Description:

Franklin D. Roosevelt
n.p., ca. May 20, 1918
F. D. Roosevelt Signed Pair Photographs While he Could Still Walk Commemorating WWI-Dated CT Submarine Plant Visit
Photographs
Two vintage gelatin silver photographs showing Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945), future 32nd U.S. President then in his role as Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Navy, both signed by him outside the image field, each time as "Franklin D Roosevelt" at the lower right of the mat. N.d., n.p. but the manuscript captions, each reading "Lake Torpedo Boat Co / Bridgeport, Conn, / May 20, 1918," give an approximate date and place. Both sepia-colored photographs are matted and framed in matching frames. Expected wear to the photos, including isolated craquelure, silvering, and discoloration, with foxing and scattered stains to the mats. Not examined out of the frames. The sight size of the photographs is 6.5" x 4.5" while the overall frame size is approximately 10.625" x 8.75" x 1."

The first photograph shows Roosevelt seated next to various officials on the speaker's stand during a visit to Lake Torpedo Boat Company, a submarine-manufacturing plant in Bridgeport, Connecticut established by submarine engineer Simon Lake in 1912. The second photograph shows Roosevelt and the same group of men walking past a building on the plant site.

Roosevelt spent an incredibly busy day in Bridgeport, Connecticut on May 20, 1918, visiting no fewer than four munitions plants, a naval base, and the state armory. Lake Torpedo Boat Company was one of the first stops on Roosevelt's itinerary. While there, Roosevelt addressed a few remarks from the company launching platform before about 1,700 workers, in which he spoke about the importance of building an American fleet of submarines that could seek out and destroy German U-boats. Roosevelt toured N-class and O-class submarines then under various stages of manufacture at the plant, attended a flag-raising ceremony, and greeted many employees and naval officers. Local newspapers gushed about how two local teenagers, 15-year-old electricians' assistants, got to shake Roosevelt's hand during the visit. The same day of his tour of the Lake Torpedo Boat Company, Roosevelt also inspected the nearby Remington Arms & Ammunition Company and the Black Rock Naval Reserve base, all the while promoting wartime productivity and patriotism among workers.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: framed: 10.625" x 8.75" x 1"
  • Medium: Photographs

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October 30, 2024 10:00 AM EDT
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University Archives

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