1945 3c Alfred E. Smith

U.S. #937
3¢ Alfred E. Smith
Issue Date: November 26, 1945
City: New York, NY
Quantity: 308,587,700
Printed by: Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Printing Method: Rotary Press
Perforations: 11 x 10.5
Color: Purple

This stamp was issued in 1945 to honor Alfred E. Smith, a prominent political figure who served four terms as Governor of New York during the 1920s and became the first Catholic candidate nominated for president by a major political party. Smith ran unsuccessfully for the presidency in 1928, losing to Herbert Hoover in an election shaped in part by religious prejudice against his Catholic faith, but his candidacy remains a significant milestone in American political history.

The design features an engraved portrait of Smith shown facing forward, capturing his distinguished appearance in later life. The dates 1873 and 1944 mark the years of his birth and death, situating the stamp as a memorial issue released shortly after his passing.

Beyond his presidential run, Smith was widely respected for his progressive reforms as governor, including efforts to improve labor conditions, expand public housing, and modernize state government. He later became closely associated with the construction of the Empire State Building, serving as president of the company that oversaw the iconic skyscraper after his political career wound down.