Whatever happened to FDR's Holy Bible from World War II? Well, this is a Relic of the Highest Magnitude in that it was a personal possession of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Not only that, FDR had taken the time to include his Personal Bookplate attached to inside cover.
THE HOLY BIBLE OF PRESIDENT FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT - MONOGRAMMED IN GOLD WITH FDR'S NAME AS WELL AS THE DATE OF JULY 25, 1942 - AT RIGHT IS THE FDR'S PERSONAL BOOKPLATE.
Shown above is President Roosevelt's Holy Bible with FDR'S own name, " Franklin D. Roosevelt", Monogrammed in Gold – with an Imposing World War II Date of 1942.
FDR SHORTLY BEFORE HIS PASSING AWAY IN WARM SPRINGS, GEORGIA ON APRIL 12, 1945
Shortly after the President suddenly passed away on April 12, 1945, while in Warm Springs, Georgia, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, directed that a few favored few White House Staff Members be Summoned. This Pesonal Invitation included longtime employee, Lillian Rogers Parks. She walked into the Executive Mansion bedroom. Some of FDR's personal effects have been carefully laid out on the bed by the First Lady. Mrs. Roosevelt said," take what you want now; because the rest is going to Hyde Park and you will never ever have another chance".
TRUSTED WHITE HOUSE EMPLOYEE, LILLIAN ROGERS PARKS WITH FDR's 1942 HOLY BIBLE
Among other things, Lillian Rogers Parks, a favored Maid and Seamstress of 12 FDR White House years, was given FDR's Holy Bible. On April 12, 1983, (42 years later to the day), Mrs. Parks (pictured below holding FDR's holy Bible) presented it to The Raleigh DeGeer Amyx Collection AKA The American Heritage Collection--accompanied with detailed written Provenance of the Highest Order. Lillian Rogers Parks and Mr. Amyx were close friends over a period of many years. Mrs. Parks had served at The White House for a total 30 years......through the entire Administrations of Herbert Hoover, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower.
FDR, AT HIS HOME AT HYDE PARK, IN A MOMENT OF REFLECTION
Prior to that, Lillian Rogers Parks' Mother, Maggie Rogers, had served at the White House during the Administrations of President Taft, Harding, Coolidge, Hoover and Roosevelt. When Lillian Rogers Parks passed away at the age of 101, Raleigh DeGeer Amyx was asked to be a Pallbearer at her Funeral. It was the final parting of two dear friends....Parks and Amyx.
HISTORIAN AND COLLECTOR - RALEIGH DEGEER AMYX - 2009
For additional historical facts that may be of interest see: www.AmericanHeritage1.com
Raleigh DeGeer Amyx is an American historian and collector. His full biography can be read on his Wikipedia page.