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PPF 7542
AMERICAN BOOKSELLERS ASSOCIATION
May 4, 1935
PPF
My dear Mr. Coles:
7542
Your lettor of May second to the Pres-
ident has been received and will be brought to
his attention at EL favorable opportunity. I can
assure you that he will appreciate the interest
which prompted you to write.
Very sincerely yours,
LOUIS Mall. HOWE
Secretary to the President
Robert No Coles, Enges
American Booksellers Association,
35 East 20th Street,
New York, N. Y.
RV
N.R.A.--Re: State that their Association has wired the Senate
Finance Committee urging instead of a limited period that the NRA
be continued for two years more.
OFFICERS OF THE AMERICAN BOOKSELLERS ASSOCIATION, INC.
President KARL PLACHT, Beacon Book Shop, New York, N. Y.; First Vice President ALICE L. STEINLEIN, Greenwood Book Shop, Wilmington, Del.;
Second Vice President HARRY V. KORNER, Korner & Wood Co., Cleveland, O.; Third Vice President ERNEST DAWSON, Dawson's Book Shop, Los Angeles, Cal.;
Secretary MARION BACON, Vassar Cooperative Bookshop, Poughkeepsie, N. Y.; Treasurer HARRIET ANDERSON, Channel Bookshop, New York, N. Y.
vah.
STRAUB, William S., Esq.
Rehway, N. J.
September 17, 1935
Writes to the Executive Offices stating that about two years ago the Press
reported that The White House library was much in need of a good library,
and that he noted that some months afterwards the Publishers Association of
America gave about 250 books; asks if he could be furnished with a list of the
names and authors of these books.
On September 21, 1935 Col. McIntyre replied to Mr. Straub that they have
no list of the books recently presented to the White House, but that same might
be secured by communicating with Mr. E. S. McCawley, Pres., American Booksellers'
Association, Haverford, Pa.
See 240
PPF
7542
OFFICERS OF THE AMERICAN BOOKSELLERS ASSOCIATION, INC.
President KARL PLACHT, Beacon Book Shop, New York, N. Y.; First Vice President ALICE L. STEINLEIN, Greenwood Book Shop, Wilmington, Del.;
Second Vice President HARRY v. KORNER, Korner & Wood Co., Cleveland, O.; Third Vice President ERNEST DAWSON, Dawson's Book Shop, Los Angeles, Cal.;
Secretary MARION BACON, Vassar Cooperative Bookshop, Poughkeepsie, N. Y.; Treasurer HARRIET ANDERSON, Channel Bookshop, New York, N. Y.
October 7, 1935
PPF
7542
My dear Mr. McCawley:
Your letter of October third, on behalf
of the American Booksellers Association, has been
received in the absence of the President and will
be bro ght to his attention upon his return to the
city. You may be sure he will appreciate your in-
terest in writing.
Very sincerely yours,
STEPHEN EARLY
Assistant Secretary
to the President
E. S. McCawley, Esq.,
American Booksellers Association,
35 East 20th Street,
New York, N. Y.
FED TRADE COM. - Asks that something be done re use of "loss leaders"
by big Dept and chain stores. States NRA corrected matter but now things
are bad again. Fed. Trade Com. is considering matter.
OFFICERS OF THE AMERICAN BOOKSELLERS ASSOCIATION, INC.
President KARL PLACHT, Beacon Book Shop, New York, N. Y.; First Vice President ALICE L. STEINLEIN, Greenwood Book Shop, Wilmington, Del.;
Second Vice President HARRY V. KORNER, Korner & Wood Co., Cleveland, O.; Third Vice President ERNEST DAWSON, Dawson's Book Shop, Los Angeles, Cal.:
Secretary MARION BACON, Vassar Cooperative Bookshop, Poughkeepsie, N. Y.; Treasurer HARRIET ANDERSON, Channel Bookshop, New York, N. Y.
mr
1/242
April 25. 1941
STANDARD FORM No. 14A
FROM
APPROVED BY THE PRESIDENT
The White House
MARCH 10, 1926
Mashington
TELEGRAM
December 7 1937
OFFICIAL BUSINESS-GOVERNMENT RATES
31
U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 93321
Frederic G. Melcher
American Booksellers Association
35 E. 20th St.,
New York City.
Telegram received. Appointment Okay for Committee of five Dec. 13 th.
at Twelve-thirty White House remaining for luncheon at one o'clock
Regards. Regardsx -STOP Please let me have names those attending in advance.
M. H. McIntyre
Secretary to the President
PPF7542 tuture
American Booksellers Association, #
Willard Hotel,
Washington, D. C.
wdh-mw
(env. add. to Mr. Placht at The Beacon Book Shop, Inc., 46 East 46th St.,
New York, N. Y.)
If signed pls mail out
& return file to STE
P.P.F.
mw
7542
April 25, 1941
Dear Mr. Placht:
My hearty greetings to the American Booksellers
Association. In the maintenance of the morale of the
nation your organization can make a most important con-
tribution. Whether the times be normal or the energies
of all be directed to the strengthening of the national
xpp7450
defense, books are always faithful friends and ever
cheerful companions.
I trust that your deliberations will be on-
joyable as well as fruitful of renewed interest in good
books everywhere.
Very sincerely yours,
FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELE
Mr. Karl Placht, XA
President,
American Booksellers Association, #
Willard Hotel,
Washington, D. C.
wdh-mw
(env. add. to Mr. Placht at The Beacon Book Shop, Inc., 46 East 46th St.,
New York, N. Y.)
OFFICERS OF THE AMERICAN BOOKSELLERS ASSOCIATION, INC.
