November through Instagram

Visiting the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza | Admiring the architecture of the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum | The Very Hungry Caterpillar artwork at the GWB Library and Museum | Excited for the Cate Blanchett feature in Australian Vogue! | Taking flight in Terrell | Pucci-esque stained glass at the Hilton Anatole | Eerie scenes at the Millennium Stadium | Rogue's gallery at Drago Lounge | Season brights at the North Park Center

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The Art of the Written Letter

A glossy envelope. Scrolled handwriting. A sparkling sticker. Nothing can rival the excitement when a handwritten letter arrives.

Writing and receiving handwritten notes are something of a passion. I keep all cards and letters that I receive, and I'll often sort through the box and revisit special notes or messages when looking back or seeking inspiration!

I'd like to think of myself as a letter writer on par with Jackie Kennedy. She famously declared that she would pen a thank you note as soon as she had received a gift, met with a friend or returned home from a party. It is individuals like Kennedy that keep the mystique of a handwritten letter alive, and I get as much joy from writing a note as I do receiving one.

So what do you need for a properly written letter?

Proper equipment

Start with the basics. Paper or notecards? Ink or biro? Lined envelopes or something plainer? Choose your essentials wisely.

Signature style

Choose something personal for your stash. Perhaps you'll go for a monogrammed set of cards with matching envelopes, or send out headed paper engraved with your address? You could go one step further and have cards printed with your own photographs or a favourite quote.

I have a set of cards from the JFK Library that I send out on special occasions as well as monogrammed notecards and special Air Mail stationery for friends overseas.

Keep your supplies stocked

I make sure my favourite coloured pens, stickers and stamps are always in supply and are safely secured in my special letter box. (Organised much?!)

I also have different cards and papers for various occasions- this saves any last minute stress when I need to reply to someone or send a card at the last minute.

Choose your words carefully

When replying to a letter, I always re-read it two to three times to ensure any questions or topics are properly covered. There's nothing worse than receiving a reply to a letter that doesn't answer what you've asked! I always draft out my reply before committing the final words to paper, enabling me to change things around and review what I've written.

Include all the details

It may sound simple, but it can be easy to overlook important details like the date, contact details and even a return address! Double check before you send!

Check the postage

I send many letters, cards and parcels overseas. I keep a handy postage guide in my desk drawer to ensure that my recipient doesn't have to pay any added postage cost!

How do you make your letters special? I'd love to hear your tips for great stationery and accessories!

White House Week

This week, the President and First Lady travelled to Boston today to celebrate the opening of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate.

The building — complete with a full-scale replica of the United States Senate chamber — honors the life and legacy of Edward "Ted" Kennedy, who served as a U.S. Senator from 1962 to 2009.

Located adjacent to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, the Institute offers interactive exhibits, a replica of Sen. Kennedy’s D.C. office, and historic documents and memorabilia from the Senator’s life.

Watch the full remarks below.



Next year, the National Park Service celebrates its 100th birthday.  The National Park Service and National Park Foundation are continuing the celebration with the launch of #FindYourPark, a new campaign to encourage Americans to connect to our astounding network of parks and public lands — whether it’s for the first time or the hundredth.

JFK Library marks 25 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall

President Kennedy addresses the gathered crowd at the Rudolph Wilde Platz, June 26, 1963. Credit: PFC Wolf, 69th Signal Co/John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. 

Today marks 25 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall. I had yet to be born, but this event, and the visit of President Kennedy in 1963 are two of the most prominent that changed the world for my generation, and those that followed.

To mark this anniversary, the JFK Library has released archival materials marking President Kennedy's visit to West Berlin in 1963. The Soviet and East German governments had erected the wall only two years before President Kennedy’s visit to shut off the flow of East Germans fleeing to the freedom of the west. President Kennedy called the wall, “an offense not only against history but an offense against humanity, separating families, dividing husbands and wives and brothers and sisters and dividing a people who wish to be joined together.”

Through the efforts of Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith, the President’s sister, the German government donated a section of the Berlin Wall to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library.

The 3.5 ton, 12-foot concrete slab of the Berlin Wall on display at the Kennedy Library and Museum. Credit: John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.

