Sample of mourning stationery with Jacqueline Kennedy's handwritten notes

Sanford L. Fox was the Chief of the White House Social Entertainments Office during the Kennedy presidency--a position he held from 1962 to 1975. As Chief, Mr. Fox was responsible for the planning, organization and execution of events at the White House including everything from teas to state dinners. He was an arbiter of protocol as well as having oversight for printing, engraving and calligraphy for menus, invitations and other stationery. He was also responsible for seating arrangements.

Mary Gallagher was personal secretary to Jacqueline Kennedy for eight years, from 1957 to 1964. Prior to that she had worked for John F. Kennedy during his years in the Senate and for Jacqueline Kennedy's mother, Janet Auchinschloss. 

Both Sanford Fox and Mary Gallagher assisted Mrs. Kennedy with planning her husband's funeral, in part by helping organize the necessary stationery, as demonstrated by this sample. -- Lindsey Richardson, Curator of Collections

The seal that is the subject of the note on this sample is actually an embossed version of the coat of arms that was formally granted to President Kennedy ("and the other descendants of his great-grandfather Patrick Kennedy") by the Chief Herald of Ireland on March 17, 1961. [See record for 2002.075.0009 for a black and cream version of this crest.] 

The coat of arms represents a combination of the symbols traditionally associated with the family names O'Kennedy and Fitzgerald, both represented on President Kennedy's family tree. The armored arm at the top of the shield, holding four arrows, surrounded by olive branches, is a direct reference to part of Kennedy's inaugural speech, in which he said, "On the Presidential coat of arms, the American eagle holds in his right talon the olive branch, while in his left is held a bundle of arrows. We intend to give equal attention to both." The four arrows are often interpreted to refer to John F. Kennedy and his three brothers. 

Prior to this, no American president had been awarded a coat of arms in this manner, although Americans of Irish descent had received them. -- Lindsey Richardson, Curator of Collections