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Title:
Grace Coolidge 1956 Typed Letter Signed - First Lady Corrects the Story of Calvin Coolidge as a "Whittler" - PSA Authenticated
Description:
A charming and unusually revealingTyped Letter Signed (TLS) by former First Lady Grace Coolidge, datedJanuary 23, 1956, discussing one of the homespun stories that had become associated with her husband, President Calvin Coolidge. Written more than two decades after his death, Grace firmly explains that Coolidge wasnot an "artistic whittler"and recounts how an apparently offhand remark to a newspaper reporter resulted in people sending him numerous knives.
The letter is typed on Grace Coolidge's personalized stationery headed:
"Mrs. Coolidge Road Forks Northampton, Massachusetts"
It is addressed toMr. Francis Raymond of Hudson, Massachusetts, and reads in full:
"January 23, 1956
Mr. Francis Raymond,
Hudson, Massachusetts.
Dear Mr. Raymond:
Mr. Coolidge was not an artistic whittler in any sense of the word. As a matter of fact I never saw him whittle. I believe that one of the newspaper reporters asked him what he planned to do when he retired from the Presidency. His answer was, 'Whittle.' After this story appeared in the papers he was the recipient of many knives of varied sorts.
Sincerely yours,
Grace Coolidge
Mrs. Calvin Coolidge"
Grace has signed"Grace Coolidge"in a large, elegant hand in blue ink immediately beneath the typed closing.
The letter displays expected signs of age, including overall toning, original horizontal mailing folds, light creasing, and minor edge wear. The text remains clear and the blue-ink signature provides an attractive contrast against the aged paper.
Historical Context:
This letter is particularly appealing because Grace Coolidge is not simply acknowledging an admirer or offering a routine courtesy. Instead, she is acting as an eyewitness to her husband's private life and correcting a piece of popular Coolidge folklore.
Calvin Coolidge left the presidency onMarch 4, 1929, having chosen not to seek another term. He and Grace returned to Northampton, Massachusetts, where the former president wrote his autobiography, produced a syndicated newspaper column, served in several business and civic capacities, and largely withdrew from active politics.
The public image of "Silent Cal" frequently emphasized his laconic speech, dry humor, thrift, rural Vermont origins, and apparent preference for simple pursuits. The anecdote Grace relates fits perfectly into that established image: when a reporter supposedly asked what he intended to do after leaving the White House, Coolidge answered with the single word"Whittle."
Grace's letter, however, provides the important corrective. She states unequivocally that"Mr. Coolidge was not an artistic whittler in any sense of the word"and adds the particularly valuable firsthand observation,"As a matter of fact I never saw him whittle."According to her account, publication of the story had an amusing consequence: admirers began sending the former president knives "of varied sorts."
That makes the letter an engaging example of a historical figure addressing the difference betweenpublic image and private reality. Coolidge's reputation for brevity was genuine, but stories built around that reputation could take on lives of their own. Here, his widow personally explains how one such story developed.
The stationery itself adds another important connection to Grace Coolidge's later life. After Calvin Coolidge's sudden death in Northampton onJanuary 5, 1933, Grace remained active in charitable and community affairs. She eventually sold the Coolidges' retirement estate, The Beeches, and built a new Northampton home calledRoad Forks, the name appearing prominently at the head of this letter. During World War II, she even made Road Forks available for use by members of the WAVES.
Grace had been First Lady from1923 to 1929, becoming mistress of the White House after Warren G. Harding's sudden death elevated Vice President Calvin Coolidge to the presidency. Her outgoing and personable manner famously contrasted with her husband's reserved temperament. The Coolidge Foundation notes that Grace herself described their marriage as bringing together two people of markedly different temperaments and tastes.
The date also gives the document additional poignancy. Grace wrote this letter inJanuary 1956, during the final period of her life. Her health had begun to decline during the 1950s, although she continued working to preserve her husband's legacy. In 1956, she and their surviving son John gave the historic Coolidge family homestead in Plymouth Notch to the State of Vermont. Grace died in Northampton onJuly 8, 1957, approximately eighteen months after signing this letter.
As such, this correspondence represents something more substantial than a First Lady autograph. It is a late-life reminiscence by Grace Coolidge concerning the personality and retirement of her presidential husband, written from the perspective of the person who knew him most intimately.
Authentication & Encapsulation:
The Grace Coolidge signature has been examined and certified authentic byPSA Authentication Services. The accompanyingPSA Letter of Authenticity, datedAugust 27, 2026, identifies the signer asGrace Coolidge, describes the item as aletter, and assigns itCertification No. AR05711.
PSA states that the signature was evaluated using characteristics including slant, flow, pen pressure, letter size, and comparison with authentic exemplars. The Letter of Authenticity includes an image of the signed portion of the document and carries the corresponding PSA certification information. The letter is accompanied by its PSA authentication documentation and is not shown encapsulated in a PSA holder.
- Additional Documentation & Provenance:At buyer's request, Historical Autographs Gallery will include an additional "Historical Autographs Gallery Certificate" signed by our company founder Luke Pascal at no cost.
Closing Appeal:
An exceptionally engagingGrace Coolidge TLS with substantive presidential content, this 1956 letter offers a firsthand correction to a colorful story surrounding Calvin Coolidge's famously understated personality. Grace's emphatic declaration that she"never saw him whittle,"followed by her recollection that the published story caused admirers to send him numerous knives, gives the letter humor, personality, and genuine historical substance. Written on herRoad Forkspersonalized stationery near the end of her life and authenticated by PSA, it is an appealing artifact for collectors of First Ladies, presidential correspondence, Calvin Coolidge material, and intimate firsthand accounts of life surrounding the American presidency.
Shipping Notice:
For insurance purposes, items sold over $600 may require signature confirmation upon delivery. Higher-value items, likely over $1,500, are shipped via FedEx 2-Day with Direct Signature Confirmation. FedEx provides the most flexibility when requiring a signature, allowing you to make special delivery requests directly through their tracking system. This ensures both security and convenience for the buyer.