Elizabeth Warren to speak at JFK Library

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Don't miss out on your chance to hear Senator Elizabeth Warren speak at the JFK Library on Friday May 16th from 11am-12pm. Senator Warren will be discussing her new memoir, 'A Fighting Chance' and will also be signing copies of the book. Click here for further information and to book. You can also book by calling 617 514 1643. 

New Material opened from the Jacqueline Kennedy Papers

Fifty years after Jacqueline Kennedy publicly expressed her gratitude for the outpouring of support following the death of President John F. Kennedy, the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum has opened a new series of condolence mail from the First Lady’s personal papers. The series contains condolence that was forwarded to and managed by Mrs. Kennedy’s personal secretaries. Of note, a letter from Maxine McNair, mother of Denise McNair, one of the four girls who were killed in the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama in September 1963, was discovered among the documents in this series.

The Personal Papers of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis were donated, along with other historical materials, to the Kennedy Library by Caroline Kennedy and John F. Kennedy, Jr. The opening of this series follows the February 2012 opening of documents relating to Mrs. Kennedy’s White House restoration, and the September 2011 release of Jacqueline Kennedy’s 1964 oral history interviews.

In the aftermath of the assassination of President Kennedy, people from all over the world wrote to Mrs. Kennedy and her children expressing their sympathy and respect. On January 14, 1964, the still grieving widow recorded a message for national broadcast thanking people for their support, saying:

I want to take this opportunity to express my appreciation for the hundreds of thousands of messages -- nearly eight hundred thousand in all -- which my children and I have received over the past few weeks. The knowledge of the affection in which my husband was held by all of you has sustained me. And the warmth of these tributes is something I shall never forget. Whenever I can bear to, I read them. All his bright light gone from the world. All of you who have written to me, know how much we all loved him and that he returned that love in full measure.

Unlike the condolence mail in the Library’s John F. Kennedy Papers, the documents released today were managed by Mrs. Kennedy’s personal secretaries because they required special handling or contained requests for charity, mass cards, photographs or other wishes. Each piece of condolence mail within this series includes an outgoing carbon response letter from Mrs. Kennedy’s office in lieu of the mass-produced response card that was sent for general condolence mail. The series contains about 22,000 items including telegrams, letters, cards, photographs, and other tokens of sympathy from the general public and various organizations, both American and international, government and foreign officials.

For further information visit the JFK Library and Museum online.

A Kennedy Christmas

Look to President Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy this Christmas for some festive inspiration...

John F Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum

Top to bottom: The White House Christmas Tree 1961, Givenchy dress worn by Jacqueline Kennedy, the President and the First Lady 1961, Christmas Day in Palm Beach.

#JFK50

JFK Presidential Library and Museum

 Much has been and will continue to be written about President Kennedy and the legacy he left behind when his life ended on November 22nd, 1963.

We've all seen the dramatic footage of his last moments, the aftermath that the country faced, and the harrowing pictures and recordings of his funeral. His death touched the whole world, and fifty years on we still continue to be fascinated with the details of his assassination.

I was in my early teens when I became interested in President Kennedy. I borrowed and purchased as many books that I could get my hands on, (and one particular shopping trip on vacation I bought 22- yes 22- coffee table sized books detailing every detail of his life and presidency!) I consumed old newspaper and magazine articles, watched interviews on YouTube and researched the policies and accomplishments of the Kennedy Administration. Every detail and aspect fascinated me, and even though departed from this world, I looked to Jacqueline Kennedy as a role model.

I was fortunate to be accepted as an intern in Congressman Patrick Kennedy's Washington DC office in 2010, an opportunity which was one of the best experiences I have had. There was something about the Kennedy family and their dedication to public service that appealed to me, and it was I feel, in part their influence that encouraged and inspired me to find ways to give back in my own community and area. Whether or not you agree with the concept of 'Camelot,' the same magic could be felt through President Obama's first campaign for the White House. I've never experienced a campaign like it, and I doubt that we will for many years to come.

A period of American history ended when the assassin's bullet struck the President, and a new one began. We have no way of knowing what would and what wouldn't have happened if the events of 22nd November 1963 hadn't taken place, subsequently shaping President Kennedy's legacy as one of achievement, glamor and stolen youth.