President KARL PLACHT, Beacon Book Shop, New York, N. Y.; First Vice President ALICE L. STEINLEIN, Greenwood Book Shop, Wilmington, Del.;
Second Vice President HARRY v. KORNER, Korner & Wood Co., Cleveland, O.; Third Vice President ERNEST DAWSON, Dawson's Book Shop, Los Angeles, Cal.;
Secretary MARION BACON, Vassar Cooperative Bookshop, Poughkeepsie, N. Y.; Treasurer HARRIET ANDERSON, Channel Bookshop, New York, N. Y.
MEMORANDUM -
BERT M. COLES, Exec
Mr. Norris has the books -
Is this for General Watson?
ASSO
AW
N.Y.
I
ril 28, 1941
Mr. Stephen Early
The White House
Washington, D. C.
bore
Dear Mr. Early:
BOOKSELLERS
LEFERS
KARL PLACHT, President
ABA
ROBERT M. COLES, Executive Secretary
AMERICAN BOOKSELLERS ASSOCIATION
INCORPORATED
35 East 20th Street, New York, N.Y.
GRamercy 5-6660
April 28, 1941
Mr. Stephen Early
The White House
Washington, D. C.
sbop
Dear Mr. Early:
Under separate cover we are sending to you
192 books of the 200 which will be presented to Pres-
ident Roosevelt on Wednesday, May 7th, for the White
House Library. The remaining eight books will be given
personally by the committee at the time of presentation.
Each book contains the White House Library
book plate, and they may be added immediately to the
rest of the collection.
With many thanks for your cooperation, I am,
Sincerely yours,
RMC:HS
Executive Secretary
OFFICERS OF THE AMERICAN BOOKSELLERS ASSOCIATION, INC.
President KARL PLACHT, Beacon Book Shop, New York, N. Y.; First Vice President ALICE L. STEINLEIN, Greenwood Book Shop, Wilmington, Del.;
Second Vice President HARRY V. KORNER, Korner & Wood Co., Cleveland, O.; Third Vice President ERNEST DAWSON, Dawson's Book Shop, Los Angeles, Cal.;
Secretary MARION BACON, Vassar Cooperative Bookshop, Poughkeepsie, N. Y.; Treasurer HARRIET ANDERSON, Channel Bookshop, New York, N. Y.
Established 1918
Telephone: Murray Hill 9-7276
THE BEACON BOOK shop
INC.
April 23,1941.
at 4/25/41 MW
Mr. Stephen T. Early,
The White House,
Washington, D.C.
Dear Mr. Early:-
On Wednesday, May 7th, I shall have the great
honor of presenting to President Roosevelt on behalf of the
Booksellers of the Nation, the new instalment of the White
House Library.
I hope you will not find it too presumptious
if I ask whether the President might be willing to send a
Message to the Booksellers, whose annual Convention closes that
night with a Banquet at the Willard Hotel. Secretary of the
Banquet. Navy Knox and Lord Halifax will be the two speakers at that
We Booksellers feel that we have a particularly
important job to fulfill in the months to come, "behind the Lines".
A message from the President would do much, in my opinion, to
galvanize our spirit into greater alertness and greater unity.
Very Kare Hachs respectfully,
Karl Placht,
President, American Booksellers Association.
x916
x 240
46 EAST 46TH STREET
(HOTEL ROOSEVELT)
NEW YORK
Open 8.30 A.M. till 7 P.M.
Deliveries to all Steamers
COMMITTEE REPRESENTING AMERICAN BOOKSELLERS ASSN.
Presentation of books in the President's Office
Wednesday, May 7, 1941
Stat 12:30 o'clock.
Miss Harriet Anderson
Channel Book Shop, 21 Whitney Ave., New Haven, Conn.
(Treas. -Am. Booksellers Assn.)
BAK
Mr. Robert M. Coles
35 East 20th Street, NYC
(Exec. Secy - Am. Booksellers Assn.)
Mr. Cedrie Crowell
Doubleday Doran & Co., 14 W. 49th St., NYC
(Dir. -Am. Booksellers Assn.)
Mr. Jonathan Daniels
Editor, (Author) The News and Observer, Raleigh, N. C.
Mr. Ernest Dawson
Dawson's Book Store, 627 S. Grand Ave. Los Angeles
(3rd Vice Pres.- Am. Booksellers Assn.)
Miss Marion Dodd
Hampshire Book Shop, Northampton, Mass.
(Dir. -Am. Booksellers Assn.)
Mr. August H. Gehrs Womrath Bookshops & Libraries, 45 E. 17th St.,NYC
(Dir. -Am. Booksellers Assn.)
Mr. Alfred Harcourt
383 Madison Ave., NYC
(Pres., Harcourt Brace & Co. - Publishers)
Mrs. J. Borden Harriman The Lowell, 28 E. 63rd Street, NYC
(Former Minister to Norway)
Mr. Harry Korner
Korner & Wood, 1512 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, Ohio
(2nd Vice Pres. - Am.Booksellers Assn.)
Mr. A. A. Kroch
Kroch's Bookstores, 206 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago
(Dir. -Am. Booksellers Assn.)
of
Mr. Frederic Melcher
Pres. R. R. Bowker Co., 62 W. 45th St., NYC
(White House Library Committee Chairman -
Will make presentation of books to the President)
Mrs. Eugene Meyer
1624 Crescent Place
Mr. Karl Placht
Beacon Book Shop, 46 E. 46th St., NYC
(Pres. - Am. Booksellers Assn.)
Mr. Joseph Wheeler
Head, Enoch Pratt Library, Baltimore, Md.
Mr. Nicholas Wreden
Business Mgr., Scribner's Book Store,
597 5th Ave., NYC
(Dir. - Am. Booksellers Assn.)
May 7, 1941
Mrs. Dennison:
Roberta sent this over. She
says the General is to receive these
folks at 12:30 today.
