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Textual folder
Kennedy Family Collection
KFC-083-001
This scrapbook, compiled by Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, documents the christening and launching of the U.S.S. Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., on July 26, 1945, at the Bethlehem Steel Company’s Fore River Shipyard in Quincy, Massachusetts; the United States Navy destroyer was named in honor of Rose’s son, Lt. Joseph P. “Joe” Kennedy, Jr., a naval aviator who was killed in action in 1944. The title on the front cover reads, “U.S.S. Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. / Launched July 26, 1945.” The cover also features a patch with two gold stripes and a gold star above the stripes. Newspaper clippings cover the events of the day, and photographs capture Kennedy family members who were present at the launch, including Rose; her husband, Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr.; and her children, Eunice Kennedy, Patricia Kennedy, Jean Kennedy (who served as the ship’s sponsor), and Edward M. “Teddy” Kennedy. Of note are photographs of Boston Mayor Maurice J. Tobin delivering remarks during the launching ceremony; Jean christening the destroyer by breaking a bottle of champagne against its bow; Jean with two “maids of honor,” her cousin, Mary Jo Gargan, and family friend, Mary Carroll Mann, who assisted her in her role as sponsor; and Rose, Joe, Sr., Eunice, Patricia, Jean, Teddy, and Robert F. Kennedy receiving an oil painting of the vessel from Edward C. Geehr, assistant general manager of the shipyard. Also of note is a color chromogenic print of Lieutenant Kennedy wearing his naval uniform. Loose materials found between the leaves of the album include a handwritten note in black ink to Teddy from Kennedy family friends, Edward E. “Eddie” Moore and Mary Moore; four sheets of blank letterhead from Le Domaine de Ranguin in Mougins, France; and a newspaper clipping about lend-lease aid. This scrapbook contains 83 newspaper clippings, 18 photographic prints, four sheets of letterhead, and one handwritten note.
Textual folder
Kennedy Family Collection
KFC-071-001
This scrapbook, compiled by Joseph P. “Joe” Kennedy, Jr., documents his education, travels, and family life from 1938 to 1941. The gold stamped title on the cover reads, "Scrap Book." It contains photographs of and printed ephemera related to trips to Europe in 1938 and 1939; his election as a Massachusetts delegate to the 1940 Democratic National Convention; his enrollment at Harvard Law School in 1940; and time spent with family and friends at the Kennedy family residence in Palm Beach, Florida, and on trips to St. Moritz, Switzerland, and the French Riviera, including at the Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes, France. Other destinations pictured in photographic prints and postcards include Mexico, Spain, Poland, Ireland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Italy, and California. Of note are photographs of the Argelès-sur-Mer concentration camp for Republican refugees in Argelès-sur-Mer, France, which Joe, Jr., visited before touring Spain in the final months of the Spanish Civil War, as well as a photograph of Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy christening the Esso Richmond, a new tanker ship, alongside her parents, John F. “Honey Fitz” Fitzgerald and Mary Josephine Hannon Fitzgerald, and her daughter, Eunice Kennedy. Printed ephemera pasted into the scrapbook include invitations to various parties, receptions, luncheons, dinners, weddings, meetings, and banquets, including an event at Buckingham Palace; fliers for discussions, rallies, and debates featuring Joe, Jr., that were held by organizations including College Men for Defense First, Brotherhood of Temple Ohabei Shalom, and the Young Democrats of Massachusetts; Spanish paper currency; and telegrams regarding political events and rallies sent by representatives of both State and National Democratic Committees. Other Kennedy family members and friends pictured in photographs and clippings include Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr.; John F. Kennedy; Rosemary Kennedy; Kathleen Kennedy; Patricia Kennedy; Robert F. Kennedy; Jean Kennedy; Edward M. Kennedy; Torbert Macdonald; Hugh Fraser; Tom Killefer; Tom Egerton; and Diana Maria Gerli. Loose materials include a photographic postcard from Sofia, Bulgaria and Shawmut Bank promotional material, possibly a bookmark. The scrapbook contains 133 photographic prints (including a contact print of a strip of three 35mm black and white negatives, and one photo fragment); 32 photographic postcards; and 62 pieces of ephemera, including invitations, correspondence, telegrams, tickets, newspaper clippings, calling cards, advertisements, programs, and fliers.