I'll always be interested in President Kennedy and the wider Kennedy family, and for the values that they stand for. I particularly look to Jacqueline Kennedy and the example that she set as one to incorporate into my own life- these are the values of resilience, determination and bravery, and of course to be stylish at the same time! Like the torch that sits atop his grave in Arlington, the vision and legacy of President Kennedy continues through his surviving child, Caroline, now the US Ambassador to Japan, and his grandchildren. It's exciting to see what the 'new' generation will do with their lives, and I have no doubt that the world will continue to be fascinated with America's 'royal family.'

JFK 50th Anniversary Commemorative Print: Get Yours Today!

Mark President Kennedy and his legacy by purchasing this limited edition print of an iconic photo taken by Mark Shaw. This striking image pictures the President in Hyannis Port, and is ready for framing.

Click here to purchase.

JFK Library Plans Tributes Marking 50th Anniversary of November 22, 1963

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The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston, the official memorial to President John F. Kennedy, will observe the 50th anniversary of November 22, 1963 with a number of events that celebrate the legacy of the nation’s 35th President. Observances will include a ceremony webcasted by satellite from the Kennedy Library’s IM Pei-designed glass pavilion; the presentation of a selection of artifacts from the President’s State Funeral that have never before been displayed; an interactive documentary and website celebrating the vibrant presence of JFK in the world today; and an award ceremony on November 25 during which Jack Schlossberg, President Kennedy’s grandson, will celebrate two young Americans who answered President Kennedy’s call for pioneers of the New Frontier.

“The Kennedy Library seeks to honor the memory of John F. Kennedy every day by serving as a dynamic center for discourse, storytelling, and debate that inspires younger generations to engage fully as citizens of this world,” said Tom Putnam, Director of the Kennedy Library. “Fifty years after his death, we pause to look back at symbolic artifacts from this defining moment in our nation’s history and, looking forward, we hope to draw inspiration from the arts that he championed and from JFK’s timeless words.  By offering our observance and programming to a worldwide audience online, we  pay tribute to our fallen president and to the millions who came together to mourn him.”

“Three years ago, we launched our campaign to mark the 50th anniversary of John F. Kennedy’s Presidency,” said Tom McNaught, Executive Director of the Kennedy Library Foundation. “Using new technology and media to reach every corner of the globe, we have sought to inspire today’s youth as President Kennedy did half a century ago. We are grateful for the support of so many, whose generosity has been critical to helping us pass the torch to a new generation and to instill in them the ideals of public service and responsible citizenship.”

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A Nation Remembers: A Tribute to President John F. Kennedy
November 22, 2013
1:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. ET

On November 22, 2013, the Kennedy Library will invite the public to join a special live webcast of a musical tribute in honor of the memory of President Kennedy. Award-winning singer-songwriter James Taylor; award-winning saxophonist Paul Winter and the Paul Winter Sextext, which was invited by Jacqueline Kennedy to be the first  jazz ensemble ever to play at the White House; and the United States Naval Academy Women’s Glee Club will each perform musical selections including two from the President’s State Funeral. They will be joined by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick; Elaine Jones, director-counsel emeritus of the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, and former Peace Corps volunteer to Turkey;  US Naval Commander, Navy SEAL, and NASA Astronaut Chris Cassidy, who just returned from six months on the International Space Station; Richard Blanco, poet for the 2013 U.S. presidential inauguration;; and Sarah Groustra, an 8th grade student from the Edward Devotion School in Brookline, Massachusetts that John F. Kennedy attended as a child, who will all read excerpts from a selection  of President Kennedy’s most historic speeches.

There will be no physical audience during these performances – simply the backdrop of the sea that the President loved so dearly as the ceremony is broadcast live at www.jfklibrary.org and via satellite by media outlets that wish to cover the event. The ceremony will include a moment of silence at 2:00 p.m., the time that the President’s death was announced to the nation.