EAK
Mr. Karl Placnt, ent of the American
Booksellers Association, asked that you be given the
following message:
"In expressing to President Roosevelt
our regret that he is ill, may I ask you to
give him also this message from the American
Booksellers:
"We feel deeply privileged to be
directed to make the presentation of these
books for the White House Library.
"The American Booksellers are con-
scious of the gravity of the hour They know
THE WHITE house
WASHINGTON
5-7-41
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT:
Mr. Karl Placht, president of the American
Booksellers Association, asked that you be given the
following message:
"In expressing to President Roosevelt
our regret that he is ill, may I ask you to
give him also this message from the American
Booksellers:
"We feel deeply privileged to be
directed to make the presentation of these
books for the White House Library.
"The American Booksellers are con-
scious of the gravity of the hour. They know
they have a definite part to play in this
crisis, and they pledge to you that they hope
to acquit themselves creditably in playing
that part. We also want to express our
gratitude for your great interest in the
furtherance of the dissemination of books and
the cultivation of wider reading habits which
you have shown on many occasions -- lately by
proclamation in favor of special postage rates
for books."
E.M.W.
5-7-41
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT:
Mr. Karl Placht, president of the American
Booksellers Association, asked that you be given the
following message:
"In expressing to President Roosevelt
our regret that he is ill, may I ask you to
give him also this message from the American
Booksellers:
"We feel deeply privileged to be
directed to make the presentation of these
books for the White House Library.
"The American Booksellers are con-
scious of the gravity of the hour. They know
they have a definite part to play in this
crisis, and they pledge to you that they hope
to acquit themselves creditably in playing
that part. We also want to express our
gratitude for your great interest in the
furtherance of the dissemination of books and
the cultivation of wider reading habits which
you have shown on many occasions --- lately by
proclamation in favor of special postage rates
for books."
E.M.W.
may 1
may 7th
GEN. WATSON
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
March 15, 1941
From the desk of-
Mrs. Helm
Wednesday, May 7, 1941 -
11:30 a.m.
About 300 members of the American Booksellers
Association will be shown through the down-
stairs rooms; they will be identified at the
East Entrance by two or three members of the
Association.
About 15 members of the Association will pre-
sent some books to the President in his
office at
.12:30 p.m.
Ome
and will then come over to the house
for lunch at
1:00 p.m.
wellace
In Mrs. Roosevelt's absence Mrs. Wallace
will act as hostess. The President will
not attend the luncheon.
(Mrs. Eugene Meyer
1624 Cresdent Place)
May 7
may 7th
THE WHITE HOUSE
washington
2-28-41
MEMORANDUM:
On May 7th, at 12:30, the ladies
of the American Book Society will bring over
30
some books for the President.
At one o'clock they will go back
Ome
to the White House for a luncheon, to be
presided over by Mrs. Wallace.
llace
Muchin
E.M.W.
may 7th
Receive books Ca 1230
May 7th came
right over + Mn wallace
preside Muchen
may 7th
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
EXPLANATION OF THE PRESIDENT'S APPOINTMENTS
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28th.
10.30 - PRESS @ office
11:00- Pictines Cabnet
11.15 - Ralph Budd
1200 11.30 - Sen. George at White Hare
12 30 11.45 - Congr. Woodrum of Virginia @WhiteH
(re appropriation estimates now pending)
12.00 - The Ambassador of Poland
(Mr. Jan Ciechanowski to present
credentials)
12.15 -
12.30 - Mr. Henry R. Luce
(Editor Time Magazine. President wanted
to see him)
12.45 -
1.00 - (LUNCH) Justice Frank Murphy
(President said have him to
lunch Thursday or Friday)
2.00 - CABINET MEETING
ADDED STARTER: Marshal Field for a 10 min. appt
may 7th
may 7th
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
2-14-41
MEMORANDUM FOR MRS. DENNISON:
Mrs. Roosevelt has asked that
xpp72
we reserve from 12:45 to 1:00 on May 7th
PP741
for six members of the Book Society of
America to present a few books to the
President. I have told her that such will
be done.
ice
E.M.W.
a
alsomay?
tea
FD.
we Mr. 1cor 7a. on
most
is
TULLY:
the
f Tope: I don't semember ever
don't have it
941
seeing it.
mabel
X pp
MEMORANDUM FOR GENERAL WATSON:
x
pp
I am sending a note to Mrs. Wallace
asking her to act as hostess at lunch on
Wednesday, May seventh, following the pre-
sentation of books to the President by the
American Booksellers Association.
Mrs. Roosevelt would like to know how
Grace
S.T. office -
in
doesn't have Tol
.941
XPP
X
MEMORANDUM FOR GENERAL WATSON:
I am sending a note to Mrs. Wallace X PP
asking her to act as hostess at lunch on
Wednesday, May seventh, following the pre-
sentation of books to the President by the
American Booksellers Association.
Mrs. Roosevelt would like to know how
MISS TULLY:
Perhaps you know something about
this correspondence which Mrs. Helm asks
be returned.
I must admit in my ignorance I sent
it in the wrong way.
Sorry.
941
ld
X pf
MEMORANDUM FOR GENERAL WATSON:
I am sending a note to Mrs. Wallace
X pp
asking her to act as hostess at lunch on
Wednesday, May seventh, following the pre-
sentation of books to the President by the
American Booksellers Association.
Mrs Roosevelt would like to know how
may 7th
THE WHITE house
WASHINGTON
February 14, 1941
xpp72
MEMORANDUM FOR GENERAL WATSON:
I am sending a note to Mrs. Wallace XPP741
asking her to act as hostess at lunch on
Wednesday, May seventh, following the pre-
sentation of books to the President by the
American Booksellers Association.
Mrs. Roosevelt would like to know how
many people will come to lunch that day and
will they be both men and women?
Will you please return the correspondence
which I sent you on February third?
