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Rose Kennedy's Family Album: From the Fitzgerald Kennedy Private Collection, 1878-1946
To mark John F. Kennedy's centennial, celebrate the life and legacy of the 35th President of the United States.
A selection of more than 300 images--including family letters, personal ephemera, and captivating photographs--collected by Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, many never seen before, featuring the beloved and revered Kennedy family: This remarkable history dates from 1878 through 1946--up to the aftermath of WWII and the beginning of JFK's political career--and covers everything from the family's first home to beach vacations, from children's birthdays to first Communions. The images capture the formative years of a uniquely American dynasty, imparting a glowing nostalgia to the period and detailing the family's progress as it grows from a pair of turn-of-the-century newlyweds into a populous, vibrant clan of hopeful young men and women on the brink of their brilliant destinies. This is a piece of Americana that readers will treasure.
A selection of more than 300 images--including family letters, personal ephemera, and captivating photographs--collected by Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, many never seen before, featuring the beloved and revered Kennedy family: This remarkable history dates from 1878 through 1946--up to the aftermath of WWII and the beginning of JFK's political career--and covers everything from the family's first home to beach vacations, from children's birthdays to first Communions. The images capture the formative years of a uniquely American dynasty, imparting a glowing nostalgia to the period and detailing the family's progress as it grows from a pair of turn-of-the-century newlyweds into a populous, vibrant clan of hopeful young men and women on the brink of their brilliant destinies. This is a piece of Americana that readers will treasure.
351 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
13 people are currently reading
161 people want to read
About the author
Caroline Kennedy
40 books147 followersLibrarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Caroline Bouvier Kennedy is an American author and attorney. She is the daughter and only surviving child of U.S. President John F. Kennedy and his wife, Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis. An older sister, Arabella, died shortly after her birth in 1956. Brother John F. Kennedy, Jr. died in a plane crash in 1999. Another brother, Patrick Bouvier Kennedy died two days after his birth in 1963.
Caroline Bouvier Kennedy is an American author and attorney. She is the daughter and only surviving child of U.S. President John F. Kennedy and his wife, Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis. An older sister, Arabella, died shortly after her birth in 1956. Brother John F. Kennedy, Jr. died in a plane crash in 1999. Another brother, Patrick Bouvier Kennedy died two days after his birth in 1963.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
March 26, 2016
A beautiful collection of photographs:) I adore it.
October 24, 2013
I've never met a photo album I didn't like, but the greatest have captions and include some pre-1900 pictures. Rose Kennedy's album fills the bill. Here's a peek at history, fashion, family life, letters, and more...from 1878-1946. The sad note is that, as with your own family albums, you know enough family history to look at many of the smiling faces and say, "What if..."
April 6, 2024
I considered not counting this one because it’s mostly photos but screw it, it was cool
April 16, 2023
This was a,great book about the Kennedy family especially during the world war two years
August 6, 2022
This is a really neat collection of personal photographs, letters, and other memorabilia from the Kennedy Family. Rose Kennedy, the matriarch of the Kennedy clan, had a lot of photos of her famous children and grandchildren. I have been interested in the Kennedy's for a long time, and I was thrilled to find this in my local used book store. I really enjoyed this book and seeing these photographs.
February 12, 2019
This is a beautiful book of photographs with some letters and from the Kennedy and Fitzergerld family albums. It chronicles the life of Rose and Joseph Kennedy and their family from 1878 through 1946, the year JFK was first elected to Congress. I enjoyed looking through all the pictures and watching the family as it grew.
June 24, 2022
A friend recommended this book to me and I'm so glad I read it. If you are like me and enjoy photo albums and original material describing the images, then this book is for you. I did not know a lot about the Kennedys before I read this. I enjoyed learning about them in their early years up until "Jack's" aka J.F. Kennedy became president.
October 15, 2025
Lots of new photos that I’ve never seen before with nice descriptions. But Rosemary’s lobotomy and the aftermath was glossed over with just a single brief paragraph. There also was very little written about the grief of Joe Jr death from his parents or siblings other than JFK. These are the things that stop it getting 5 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 7, 2018
Loved all the photographs.
February 5, 2020
Great pics of the family.
