#a250

America 250 — Landmark Documents from President Roosevelt’s Early American History Collections

FDR enjoyed collecting letters and documents signed by earlier presidents and other famous figures from American history. These documents reflect Roosevelt’s abiding interests in early American history, our nation’s founding fathers, the American Revolution; and they evidence the personal importance he placed on historical preservation of American heritage. President Roosevelt donated each of these treasures to the National Archives so they would be permanently preserved and made available for public research and exhibition at the FDR Presidential Library & Museum in Hyde Park, NY.

Our countdown to America250 continues with this gem from John Paul Jones.

FDR was fascinated by Jones, the naval hero of the Revolutionary War who is considered the "father" of the United States Navy. Jones triumphed in a famous 1779 naval clash that pitted the outgunned USS Bonhomme Richard against the British frigate HMS Serapis. During the desperate battle, Jones is reputed to have shouted, "I have not yet begun to fight!"

Roosevelt collected many items related to Jones, including portraits, prints, drawings, and manuscripts. During the early 1920s, he even wrote a treatment for a feature film that would be based on Jones's life. But his efforts to interest Hollywood in the project proved fruitless.

Happy 249th birthday America!

Today kicks off the one year countdown to America250 and to celebrate we will be highlighting early American history items from our collection which were collected by FDR - starting with Benjamin Franklin!

In December 1776, the Continental Congress sent Benjamin Franklin to France to gain French assistance for America in the War for Independence. Franklin soon developed a close relationship with Leray de Chaumont, a French aristocrat in the court of King Louis XVI who was sympathetic to the American cause and invited Franklin to live at his chateau in Passy. In this letter to Chaumont, written from Passy, Franklin discusses recent political and military developments, including the excitement in Paris surrounding the Marquis de Lafayette's preparations to return to America with fresh troops.