Edith Helm
x50-7
allogen, 12/21/41 returned Po:-Tea on,
F.D.R.
Mr.
1ᵃ.
both
is
1th
may 7th
2-6-41
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT:
Mrs. Roosevelt wanted me to ask you
about receiving the members of the American
Booksellers Association during their con-
vention here May fifth to seventh.
She has suggested that May seventh
will be agreeable for you to receive some
books and for the members of the convention
to come to the White House, with Mrs.
Wallace acting as hostess in her absence.
Mrs. Roosevelt asks whether you would
prefer to have this group come in for a
luncheon or for tea.
E.M.W.
LD:rlk
Correps mis Ergine for theyar
attacted
PPF 7542
AMERICAN BOOKSELLERS ASSOCIATION
of
Culega
p p.7.
March 24, 1942
7542
reh
Dear Sam:
This acknowledges your letter of
March twenty-third and I am enclosing herewith
copy of a letter which the President addressed
to Mr. Karl Placht, President, American Book-
the
sellers Association, which might be suitable
for the use you have in mind.
With all good wishes.
Very sincerely yours,
Very
WILLIAM D. HASSETT
ppfum
Honorable Samuel I. Rosenman, XH64 XH
60 Centre Street,
New York, N. Y.
Enclosure. Copy of letter to Mr. Karl Placht, The Beacon Book Shop, Inc.,
46 East 46th St., New York, N. Y., from the President, under
date of April 25, 1941.
wdh-mms
Supreme Court
Culiga 3/24/42 mms
of the
tate of New York
JUSTICES chambers
new YORK COUNTY COURT HOUSE
NEW YORK, N.Y.
EXCELSIOR
SAMUEL 1. ROSENMAN
JUSTICE
March 23, 1942
Mr. William R. Hassett
White House
Washington, D. C.
Dear Bill:
Do you recall anything that the President
has said about the importance of books which
the American Booksellers' Association might
quote on a poster?
I cannot find anything, and am wonder-
ing whether there has been anything in the form
of a letter or greeting that you can recall.
With kindest regards,
Very Sam sincerely yours,
Community Book Associates
P.P.F.
7542
May 13, 1942
Dear Miss Huddleston:
This acknowledges your letter of May
seventh, addressed to the President. I pre-
sume the letter to which you refer was made
public by Mr. Karl Placht, President, American
Booksellers Association. If Mr. Placht consents
#
to your use of parts of the letter, such action
will be all right so far as this office is con-
cerned, provided you identify the quotations.
xpp71-4l
Very sincerely yours,
STEPHEN EARLY
Secretary to the President
Miss Nartha Huddleston,
x
Director,
Community Book Associates,
545 Fifth Avenue,
New York, N. Y.
+
wdh-mms
ackgd 5/13/42 mms
Community Book Associates
545 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. - Room 314 - Telephone MU 2-3589
May 7, 1942
Honorable Franklin Delano Roosevelt
President of the United States
Washington, D.C.
Dear Mr. President:
Your message to the American Booksellers Convention,
as read by its president, Karl Placht, was magnificent.
This organization, supported cooperatively by over fifty
leading publishers, is concerned with taking the message
of the importance of books in war time into the smaller
communities, which heretofore had little directed assis-
tance in the promotion of book reading and book use.
I am writing to ask your permission to use parts of
your message to the American Booksellers Convention
in our community promotional material which encourages
the use of books for an intelligent job of thinking
on the home front.
Very respectfully yours,
MARTHA HUDDLESTON,
Director
?
MH:1s
P.P.F.
April 23, 1942
7542
To the American Booksellers Association:
I should have liked to be with you in
person to extend my greetings and tslk to you, for
I have been a. reader and buyer and borrower and
XP.P.7.8271
collector of books all my life. It is more important
XPP71-A
that your work should go on now than it has ever been
at any other time in our history: in a very literal
sense you carry upon your bookshelves the light that
guides civilization. I need not labor the contrast
between the estate of books in the free democracies
and the estate of books in the countries now brutelised
xpP75249
by our foes.
We all know that books burn - yet we have
the greater knowledge that books cannot be killed by
fire. People die, but books never die. No man and
no force can abolish memory. No man and no force can
put thought in a concentration camp forever. No man
and no force can take from the world the books that
XPP76677
embody man's eternal fight against tyranny of every
kind. In this war, we know, books are weapons. And
it is & part of your dedication always to make them
vespons for man's freedom.
wdh-mw
(Sgd) FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT
Rpril 23, 1942
Dear Mr. MacLeish:
Thanks very much for your co-
operation in preparing the message to the
Booksellers. I am forwarding it to you
herewith and will leave the matter of its
presentation in your hands.
Very sincerely yours,
MacLeish
WILLIAM D. HASSETT
House
Honorable Archibeld MacLeish,
Office of Facts and Figures,
Washington, D. c.
Enclosure.
wdh-mw
b
OFFICE OF FACTS AND FIGURES
WASHINGTON
THE DIRECTOR
April 22, 1942
:rs:
Dear Mr. Hassett:
I think it was you who asked
person
me to prepare a statement for the Presi-
bonight, to extend my
dent to send to the Booksellers. I hope
a reader and buyer and
the attached may prove useful. If there
It is more important
is anything more I can do, please let
ever been at any other
me know.
e you carry upon your
Faithfully yours,
ion. I need not labor
Enclosure
Aman
the free democracies
Archibald
DW brutalized by our
x160
have the greater knowledge
Le die, but books never
Mr. William Hassett
Assistant to Mr. Stephen Early
ry. No man and no force
The White House
rever. No man and no force
ody man's eternal fight
r, we know, books are
ion always to make them
For the President's Message to the Booksellers:
imperson
I should like to have been with you bonight, to extend my
greetings and talk to you, for I have been a reader and buyer and
borrower and collector of books all my life. It is more important
that your work should go on now than it has ever been at any other
time in our history: in a very literal sense you carry upon your
bookshelves the light that guides civilization. I need not labor
the contrast between the estate of books in the free democracies
and the estate of books in the countries now brutalized by our
foes # We all know that books burn--yet we have the greater knowledge
that books cannot be killed by fire. People die, but books never
die. No man and no force can abolish memory. No man and no force
can put thought in a concentration camp forever. No man and no force
can take from the world the books that embody man's eternal fight
against tyranny of every kind. In this war, we know, books are
weapons. And it is a part of your dedication always to make them
weapons for man's freedom.