May 31, 2025
Good to see the early family photos, but the accompanying text was very bland. Particularly interested to read the Ambassador complaining in a letter to Rose about the Luftwaffe interfering with his golf game during the Blitz - such a pity.
March 20, 2017
Great Kennedy photos, good basic history of the family, nice letter excerpts, etc. considering the great photos, the writing (and even letters) seem somewhat long-winded and dry.
March 27, 2015
Eh, I was bored through most of this book. The Kennedy's fascinate me, especially JFK. I was interested in reading about Rose Kennedy as she was the matriarch of such an interesting and notorious clan. I always thought that she was this strong, amazing Christian woman who had so much heartache to endure. Well, yes she did have a lot of heartache and I guess for the most part she was a strong woman to have been able to endure so much loss. BUT, after reading this book, I have a completely different opinion of her. I think that she was somewhat selfish and materialistic. I don't doubt that she loved her children, but she couldn't be bothered too much by them. They were basically raised by nannies and shipped off to boarding schools at an early age, while she traipsed around the world. At times she did manage to take one or two with her. What she did care about was that they were healthy and successful. She made sure that they had the best doctors, dentists and went to the best schools. She showed them little attention and no affection. OnceJohn got involved in politics she took more of an active interest in his life. Prior to that she just wrote him letters. I basically just didn't like her, simple as that. In my opinion she was not a bad person, just not a great mother. I have little respect for her after reading this and I do not think that was the intention of the author.
November 4, 2013
Rose Kennedy's Family Album is a "must have" for any Kennedy aficionado. I used to feel guilty about my fascination with this complex family until so much of America became hooked on "reality t.v." such as The Kardashians. I indulge my curiosity without any remnants of guilt now.
I've lost count of exactly how many Kennedy biographies I've read but it's between 13-15. Some of these photographs I've seen before but probably about 75-80% of them I haven't. There is also a nice running narrative and copies of letters (pictures of the original and transcriptions) included with the pictures. Some of the letters are extremely famous; such as the letter from young Jack asking to be the new baby's godfather which hung in Ted Kennedy's office in the Senate, probably until he left the office. Some letters and anecdotes were unknown to me.
I waffled a bit whether to get the hard copy or the Kindle edition. I have been scaling back my hard copy library quite a bit and trying not to add to it. It would have been nice to have this in a hard copy format though I ended up with the convenient (and less expensive) Kindle version.
If you're any kind of Kennedy fan, at least check it out of the library. If you really enjoy learning about the family, buy the book!
I've lost count of exactly how many Kennedy biographies I've read but it's between 13-15. Some of these photographs I've seen before but probably about 75-80% of them I haven't. There is also a nice running narrative and copies of letters (pictures of the original and transcriptions) included with the pictures. Some of the letters are extremely famous; such as the letter from young Jack asking to be the new baby's godfather which hung in Ted Kennedy's office in the Senate, probably until he left the office. Some letters and anecdotes were unknown to me.
I waffled a bit whether to get the hard copy or the Kindle edition. I have been scaling back my hard copy library quite a bit and trying not to add to it. It would have been nice to have this in a hard copy format though I ended up with the convenient (and less expensive) Kindle version.
If you're any kind of Kennedy fan, at least check it out of the library. If you really enjoy learning about the family, buy the book!
October 12, 2013
I am reading a new bio of Rose Kennedy right now so it was interesting to look through these pictures at the same time. Most of these are not pictures that have been shown before. It is fun to see so many pictures of these famous people as babies and small children. By the time you get to the 1940s, it seems sad. You see these beautiful, healthy smiling faces and know that soon several will be dead. I was particularly saddened by the picture of the family together on vacation near Cannes in 1940. It was the last picture they would ever all be in together. A couple of years later, the oldest daughter Rosemary stops appearing in pictures after she is lobotomized and then institutionalized. The eldest son is killed in 1944. The book ends in 1946 and you know there are many more sadnesses coming for this close family. It was nice to have the introductory chapters written by Caroline Kennedy. A nice look at the past.
