John F. Kennedy's Senate Chamber Chair
Artifact IDMO 63.3427
Object Type
Chair
Medium
leather, wood
DimensionsOverall H 37 1/2 in (95.3 cm )
Physical DescriptionChair used by Senator John F. Kennedy at his desk in the Senate Office Building. The chair is a square-backed armchair, has brown leather seat and back, dark brown wood arms and legs, with hobnail trim on chair back. The chair has wheels.
Historical NoteUnited States Senate Committee on Rules and Administration unanimously decided to give President Kennedy this chair, on January 18, 1961, which he used at his desk in the Senate Office Building while a Senator.
It is a long-standing custom for the Senate Sergeant at Arms Cabinet Shop to construct chairs for the newly-elected senators at the start of each new congress. This tradition continues today. The chairs are placed in the Senate Chamber behind the desks assigned to the new Members. Brass nameplates with the inscribed name of the senators’ are also added to the Senate Chamber desks by the cabinet shop. Upon leaving office, senators are afforded the opportunity to purchase their chairs by the Sergeant at Arms Office.The Sergeant at Arms Office also presents the senator with their brass desk nameplates upon leaving office; a tradition that also continues today.
Additional DetailsIt is a long-standing custom for the Senate Sergeant at Arms Cabinet Shop to construct chairs for the newly-elected senators at the start of each new congress. This tradition continues today. The chairs are placed in the Senate Chamber behind the desks assigned to the new Members. Brass nameplates with the inscribed name of the senators’ are also added to the Senate Chamber desks by the cabinet shop. Upon leaving office, senators are afforded the opportunity to purchase their chairs by the Sergeant at Arms Office.The Sergeant at Arms Office also presents the senator with their brass desk nameplates upon leaving office; a tradition that also continues today.
Custodial History NoteItem is from the personal collection of President and Mrs. Kennedy. It was donated to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum by the Estate of President John F. Kennedy in 1965.
Credit LineJohn F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston, MA; Gift of the Estate of President John F. Kennedy
National Archives Catalog CollectionJohn F. Kennedy Library Museum Collection (National Archives Identifier 1676934)
National Archives Catalog SeriesJohn F. Kennedy Senatorial Collection (National Archives Identifier 1677340)
Use Restriction StatusRestricted - PossiblyUse Restriction NoteThis material is not subject to any known copyright or other image use restrictions.In Collection(s)
Not on view