Index Card Box for Health Records
Artifact IDMO 2001.13
Object Type
Box, Index Card
Date
1900-1930
Medium
Cedar Wood
DimensionsOverall H 4 in x W 5 1/2 in x D 3 1/8 in (10.2 cm x 14 cm x 7.9 cm )
Physical DescriptionA cedar box with a hinged lid. The sides of the box are made by tongue and groove while the lid and base are glued. "INDEX FILE" is stenciled in gold on the top of the lid. Handwritten on the left and back of the lid is "Jean Kennedy" and "File Children" on the back. The top of the lid has handwritten signatures of the children including Jean Kennedy and Bob Kennedy. The rest are unreadable. On the underside of the base "Original File" is written in black marker.
Historical NoteThis index card box was used by Rose Kennedy to keep all of her children's health card files. The original index cards are part of the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Personal Papers, Series 7, Sub-series 07.05.
As the mother of nine, Rose Kennedy devised a card file system to track her children's health. On the first of the multiple cards created for her son John, she listed whooping cough, measles, chickenpox, scarlet fever, mumps German measles and bronchitis. On subsequent cards she chronicled an appendectomy, tonsillectomy, and the constant struggle to keep up his weight.
While John F. Kennedy grew up with every material advantage, he suffered from a series of medical ailments that mystified his doctors and would continue to plague him as an adult. He learned to underplay the effects of his illness and, later, to hide the physical suffering he would endure throughout his lifetime.
Additional DetailsAs the mother of nine, Rose Kennedy devised a card file system to track her children's health. On the first of the multiple cards created for her son John, she listed whooping cough, measles, chickenpox, scarlet fever, mumps German measles and bronchitis. On subsequent cards she chronicled an appendectomy, tonsillectomy, and the constant struggle to keep up his weight.
While John F. Kennedy grew up with every material advantage, he suffered from a series of medical ailments that mystified his doctors and would continue to plague him as an adult. He learned to underplay the effects of his illness and, later, to hide the physical suffering he would endure throughout his lifetime.
Custodial History NoteItem was donated to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum as part of the Rose Kennedy papers by Mrs. Joseph P. Kennedy.
Credit LineJohn F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston, MA; Gift of Mrs. Joseph P. Kennedy
National Archives Catalog CollectionJohn F. Kennedy Library Museum Collection (National Archives Identifier 1676934)
National Archives Catalog SeriesKennedy Family Collection (National Archives Identifier 1677120)
Use Restriction StatusUnrestrictedUse Restriction NoteThis material is not subject to any known copyright or other image use restrictions.In Collection(s)
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