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Proclamation in recognition and honor of our beloved president, Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1945

CONTENT WARNING

Materials in the Library of Virginia’s collections contain historical terms, phrases, and images that are offensive to modern readers. These include demeaning and dehumanizing references to race, ethnicity, and nationality; enslaved or free status; physical and mental ability; and gender and sexual orientation. 

Context

On April 14, 1945, U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was buried in Hyde Park, New York, following funeral services at the White House. Roosevelt had been elected four times to the office of president, a feat never matched, and one that is now prohibited by the 22nd Amendment.

After winning election to the White House for the first time in 1932, Roosevelt began efforts to combat the effects of the nation's economic collapse and the Great Depression. The federal government created numerous agencies and administrations, collectively known as the New Deal, that put money into the economy with public works projects, such as the Civilian Conservation Corps, strengthened the position of workers, and provided some working people with a retirement pension (Social Security).  

Beginning in 1933, Roosevelt held a series of "Fireside Chats" to directly address concerns of Americans. These radio broadcasts changed the way the office of president addressed U. S. residents, and his regular speeches on the radio made many Americans feel like they were personally close with him. Roosevelt also used his "Fireside Chats" to build support for participation in World War II. He is remembered especially for his rousing address to Congress and the American people after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. As a wartime president, he led the United States in its fight against the Axis powers of Germany and Italy in Europe and Japan in the Pacific. 

In this proclamation, J.L. Bland, the mayor of West Point, Virginia, calls for all businesses to close at 4:00pm in recognition of the funeral services for President Roosevelt, which were scheduled for that time.

Citation: Bland, J.L. Proclamation in recognition and honor of our beloved president, Franklin D. Roosevelt, West Point, Va., 1945. Broadside 1945 .B5 BOX, Special Collections, Library of Virginia


Related Document Bank entry:
Remember Dec. 7th!, World War II Poster, 1942

Standards

VS.10, USII.5, USII.6, VUS.13, VUS.14

Suggested Questions

Preview Activity

Scan It: Scan the document. What is it announcing? Why would someone write such an announcement?

Post Activities

Up for Debate: Do you think that businesses should have closed to honor the time of the President's funeral? Why or why not?

Social Media Spin: Create a social media post announcing the funeral of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Include information about his historical significance.

Dig Deeper: Visit the Library of Virginia's online newspaper database: virginiachronicle.com. Look at newspapers published at the time of President Roosevelt's death and funeral in April 1945. How did people in different communities around Virginia respond?