DEM-33
C
EXECUTIVE Price or THE PRESIDENT
P
OFFICE FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
File
William Hassett (The White House)
March 24, 1942
To:
Captain Kintner (OFF)ne White House)
Dester April 8, 1942
American Booksellers Association Banquet
From:
New York City, May 6th
Subject
American Booksellers Association Banquet
New York City, May 6, 1942
Through Chester Kerr, OFF's book liaison, we have a request from the
American. Booksellers Association for a message of greeting from the
President for their croit annual convention which is climaxed by a banquet
American on May 6th. Booksellers Association, if anything?
The American Booksellers Association convention is the biggest organized
gathering in the book trade, tendered by publishers, critics, and writers.
The President sent a message of greeting last year when Secretary Knox and
Lord Halifax spoke. MacLeish will be the principal speaker this year.
We are asked if the President can give a short message of greeting. It
is suggested that perhaps "War Books and Book Publishing in the War"
might be appropriate for comment. Then too, it might be good to denote
the contrast in promoting freedom of speech at a time when we have been
attacked by the Axis book burners. 60,
draft? Many thanks.
Is it possible to obtain such a greeting? If so, should we make a
draft? Many thanks.
Bool Rinton
Kintner;rml
DEB
OEM-33
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
OFFICE FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
file
To:
Mr. William Hassett (The White House)
Date: April 8, 1942
From:
Captain Kintner (Office of Facts and Figures)
X
Subject:
American Booksellers Association Banquet
New York City, May 6, 1942
ava алтало
On March 24, I sent you a memorandum, copy of which
is attached. I don't mean to press you, but what can I tell the
American Booksellers Association, if anything?
Bol Kintner
Mr. McLeish
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
5
ret e f f is rs. from 040 rit on is
ye a f
S
02
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
OFFICE FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
hold
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
William Hassett (The White House)
Date: March 24, 1942
To:
From:
Captain Kintner (OFF)
Subject:
American Booksellers Association Banquet
New York City, May 6th
Through Chester Kerr, X OFF's book liaison, we have a request from the
American Booksellers Association for a message of greeting from the President
for their annual convention which is climaxed by a banquet on May 6th.
The American Booksellers Association convention is the biggest organ-
ized gathering in the book trade, attended by publishers, critics, and writers.
The President sent a message of greeting last year when Secretary Knox and Lord
Halifax spoke. MacLeish will be the principal speaker this year. We are asked
if the President can give a short message of greeting. It is suggested that
perhaps "War Books and Book Publishing in the War" might be appropriate for
comment. Then too, it might be good to note the contrast of freedom of speech,
at a time when we have been attacked by the Axis book burners.
Is it possible to obtain such a greeting? If so, should we make a
draft? Many thanks.
Bil Kintner
OEM-32
24332
p.p.7
7542
May 14, 1942
Dear Mr. Glenn:
This acknowledges your letter of May
thirteenth. I am enclosing herewith an exact
dressed to the American Booksellers Association. #
copy of the statement which the President ad-
The original, which was signed by the
President, was sent to Karl Placht, President,
American Booksellers Association, 35 East 20th
Street, New York. Presumably Mr. Placht still
has the original and, if he is willing to have
a photostat copy made for you, there is no ob-
jection on the part of this office. But I am
sure you will understand why we could not have
another copy signed by the President.
Very sincerely yours,
STEPHEN EARLY
Secretary to the President
+
Mr. Frank Glenn,
Hotel Muehlebach,
Kansas City, Missouri.
Enclosure.
wdh-mms
PS/ For your convenience I am enclosing a copy of the
Presidentss statement.
artigat 5/14/42
Frank Blenn
Bookseller
Thotel Muehlebach
Ransas City, Missmiri
May 13, 1942
Hon. Stephen Early, Secretary to the President
The White House
Washington, D. C.
Dear Mr. Early:
You will doubtless recall my
previous letters relative to obtaining a statement
from the President relative to the Importance of
Books in War. Due to the pressure of more important
matters, he was unable to give any time to the
preparation of such a statement.
This I can fully
appreciate.
In the current issue of Publishers'
Weekly, there appears a fine statement by the President
on this subject and is just what I want to use for my
anthology.
I should like to use this statement
as a frontispiece for the book, reproducing it in facsi-
mile and if I could obtain this on White House stationery
over the President's signature, it would be most desirable.
The manuscript is in the hands of
the publisher (The University of Oklahoma Press) and it
is believed by them that it will be a considerable contri-
bution to the field of books on the war.
Believe me Mr. Early, I would appre-
ciate anything you may be able to do for me in this matter.
I would also appreciate your expressing to the President
my sincere appreciation of the statement he has given to
the booksellers of America and for the splendid leadership
he is giving America in this Planetary War.
Yours sincerely,
nana Geemy
Frank Glenn
PS/ For your convenience I am enclosing a copy of the
Presidentss statement.
AND FIGURES
A MESSAGE TO THE BOOKSELLERS OF AMERICA
I should have liked to be with you
in person to extend my greetings and talk to you, for I
have been a reader and buyer and borrower and collector
of books all my life. It is more important that your
work should go on now than it has ever been at any other
time in our history: in a very literal sense you carry
upon your bookshelves the light that guides civilization.
