The Grace Tully Collection | Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum

Printer-friendly |

Contact the Archives

Collection Overview

Title: The Grace Tully Collection

Primary Creator: Tully, Grace (1900-1984)

Other Creators: LeHand, Marguerite A. ("Missy"), Roosevelt, Franklin D. (1882-1945)

Extent: 6.55 Cubic Feet

Arrangement:

When the Tully Collection, aslo know as the Grace Tully Archive, was acquired, there was no discernable original order because the collection had passed through several dealers, auction houses, and private owners prior to its donation to the Library. The materials had been rearranged and repackaged to enhance salability, not preserve original archival order. Archivists at the Roosevelt Library who organized the materials for research imposed a reasonable and accessible order to each sub-collection consistent with standard archival practices. In arranging the collection into its component sub-collections, if original ownership could not be clearly determined, the materials were deemed to belong in the Tully Papers.

The Tully Archive is arranged into three series:

Abstract

This collection is composed of three smaller collections: the Grace Tully Papers, the Marguerite A. ("Missy") LeHand Papers, and the Franklin D. Roosevelt Papers.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

This collection is composed of three smaller collections: the Grace Tully Papers, the Marguerite A. ("Missy") LeHand Papers, and the Franklin D. Roosevelt Papers.

The collection is titled the "Tully Archive" because, while there are three distinct collections within it, all of the materials were in the sole custody of Grace Tully from at least 1941 until her death in 1984, at which time the collection was transferred through numerous dealers and private owners until its ultimate donation to the Roosevelt Library. The title accurately reflects its unique provenance.

Biographical Note

Grace Tully Biographical Timeline

Born in Bayonne, New Jersey, August 9, 1900. Father died when young, and she and two sisters and brother were raised by devout Catholic mother. Attended parochial and convent schools before enrolling in secretarial school. Worked for Bishop (then later) Cardinal Patrick Hayes as secretary for ten years. Sought new employment with Democratic National Committee in 1928. Assigned to assist Eleanor Roosevelt who was organizing support for presidential nominee Al Smith. When FDR was nominated for Governor later that year, Grace went to work on Roosevelt's staff. Grace performed the dictation and typing duties that FDR's principal personal secretary Missy LeHand disliked. Grace served with FDR in Albany during his four years as Governor of New York. Moved to Washington in 1933 when FDR elected President. Roles of Tully and LeHand were by this time well defined and accepted. Grace performed dictation and typing, managed the President's mail, and served as primary files manager for the White House. After Missy LeHand suffered a stroke in 1941, Grace became FDR's primary personal secretary. Grace was in Warm Springs with FDR when he died on April 12, 1945. Grace thereafter became executive secretary of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial Foundation. Prior to his death, FDR appointed Grace to a three person committee to serve as a steward of FDR's papers in preparation for their opening to researchers. The other members of the committee were Harry L. Hopkins and Samuel Rosenman. The papers committee was disbanded in the late 1940s after ownership of the FDR papers was confirmed in the United States government following the administration of Roosevelt's estate. The establishment of the committee was deemed a non-testamentary request by the President not binding on the Archivist of the United States. In 1955, Tully joined the staff of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, working closely with then-Senate Majority leader Lyndon B. Johnson. She remained as an aide there until 1965. Grace Tully died on June 15, 1984 at George Washington University Hospital in Washington DC. She never married and had no children.

Administrative Information

Repository: Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum

Access Restrictions: None

Use Restrictions: The writings of Franklin D. Roosevelt within this collection are in the public domain. The official writings of United States government officials within this collection are in the public domain. The writings of Eleanor Roosevelt within this collection are subject to Mrs. Roosevelt's literary estate. All other materials are subject to the United States Copyright law, 17 U.S.C. 101, et seq.

