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Image courtesy of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston, MA.
Image courtesy of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston, MA.
Blackthorn Walking Stick
Image courtesy of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston, MA.

Blackthorn Walking Stick

Artifact IDMO 63.6113
Object Type Cane
Date 20th century
Gifter
Medium blackthorn, silver
DimensionsOverall L 36 in (91.4 cm)
Physical DescriptionWalking stick with a curved root-ball handle made from a branch of blackthorn, a small tree native to Europe. Just below the curved handle is a silver plate inscribed "To J. F. Kennedy, from Aughrim Co. Wicklow, Ex Servicemen." Blackthorn is known as the European spiny plum (Prunus spinosa) with hard wood and small white flowers. Blackthorn is viewed by some as the best wood for the shaft of a cane. It is a very hard, close-grained wood and if growing from the trunk of the tree or bush, is covered with very sharp, vicious spines. An experienced cane maker will pick the perfect piece of blackthorn and perfect it into a perfect symmetrical shaft for a cane. This is a very time consuming process because of the meticulous job of rounding the knots into a shaft.
Additional Details
Custodial History NoteItem was a gift from a member of the general public to the President and Mrs. Kennedy received by the Executive Office of the President between 1961-1963. It was held by the General Service Administration until 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; Gift from the Organization of National Ex-Servicemen, County Wicklow Branch
National Archives Catalog CollectionJohn F. Kennedy Library Museum Collection (National Archives Identifier 1676934)
National Archives Catalog SeriesGifts from Public (National Archives Identifier 1676966)
Use Restriction StatusUnrestrictedUse Restriction NoteReproduction or other use of these holdings or images thereof is unrestricted.
In Collection(s)
Not on view