I need not labor the contrast between the estate of books in
the free democracies of the estate of books in countries
brutalized by our foes.
We all know that books burn - yet we
have the greater knowledge that books can not be killed by
fire. People die, but books never die. No man and no
force can abolish memory. No man and no force can put
thought in a concentration camp forever. No man and no
force can take from the world the books that embody man's
eternal fight against tyranny of every kind. In this war,
we know, books are weapons. And it is a part of your
dedication always to make them weapons for man's freedom.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
The White House
Washington, D. C.
Reat at the 42d Annual Banquet of the American Booksellers
Association, Hotel Astor, New York, May 6, 1942. Printed in
The Publishers' Weekly, May 9, 1942.
OFFICE OF FACTS AND FIGURES
WASHINGTON
THE DIRECTOR
nuk
June the 1, 1942
April P.P.7
7542
Dear Grace:
clation:
I thought the President might
like to glance at one of these.
1
The American Booksellers Associa-
talk
to
tion is tremendously moved by his
Message to them, as I have good reason
to know since I was present at the
er-
meeting and witnessed the reaction.
bi
is
Incidentally, I think it is a
marvelous Message.
Best regards.
Faithfully yours,
hi
live
Archibald MacLeish
x 4619
Miss Grace Tully
amp
to
The White House
Washington, D. C.
ms
June 12, 1942
April P.P.7
7542
My dear Mr. MacLeish:
The President was pleased to
know that his message was so well received
by the members of the American Booksellers
of
Association, and much appreciates your gener-
ous expression of approval. He thanks you,
too, for those reprints which accompanied
your nice note to me.
in
by
for
Very sincerely yours,
We
know
that
books
have
the
greater
knowledge
that
books
by
fire. People die, but books No and
no force GRACE O. TULLY No
thought in a concentration No
and
no
from
the
Honorable Archibald MacLeish, know, books
B
Office of Facts and Figures, dedication
Washington, D. C. freedom.
ms
the white house
WASHINGTON
April 23, 1942
To the American Booksellers Association:
I should have liked to be with you in
person to extend my greetings and talk to you, for
I have been a reader and buyer and borrower and
collector of books all my life. It is more important
that your work should go on now than it has ever been
at any other time in our history: in a very literal
sense you carry upon your bookshelves the light that
guides civilization. I need not labor the contrast
between the estate of books in the free democracies
and the estate of books in the countries now brutalized
by our foes.
We all know that books burn -- yet we have
the greater knowledge that books cannot be killed by
fire. People die, but books never die. No man and
no force can abolish memory. No man and no force can
put thought in a concentration camp forever. No man
and no force can take from the world the books that
embody man's eternal fight against tyranny of every
kind. In this war, we know, books are weapons. And
it is a part of your dedication always to make them
weapons for man's freedom.
754.2
June 2, 1942
Dear Mr. Harter:
This acknowledges your letter of May
twenty-fifth. I presume the letter to which you
refer was made public by Mr. Karl Placht, Presi-
dent, American Booksellers Association, 35 East #
20th Street, New York City. If Mr. Placht
wishes to send you a copy of the President's let-
ter, such action will be all right so far as
this office is concerned. The decision, however,
is entirely up to Mr. Placht.
Very sincerely yours,
STEPHEN EARLY
Secretary to the President
+
Mr. L. D. Harter,
The Prospect House,
Niagara Falls, New York.
mw-mms
OM THE FALLS
AMERICAN OR EUROPEAN PLAN
The Prospect House achid 6/2/42 nems
NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK
43
43
slephen J. barly,
may 25, 1942.
is
the white House,
washing tox, D.C.
the
D ear Sir:
e
selier
a letter to a man us
be
busy as you must be, can
the
by
be only an imposition, so
please accept my apology for
can
1
being w bother
S
In
obtain a copy of the
I am very anxious to
in
eapons
x. Filed 1 7542
Presidents message to the
ent
on of
book-sellers of America, as
talk
in New york city on may 6ᵗʰ,
read at the muting held
lor
of the year.
able to secure for
Knowing you the would be
me, this letter is my
MRS. EVERETT TAYLOR
5241 MAPLE AVENUE
SAINT LOUIS, missouri
January 25, 1943
THE FALLS
AMERICAN OR EUROPEAN PLAN
The Prospect House
NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK
rs
request for w copy.
advance for your kind
Thanking you in
consideration, 1 remain
very sincerely yours,
ns
L.D.Harter
the Prospect House,
n ingara Falls
new york.
6
Mr Namett
MRS. EVERETT TAYLOR
5241 MAPLE AVENUE
SAINT LOUIS, missouri
January 25, 1943
Mr. Franklin D. Roosevelt, President, Cuhs 1/17/43 mins
7542
United States of America,
White House, Washington, D. C,
pr7,
Dear Mr. Roosevelt:
7542
I am writing to ask permission to use the
following quotation from your message read at the
forty-second annual banquet of the American Bookseliers
Association, which appeared in the St. Louis Globe
Democrat Sunday, January 25, 1943: 41
"We all know that books burn, yet we have the
greater knowledge that books cannot be killed by
fire. No man and no force can abolish memory.
No man and no force can put thought in a con-
centration camp forever. No man and no force can
take from the world the books that embody man's
eternal flight against tyranny of every kind---In
this war, we know, books are weapons. And it is
part of your dedication always to make them weapons
for man's freedom."
As chairman of the literature department
of the Eighth District of the Missouri Federation of
Women' S clubs I have been asked to make a radio talk
on Literature in National Defense. Thank you.