June 17, 2014
Many unique photos, but the entire production under the control of the Kennedy clan, so you aren't going to see what they don't want you to see. I was always amazed at the distant mother parenting style of Rose Kennedy. "She" kept herself dressed in French couture, while her daughters and sons were slapped into identical outfits (to save time, money and thought, I suppose.) One picture I had never seen was a young JFK on his graduation day from Harvard, looking faintly rumpled and wearing saddle shoes (to his mother's chagrin.) From the very beginning of his birth, the youngest, Teddy, always looks coddled, overfed and overindulged. He lived his life that way. The Kareless Kennedys. I'm not sure where the fascination lies, given the truths that have leaked out over the years. Family dynasties? Money? Power? And it continues....Caroline Kennedy is currently Ambassador to Japan. Now there's someone with the credentials for that post. Ego. A healthy dose.
January 30, 2016
This is a very nice book of family photos of the Kennedys and Fitzgeralds and their children from 1878 to 1946. The book therefore includes the death of the oldest child of Joseph P. and Rose Kennedy, Joe Jr. in 1944, but ends prior to the deaths of any of the others. It also includes John F. Kennedy's first Congressional race in 1946 and his swearing-in.
There is a selection of letters written by one family member to another over the years and introduction to the various sections by Caroline Kennedy. However, the book is primarily photos rather than text. I have read many books about the Kennedys and this book definitely contains many photos than I have never seen elsewhere, so it was interesting to read through.
**#11 of 120 books pledged to read/review during 2016**
There is a selection of letters written by one family member to another over the years and introduction to the various sections by Caroline Kennedy. However, the book is primarily photos rather than text. I have read many books about the Kennedys and this book definitely contains many photos than I have never seen elsewhere, so it was interesting to read through.
**#11 of 120 books pledged to read/review during 2016**
May 5, 2014
Although the book does cover the exact time period as reflected in the title, I actually wish it had gone farther, but alas ...
I loved this book! Although I have seen some of these pictures, the majority of these photos were new. Some of my favorite parts of the book were the keen descriptions of various family members by other family members.
On a side note, like some other books that I have read about the Kennedy's this also shows that a bright shining light burns out after Joe Jr. is killed. I think the family had great hopes for this young man, but "all" was lost when he died in WWII.
I loved this book! Although I have seen some of these pictures, the majority of these photos were new. Some of my favorite parts of the book were the keen descriptions of various family members by other family members.
On a side note, like some other books that I have read about the Kennedy's this also shows that a bright shining light burns out after Joe Jr. is killed. I think the family had great hopes for this young man, but "all" was lost when he died in WWII.
November 6, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. Not so much the text, which I had read in other books before, but for the pictures, many of which I had never seen. Fascinating peek at the personal life of a celebrated family. I found the pictures of the “hidden” sister, Rosemary, particularly touching knowing what happened to her only a short time later. She seemed to be so happy and full of life. Joe Kennedy should have been so ashamed of what he had done to her.
February 9, 2014
A book that ...well...is what it is. Nostalgic photos of the nine Kennedy offspring arranged from baby pix to the early 20's, Some interesting and amusing correspondence between parents and siblings and sibling to sibling. A glimpse into a very private, very Catholic, very athletic family. Not a bad way to spend a few hours on a snowy afternoon...takes no longer. Suggest the library, not worth the $40 cost unless one is a Kennedyphile.
July 10, 2014
I read most books on the Kennedys, and while this book was OK, it wasn't all that informative. I read it on my iPad and it would probably be better to read the actual book in order to see the pictures better.
February 27, 2016
Amazing photographic glimpse into the pre-White House years of the Kennedy family, starting from 1878 and ending in 1946. I absolutely loved every photo, telegram and letter shared with us in this beautiful book. Many thanks to the JFK Library (and Caroline Kennedy) for this lovely album!
November 12, 2013
I have numerous books about the Kennedy's and yet there are pictures and stories contained in this volume that I have never seen or read. A "must have" for any one who admires this family.
November 16, 2013
What a great collection of photos! I loved looking at the clothes, fashions, rare color photos.
November 25, 2013
A very touching, heartwarming, and heartbreaking "story" of the Kennedy family which provides an intimacy into their lives and their family relationships through the use of personal family photos.
January 14, 2014
It's a Kennedy book. It gets 5 stars duh.
September 6, 2015
I adored the letters to mother and father from the young Kennedys... Loved it.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews