Eugene F. Ockuly Franklin Delano Roosevelt collection

Collection

Identifier: MS-0415

Staff Only

Collection Overview

Abstract

The correspondence and other non-book material of the FDR Collection span the years from 1914 until about 1980 with the preponderance falling between 1929 and 1950. Roosevelt's unique personal and political lives are reflected in the wide variety of pamphlets, brochures, clippings, press releases, and other materials which comprise the collection.

Dates

Creation: 1914-1982, undated
Creation: Majority of material found within 1929-1950

Extent

4.60 Cubic Feet (10 legal archive boxes)

2 Folders (2 oversize folders)

Creator

Ockuly, Eugene (Collector, Person)

Scope and Contents

Several original signed letters from Franklin D. Roosevelt form the centerpiece of the Ockuly FDR Collection. Printed materials including pamphlets, brochures, newsclippings, periodicals and tearsheets, programs, posters, and photographs all give a rather complete picture of Roosevelt's life and times.

Special emphasis is on his Presidency with copies of many of his writings and speeches, a large number in the form of White House press releases. Material realting to his terms as Assistant Secretary of the Navy and Governor of New York are also well represented as are items dealing with New Deal programs and the conduct of the War. Especially fascinating is the political material relating to all four of his Presidential campaigns. The collection includes much critical as well as laudatory material and, studied as a whole, gives a relatively balanced view of both Roosevelt and his era.

Biographical / Historical

Franklin Delano Roosevelt was born at Springwood, the Roosevelt family estate just outside of Hyde Park, New York, on January 30, 1882. As the only child of Sara Delano and James Roosevelt he enjoyed a happy and secure childhood. He attended Groton, Harvard, and Columbia Law School. Although never finishing the requirements for a law degree, he passed the New York State Bar Examination in 1907.

Roosevelt's political career began when he won a surprising upset victory for the New York State Senate in 1910. He served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy in the first Wilson administration. In 1920 he ran for Vice President on the Democratic ticket with James M. Cox. They were soundly defeated by Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge.

There followed Roosevelt's struggle to overcome the crippling effects of the polio attack he suffered in 1921 and his triumphant re-entry into politics in 1924 with his famous "Happy Warrior" speech nominating Al Smith at the Democratic National Convention. In 1928, he was elected Governor of New York and in 1933 he became the thirty-second President of the United States. During the next twelve years he presided over the New Deal and led the Allies in the Second World War. He had just started to serve his fourth consecutive term when he died of a cerebral hemorrhage on April 12, 1945.

Conditions Governing Access

No known access restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

Researchers using this collection assume full responsibility for conforming to the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright, and are responsible for securing permissions necessary for publication or reproduction.

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Separated Materials

Over one thousand books were separated from the collection and cataloged individually. They are now part of the CAC's Rare Books collection, and are accessible via the University Libraries' online catalog.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The collection was a gift to Bowling Green State University from Dr. Eugene Ockuly, a former Toledo physician, in 1979. Dr. Ockuly began collecting Roosevelt material in 1949 in anticipation of writing a book about the former President. He never found time for the book, but over the following thirty years, he amassed a large and diverse collection including over one thousand books.