The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Suite and Historical Collections


FDR’s Social Activities at Harvard

Known as “Frank” during his Harvard years, FDR kept up quite a social whirl during his time at college.

The following partial list, compiled by Research Associate Justin Roshak from FDR: His Personal Letters Vol 1: Early Years, gives some small indication of FDR’s myriad extracurricular and social activities while at Harvard.

Quote

Page

Date

Subject

“Breakfast 7:30-10. Lunch 1-2. Supper 6-7:30”

423

9.28.00

Dining

“In the afternoon the first foot-ball practice with a long run made us stiff…”

425

10.5.00

Sports

“”…you intended to come to Boston next Saturday! …will get five seats at the Theatre & ask 3 boys to dinner.”

426

10.14.00

Social

“Today there was communion & the regular services, & I came back at tonight at 7 o’clock…I am not smoking as I am training for football.”

427

10.14.00

Routines

“On Monday I went to a “Beer-Night” in a Senior’s room. It is a regular institution by which a senior has a few of his classmen and about 20 freshmen in to his room in order to get them acquainted with each other.”

427

10.19.00

Social

“I left the Freshman teem on Saturday& the squad is now very small…I put my name down for one of the 8 scrub teams which are to play till Nov. 5 for a Cup.”

428

10.19.00

Sports

“I was elected Captain of the Team”

428

10.19.00

Sports

“Tomorrow I am going with Mosely to spend a Sunday in Newsburyport…we are to shoot ducks.”

428

10.19.00

Social/Misc.

“To go back to last week- I played foot-ball every afternoon & on Thursday evening paid the Porters a call”

430

10.31.00

Sports/Social

“…we finish the series next Saturday & I shall then play golf or row. On Saturday the game with the Carlisle Indians took place & I took Miss Lord to see it & went there to dinner afterwards.”

431

10.31.00

Sports/Social

“The monthly exams are beginning next week so I’m working hard.”

431

10.31.00

Academics

“In the evening we all, that is about half the college went to the theatre, “The Monks of Malabar” and regularly “roughhoused” the play

433

11.6.00

Social/Misc

“Yesterday I played squash most of the afternoon, & called at Bishop Lawrence’s house in the evening.”

433

11.6.00

Sports/Social

“I am going this evening to teach at the boy’s club in Boston. I have been asked by the Lords to take my Thanksgiving dinner with them & shall do so.”

434

11.19.00

Social

“I have arranged to umpire a foot-ball game tomorrow, Thanksgiving Day morning, between a team from my club and that of some other boys’ club.”

436

11.27.00

Sports

“It is very good of you to bother so about my dances, I am writing Ellen & Laura…I shall ask either Alice Draper or Jean Reid for the Metropolitan.”*

437

12.3.00

Social

“Yesterday afternoon I went out to Hammond’s pond & skated & played hockey

439

1.6.01

Social/Sports

“…there is sleighing.”

441

1.8.01

Social/Sports

“My exams come on the days I have told you but on very bad hours, on Friday the 25th I have geology at 2.30 p.m., lasting till 5.30…

442

1.16.01

Academics

“I begin work today for the Freshman Crew, it consists for the next month of work in the gymnasium on machines.”

443

1.21.01

Sports

“French exam tomorrow [2.4.01] and Latin on Tuesday [2.5.01]…”

444

2.3.01

Academics

“I took the Government exam on Thursday [2.8.01] and rowed Friday afternoon.”

445

2.11.01

Academics/Sports

“On Sunday morning we all went to church in N.B. [New Bedford?] & visited the Swifts afterwards. After lunch Uncle W. (Warren Delano) L & I went to the Fort & I paid a visit to the Church cousins.”

445

1.11.01

Social

“I am taking a new half-course, Geology 5 which is laboratory & field work. I have heard from two of my exams, History, B, Latin D+…I got an honor in History.”

445

1.11.01

Academics

“I have rowed every day & had three Glee club rehearsals this week. The concerts begin in two weeks.

446

1.16.01

Social

“I got a C+ in Geology 4 & a B- in French so have had two honors…”

446

1.16.01

Academics

“The annual dinner of the Groton Club of Harvard was held on Tuesday night [1.19.01] at the Somerset…The Freshman Glee Club has jest had a rehearsal here in our room & we have 3 a week…

448

1.22.01

Social

“I forgot to write last night as I went in to the Boy’s Club.”

450

3.19.01

Social

“Last night was held the election of officers of the Freshman Glee Club, President—Geo. Lawton, Secretary—F.D. Roosevelt, Gen. Manager—L. Brown

452

3.29.01

Social


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