DescriptionLetter sent to Reverend William A. Holmes of Northaven Methodist Church in Dallas from George E. Stringfellow of East Orange, New Jersey.
Letter is type-written on personal letterhead stationary and reads as follows:
"George E. Stringfellow
75 Prospect Street
East Orange, New Jersey
November 27, 1963
Rev. William Holmes
Pastor
Northwood Methodist Church
Dallas, Texas
Dear Doctor Holmes:
I heard what you had to say about Dallas as a city and the people of Dallas as citizens over Walter Cronkite's CBS Network program last night and I read what you had to say in the New York Times today.
I don't think you distinguish yourself by your remarks. I was much more impressed with what the Rabbi and the Negro minister had to say than I was in your tirade. The people of Dallas are good people, there are a few radicals there as elsewhere and we should not judge Dallas by the few hotheads any more than I propose to judge the membership of your church by you - a hothead.
Very truly yours,
George E. Stringfellow (signed)
GES:mc"
Envelope is type-addressed to:
"Rev. William Holmes
Pastor
Northwood Methodist Church
Dallas
TEXAS"
From (printed on back):
"George E. Stringfellow
75 Prospect Street
East Orange, N.J."
Envelope is postmarked: "EAST ORANGE N.J. / NOV 27 / 730 PM / 1963" and stamped with a 5 cent U.S. postage stamp depicting George Washington.
Curatorial Commentary
When I first interviewed Rev. Holmes in March 2007, he was surprised to hear that there was still historical interest in his controversial sermon from the weekend of the Kennedy assassination. He and his wife soon decided to donate to the Museum the collection of more than 450 letters and cards that they received from around the world after excerpts of the sermon were broadcast on CBS.
Although several letters were critical of Holmes, the vast majority supported his beliefs as expressed in the sermon. Holmes was most proud of the letter he received from Christian philosopher Paul Tillich (1886-1965), while his children were thrilled with the letter from actor Hugh Brannum (1910-87), who played "Mr. Green Jeans" on the children's program "Captain Kangaroo." - Stephen Fagin, Associate Curator
