TLS signed “Hugo L. Black,” one page, 5.75 x 9, Supreme Court of the United States letterhead, March 31, 1966. Letter to Hugh J. Kelly, in part: “My suggestion is that you can best understand the Court’s holding that the political agencies of New York could not write prayers to be used in the State’s public schools if you read the Court’s opinion which I wrote in Engel v. Vitale, volume 370 United States Reports at page 421. I am sure you can find the opinion in your public library but if not you can certainly get it at some lawyer friend’s office. You can also find wise words about prayer in that part of Christ’s sermon on the mountain appearing in Chapter 6 of the Book of St. Matthew.” Three words are emended with white-out. In fine condition. Black delivered the opinion for Engel v. Vitale in 1962, expressing the Court’s ruling that it is unconstitutional for state officials to compose an official prayer for recitation in public schools. Letters from Black are quite scarce, especially mentioning this landmark case and pointing the recipient to an additional Biblical passage. Pre-certified PSA/DNA.
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