History of Sedbergh School in 50 Objects #28: Franklin Roosevelt Addresses

Following the attack on Pearl Harbour in December 1941, America chose to enter World War II. As such, Christmas 1941 was a key moment in global history. United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt compiled a special volume of speeches that he sent to select world leaders, his allies around the world, as a Christmas present. It is a great privilege to hold the United Kingdom’s copy of this volume in Sedbergh School’s Special Collections Library.

The specially bound volume contains ten speeches including his third ‘Inaugural Address’ given in Washington, D. C., on January 20th, 1941. Roosevelt speaks to notions of patriotism and democracy at a time when the borders and governments of European countries were toppling:

‘Democracy is not dying.

We know it because we have seen it revive – and grow.

We know it cannot die – because it is built on the unhampered initiative of individual men and women joined together in a common enterprise – an enterprise undertaken and carried through by the free expression of a free majority.

We know it because democracy alone has constructed an unlimited civilization capable of infinite progress in the improvement of human life.

We know it because, if we look below the surface, we sense it still spreading on every continent – for it is the most humane, the most advanced, and in the end the most unconquerable of all forms of human society.’

The volume is inscribed:

‘For Winston Churchill – Master Mariner – with the faith and hope of another sailor, Franklin D. Roosevelt. Christmas – 1941’.

The volume was sent to Winston Churchill, then Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Churchill was a voracious reader, known to draw inspiration from classical and modern word smiths in his own speeches and writings. He had an extensive personal library and was generous with the books in his possession. As well as lending items from his personal library, he gifted books to his closest friends. One such friend was Sedberghian Brendan Bracken, Winston Churchill’s long-time political ally, confidant and personal friend. Bracken worked closely with Churchill over many years, and was perhaps at his politically most influential during his time as Minister for Information during the Second World War. Bracken was involved with framing the messaging of the British Government at a time when propaganda was seen as a vital element of war strategy.

Brendan Bracken was a pupil at Sedbergh for a term in 1920. The circumstances around him joining, and then rapidly departing the School would make a fantastic film. As with many other periods of his life there are many unanswered questions about that period. Throughout his life, Bracken was keen to emphasise his Sedbergh connections, with frequent figurative waving of his old school tie. In later life he became a generous donor and friend to the School. He was a School Governor from 1943 to 1958, including seven years as Chairman of the Governors. He took a close interest in School matters and was a frequent visitor to the School House, staying with Michael and Jennifer Thornely. Bracken generously funded the complete refurbishment of the School Library with his signature close attention to detail.

Bracken died while still in post as Chairman of the Governors and generously left his library to Sedbergh School, substantially enhancing the School’s Special Collections library. Roosevelt’s volume of speeches, given first as a gift from Roosevelt to Churchill, and later from Churchill to Bracken found an enduring home at Sedbergh as one of the many treasured volumes in our Special Collections Library.