Frederic A. Delano Papers, 1812-1959 | Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum

Title: Frederic A. Delano Papers, 1812-1959

Primary Creator: Delano, Frederic A (1863-1953)

Extent: 11.53 Cubic Feet

Date Acquired: 00/00/1950

Frederic Adrian Delano, Franklin D. Roosevelt's uncle, was born in Hong Kong, China on September 10, 1863. His father, Warren Delano II, was at that time a partner in the shipping firm of Russell and Company based in that city. A few years later the Delano family returned to "Algonac", the family home near Newburgh, New York and Delano spent much of his childhood there.

After graduating from Harvard University in 1885, Frederic A. Delano began a railroad career as an apprentice machinist with the Chicago Burlington and Quincy Railroad. He eventually became General Manager of that company, serving in that position from 1901 through 1904. In 1905 he was named president of the Wabash Railroad; in January 1911, he assumed the presidency of the Monon Railroad. Resigning that position on August 10, 1914, he accepted appointment to a six-year term on the Federal Reserve Board. In 1918 he resigned as Vice-Chairman of the Board and entered the army as a Major in the U.S. Engineering Corps. He served as director of transportation at Paris, France, attaining the rank of Colonel. In 1921 the United States Government awarded him the Distinguished Service Medal for his wartime service.

The Supreme Court of the United States named Mr. Delano as Receiver in the Red River Boundary Case (Oklahoma v. Texas) in April 1920 and he served in that capacity until the court issued its final decree, on June 1, 1925. The following December he was appointed President of the League of Nations Commission of Enquiry into Production of Opium in Persia. In 1926 the Commission visited Persia to survey the local economy with the aim of proposing a financial substitute for the production of opium.

Frederic A. Delano also had a deep interest in the field of city planning and was a member of the Chicago Plan Commission during his residence in that city prior to 1914. After moving to Washington in that year he became involved in many planning activities in the District of Columbia. President Coolidge appointed him President of the National Capital Park and Planning Commission in 1927. In 1933 Franklin D. Roosevelt named him Chairman of the National Resources Planning Commission, a position that he held for ten years. He also served as President of the American Planning and Civic Association for a number of years.

Mr. Delano gave much of his time to civic affairs throughout his life. He served as a Regent of the Smithsonian Institution and a trustee of the Carnegie Institution and also had interests in a number of other organizations. He was the author of many articles on subjects diverse as railroad transportation, monetary policy and city planning. He died in Washington on March 28, 1953 at the age of 89.

Repository: Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum

Access Restrictions: This collection is available for use by the general public.

Use Restrictions: Literary property rights have not been donated to the United States Government.

Acquisition Source: Catherine Delano Grant and Laura Delano Houghtelling

Acquisition Method: The "Algonac" Diaries were received at the Library in 1950 from Catherine Delano Grant and Laura Delano Houghteling, daughters of Frederic A. Delano. In August 1950 Catherine Delano Grant also gave the Library a volume of condolences received by the Delano family on the death of Laura F. Delano, Mr. Delano's sister, in 1884. The remainder was given to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library by Laura Delano Houghteling in July 1953 and October 1964.

Related Materials: Correspondence with Frederic A. Delano may be found in the papers of Eleanor Roosevelt and Franklin D. Roosevelt and in the Delano Family Papers. The Delano Family Papers and the Roosevelt Family Papers include material concerning other members of the Delano family.