FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY
The Alan B. and Charna Larkin American Presidential Study houses an extraordinary collection of 46 letters signed by U.S. Presidents. Driven by a deep passion for history, particularly the American presidency, Mr. Alan B. Larkin began collecting presidential letters and photographs, gradually building a unique collection that includes one signed letter from each U.S. President, from George Washington to Donald Trump.
Thanks to the generosity of Mrs. Charna Larkin, this remarkable collection has been donated and made publicly accessible. Displayed in a museum-like setting, each letter offers a tangible connection to the individuals who have shaped the nation’s history.
In addition to showcasing the presidential letters, the Study serves as a historical archive for the Alan B. and Charna Larkin Symposium on the American Presidency. It also functions as a dynamic space for education, community engagement, and special events, hosting small lectures, receptions, and other programs. This gift also supports an ongoing collaboration between the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, the History Department, and the S.E. Wimberly Library.
Alan B. Larkin (1922–2002) attended Boston College and was the founder of the Larkin Group, a publishing company specializing in trade magazines for the fashion industry.
Charna Larkin attended Boston College, is the grandmother of six, and in 2025 received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, in recognition of her longstanding dedication to education, the advancement of civic literacy and American history at Florida Atlantic.
