Lot 123

Harry Truman & Cardinal Spellman Signed Program From St. Patrick's Day Dinner

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Harry Truman & Cardinal Spellman Signed Program From St. Patrick's Day Dinner

Estimate: $600 - $800

Current Bid: $475

(6 Bids)

by University Archives
July 28, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Live Auction
88 Danbury Road
Suite 2A
Wilton, CT, US 06897

Harry Truman
New York, NY, March 17, 1948
Harry Truman & Cardinal Spellman Signed Program From St. Patrick's Day Dinner
Signed Menu/Program

A program created for the 164th Anniversary Dinner of The Society of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick. 8pp, 8" x 10.75", Hotel Astor, New York, NY, March 17, 1948. Signed on the front cover in black fountain pen by two of its most honored guests, Cardinal Francis Spellman ("F. Cardinal Spellman") and President Harry Truman ("Harry S. Truman"). Founded in 1784, the Society remains the oldest and most storied Irish-American fraternal organization in the country. Features publisher's stapled wraps with string-tied spine tassel of green silk. Some light staining and faint creasing present throughout, but otherwise sound. Overall, very good.

Provenance: Charles Hamilton, October 19, 1965.

Though Truman was not himself Irish-American, he was a Democrat, and during the mid-20th century, Irish-Americans were a major voting base of the party in several dozen states. At the time of this dinner (St. Patrick's Day, 1948), Truman was working diligently on the Marshall Plan approved by Congress, and was also campaigning for the November election that year. The fact that he was willing and able to travel to New York during this time is a testament to the cultural and political influence that had been attained by Irish-Americans.

Spellman (1889-1967) was Archbishop of New York, home to millions of Catholics, many of whom were Irish-American. He had become close with then-President Franklin Roosevelt during World War II, and undertook many diplomatic missions to Europe and Africa, where he even managed to help Roosevelt and Pope Pius XII arrange for Rome to be declared an "open city," which preserved it from becoming a military target by the fascists.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 8" x 10.75"
  • Medium: Signed Menu/Program

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