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Raleigh DeGeer Amyx

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Raleigh DeGeer Amyx (born 1938) is an American historian and antiquarian of Presidential, Americana, military, sports, NASA, and Olympic artifacts - including gold, silver, and bronze winners medals presented to athletes.

Early life

File:Raleigh-degeer-amyx-in-library.jpg
The distinguished Raleigh DeGeer Amyx, sitting in his library.

Born in 1938 in Kansas City, Kansas and later moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where he resided during the World War II years. In 1945, His father, Eugene Raleigh Amyx, accepted a transfer by his employer Johnson & Johnson, to Louisville, Kentucky. There Raleigh was raised until his graduation from Atherton High School.

During the ensuing years, Amyx served in the U.S. Army and worked at the FBI.[1] At one time, he served in the Investigation Division, which included the kidnapping and white slave trade units. He also served as a Messenger to FBI Director, J. Edgar Hoover. Hoover presented and inscribed and signed a sepia toned photo to Amyx in 1957.[1][2][3][4]

About that same time, he was asked by the Director's Office to take a message to the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, Lyndon B. Johnson as well as to then Senator John F. Kennedy.[1] While in the Senate Office with John F. Kennedy, Amyx asked if the Senator had time to inscribe and sign a photograph, to which he obliged.[1] Later Amyx became an Association Executive,[5] overseeing and co-authoring the "Gymnastics Safety Manual".[6] Following his near fatal illness from a serious throat cancer [1] and subsequent treatment, Amyx founded American Heritage Manuscripts and Collectibles.[3]

Amyx graduated from one of the four universities he attended, meeting and marrying Hilda Patterson Amyx. They have been together since 1958, and have four children.

Collector

File:Raleigh-degeer-amyx-3.jpg
A portrait of the distinguished Raleigh DeGeer Amyx, sitting in his library.

His love for collecting began when he was just seven years old and "opened" his first museum. It consisted of a few coins, stamps, butterflies and a dead bat - admission was 2 cents. He has now developed this passion into an internationally renowned collection.[7]

This began one night in the early 1980s as he chanced to see Backstairs at the White House, a television mini-series, Nominated for 11 Emmy's. This mini-series was adapted from a the book My Thirty Years Backstairs at the White House by Lillian Rogers Parks, who had been a housekeeper and seamstress at the White House for thirty years. Following his revelation, he reached out to these unsung heroes by placing many advertisements in the Washington Post. One such contact shared "You don't know who to leave all this stuff to. You'd be out on a walk with the president and he would say 'Here's a little something for you'....We took it for granted in those days. It was just work. Now it's history.[3] Raleigh recognized not only the significance of these historical items, but also the value of the stories. Tucked away in his safes are signed (Provenance) letters, from his contributors, authenticating the items.[3]

Today, Amyx is trusted in the "network" of retired White House Staffers and has worked with some 100 people who have held long-term household positions for First Families since the days of Herbert Hoover---- [4] Some of whose parents and/or grandparents had served in The White House as far back as the 19th/20th century. Heather Holmber, in Collecting magazine, referred to Amyx as "An evangelist for American history a virtual walking encyclopedia, with a penchant for Presidential memorabilia".[8]

Over the past quarter century plus, Amyx has accumulated a large private collection, specializing in Presidential, Sports, Military, and NASA collectibles; particularly those owned and used by Famous Americans. One aspect of the Raleigh DeGeer Amyx collection is the Official White House China Collection, ranking as the World's second largest privately owned collection, as it relates to quality, quantity, and rarity — as well as Historical Significance. One such piece from his White House China Collection was traded to, the well known, Robert L. McNeil and is featured in the book "American Presidential China".[9]

