Vincent J. Fontana collection of "thank you" letters
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Creator
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Language of Materials
Abstract
A collection of letters from notable individuals written to Dr. Vincent J. Fontana (1923–2005), longtime medical director of the New York Foundling Hospital, thanking him for services rendered or for sending them one of his books, such as "Somewhere a Child is Crying: Maltreatment—Causes and Prevention." Writers include actor Rosie O'Donnell; philanthropist Brooke Astor; New York City mayors John V. Lindsay and Abraham D. Beame; President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Barbara Bush; and Francis Spellman and Terrence J. Cooke, Cardinals, Archbishops of New York.
Biographical / Historical
An authority on child welfare, and author of such seminal texts as "The Maltreated Child: The Maltreatment Syndrome in Children: A Medical, Legal and Social Guide," Dr. Vincent J. Fontana (1923–2005) was the longtime medical director of the New York Foundling Hospital, and its associated, eponymous Vincent J. Fontana Center for Child Protection. Fontana chaired the Mayor's Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect during the administrations of John V. Lindsay, Abraham D. Beame, and Edward I. Koch. Prior to his pediatric work, he served as personal physician to President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Francis, Cardinal Spellman, Archbishop of New York. [For further information, see "Dr. Vincent Fontana, 81, Voice for Abused Children, Dies," in The New York Times, July 9, 2005.]
Arrangement
The letters are filed alphabetically by the writer's surname. Multiple letters from the same writer are filed chronologically.
Scope and Contents
While some letters in the collection thank Dr. Fontana for medical services rendered, others acknowledge receipt of one or another of his books, such as "Somewhere a Child is Crying: Maltreatment—Causes and Prevention" (1973, 1983), or "Save the Family, Save the Child: What We Can Do To Help Children At Risk" (1991). The following list of notable letter writers reflects Dr. Fontana's wide-reaching correspondence in the pursuit of medicine and child welfare:
Arts & entertainment: Paul Anka (b. 1941), singer; Rita Gam (1926–2016), actor; Polly Holliday (b. 1937), actor; Joseph E. Levine (1905–1987), film producer; Loretta Lynn (1932–2022), singer; Rosie O'Donnell (b. 1962), actor; Harold "Hal" Prince (1928–2019), theater director; Bryan Robertson (1925–2002), English curator and arts manager; Ned Rorem (1923–2022), composer; Maria Jeritza Seery (1887–1982), soprano; Peter Yarrow (b. 1938), singer.
Child welfare & philanthropy: Mrs. Vincent (Brooke) Astor (1902–2007), philanthropist; Eric Brettschneider, now Acting Commissioner for the NYC Administration for Children's Services; Elbridge T. Gerry Jr., New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children; Dr. C. Henry Kempe (1922–1984) pediatrician, first in the medical community to recognize "child abuse"; Sara O'Meara and Yvonne Fedderson, founders, Childhelp USA.
Diplomats: Giovanni Benelli (1921–1982), Substitute for General Affairs, Vatican; Maxwell M. Rabb (1910–2002), U.S. Ambassador to Italy; John A. Volpe (1908–1994), U.S. Ambassador to Italy.
Educators: Joseph T. Cahill (1919–2003), President, St. John's University; Donald J. Harrington (b. 1945), President, St. John's University; John C. Sawhill (1936–2000), President, New York University; Joseph Shenker (1939–2008), President, Bank Street College of Education.
Mayors of New York: Abraham D. Beame (1906–2001); Rudolph W. Giuliani (b. 1944); Edward I. Koch (1924–2013); John V. Lindsay (1921–2000).
Elected officials & political figures: Robert B. Anderson (1910–1989), U.S. Secretary of the Navy, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury; Mario Biaggi (1917–2015), U.S. House of Representatives from New York; Arthur F. Burns (1904–1987), Chairman, Federal Reserve; Barbara Bush (1925–2018), First Lady; Jimmy Carter (b. 1924), U.S. President; John R. Crews (1894–1975), Chairman, Kings County Republican County Committee; Mario M. Cuomo (1932–2015), Governor of New York; Matilda Cuomo (b. 1931), First Lady of New York; John H. Dillon, Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Navy; Thomas K. Duane (b. 1955), New York State Senator; Perry B. Duryea Jr. (1921–2004), New York State Assembly member; Thomas C. Hennings Jr. (1903–1960), U.S. Senate; J. Edgar Hoover (1895–1972), F.B.I. director; Walter F. Mondale (1928–2021), U.S. Vice President; Robert M. Morgenthau (1919–1919), District Attorney, County of New York; Richard Nixon (1913–1994), as former U.S. Vice President; Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (1929–1994), former First Lady; Cesar A. Perales (b. 1940), Commissioner, State of New York Department of Social Services, later New York Secretary of State; Janet Reno (1938–2016), U.S. Attorney General; Nelson A. Rockefeller (1908–1979), Governor of New York, U.S. Vice President; Fred A. Seaton (1909–1974), U.S. Secretary of the Interior; Charles Thomas (1897–1983), U.S. Secretary of the Navy; Ann C. Whitman (1908–1991), Personal Secretary to President Eisenhower.
Religious leaders: Patrick V. Ahern (1919–2011), Auxiliary Bishop of New York; Terrence J. Cooke (1921–1983), Cardinal, Archbishop of New York; John O'Connor (1920–2000), Cardinal, Archbishop of New York; Paul VI, Pope (1897–1978); Francis Spellman (1889–1967), Cardinal, Archbishop of New York.
Subjects
Access Restrictions
This collection is stored offsite. For more information on making arrangements to consult it, please visit www.nyhistory.org/library/visit.
Use Restrictions
Taking images of documents from the library collections for reference purposes by using hand-held cameras and in accordance with the library's photography guidelines is encouraged. As an alternative, patrons may request up to 20 images per day from staff. Application to use images from this collection for publication should be made in writing to: Department of Rights and Reproductions, The New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024-5194, rightsandrepro@nyhistory.org. Phone: (212) 873-3400 ext. 282. Copyrights and other proprietary rights may subsist in individuals and entities other than the New-York Historical Society, in which case the patron is responsible for securing permission from those parties. For fuller information about rights and reproductions from N-YHS visit: www.nyhistory.org/rights-and-reproductions.
Preferred Citation
The collection should be cited as the "Vincent J. Fontana Collection of 'Thank You' Letters, MS 3222, New-York Historical Society."
Location of Materials
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Lee Bobrow (sister of Dr. Fontana), 2016.
About this Guide
Processing Information
Archivist Joseph Ditta arranged and described this collection in June 2023.