Separated Materials: Framed items, memorabilia, books and photographs have been removed from the Tully Archive and transferred to the appropriate collection within the FDR Library.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Grace Tully Papers],
[Series 2: Marguerite A. ("Missy") LeHand Papers],
[Series 3: Franklin D. Roosevelt Papers],
[All]

Series 1: Grace Tully Papers

Boxes 1-9:This collection includes an extensive series of personal correspondence between Grace Tully, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, other members of the Roosevelt Administration and White House staff, friends and family. A recurring name throughout the correspondence is Paula Tully/Paula Larrabee. Paula was Grace's sister who also worked in the White House. Of particular interest in the correspondence files are letters from Eleanor Roosevelt revealing the extent to which Grace assisted Mrs. Roosevelt in her day-to-day activities. There also is correspondence exchanged between Grace and Lyndon B. and Lady Bird Johnson that casts light on Grace's life after the Roosevelt years. The collection also contains a series of writings by Grace Tully, including draft notes and chapters for her book FDR: My Boss as well as unpublished reminiscences of FDR. Finally, there is an extensive series of memorabilia, including copies of FDR speech texts inscribed by the President to Grace, copies of White House press releases, a set of official Logs of the President's Trips, inauguration memorabilia, and colorful menus from railroad trips Grace took with the President.

Sub-Series 1: Correspondence

Box 1

A-C: View Online
Astor, Vincent, 1941-1949 and undated: View Online
Barkley, Alben W., 1936-1940: View Online
Bullitt, William C., 1942: View Online
Byrd, Adm. Richard E., 1941-1962: View Online
Byrd, Robert C., 1980: View Online
Byrnes, James F., 1942 and undated: View Online
Cahill, Raymond T., 1939-1940: View Online
Cardozo, Benjamin N., 1930: View Online
Carter, Jimmy, 1980: View Online
Cartier, Pierre C., 1935-1945: View Online
Chandor, Douglas, 1947-1954: View Online
Clark, Mark W., 1944-1945: View Online
Corcoran, Thomas C., 1958: View Online
Cummings, Homer S., 1936-1947: View Online
D-F Delano, Laura F., 1944-1947: View Online; View Online
Donovan, William J., 1942 and undated: View Online
Douglas, William O., 1941-1962: View Online
Dowling, Eddie, 1942-1945: View Online
Early, Stephen T., 1940-1946 and undated: View Online
Eisenhower, Dwight D. and Mamie, 1951-1955: View Online
Farley, James A., 1935-1970: View Online
Forrestal, James, 1945: View Online
Frankfurter, Felix, 1939-1946, and undated: View Online
Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, 1943-1985: View Online
Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial Foundation, 1947 and undated: View Online
Franklin D. Roosevelt Warm Springs Memorial Commission,, 1961: View Online
G-I: View Online
Halifax, Lord, 1945: View Online
Hassett, William D., 1943-1950: View Online
Hoover, J. Edgar, 1943: View Online

Box 2

Hopkins, Harry L., 1938-1946 and undated: View Online
Hull, Cordell, 1934: View Online
Humphrey, Hubert H. and Muriel, 1964-1977: View Online
Ickes, Harold L., 1935-1945: View Online
J-L: View Online
Johnson, Lyndon B. and Lady Bird, 1942-1966: View Online
Johnson, Lyndon B. and Lady Bird, 1969-1984 and undated: View Online
Kennedy, John F., 1961: View Online
Kennedy, Joseph P., 1936-1960: View Online
LeHand, Marguerite A. ("Missy") Lehman, Herbert H., 1929-1944 and undated, , 1929-1933: View Online; View Online
M: View Online
Marshall, George C., 1945: View Online
Mondale, Walter F., 1980: View Online
Morgenthau, Henry, Jr., 1935-1945 and undated: View Online
Muskie, Edmund S., 1970-1984: View Online
N-Q: View Online
O'Connor, Basil, 1929-1947: View Online
O'Connor and Farber, 1945-1947: View Online
Offie, Carmel, 1940-1945: View Online
Otto of Austria, 1944-1945: View Online
Perkins, Frances, 1934: View Online

Box 3

R-T: View Online
Rayburn, Sam, 1953-1957: View Online
Roosevelt, Anna [Dall, Boettiger], 1933-1945 and undated: View Online
Roosevelt, Eleanor Roosevelt, Eleanor, 1929-1934, , 1936-1940: View Online; View Online
Roosevelt, Eleanor, 1941-1945: View Online
Roosevelt, Eleanor, 1946-1949: View Online
Roosevelt, Eleanor, 1950-1962: View Online
Roosevelt, Eleanor, undated: View Online
Roosevelt, Elliott, 1943-1945: View Online

Box 4

Roosevelt, Franklin D., 1928-1932: View Online
Roosevelt, Franklin D., 1933-1941: View Online
Roosevelt, Franklin D., 1942-1945: View Online
Roosevelt, Franklin D., undated: View Online
Roosevelt, Franklin D.: Transcripts of Longhand, 1931-1945 and undated: View Online
Roosevelt, James, 1932-1984 and undated: View Online
Roosevelt, Sara Delano, 1932-1933 and undated: View Online
Rosenman, Samuel I., 1930-1944 and undated: View Online
Rowe, James H., Jr., 1940-1944: View Online
Rutherfurd, Lucy Mercer, 1944-1945 and undated: View Online
Sherwood,Robert, 1941-1951: View Online
Sherwood, Robert: Drawings, 1941-1948 and undated: View Online
Spellman, Francis J., 1940-1957: View Online
Stettinius, Edward R., Jr., 1943-1945: View Online
Stevenson, Adlai E.,, 1948-1964 and undated: View Online
Stimson, Henry L., 1945: View Online
Suckley, Margaret L., 1942-1944: View Online
Sullivan,Ed, 1951: View Online
Thompson, Malvina C., 1933-1946 and undated: View Online
Truman, Harry S., 1945-1955: View Online
U-Z: View Online
Unidentified: View Online
Vanderbilt, Cornelius, Jr., 1934-1961 and undated: View Online
Wallace, Henry A., 1945: View Online
Welles, Orson, 1944: View Online
Winchell, Walter, 1943-1964 and undated: View Online

Box 5

Financial Materials, 1907-1953: View Online (Part 1); View Online (Part 2)
Gift Lists,, 1943-1944 and undated: View Online

Sub-Series 3: Writings

Box 5

Draft Article about FDR for The New Republic, 1946: View Online
FDR, My Boss: Chapter Drafts and Notes, ca. 1947-1949: View Online (Part 1); View Online (Part 2); View Online (Part 3)
FDR, My Boss: Correspondence, 1947-1953: View Online
Miscellaneous Notes and Drafts, undated: View Online (Part 1); View Online (Part 2); View Online (Part 3); View Online (Part 4)
Shorthand Notes, 1938-1940 and undated: View Online (Part 1); View Online (Part 2); View Online (Part 3); View Online (Part 4); View Online (Part 5)
Speeches, 1955-1977: View Online
Unpublished Reminiscences, 1950: View Online

Sub-Series 4: FDR Inscribed Speeches

Box 5

Phi Beta Kappa Speech, Harvard University, June 17, 1929: View Online
First Inaugural Address, March 4, 1933: View Online
Speech on the 100th Anniversary of the Death of LaFayette, May 20, 1934: View Online
Thanksgiving Day Proclamation, 1935: View Online
Acceptance Speech on Renomination for the Presidency, June 27, 1936: View Online
Fireside Chat Following Drought Inspection Tour, September 6, 1936: View Online
Commencement Address at the University of Virginia, June 10, 1940: View Online
Radio Address Accepting Renomination for the Presidency, July 19, 1940: View Online
Statement of the President on Adoption of Selective Service, September 16, 1940: View Online
Radio Address from Hyde Park on Election Eve, November 4, 1940: View Online
Fireside Chat on National Security (Arsenal of Democracy Speech), December 20, 1940: View Online
Message to Congress on Landing American Troops in Iceland, July 7, 1941: View Online
Fireside Chat on National Defense, September 11, 1941: View Online
Navy and Total Defense Day Address, October 27, 1941: View Online
War Message to Congress, December 8, 1941: View Online
Fireside Chat on War with Japan, December 9, 1941: View Online
Message to Congress Asking that a State of War be Recognized with Germany and Italy, December 11, 1941: View Online
Radio Address on 150th Anniversary of the Ratification of the Bill of Rights, December 15, 1941: View Online