Sincerely,
audrey a. Taylor
Mrs. Everett Taylor,
5241 Maple Avenue,
St. Louis, Missouri.
wdh-mms
3
January 27, 1943
Dear Mrs. Taylor:
This is in acknowledgment of your
letter of January twenty-fifth, addressed to
the President. I am glad to inform you that
there is no objection whatever to your proposed
use of the message which the President sent to
the American Booksellers Association. The cour-
tesy of your inquiry is deeply appreciated.
Very sincerely yours,
STEPHEN EARLY
Secretary to the President
Mrs. Everett Taylor,
5241 Maple Avenue,
St. Louis, Missouri.
wdh-mms
3
May 7, 1943
Pit
7542
Dear Mr. Unger:
This is in acknowledgment of your
letter of May fourth, addressed to the Presi-
dent. The quotation in which you are in-
terested is from a statement made by the
President under date of April 23, 1942, to
#
the American Booksellers Association. I am
enclosing a copy of the statement herewith.
As this statement was given wide publicity at
the time, there is no objection to your use
X pet 1-D
of the quotation, provided you identify it as
to the time and circumstance of utterance.
Permit me to assure you that the cour-
tesy of your inquiry is deeply appreciated.
Very sincerely yours,
STEPHEN EARLY
Secretary to the President
X
Mr. Albert Unger,
Albert Unger Publishing Company,
55 West 42nd Street,
New York, N. Y.
Enclosure.
wdh-mms
ALBERT UNGER PUBLISHING COMPANY
achgd. 5/7/43 mmd
FIFTY-FIVE WEST FORTY-SECOND STREET
NEW YORK CITY
Phone: WIsconsin 7-4896
THE WHITE HOUSE
May 4, 1943
MAY 6 9 19 AM '43
RECEIVED
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Washington, D.C.
Mr. President:
Several months ago in one of your speeches you spoke
about the book-burning by the Nazis and said: "Books cannot be killed
by fire".
I am a small publisher from Europe and have intentions
of publishing a book in the near future regarding the books that were
burned by the Nazis.
Contributing authors of this book will be such famous
writers as Thomas Mann, Franz Werfel, Emil Ludwig and many others.
I wish to give this book the above title "Books Cannot
Be Killed by Fire" and take the liberty to ask for your permi ssion
to use this, and print the fact that you coined this phrase.
I shall be most happy to hear from you.
Very respectfully yours,
Albert Unger.
plt
7542
March 18, 1944
Dear Mr. Hellberg:
This acknowledges your letter of March
ninth requesting a copy of the President's message
of April 23, 1942 to the American Booksellers
Association.
For your information, letters of this
nature never are given to the press by the White
House. Their release is left to the discretion
of the person to whom they are sent.
In an effort to be of some help to you
I am glad to give you the address of the American
Booksellers Association as shown in our files:
35 East 20th Street, New York, N. Y.
Very sincerely yours,
STEPHEN EARLY
Secretary to the President
X
Mr. Hildur C. Hellberg,
Director of Dietetics,
University of Illinois,
1853 West Polk Street,
X
Chicago, Illinois.
mtl
plt
7542
March 18, 1944
Dear Mr. Hellberg:
This acknowledges your letter of March
ninth requesting a. copy of the President's message
of April 23, 1942 to the American Booksellers
Association.
For your information, letters of this
nature never are given to the press by the White
House. Their release is left to the discretion
of the person to whom they are sent.
In an effort to be of some help to you
I am glad to give you the address of the American
Booksellers Association as shown in our files:
35 East 20th Street, New York, N. Y.
Very sincerely yours,
STEPHEN EARLY
Secretary to the President
X
Mr. Hildur C. Hellberg,
Director of Dietetics,
University of Illinois,
1853 West Polk Street,
X
Chicago, Illinois.
mtl
ack,
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
1853 WEST POLK STREET
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
3-18-94 44
mt
research AND EDUCATIONAL HOSPITALS
DEPARTMENT OF dietetics
March 9, 1944
Mr. Stephen Early
Secretary to the President
The White House
Washington, D. C.
Dear Mr. Early:
I would like to request a copy of
Mr. Roosevelt's letter to the American Booksellers
Association written April 23, 1942. I wish to have
this letter because it is the only written word I
have read which expressed to me the true beauty and
value of books.
Thank you very much for this favor.
Very sincerely yours,
Hildur C. Hellberg
Director of Dietetics
HCH:asm
=
Hay 2, 1944
PPF
75tv
My dear Mr. Bowman:
Your letter of April twenty-sighth
will be made available to the President when
he returns to Washington. Meanwhile, I want
to thank you, on his behalf, for your courtesy
in letting us see the enclosed placard.
Very sincerely yours,
WILLIAM D. HASSETT
Secretary to the President
B
J. Julian Bowman, Esq.,
Faculty Literary Club,
P. 0. Box 627,
Cincinnati 1,
Ohio.
leose could & hong Ct
[ERAR]
that Jon countery m
P.
CINCINI
Phon
gaing to su
HAMMOND ST.
1 28, 1944
Washington, D.C.
Dear Mr. President:
ame
The quotation from your inspiring message to the bo
of America is beginning to appear in bookstore wind
over America, also on hundreds of college bulletin
The writer has undertaken to have placards bearing
I rinted and mailed out
FACULTY LITERARY CLUB
MEMBERS:
P.O. BOX 627
Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce
CINCINNATI 1, OHIO
Cincinnati Real Estate Board
Phone MAin 0770
BOOK
CLUB BUILDING 321-323 HAMMOND ST.
PUBLISHERS &
DISTRIBUTORS
April 28, 1944
ackd,
President of the United States
6/2/44 pg
White House
Washington, D.C.
american
Dear Mr. President:
# feled assn 754
The quotation from your inspiring message to the booksellers
of America is beginning to appear in bookstore windows all
over America, also on hundreds of college bulletin boards.
