Lot 306

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Description:

FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT
(1882 - 1945) Thirty-second President of the United States who instituted the "New Deal" programs and who led the United States through most of World War II. An unusual collection pertaining to the ownership of a park in Flushing, Queens that had been acquired in 1912 by the City of New York. At the time of purchase, the City was not aware of the ownership and instead placed the sum of $15,200 in escrow pending identification. As it turned out, F.D.R.'s father, James Roosevelt was a part owner of the parcels identified in the depositions as "Damage Parcels Nos. 1, 2, and 3" and today is known as Leavitt's Park. The collection includes a certified copy of the will of Franklin's father, James Roosevelt (1828-1900) May 28, 1900; the will of his half-brother James "Rosy" Roosevelt, Jr. (1854-1927), Nov. 22, 1924 plus codicils together with two original, signed depositions concerning the right and title to the inheritance from the property's sale to the City of New York. The first is a typed D.S."Franklin D. Roosevelt" as President, 2pp. legal folio, Queens County, N.Y., June 17, 1937, being a deposition "In the Matter of acquiring title to Public Park bounded by Congress and Myrtle Avenues and Leavitt Street in the Third Ward, Borough of Queens, City of New York" in which Roosevelt certifies that he is entitled to one-third of his father's estate: "...that your deponent has been informed that the City of new York on June 26th, 1912 acquired title to Damage Parcels Nos. 1, 2, and 3 herein and made an awarded to an 'Unknown Owner' in the sum of $15,200. That your deponent has been further informed that your deponent's father, James Roosevelt, died seized of 26 2/3% of the premises of which Damage Parcels Nos. 1, 2 and 3 formed a part by virtue of a deed made by Eliza M. Leavitt to James Roosevelt, dated November 26th, 1877... ". The second document concerns the same subject, but pertains to the third of the James Roosevelt estate that belonged to F.D.R.'s mother Sara in a typed D.S. "Sara D Roosevelt" and additionally "Franklin D. Roosevelt" in text as President, 1p. legal folio, Duchess County, N.Y., June 17, 1937, in which Sarah Roosevelt "...deposes and says that she is the widow of James Roosevelt whose Will was duly probated in the Surrogate's Court...That under and by virtue of the said Will, your deponent is entitled to the income of one-third of all the rest, residue and remainder of the estate of said James Roosevelt, deceased...". F.D.R. adds his name and adds the names the other two executors of his father's will, "Curtis B. Dall and Frederic A. Delano." The group also includes a T.L.S. of F.D.R.'s uncle, FREDERIC A DELANO (1863 - 1953) 1p. 4to., [New York], July 31, 1937, ordering the city comptroller to pay his attorney, Charles Schneikraut for his services together with an identical typed letter signed by his co-executor (and F.D.R.'s son-in-law CURTIS B. DALL (1896 - 1991). A very unusual group of pieces overall in very good to fine condition. Together, six pieces.

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October 9, 2010 11:00 AM EDT
Stamford, CT, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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