Details:

Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. archive of ten items, including one handwritten autographed letter, two typed letters (unsigned) with original envelopes, five photographs, one newspaper clipping, and one club guest pass, dating from 1937 to 1941. The material originates from the collection of Richard R. Flood, a close friend and Harvard contemporary.

The archive documents Kennedy’s Harvard-era social life and friendships, most notably his participation in the Pi Eta Club musical comedy “On the Level” (March 1937). Four photographs and a related newspaper clipping show Kennedy and fellow athletes in costume preparing for and performing in the production, including scenes of dancing and backstage camaraderie. A fifth photograph depicts Kennedy and five other young men in formal suits, offering a contrasting portrait of student life.

Also included is a Bath and Tennis Club guest pass from April 6–13, 1937, issued to Richard Flood and introduced by Kennedy, granting access to the Bath and Tennis Club in Palm Beach, Florida—a club long associated with the Kennedy family during this period.

Three letters from fall 1941, written by Kennedy to Flood, concern shared financial obligations and the lease of an apartment in Cambridge while attending Harvard Law School. The correspondence reflects Kennedy’s mounting frustration over unpaid rent and unanswered inquiries. The final letter was written from Naval Air Station Jacksonville, where Kennedy was undergoing flight training shortly after entering military service.

Very good condition overall.

Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. (1915–1944) was the eldest son of Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy and was widely regarded as the family’s intended political standard-bearer. A Harvard graduate and law student, he entered naval aviation during World War II and was killed in action during Operation Aphrodite in 1944. He was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross.

Richard R. Flood (1914–1969) was a Harvard College and Harvard Law School graduate who served as a U.S. Navy lieutenant during World War II before establishing a legal practice in Massachusetts.

A well-rounded and revealing Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. archive combining collegiate life, elite social circles, and wartime transition, with direct personal association to a key Kennedy confidant.

Authentication:
Includes a full letter of authenticity from JG Autographs, Inc.

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A 25% Buyers Premium Will Be Added to All Winning Bids

Reference sku: 11675 1414093-1