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 |