Franklin Roosevelt: Large Wrought Iron Pen Tray ...
Description
Franklin Roosevelt: Large Wrought Iron Pen Tray presented by FDR to Frank Scheider, the husband of Melvina Thompson Scheider, Eleanor Roosevelt's personal secretary. The pen tray features a three-dimensional and large rose, the symbol of the Roosevelt family. The tray measures 11.5" x 6," and 3" high to the tip of one of the rose petals. The bottom of the tray is marked "Rancraft" or "Crancraft". On the bottom of the tray is taped the following note: "Presented to Uncle Frank Scheider by President FDR, Franklin D. Roosevelt."Malvina Thompson, known to her friends as "Tommy," was a fixture in the Roosevelt household, as critical to Eleanor's life as Missy was to Franklin's. Short and stocky, with brown hair and a continual wrinkle in the bridge of her nose, the forty-eight-year old Tommy had started working for Eleanor when Franklin was Governor of New York. She had married Frank Scheider, a teacher in the New York public schools, in 1921 and divorced him in 1939. She had no children. She had her own room in every Roosevelt house: a sitting room and bedroom in The White House, a bedroom in Eleanor's Greenwich Village apartment, and a suite of rooms at Val Kill, Eleanor's cottage at Hyde Park.
"Tommy" Thompson died April 12, 1953, eight years to the day after FDR, from a brain hemorrhage (like FDR), after a 12 day hospitalization. Eleanor Roosevelt was devastated. She later wrote, "When she [Thompson] died, I learned for the first time what being alone was like."
More Information:
The extended description below was supplied by the consignor. We are making it available to our web bidders who are interested in more in-depth research and broader historical perspective. Please note that presentation (i.e. framing), lot divisions, and interpretations of condition and content may occasionally differ from our descriptions. Assertions of fact and subjective observations contained in this description represent the opinion of the consignor. These remarks have not been checked for accuracy by Heritage Auctions, and we assume no responsibility for their accuracy; they are offered purely to allow the bidder insight into the way the consignor has viewed the item(s) in question. No right of return or claim of lack of authenticity or provenance based upon this extended description will be granted.
A very rare and terrific gift from FDR given to Frank Scheider, the husband of Melvina Thompson Scheider, Eleanor Roosevelt's personal secretary: a Rancraft silver pen tray in pristine condition, featuring a three dimensional and large symbol of the Roosevelt family, a rose, measuring 6 x 11 ½," and 3" high to the tip of one of the rose petals. Malvina Thompson, known to her friends as "Tommy," was a fixture in the Roosevelt household, as critical to Eleanor's life as Missy was to Franklin's. Short and stocky, with brown hair and a continual wrinkle in the bridge of her nose, the forty eight-year old Tommy had started working for Eleanor when Franklin was Governor of New York. She had married Frank Scheider, a teacher in the New York public schools, in 1921 and divorced him in 1939. She had no children. She had her own room in every Roosevelt house: a sitting room and bedroom in The White House, a bedroom in Eleanor's Greenwich Village apartment, and a suite of rooms at Val Kill, Eleanor's cottage at Hyde Park. On the bottom of the Rancraft silver pen tray is taped the following note: "Presented to Uncle Frank Scheider by President FDR, Franklin D. Roosevelt." What a terrific personal gift from FDR to the husband of a key member of his political family.
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