Elwyn Charles Johnston worked as a personal aide to President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936 and was associated with Roosevelt when he was Assistant Secretary of the Navy, 1913-1920. Due to his interest in history, these letters were given to Johnston by then Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt during a purge of the department’s office files.
From the guide to the U. S. Secretary of the Navy Letter Collection, 2008-131., 1810-1934, (Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin)