JFK Remembered: Commemoration

This pen was produced in 1963, to commemorate the life and legacy of President John F. Kennedy (1917-1963). Printed on the base of the pen is the classic line from his Inaugural Address that inspired a generation: "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."

The John T. Rhines Company Funeral Home of Washington, D.C., established in 1906, printed and distributed this paper fan in the early 1970s. The fan's purpose was to memorialize three American leaders -- John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Robert F. Kennedy -- who supported equal rights and were assassinated, cutting short their important work in the modern Civil Rights movement.

In the wake of John F. Kennedy's assassination, a mourning nation eagerly embraced the opportunity to immortalize and idealize their fallen president. Stunned and disillusioned Americans purchased products like these record albums of Kennedy speeches and interviews, which enabled them to once again "connect" with their charismatic, and now deceased, leader.

Images of a young, attractive Kennedy family often appeared in books and magazines during the era in which John F. Kennedy was President -- from 1961 to his untimely death in 1963. That appealing, youthful image lives on in such products as this paper doll book from 1990.

Stunned and disillusioned Americans eagerly embraced commemorative books and magazines following the tragic death of President Kennedy on November 22, 1963. The cover of this 84-page commemorative issue of Saturday Evening Post features Norman Rockwell's portrait of John F. Kennedy.

Stunned and disillusioned Americans eagerly embraced commemorative books and magazines following the tragic death of President Kennedy on November 22, 1963. The cover of this issue of Life magazine features a portrait of John F. Kennedy by the internationally acclaimed photographer, Yousuf Karsh.

Stunned and disillusioned Americans eagerly embraced commemorative books and magazines following the tragic death of President Kennedy on November 22, 1963. Life magazine produced this "John F. Kennedy Memorial Edition" before the end of that year "so that in days to come men and women may open these pages before their children and say this is how it was."

Stunned and disillusioned Americans eagerly embraced commemorative books and magazines following the tragic death of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. Look magazine produced this "JFK Memorial Issue" a year after this tragic event. Inside, the feature article -- entitled "Pages from a Family Album" -- recalls a happier time from the Kennedys' past.

This catalog accompanied a traveling exhibit of papers, objects, and photographs "associated with President Kennedy and his times." It was produced by the John F. Kennedy Library to raise funds for the permanent building that would both serve as a memorial to President Kennedy and house this collection. Jacqueline Kennedy wrote the introduction to the catalog.

Stunned and disillusioned Americans eagerly embraced commemorative books following the tragic death of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. This booklet included a selection of photographs from the WXYZ-TV Channel 7 special, "The Young Man from Boston." A record album of this special was also released that included songs by the Kingston Trio and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

Stunned and disillusioned Americans eagerly embraced commemorative books and magazines following the tragic death of President Kennedy on November 22, 1963. This publication -- "The Shining Moments: The Words and Moods of John F. Kennedy" -- included a memorial tribute by Adlai Stevenson, who had been appointed by President Kennedy to be U. S. Ambassador to the United Nations.

Americans embraced commemorative books and magazines following the tragic death of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. This children's book -- written as an illustrated poem -- is a tribute to President Kennedy's young son watching his father's funeral. C. Candice "Candy" Geer, a teenage girl from Grosse Pointe, Michigan, wrote the poem after viewing the President's funeral on television.

After the tragic death of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963, stunned and disillusioned Americans eagerly embraced commemorative items. This print, which included a facsimile of Kennedy's signature, was based on a 1960 photograph by Fabian Bachrach -- an American photographer known for his portraits of presidents and other prominent individuals.

This U.S. postage stamp was released on May 29, 1964, just six months after President John F. Kennedy's assassination. Stunned and disillusioned, Americans eagerly embraced products like this postage stamp to be able to "re-connect" with their charismatic, now deceased, leader. The U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing asked Mrs. Kennedy to make the final selection for the artwork.

Stunned and disillusioned Americans eagerly embraced books, magazines, and other products following the tragic death of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. This memorial card for President Kennedy was part of a larger tradition of Christian holy cards or prayer cards used in church, as part of a funeral service.

Soon after President Kennedy's death, Jacqueline Kennedy began work on creating the John F. Kennedy Library as a memorial to her husband. Mrs. Kennedy chose then relatively unknown architect I. M. Pei to design the building (completed in 1979). This card, with the printed signature of Jacqueline Kennedy, thanks the sender for a contribution to the John Fitzgerald Kennedy Library fund.

Americans embraced commemorative books and magazines following the tragic death of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. This July 16, 1965, issue of Life magazine includes the first of four installments of historian Arthur Schlesinger's "A Thousand Days" -- a detailed account of the politics and personalities during the Kennedy Administration. These were published in book form in 1966.

Americans embraced commemorative books and magazines following the tragic death of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. This November 5, 1965, issue of Life magazine includes the last of four installments of historian Arthur Schlesinger's "A Thousand Days" -- a detailed account of the politics and personalities during the Kennedy Administration. These were published in book form in 1966.

Stunned and disillusioned Americans eagerly embraced commemorative books and magazines following the tragic death of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. The American public also regretted that this marked the end of Jacqueline Kennedy's time as First Lady. This 1964 souvenir book helped them keep that memory alive.

Stunned and disillusioned Americans eagerly embraced commemorative books and magazines following the tragic death of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. This retrospective of Kennedy's life, "From Childhood to Martyrdom," was published before the end of that year.

As First Lady, Jacqueline proved to be a huge political asset to President Kennedy. Her charm, grace, and intelligence continued to win over the public for years afterward. CBS produced this 81-minute videocassette after her death on May 19, 1994, containing a retrospective of Jackie's life, an excerpt of her 1962 White House tour, and a rare pre-election interview.

Stunned and disillusioned Americans eagerly embraced books, magazines, and other products following the tragic death of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. This memorial record album was produced by radio station WMCA in New York City and was based upon a live program broadcast from this station on November 22, 1963. It included highlights of Kennedy's most famous speeches.