Another major aspect of The Amyx Collection is also devoted to Sports Collectibles of the highest quality. Amyx has for many years followed Sports with particular interest and acquisitions pertaining to: baseball, football, boxing, horse racing and the Olympics. His Olympic Medal and memorabilia collection ranks within the Top four collections in the world.[10] His collection includes over 50 Olympic Winner’s medals in gold, silver and/or bronze from the early modern day Olympics beginning in 1896 to the present time.[10] He is a lifetime member of the International Society of Olympic Historians,[11] with research interests in: The Olympic Movement, Olympic history,promotion of Olympic Games, and Olympic gymnastics in particular.[11] His time in Washington D.C., allowed him to follow the Washington Redskins. One of his fondest acquisitions would be his Three Official Super Bowl Rings presented to the winning World Champion Washington Redskins players in 1982, 1987 and 1991.[12] Another item, is U.S. President, Dwight D. Eisenhower's Rolex Datejust, which is the 150,000th Officially Certified Rolex Chronometer ever made. This watch was featured in Jake's Rolex World Magazine.[13]

He has acquired, authenticated and appraised thousands of items of historical importance [1]. His research has gained him knowledge of the true inner workings of the Presidency and the White House that extends back to the beginning of the Republic.

Historian

Raleigh DeGeer Amyx in 1998

His avid interest in history and politics developed early, when, in elementary school, he read the Book of Knowledge starting with the letter “Z” and working backward. Years later, he had the opportunity to study and acquire items collected since childhood, thus preserving them for future generations. Much of this knowledge was gained from first-hand stories and interviews conducted with White House employees, that had never been published.[1][3]

For nearly a quarter century collecting and preserving history have been Amyx’s sole endeavor. Because of the reputation of The Amyx Collection,[14] and Amyx’s knowledge, he has acquired, authenticated and appraised items of Historical Importance for collectors, as well as for such entities as the Smithsonian Institution.[1] Portions of The Raleigh DeGeer Amyx Presidential collection have been exhibited at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum.[3][15]

He has made national television appearances, including Good Morning America and his collection was filmed by ABC. In addition to television, a number of newsprint[2][15][16][17] and book references[18][19][20][21] have mentioned him and his collection.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g WEALTH PERSPECTIVES", JULY 2010/
  2. ^ a b SAN FRANCISCO, CHRONICLE, JANUARY 19, 1984
  3. ^ a b c d e f Walt Harrington, Ast.Editor The Washington Post Magazine, 01/13/85
  4. ^ a b The Atlanta Journal-Constitution,10/9/83
  5. ^ Encyclopedia of associations, Volume 3, Part 3 edited by Frederick G. Ruffner, Margaret Fisk
  6. ^ Gymnastics Safety Manual: the Official Manual of the United States By United States Gymnastics Safety Association, Eugene Wettstone and Raleigh DeGeer Amyx
  7. ^ L.A. Times, 12/20/1985,WALT HARRINGTON
  8. ^ Collecting, April 1996
  9. ^ American Presidential China:the Robert L.McNeil Jr. collection at the Philadelphia Museum of art/ Susan gray Detweiler Page 76
  10. ^ a b OLYMPIN COLLECTORS CLUB 2008,2009
  11. ^ a b ISOH (International Society of Olympic Historians),2009+
  12. ^ The Washington Post, Saturday, January 25, 1997 by Todd Shields
  13. ^ http://rolexblog.blogspot.com/ Jake's Rolex World Magazine Team
  14. ^ The Official Price Guide to Collectibles of the 50's & 60's, By Charles J. Jordan, P. 143-148
  15. ^ a b The Fauquier Citizen – Friday, March 26, 1993
  16. ^ The Washington Post – Saturday, January 25, 1997
  17. ^ Motorcars Unlimited – October,1979
  18. ^ Manuscripts, Volume 41 By Manuscript Society (U.S.)
  19. ^ Historical & popular culture Americana By Thomas D. Slater
  20. ^ Season's Greetings From the White House By Presidential Christmas, Mary Evans Seeley
  21. ^ Inside the White House by Ronald Kessler, P.48-49
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