--> A Condolence Telegram sent from Mrs. J.D. Tippit to Mrs. Kennedy.  --> John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
A Nation Remembers: A Special Display of Artifacts from the President’s Funeral
Open November 22, 2013 – February 23, 2014

Opening on November 22, 2013, the Museum at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library will present a selection of artifacts from the President’s State Funeral. Items on display – many for the first time – will include the American flag that draped the President’s coffin and was presented to Jacqueline Kennedy; the saddle, sword, and boots from Black Jack, the riderless horse that followed the President’s horse-drawn coffin in the funeral cortege; the Green Beret left by a serviceman on the President’s gravesite; notes handwritten by Jacqueline Kennedy as she planned the funeral; and historic film footage and photographs of the State Funeral and national mourning.

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An Idea Lives On Legacy Project
Launches November 18, 2013

The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Foundation today announced the launch of AnIdeaLivesOn.org, an online tribute to President John F. Kennedy that aims to create a multigenerational conversation about the many ways in which the legacy of our nation’s 35th president lives on today.

Named for President Kennedy’s poignant observation that, “A man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on,” the project invites the public to participate in the creation of an interactive documentary, putting a modern, human face on the enduring impact of John F. Kennedy. Entries answering the question: “How do the ideals of John F. Kennedy live on in your life today?” can be uploaded as video, audio, photographs or written messages at www.anidealiveson.org, or by using the hashtag #anidealiveson on Twitter.

Stories that will be introduced on the site throughout the week leading up to November 22, 2013 include Congressman John Lewis, comedian Conan O’Brien, NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy, actor Martin Sheen, House Leader Nancy Pelosi, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, journalist Luke Russert, poet Richard Blanco, among others.

The site is being created in collaboration with The Martin Agency and Tool of North America.

--> John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
John F. Kennedy New Frontier Award Ceremony
November 25, 2013

Congresswomen Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), one of the first two female combat veterans to serve in the U.S. Congress and an emerging leader on veterans’ issues, and Charles Best, Founder and CEO of DonorsChoose.org, a pioneering online charity that connects individual donors with public school teachers to meet classroom teaching needs, have been named this year’s recipients of the John F. Kennedy New Frontier Awards. The awards will be presented by Jack Schlossberg, John F. Kennedy’s grandson and a member of the New Frontier Award Committee, at 6:00 p.m. on November 25, 2013 during a ceremony at the Institute of Politics at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.

The John F. Kennedy New Frontier Awards were created by the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation and Harvard’s Institute of Politics to honor Americans under the age of 40 who are changing their communities and the country with their commitment to public service. The awards are presented annually to two exceptional individuals whose contributions in elective office, community service, or advocacy demonstrate the impact and the value of public service in the spirit of John F. Kennedy.

In remarks delivered on November 21, 1963 at the Dedication of the Aerospace Medical Health Center in San Antonio, Texas, President Kennedy said:

“For more than 3 years I have spoken about the New Frontier. This is not a partisan term, and it is not the exclusive property of Republicans or Democrats. It refers, instead, to this Nation's place in history, to the fact that we do stand on the edge of a great new era, filled with both crisis and opportunity, an era to be characterized by achievement and by challenge. It is an era which calls for action and for the best efforts of all those who would test the unknown and the uncertain in every phase of human endeavor. It is a time for pathfinders and pioneers.”

--> John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum

Replica of Jacqueline Kennedy's Wedding Dress on display at the JFK Library & Museum

In honor of the 60th anniversary of the September 12, 1953 wedding of Senator John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Lee Bouvier, the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum will feature an artist’s unique paper replica of the ivory silk taffeta gown worn by the bride in a special display opening September 12 and running through November 3.

The future President and First Lady were married in Newport, Rhode Island on September 12, 1953, following a two-year courtship. For the occasion, Jacqueline Kennedy wore an ivory silk taffeta gown which required 50 yards of material and took more than two months to make. It was the creation of Ann Lowe, an African-American dress-maker born in Grayton, Alabama, who had designed gowns for the matrons of high society families including the du Pont, Lodge, and Auchincloss families. The Bouvier wedding gown features a portrait neckline and bouffant skirt decorated with interwoven bands of tucking and tiny wax flowers.

