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Center for New Deal Studies

Center for New Deal Studies Acquires Louis B. Cella Papers

The American Heritage Center at the University of Wyoming recently donated its Louis B. Cella collection to the Center for New Deal Studies.  According to the AHC, “Louis B. Cella was born May 9, 1903.  Not much else is known about him except that he collected anything and everything having to do with Franklin D. Roosevelt.  He acquired published material, ephemera, and collectors’ items related to FDR and his administration.  He passed away in November 1971.”  The collection is 50 cubic feet.  Approximately half the collection consists of publications such as popular magazines, books, newsletters, and newspapers with articles about FDR or his administration.  The collection also includes: special publications such as pamphlets and booklets; executive orders by FDR; newspaper clippings about FDR; clippings of book reviews from books on FDR and his administration; correspondence to/from Cella on acquiring and dispersing materials in the collection; scrapbooks of FDR political cartoons; letters signed by Eleanor Roosevelt; a collection of Roosevelt stamps; ephemera from presidential campaigns (signs, buttons, stickers, posters); an extradition signed by FDR, as governor of NY; drawings and mass-produced images of Franklin and Eleanor; and vinyl records and audio graphs of Roosevelt’s speeches and people talking about Roosevelt.  This collection will be housed in the Roosevelt University Archives under the tutelage of University Archivist Laura Mills.

75th Anniversary of the New Deal

Celebrate, honor and reflect on the 75th anniversary of the New Deal.  On March 4, 1933, the country inaugurated President Franklin D. Roosevelt as president, and on March 9, the first piece of New Deal legislation passed Congress.  The Center, along with many other organizations, institutions, and individuals will be hosting events to commemorate this historic period.  See our special 75th anniversary page for updates.

Chicago Metro History Fair
The Center has teamed up with the Chicago Metro History Fair to promote the study of history among young people. In addition to sponsoring prizes for New Deal-era history, the Center now has web pages suggesting topics, as well as two extensive sites exploring the subject of WPA art and the history of public housing in Chicago.

David MacLaren Memorial Book Collection
Due to the generosity of Donald and Susan MacLaren, the Center has established a book collection in memory of their son, David, who taught history at Roosevelt. Donors to the fund have enabled us to purchase a number of unique books and dissertations pertaining to the Roosevelts and the New Deal era.

2008 Speaker
On November 17, we will welcome Roosevelt Scholar William Leuchtenburg, an emeritus faculty member at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, as our 16th Franklin & Eleanor Roosevelt Distinguished Lecturer.  Professor Leuchtenburg's talk, "The FDR Coalition: 1936-2008," will also be given to honor Roosevelt University's Dedication Day and the 75th anniversary of the New Deal.

Roosevelt Room
Our conference room, which displays much of our ephemera, has a new look thanks to the decorating impulses of the Dean of the College of Performing Arts. It also has a new name, the “Roosevelt Room.” We’re in the Auditorium Building, Room 908. Come visit.

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