FRANCIS CARDINAL SPELLMAN

FRANCIS CARDINAL SPELLMAN
(1889- 1967) American bishop and cardinal of the Catholic Church. From 1939 until his death in 1967 he served as the sixth Archbishop of New York. He was created a cardinal in 1946. TLS, one page, on his official Archbishop's letterhead, July 12, 1945, 10.5 x 8 in., to Ashley T. Cole, chairman of the New York State Racing Commission, initiating a campaign in honor of Al Smith (1873 - 1944), four-term governor of New York, in part: 'St. Vincent's [Hospital] like Al Smith, never turned away the sick, the needy, the destitute, whatever their race, their color or their creed. This was Al Smith's faith -charity to humanity!...This hospital is urgently needed to help care for the City's sick of all races and all creeds. On October fourth, the first anniversary of Al Smith's death, we plan to open a nation-wide appeal to establish a $3,000,000.00 Building Fund...share with me the sponsorship of the Alfred E Smith Memorial Hospital, ...This letter to you initiates the organization of the Al Smith Memorial Campaign...'. Signed in black in at conclusion. The hospital was never built, the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation established instead an annual dinner to raise funds for Catholic charities supporting children of various needs in the Archdiocese of New York.