The writer has undertaken to have placards bearing your message,
similar to the one enclosed, printed and mailed out, and trusts
that through this medium, your timeless words will become known
to all Americans.
I expect to follow up later with a distribution to all public
libraries, high schools, and newspaper offices.
Sincerely yours,
(1encl)
JJB:bm
J. Julian Bowman.
No MAN and no force can take from
the world the books that embody man's
eternal fight against tyranny of every kind.
In this war, we know, books are weapons. And
it is a part of your dedication always to make
them weapons for man's freedom."
Franklin D. Roosevelt
PPF 7542
Compliments of Faculty Literary Club, Publishers J. Julian Bowman, Treas., Cincinnati, Ohio
Sec. 562 P. L.&R.
Annostant
U. S. POSTAGE
PAID
Cincinnati, Ohio
Permit No. 1294
fromesident
To
FOR YOUR
BULLETIN BOARD
OR SHOW-WINDOW
FACULTY LITERARY club
PUBLISHERS
CINCINNATI, OHIO
Frank L. Magel, President,
American Booksellers Association,
New York, N. Y.
November 28, 1933. Telegram to President, Warm Springs.
States hundreds of booksellers are confronted with bank-
ruptcy and resulting unemployment unless immediate steps are
taken to eliminate predatory price cutting on books by De-
partment stores. Present retail code makes possible selling
price same as invoiced cost price. Price maintenance clause
or some equivalent is essential if small booksellers are to
continue in business. Asks immediate help so that Christmas
business will not be stolen from them by operation of retail
code designed to help small enterprise, but actually operating
to eliminate small enterprise.
Referred to National Recovery Administration, 11/29/33.
PPF
7542
ATTORNEY GENERAL, The
Sept. 19, 1936.
Mr. McIntyre referred to him for advise as to reply, letter which he received on
Sept. 17, 1936 from Crichton Clarke, New York, N. Y., stating that he is enclosing
brief filed by the American Booksellers' Association as amious curiae in the case
of Kunsman V. Max Factor & Co., now pending in the United States Supreme Court,
which brief concerns the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. - The Attorney General wrote Mr.
McIntyre re this case on Sept. 23, and embodied suggested reply, and in accordance
therewith, Mr. McIntyre wrote Mr. Clarke that he appreciates his courtesy in
sending him copy of this brief, and stating that same has been brought to attention
of the Department of Justice, which has noted its contents with a great deal of
interest.
SEE - 277
PPF
7542
KERR, Mrs. Florence
Ass't. Commissioner, Work Projects Administration
P.P.F.
9-22-41
7542
Wrote to Mrs. Roosevelt asking that she consider requesting the President to write
a letter in connection with "American Guide Book Week", Nov. 10-16, 1941, colebrating
the publication of the last of the State Guide Books (Oklahoma). Enclosed suggested
draft of letter addressed to Mr. Karl Placht, President, American Booksellers' Ass'n.
and Honorary Chairman of Publishers' Committee for AMERICAN GUIDE WEEK, NYC. (not used).
- The President wrote B. letter addressed to Mrs. Kerr on 9-30-41, commending the
splendidly written and illustrated series of books about the United States. He said
in parts "It is a tribute to American energy and resourcefulness that the WPA Writers'
Program, with the aid of private citizens and public bodies, and the use of the skills
of unemployed writers and research workers, could have planned and brought to early
completion a guide to each-state, principal city, and major region, including the far-
flung territories of Alaska and Puerto Rico". The President said several volumes
of the American Guide Series are smong the books in the White House library and the
Hyde Park Library. He urged the American reading public to take advantage of AMERICAN
GUIDE WEEK to refresh their knowledge of their own land.
See 444-C
mp
MACLEISH, Archibald
Washington, D. C.
May 12, 1942
Memorandum to 112% Early, enclosing copy of resolution
adopted by the AMERICAN BOOKSELLERS ASSOCIATION, which they asks to be communicated
to the President. The resolution wherein they pledge their best endeavor to secure
100% enrollment in the purchase of Was Bonds.
SEE - 4408 - Miscellaneous
"VEI"
PP7-7542
ZIEGLER, Jesse A.
Ziegler's Book Shelf
Houston, Texas,
7542
Nov. 4, 1943.
Writes the President saying he received a copy of the President's message to book-
sellers, delivered at the 42 Annual banquet of the Association in New York in May
1942. (filed PPF 7542). Thinks this was wonderful and he had it mimeographed and
sent it to all his clients and friends. States he has been instrumental in getting
small libraries donated to the liberty ships launched in Houston. Now he is working
on a real library for the U.S.S. SAN JACINTO, Aircraft earrier. The writer is 87 years
old and is going to undergo an operation that date. Hopes the President approves of his
efforts Mr. McIntyre, Nov. 10, wrote to Mr. Ziegler thanking him on behalf of the
President for his letter. Mr. McIntyre said all that Mr. Ziegler had to say about the
work he was doing in furnishing boys in the armed services with interesting reading
material has been noted with appreciative interest. Mr. McIntyre extended the President's
best wishes that his health will rapidly improve after the operation and that he will en-
joy many more birthday anniversaries.
SEE P.P.F. 8048
AS
P.P.F.
73-42
BOWMAN, J. Julian -Treas.
PPF
Faculty Literary Club
Cincinnati, Ohio
Jan. 11, 1944. Ackd. 1/13/44
7542
Let. to the President embodying quotation made by the President and asking
if it is accurate; asks permission to reprint it in "Dictionary of Thoughts".
In ack. STE says quotation is accurate and he may include it in his book because
it has previously been given to the public. Quotation is from message which the
Pres. sent to the American Booksellers Association on April 23, 1942. Copy sent
with ack.
SEE: PPF-1-D
iok