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Textual folder
Kennedy Family Collection
KFC-088-001
This photograph album, likely compiled by Eunice Kennedy, documents various moments in the lives of the Kennedy family from 1950 to 1953, particularly at their residence in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, and at other locations on Cape Cod. An original typed inscription taped on the front pastedown reads, "I should appreciate it if no one remove pictures from this book. If you do so, it will not be so interesting for other people. Personally, I should like to keep all the pictures to look at myself, because as you know we lost all the moving pictures of you children. Many of these pictures have been lost in the past, due to the clamor of newspapermen, so please do not remove any more. Thank you. Rose Kennedy." In addition to Eunice, those pictured include her parents, Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr., and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy; siblings, John F. Kennedy, Patricia Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, Jean Kennedy, and Edward M. Kennedy; sister-in-law, Ethel Skakel Kennedy; cousin, Joseph Francis “Joe” Gargan, Jr.; and family friends, including Edward E. “Eddie” Moore and Mary Moore, Kirk LeMoyne “Lem” Billings, United States Senator Joseph “Joe” McCarthy, and journalist Frank Conniff. Of note are photographs of family members and friends aboard the “S.S. Hortense” off the coast of Cape Cod; birthday parties for Rose and Eunice; the christening of Kathleen Kennedy, daughter of Robert and Ethel; Jean posing at the Takadip Bath House in Old Orchard Beach, Maine; Rose, with Joseph, Sr., and Archbishop of New York, Cardinal Francis Spellman, receiving a Catholic Youth Organization 1953 Club of Champions Medal framed certificate; and Joseph, Sr., and John with Cardinal Spellman at the unveiling of a portrait of Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., who was killed in action during a U.S. Navy aviation mission in 1944. Two loose items found between leaves of the album are a Washington Times-Herald newspaper clipping titled, “The Eisenhower Myth” and dated August 8, 1951, and an envelope containing original paper corners used for mounting photographs to album pages. This photograph album contains 59 photographic prints, one newspaper clipping, and one envelope containing paper photo mounting corners.
Textual folder
Kennedy Family Collection
KFC-086-001
This scrapbook, compiled to commemorate the establishment, construction, and dedication of the Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., Home for Children in the Bronx, New York, documents the life and naval career of Lieutenant Kennedy and the early history of the Home for Children that was named in his honor. The cover displays the engraving, "Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. / Home for Children / Bronx, New York." Newspaper clippings cover Lieutenant Kennedy’s enlistment and commission as ensign in the United States Naval Reserve; his death while piloting a U.S. Navy aircraft over Blythburgh, East Suffolk, England; his posthumous receipt of the Navy Cross; the launching of the U.S.S. Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., naval destroyer; the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., Foundation’s donation to the Archdiocese of New York for the establishment of the Home for Children; and the Home’s blessing and dedication on October 29, 1950. Photographs capture Lieutenant Kennedy posing in his Harvard University football uniform; receiving his wings from his father, Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr.; wearing his flight jacket; and standing in flight gear with his airplane. Also pictured are interior, exterior, and aerial views of the Home for Children’s buildings; children and staff using the Home’s various facilities; Archbishop of New York, Cardinal Francis Spellman, and members of the Kennedy family at the blessing and dedication ceremony, including Joseph, Sr., Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, John F. Kennedy, Eunice Kennedy, Patricia Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy and his wife, Ethel Kennedy, and Jean Kennedy; the unveiling of a portrait of Lieutenant Kennedy and a bronze plaque bearing his citation for the Navy Cross; the groundbreaking for the Home’s new chapel-gymnasium on March 5, 1951; children participating in a radio broadcast charity campaign; the Home’s first graduates; and children meeting the Mayor of New York City, Vincent R. Impellitteri. Other items of note are an invitation to and a program for the Home’s dedication ceremony. This scrapbook contains 27 photographic prints, ten newspaper clippings, one invitation, and one program.
Textual folder
Kennedy Family Collection
KFC-072-001
This diary, kept by Edward M. "Ted" Kennedy as a 6- and 7-year old child, contains handwritten entries detailing his daily activities from January 1, 1939, through September 9, 1939, while residing at 14 Prince’s Gate in London, England, where the Kennedy family lived during Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr.’s tenure as United States Ambassador to Great Britain. The gold stamped title on the cover reads, “Diary / No. 28 / 1939.” Pages contain pre-printed ruling and text, including entry dates, as well as manuscript entries written in black ink. Most entries were not written by Ted, but most likely by Kennedy family nurse, Luella Hennessey, with Ted dictating. Ted’s handwriting appears in entries from July 11, 12, 16, 17, and 18. Entries cover a variety of topics, including Ted’s education at the Gibbs School and St. Thomas More School, both in London; various train and boat rides during the family’s travels; social events, including a party attended by the British royal family at which Ted danced with Princess Elizabeth; outings to parks, zoos, movies, and pantomime performances; and playtime and sports activities with family and friends. Specific events and experiences that Ted mentions include a family trip to St. Moritz, Switzerland; Adolf Hitler’s Reichstag speech; the death of Pope Pius XI; Ted’s seventh birthday, for which he received a new dog, named “Sammy”; the family’s trip to Rome in Italy, as well as the Vatican, during which he received his First Holy Communion from Pope Pius XII; bombings of London by the Irish Republican Army; a visit to the estate of family friend, Sir James Calder, in Norfolk, England; a family trip to Cannes and Antibes in France; events leading up to Great Britain’s declaration of war on Germany, including the relocation of members of the Kennedy family to financier John Pierpont Morgan, Jr.'s country estate in Hertfordshire, England, while awaiting transport back to America; and the sinking of the S.S. Athenia. Luella Hennessey and the Kennedy children's governess, Elizabeth Dunn, also feature prominently throughout the diary. About half of the pages for July and August do not contain entries. The last entry of the diary is September 9, 1939; the remaining pages dated through December 31, 1939, are blank. The diary also contains three loose photographs, one loose newspaper clipping, and one loose printed birthday invitation.