Plus, the fanciful wigs and costumes and the magical set that evokes piano strings caging in the performers all added up to a sparkling effect.

***

3. ASSASSINS at Signature Theatre. I was incredibly excited to see this show, starring a line-up of some of the finest DC area talent (including my personal favorite local actors, Bobby Smith as Guiteau and Tracy Lynn Olivera as Sara Jane Moore), and it did not disappoint. They nailed the dark humor of the piece without getting too cartoonish. In my favorite scene, Smith cakewalks up and down the gallows, singing manically about "Looking on the bright side"-- then pausing with real tears in his eyes when it sinks in that he is going to die. This was a grittier and more minimalist staging of this piece than I've seen before, and it forces the audience to focus solely on the performances.

***

4. NEWSIES at Arena Stage. I love NEWSIES. I am aware that there is nothing truly original or extraordinary about this book or score, but it's one of the most delightfully uplifting and energizing shows I've seen. This rendition, an up-close-and-personal staging in the round at Arena Stage, takes it to the next level by letting you see every flicker of emotion that crosses the cast's faces, as well as amazing choreography by Parker Esse. Well-known local adult actors played minor roles with gusto (like Jamie Smithson as a very funny Teddy Roosevelt or Edward Gero, last seen as Falstaff at the Folger, as an intimidating Joseph Pulitzer), while the younger cast sang and danced their hearts out. Special mention to Erin Weaver, who I've loved in many straight plays at the Folger, giving Katherine Pulitzer so much life and sparkle without being as, well, grating as the original.

***

5. INTO THE WOODS at Ford's Theatre. I love seeing musicals at Ford's for my birthday and this was no exception. From the inventive sets and costumes to the passionate performances, this production enchanted from beginning to end, despite not being as revolutionary as the touring version I saw at the Kennedy Center a few years ago. This was a true ensemble piece-- I didn't feel one actor stood out as the star of the show, but all worked together well.

Honorable mentions include the Music Man at the Kennedy Center, Love's Labour's Lost at the Folger, The Play that Goes Wrong at the Kennedy Center, and Henry IV part 1 at the American Shakespeare Center. And I want to give a shout out to the stars of Creative Cauldron's Beauty and the Beast for two really amazing performances, especially Wyn Delano as the Beast, although the rest of the show, while enjoyable, wouldn't be on my top 10 list.

[hydeparkhistorian]

Fireside Chats - at St. James Chapel

I am excited and honored to be invited to speak at the famous Fireside Chats at St. James Chapel. Tomorrow night (Thursday the 16th, at 7pm) is the first of four lectures and I will be discussing my research on the Delano Family and the opium trade. Not many people are aware of the fact that Franklin Delano Roosevelt was just as much a Delano as he was a Roosevelt. His mother would claim that he was a Delano first and a Roosevelt second and he seemed to agree with her. 

The Delano family came to the colonies on the second ship to arrive in Plymouth, The Fortune, which would set the tone for the rest of the family’s history. They became merchant sailors and made their way to China by the 1830s. The opium business was not the most legal way to make one’s wealth but considering that many of the fortunes made by 19th century Americans involved the exploitation of others, this should come as no surprise. 

During tomorrow night’s lecture, I will discuss the movement of opium, tea, silks, and the wars that the Delanos found themselves in the middle of. We will also look at what the Delano family would do with their wealth, Hyde Park certainly benefitted from Sara Delano Roosevelt’s money. Our library was built with her money, St. James Church itself prospered with her money. 

Join me at St. James Chapel on East Market Street at 7PM! 

[delanopaperproject]

Sara Delano Roosevelt - Keeper of the Faith

Sara Delano Roosevelt has been called many things and not all of them kind. She was a loving and tender mother and grandmother but an overbearing mother-in-law. She represented a generation of intelligent and strong women who were limited to the domestic atmosphere of the home to exhibit their capabilities. Her exuberant display of noblesse oblige both close to home and on an international scale can still be felt to this day. She was a product of her time with good breeding and morals that defined her character but she was not without permissiveness.