Box 6

Declaration by United Nations, January 2, 1942: View Online
Annual Message to Congress, January 6, 1942: View Online
Fireside Chat on Progress of the War, February 23, 1942: View Online
Message to Congress Outlining Economic Stabilization Program, April 27, 1942: View Online
Fireside Chat on Economic Stabilization, April 28, 1942: View Online
Fireside Chat on the Home Front, October 12, 1942: View Online
Fireside Chat on Federal Seizure of the Coal Mines, May 2, 1943: View Online
Fourth Inaugural Address, January 20, 1945: View Online

Sub-Series 5: FDR Materials

Box 6

Franklin D. Roosevelt Papers: Lists: View Online (Part 1); View Online (Part 2); View Online (Part 3); View Online (Part 4)
Other Inscribed Items: View Online
Press Releases, 1932: View Online
Press Releases, 1934-1938: View Online (Part 1); View Online (Part 2)
Press Releases, March 11, 1938: View Online (Part 1); View Online (Part 2); View Online (Part 3)
Press Releases, 1939-1941: View Online (Part 1); View Online (Part 2)
Press Releases, 1943-1945: View Online
Trip Itineraries, 1932-1945 and undated: View Online

Sub-Series 6: Logs of the President's Trips

Box 7

Fishing Cruise to Dry Tortugas, Florida, November 29 - December 6, 1937: View Online
Cruise on Board USS Philadelphia, April 30 - May 8, 1938: View Online
Inspection Cruise and Fishing Expedition on Board USS Houston, July 16 - August 9, 1938: View Online
Inspection Cruise through the West Indies, December 3-4, 1940: View Online
Inspection Trip and Cruise on Board USS Potomac, March 19 - April 1, 1941: View Online
Inspection Trip, September 17 - October 1, 1942: View Online (Part 1); View Online (Part 2)
Casablanca Conference, January 9-31, 1943: View Online
Inspection Tour, April 13-29, 1943: View Online (Part 1); View Online (Part 2)
Canada-First Quebec Conference and Ottawa, August 16-25, 1943: View Online (Part 1); View Online (Part 2)
Africa and the Middle East (Cairo and Teheran Conferences), November - December, 1943: View Online (Part 1); View Online (Part 2); View Online (Part 3)
Inspection Trip to the Pacific, July - August 1944: View Online (Part 1); View Online (Part 2); View Online (Part 3)
Canada-Second Quebec Conference, September 9-22, 1944: View Online (Part 1); View Online (Part 2)
Crimea Conference and Great Bitter Lake, Egypt [Yalta Conference], January 22 - February 28, 1945: View Online (Part 1); View Online (Part 2); View Online (Part 3); View Online (Part 4)

Sub-Series 7: Memorabilia

Box 8

Christmas Cards: View Online
Christmas Cards from Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: View Online
Funeral of Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1945: View Online
Inauguration (Governor), 1929: View Online
Inauguration (Governor), 1931: View Online
Inauguration (President), 1933: View Online (Part 1); View Online (Part 2); View Online (Part 3)
Inauguration (President), 1937: View Online
Inauguration (President), 1941: View Online
Inauguration (President), 1945: View Online
Inauguration (President), 1961: View Online
Inauguration (President), 1965: View Online

Box 9

Invitations: View Online
Invitations-White House: View Online
Miscellaneous, 1914-1970 and undated: View Online (Part 1); View Online (Part 2)
Railroad Trip Menus, 1932: View Online
Railroad Trip Menus, 1934-1936: View Online
Railroad Trip Menus, 1937: View Online
Railroad Trip Menus, 1938: View Online
Railroad Trip Menus, undated: View Online

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Grace Tully Papers],
[Series 2: Marguerite A. ("Missy") LeHand Papers],
[Series 3: Franklin D. Roosevelt Papers],
[All]