The Pare Lorentz Center at the FDR Library officially unveils -Franklin D. Roosevelt Day by Day-
Press Release · Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Hyde Park, NY

On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, The Pare Lorentz Center at the FDR Library officially unveils

"Franklin D. Roosevelt Day by Day"—a new interactive online database of President Roosevelt’s daily schedule

What was President Franklin Roosevelt doing on December 7, 1941, before he learned of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor? Which advisers did he summon when he realized that America was on the brink of war? Most Americans know where the President was on December 8th, but where was he on December 6th . . . or the 9th? Find the answers in a new feature of the Roosevelt Library’s web site at www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/daybyday.

On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Pare Lorentz Center at the Franklin Roosevelt Library officially unveils a new online database of President Roosevelt’s daily schedule: “Franklin D. Roosevelt Day by Day.” This interactive chronology documents Roosevelt’s daily activities as President, from March 1933 to April 1945. The project was inspired by the work of Pare Lorentz, a Depression-era documentary filmmaker, who dedicated much of his life to documenting FDR’s daily activities as President.

‘“Day by Day” is an excellent example of innovative digital initiatives that the National Archives is embracing as a way of making more original records available to citizens across the country,” said Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero. “It will enable students, teachers, scholars and the general public to have greater access to original records.”

“Day by Day” which is supported by a grant from the New York Community Trust to the Pare Lorentz Center, features digitized original calendars and schedules maintained by the White House Usher and the official White House stenographer, as well as additional historical resources scanned from the Roosevelt Library archives. These records trace FDR’s appointments, travel schedule, social events, guests, and more. A searchable database based primarily on these calendar sources is available so that researchers can search the chronology by keyword and date. As a fulfillment of Pare Lorentz’s original vision, “Day by Day” also includes an interactive timeline of additional materials from the archives of the FDR Library to place each day’s calendar into larger historical context. These materials include scanned photographs, letters and speeches as well as descriptions of events in United States and world history.

Roosevelt Library Acting Director Lynn Bassanese said, “We are very excited to announce the completion of this extensive digitization project. Special thanks to former Roosevelt Library Director Verne Newton whose vision and determination started the ‘Day by Day’ Project -- and helped secure the original funding for the Pare Lorentz Center -- as well as to all of the Roosevelt Library’s staff, volunteers and summer interns who worked so hard to digitize and prepare these materials for our online audiences. This project would not have been possible without the support of Marist College who hosts the Library’s website and works with us to continually develop new and innovative ways to access our materials.”

The Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, one of 13 presidential libraries administered by the National Archives and Records Administration is dedicated to preserving historical material and providing innovative educational programs, community events, and public outreach. For information about the FDR Presidential Library call (800) 337-8474 or visit www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu.

The Pare Lorentz Center’s mission is to apply the audiovisual techniques pioneered by Pare Lorentz to teach history and social studies, and to perpetuate Lorentz’s use of the documentary format in inspiring social and political messages. Located at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, the center is funded through a generous grant from the New York Community Trust to the Roosevelt Institute. Pare Lorentz created groundbreaking documentary films -- a powerful synthesis of stunning imagery, poetic narration, and evocative music -- for New Deal agencies of the Roosevelt Administration. The Pare Lorentz Center creates and disseminates educational documentary materials and films to teach the history of the Age of Roosevelt and illustrate the enduring social issues (poverty, social equality and conservation) that President Roosevelt and Pare Lorentz cared so much about. Visit www.parelorentzcenter.org for more information.

Historic Hyde Park is a group of government and private non-profit organizations based in Hyde Park, New York. Each has a unique mission, but all are united in their dedication to extending the legacy of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt to new generations. HHP includes the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site, Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site, the Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Val-Kill, the Roosevelt Institute, and Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site. For more information about HHP visit www.HistoricHydePark.org.

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Media Contact: Cliff Laube, FDR Library (845) 486-7745, www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/daybyday.

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