Sara was part of a large and affectionate family. Number seven of eleven children, she was born September 21st 1854 in Newburgh New York. The Delano family went to church regularly and rented pews at the Washington Street Christian Church (now the Unitarian Memorial Church) in Fairhaven MA. She was raised a Unitarian but became a proud Episcopal when she married James Roosevelt in 1880 (James had switched from Dutch Reformed to Episcopal when he married his first wife Rebecca Howland). As with many Protestant families, there are few signs of religion on display in any of the homes the Delanos or Roosevelts owned. The old bible box can be seen in the dining room, but even that can be mistaken as just a large elaborate chest with no signs of religious origin. However as you walk from room to room and take a closer look throughout the Roosevelt home in Hyde Park, one will find many prints of an image not typically seen in homes of Protestant families, the Madonna and Child.    

If we go back in history, the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century provoked the denouncement and in many cases the destruction of Roman Catholic art. Sculptures and large paintings were destroyed throughout Europe. When Separatists groups made their way to Plymouth colony they established a new world with new churches that contained no images of any kind save for simple crucifixes. Catholicism in the new world was not as prominent as it was in the old and would not be fully established until the late 18th century. But this country would harbor feelings of anti-Catholicism right from its beginnings.

With all of this history in mind we must ask a question not usually asked about Sara. Why does the ardent Protestant have so many pieces of art in her home depicting one of Catholicism’s most important symbols? There may be several possible answers to this question. Perhaps when she was traveling as a young teenager through France she may have been inspired by seeing some of the old masters works during her days spent admiring the Louvre. Or better still, she had heard what her husband’s cousin Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt Sr., had said, that when she held baby Franklin in her arms she “looks so very lovely with him, like a Murillo Madonna and infant.” Sara must have taken that image to heart. Rumor has it that she was moved enough to donate a massive copy of Murillo’s Madonna and Child to the Catholic Church down the road from her home at Hyde Park. The painting originally was installed in the old Church of Regina Coeli that Sara would have driven past from time to time and today sits above the organ in a newer church.  

One thing is certain when it comes to Sara and her feelings on religion, she was never afraid to speak her mind or support other people’s various beliefs. In her book of charities in the 1920s we see her leaving money to various churches in town including her own St. James Church and the Methodist Church. She clearly had friends from both Catholic and Jewish backgrounds including some of the Hudson Valley Livingstons who converted to Catholicism and the Morgenthau family who were Jewish and close friends with the Roosevelts. She wrote home to Franklin in 1925 while exploring Italy and told him of her own religious experience, “Tell Missy that although I am an ardent Protestant, I can say my prayers in a Catholic Church, and a few days ago I burnt a candle for your health in a lovely old church before a beautiful ‘Pieta’ (the dead Christ held in his Mother’s arms) This would be considered by some, very sentimental and silly, but it won’t do you any harm and it helped me!” She even went so far as to express her appreciation for the Catholic Priests way of life when a new married minister was appointed to her St. James Church whom she disapproved of. “The Catholic priests do good work in the village and they are not married, and I have yet to see the advantage of a parson’s wife!”

There were those in Sara’s social circles who were not only anti-catholic but antisemitic as well. However, there are no such expressions of hatred in any of Sara’s diaries or correspondence. Her support for those of Jewish heritage came later in life when she read of the terrors occurring in Europe in the late 1930s. She supported Jewish war refugees and pressed her son in many letters to do a better job of taking care of German Jews, particularly young children.              

History has referred to Sara as many things and in many contexts but she was nothing if not confident in her faith in God and mankind.

"We don't know where the times are taking us, but if we all did the sensible thing and have brave hearts, a better world is bound to come" - Sara Delano Roosevelt

[eyelydz]

at Sara Delano Roosevelt Park https://www.instagram.com/p/CgtahIvOFdV/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=