1930s Portrait of Louise Polk Wilson Signing for FDR Original Photo

Description: Size: 7x9 inch Condition: All photos in this series are in good to excellent condition for their age, unless otherwise outlined here. Photos of any major imperfections will be included. Pretty Louise Polk Wilson of the General Land Office, might be called a professional forger, but fortunately it is all very legal as President Franklin D. Roosevelt has authorized her to sign his name on patents. With the thousands of new decrees, executive orders and official pronouncements, it is believed that Miss Wilson's profession of legal forgery may become one in which many persons could hold positions. But as yet, Miss Wilson is the only person authorized to sign the name Franklin D. Roosevelt. She bears the name of two previous presidents of the United States, and is a distant relative to the former President Polk. She has signed the President's name about 11,000 times. 1210/35 HARRIS AND EWING PHOTOS. Louise Polk Wilson was indeed an interesting figure of her time, serving as a "stand-in" for President Franklin D. Roosevelt for signing documents. Her role became more prominent during the New Deal era when the president was inundated with paperwork. This system allowed for efficiency, though it also raised questions about the authenticity of presidential signatures. Following this period, Wilson was recognized in legal circles and became a symbol of the reliance on trusted staff in government operations. She continued her career in public service, highlighting the evolving nature of office roles during that transformative decade in American history. === This 7x9 inch original type 1 (from original negative) photograph is from the personal collection of photographer Wes Howland (1906-1956). Howland was a reporter with the Harris-Ewing news service in Washington D.C from 1931-1941, and went on to serve with the military. He was one of a small number of photographers with complete access to the White House, Capitol, Senate, and House. This photo was part of a collection of over 1200 large photos from Wes Howland personal archive that we acquired from his estate. Included with the lot was the following note from a relative: "Periodically he would send his glossys to his mother. Soon after (joining the Marines) the newspaper of Harris & Ewing went out of business. As far as I know, the hundreds of pictures he took and sent his mother are one of a kind, and the only ones in existence. No prints have ever been made. I inherited them from my grandmother." Not only did Mr Howland have incredible access to the government figures of the day but he was a highly skilled photographer who produced some stunning historical images and documented Washington D.C. in the 1930s like few others. We are happy to offer discounts if you order multiple photos. Simply send us discounted offers on each photo that you would like to purchase. We are happy to combine shipping and refund any excess paid.

Price: 33 USD

Location: Carlsbad, California

End Time: 2024-12-05T23:44:44.000Z

Shipping Cost: N/A USD