LOUIS B. MAYER - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 11/16/1939 - HFSID 258830

LOUIS B. MAYER. TLS: "Louis B Mayer" as Member of the So. California Committee, 1p, 8½x11. Los Angeles, California, 1939 November 16. On letterhead of the Southern California Committee for the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library to Mr. Al Lichtman, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Culver City, California. In full: "A plan for the preservation of all official papers of President Roosevelt was recently approved by Congress. The President donated a tract of land at Hyde Park on which the library building will be erected, by private funds, and arranged for additional land there to be given upon the death of his mother. The building is already under construction, and those interested in making these important documents available for public use are given the opportunity of making a voluntary contribution toward the completion of the building. A Non-Partisan Committee has just been organized comprising a number of persons in Southern California who are historically minded and who appreciate the value of having all the presidential papers under one roof for the first time in our history. The enclosed pamphlet [not present] tells an interesting story of presidential papers in the past. Through the generosity of former President Hoover and his friends, the Stanford University has acquired a wonderful collection of documents in the Hoover Library, on 'War, Revolution and Peace'. There will be no drive nor solicitation for funds and therefore we are merely passing on the suggestion to a few whom we think would like to have their names permanently associated with this historical enterprise. A ruling has been obtained from the Commissioner of Internal Revenue that under section 23 (o) and (q), credit may be taken for contribution made to this fund. Checks should be made payable to the Franklin D. Library, Inc., and mailed to the Chairman or Secretary whose addresses appear hereon. A receipt will be sent to you from New York. May we not hear from you soon? Possibly you wild like to suggest other names to us?" Names of officers and committee members imprinted at left and right margins, "The Plan" for the FDR Library imprinted at lower margin. In 1918, LOUIS B. MAYER founded Metro Pictures Corp. and Louis B. Mayer Pictures Corp. In 1925, he merged with Goldwyn Pictures to become Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Mayer, who was a good friend of President Herbert Hoover, had been the first overnight guest at the Hoover White House. Subsequent Presidents, including FDR, recognized the importance that Hollywood had on public perception and courted Hollywood filmmakers and stars. The Franklin D. Roosevelt Library in Hyde Park, New York, the first of the presidential libraries, was funded with $376,000 in private donations such as those solicited in this letter. Built from 1939-1940, its operations were turned over to the federal government on July 4, 1940. AL LICHTMAN had previously been the field manager of the Famous Players and President of Preferred Pictures before coming to M-G-M. Lightly creased. Note in red pencil (unknown hand) and check mark at upper blank area, staple rust stain at upper left corner. Fine condition.