In 2004, Marshall Field’s Department Store in Chicago commissioned Belgian artist Isabelle de Borchgrave and her collaborator Rita Brown to create this exact paper replica of Jacqueline Kennedy’s wedding gown. De Borchgrave painted and prepared the paper to mimic the texture and color of the original silk. Brown then folded, glued and stitched the paper into a gown, replicating all of the details of the original: from the pleated bodice to the 24-inch waist to the ruffled florets on the skirt.

Jacqueline Kennedy’s actual wedding gown, part of the Kennedy Library’s permanent collection, is now too fragile for display and was last featured in a 2003 exhibit marking the 50th wedding anniversary. The paper replica, donated to the Kennedy Library by Marshall Field’s, is being displayed at the Library for the first time. It will remain on display through November 3, 2013.

Check out this great Pinterest board dedicated to their wedding!

JFK Library & Museum

Supporting the JFK Library Foundation

This Christmas, why not give the gift of supporting the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation.

Your gift will help to:

• Continue to support a living memorial to the 35th President, where visitors can experience and share the hope of the Kennedy administration
• Preserve and provide access to artefacts and documents from a powerful time in America's history
• Support an award-winning educational centre, providing free and dynamic programming to tens of thousands of students each year on-site and through the Library's website
• Preserve and maintain the largest digital archive of Presidential Papers, providing on-demand access to the archives of the Kennedy administration
• Support the Kennedy Library Forums as a major public program for conversation, debate and exchange

For more information on supporting the JFK Library click here.

Donations can be made securely online through the JFK Library and Museum website. 

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10% off all campaign items at the JFK Library & Museum

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All items from the campaign collection are available with 10% from the JFK Library & Museum. Click here to start shopping! 

Signed Copies: The Secret White House Recordings of John F. Kennedy

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Don't miss out on your chance to owned a copy of 'The Secret White House Recordings of John F. Kennedy' signed by Caroline Kennedy!

Quantities are extremely limited and be purchased via the John F. Kennedy Library & Museum.

Click here to purchase.

Fall Forums at the JFK Library & Museum

JFK Library

What's on at the JFK Library and Presidential Museum this Fall?

50th Anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis: October 14 2012, 12.30pm- 5pm. Historians, journalists and policy makers reflect upon events leading up to the Cuban Missile Crisis, how it was resolved and how lessons learned can be applied to the nuclear challenges facing us today.

2012 Presidential Campaign: October 30 2012, 6pm-7.30pm. Journalists John Avlon, James Fallows, Ryan Lizza and Martha Raddatz analyse the 2012 Presidential race between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney.

Obama and the Supreme Court: November 18 2012, 2pm-3.30pm. New Yorker writer and legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin will discuss his new book 'The Oath: The Obama White House and the Supreme Court.'

Celebrating the Life of Tip O' Neill: December 9 2012, 4pm-5.30pm. On the centennial of the birth of former House Speaker Tip O' Neill, journalists Mike Barnicle, Marty Nolan, Cokie Roberts, Al Hunt and Steve Roberts share their memories.

A Discussion with Attorney General Eric Holder: December 11 2012, 6pm- 7pm. As the nation marks the 50th anniversary of many civil rights milestones through the Kennedy presidency, the Attorney General reflects on the progress that has been made and the challenges facing America today.

The Life of Joseph P. Kennedy: December 12, 6pm- 7.30pm. Biographer David Nasaw will discuss his new book 'The Patriach: The Remarkable Life and Turbulent Times of Joseph P. Kennedy' with veteran journalist and radio host Christopher Lydon.

To find out more about these events and other programs at the JFK Library click here. 

John F. Kennedy Library Foundation Panel at the Democratic National Convention

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The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation will host the panel discussion 'Changing Political Demographics and the Future of the Democratic Party' at the 2012 Democratic National Convention as part of its celebration marking the 50th Anniversary of the Kennedy Administration.

Moderated by David Gregory of 'Meet the Press,' the panel will also feature Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, Democratic Strategist Maria Cardona, political journalist Matt Bai and Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes. Boston Mayor Thomas Menino will kick off the special event.

The event will be held in the Auditorium of the One Bank of America Center, Charlotte, NC on Wednesday September 5th from 4pm-5.30pm.

For more information visit The JFK Library.