Title:
1917 U.S. Navy Promotion Document Signed by Franklin D. Roosevelt – PSA Certified – Wartime Temporary Rank Advancement

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Description:
Presented here is a typed military document signed by Franklin D. Roosevelt, then serving as Acting Secretary of the Navy, dated September 6, 1917, during World War I. The document, issued by the Navy Department, Washington, officially acknowledges the temporary advancement in rank of Assistant Naval Constructor Ernest L. Patch, U.S. Navy, to the rank of Lieutenant (temporary).

The letter reads in part:

"You will be regarded and recognized as holding the rank of Lieutenant (temporary), from and including July 1, 1917... This is a temporary promotion in rank and not in grade, no examination is required, and no commission will be issued to you covering same, this letter being in lieu thereof."

The document bears Roosevelt's bold signature, “Franklin D. Roosevelt”, as Acting Secretary of the Navy, and includes the embossed seal of the Navy Department. The lower margin is signed by Registrar W. A. Hanna and notes that rank seniority will be determined by registration number.

Accompanying the primary letter are several endorsement documents:

• A 1st Endorsement from the Navy Yard, Portsmouth, ME dated November 5, 1917, forwarding the advancement to the Bureau.

• A 2nd Endorsement from the Bureau of Construction and Repair dated November 7, 1917, confirming delivery.

• A 3rd Endorsement handwritten and signed by E. L. Patch, dated November 9, 1917, confirming receipt.

The package also includes an official PSA/DNA Letter of Authenticity, dated August 18, 2025, with Certification Number AO09673, confirming that the signature of Franklin D. Roosevelt is authentic.

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Historical Context:
In 1917, as the U.S. entered World War I, Franklin D. Roosevelt served under President Woodrow Wilson as Assistant Secretary of the Navy—a role he held from 1913 to 1920. His tenure was marked by sweeping naval reforms, modernization efforts, and wartime administrative efficiency.

This document, signed by Roosevelt as Acting Secretary, reflects his direct administrative role in wartime personnel management. Temporary promotions such as this were common in wartime to fill expanding roles in logistics, engineering, and shipbuilding—areas critical to U.S. naval operations.

The recipient, Ernest L. Patch, served as a Naval Constructor, a specialized officer in naval architecture and engineering, based at Portsmouth Navy Yard—a historic shipyard heavily involved in wartime vessel construction and repair.

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Authentication & Encapsulation:
This signed document has been fully examined and certified authentic by PSA/DNA, bearing Certification Number AO09673. PSA confirms the signature of Franklin D. Roosevelt based on analysis of handwriting characteristics and comparison to known authentic examples. The accompanying Letter of Authenticity and PSA sticker provide verified provenance and long-term value.

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Closing Appeal:
This is a rare and historically significant signed wartime document from Franklin D. Roosevelt’s early federal service—well before his presidency—highlighting his role in the administration of World War I naval affairs. With strong military content, direct FDR involvement, and PSA certification, this is an ideal addition for collectors of presidential autographs, military history, and Roosevelt ephemera.