Source
State Archives of Florida, Series S368
Description
A letter from Kenneth Heale, associate editor of Hardware Age, asking the governor on which date Thanksgiving would be celebrated.
General Note
In 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued a proclamation moving the Thanksgiving holiday from the last Thursday of November to the second to last Thursday of the month to extend the holiday shopping season. The holiday was changed from November 30, the last day of the month, to November 23. Thirty-two states issued similar proclamations, but 16 states refused to make the change. Florida Governor Fred P. Cone decided not to move the date forward and left the holiday on its traditional day. The governor's decision received both praise and opposition, with many wanting to keep with tradition, while others criticized the governor for creating confusion throughout the state. Many Florida organizations chose one date to celebrate the holiday, while others recognized both days as Thanksgiving. The dispute remained unresolved in 1940 and 1941. The issue was finally settled on December 26, 1941, when President Roosevelt signed a joint resolution declaring the fourth Thursday in November as the Federal Thanksgiving Day holiday.
GEORGE H. GRIFFITHS
PRESIDENT
CHARLES J. HEALE
EDITOR
HARDWARE AGE
A Chilton Publication
239 West Thirty Ninth Street
New York
August 8, 1940
Hon. Fred P. Cone,
Governor of Florida
Tallahassee,Florida
Dear Mr. Governor:
The President of the United States has announced that Thursday, November 21, will be proclaimed as Thanksgiving Day, instead of Thursday ,November 28, the last Thursday of the month.
HARDWARE ACE Plans to publish a table showing which states will celebrate Thanksgiving Day on November 21, and which states will name November 28 as Thanksgiving. We will be grateful if you will have someone indicate in the space below which date has been selected, returning this letter to us in the enclosed envolope. If no decision has been made we would appreciate that information.
Thank you in advance for your kind cooperation.
Cordially,
HARDWARE AGE
[signature] Kenneth A. Heale
Associate Editor
Kenneth A. Heale
YE
Florida
Thursday, Nov. 21, will be Thanksgiving Day in this state______
Thursday, Nov. 28, will be Thanksgiving Day in this state______
No decision as to the date of Thanksgiving Day has been made for this state______
A.B.C.-- CHARTER MEMBER--A.B.P. INC.
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