Parker Corning

Corning was born in Albany, New York on January 22, 1874, a son of Erastus Corning (1827–1897) and Mary (Parker) Corning (1845–1899).[1] He attended The Albany Academy and St. Paul's School in Concord, New Hampshire, from which he graduated in 1891.[1] Corning then attended Yale College, from which he graduated in 1895.[1]

Corning was a founder of Albany Felt Company (now Albany International Corporation), which produced felts for industrial uses, including paper machines.[1] The Corning family provided most of the company's founding capital, including cash, wool from sheep raised on the family farm, and the land on which the first factory was built.[2] The company's longtime vice president and treasurer,[1] and its president after 1918, by the time of his death he had overseen Albany Felt's growth into a multi-million dollar enterprise with a worldwide customer base.[2]

In addition to his interests with Albany Felt, Corning was active in several other businesses, including serving on the board of directors of the New York State National Bank and the City Safe Deposit Company, and the board of trustees of the Mechanics and Farmers' Savings Bank.[1] In addition, Corning was a vice president of the Ludlum Steel Company and president of Bishop, Friedman & Bergstrom, a company dealing in scrap iron and steel.[3] Corning was also involved in several civic projects, including serving on the board of trustees of the Albany City Homeopathic Hospital and the Albany Rural Cemetery Association.[1]

Campaign button for Parker Corning for Congress.

Corning was elected as a Democrat to the 68th and to the six succeeding Congresses, and served from March 4, 1923 to January 3, 1937.[4] A member of the prominent House Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee, Corning used his influence to enhance the Port of Albany–Rensselaer and obtain a new federal building in Albany.[5] A longtime friend of Governor Al Smith, during Smith's governorship Corning worked to obtain approval of a new state office building in Albany.[5] When the facility was completed, it was christened the Alfred E. Smith Building.[5] Corning also obtained federal funding for other projects, including the first Dunn Memorial Bridge and the Menands Bridge.[5]

A member of the conservative Albany County party organization controlled by the Corning family and Daniel P. O'Connell, Corning was also notable during his House service as an opponent of Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New Deal.[6] Corning's opposition stemmed partly from loyalty to Smith, whose relationship with Roosevelt soured after Roosevelt became president, and partly because of Corning's more conservative economic outlook.[4][6] He was not a candidate for renomination in 1936, and returned to his business interests.[4]

Corning died in Albany on May 24, 1943, shortly after the death of his wife.[4][7] Corning was buried at Albany Rural Cemetery, Section 31, Lot 2.[7]

Anna Cassin Corning. December 1899 newspaper illustration.

On November 1, 1910, Parker Corning married Mrs. Anne "Anna" Austin Cassin McClure, who had been married to Archibald Jermain McClure before obtaining a divorce.[8] With her first husband, Mrs. Corning was the mother of a son, Barclay Jermain McClure (1900–1966).[9] With her second husband, she was the mother of a daughter, Mary Parker Corning (1912–1984).[3][10]

Anna Cassin was renowned for her physical beauty.[11][12] Archibald McClure, the son of a man who had grown wealthy in the wholesale drug business in Albany, had never met her before he decided to marry her after seeing a magazine photo, and ended a visit to California so he could return to New York and make her acquaintance.[11][12] By 1910, she was a single mother with little money.[2] She was also Catholic, while the Cornings were Episcopal.[2] When Corning proposed, his family tried to persuade him not to follow through.[13] After the wedding, Corning's sister Harriet never spoke to him again.[14]

Corning's grandfathers Erastus Corning and Amasa J. Parker were also U.S. Representatives from New York.[1] His brother Edwin Corning was Lieutenant Governor of New York,[3] and his nephew Erastus Corning 2nd was Mayor of Albany.[4] Another nephew, Edwin Corning Jr., served in the New York State Assembly from 1955 to 1959.[15]

Parker and Anna Corning raised and raced thoroughbred horses.[4] Their best known mounts were Thanksgiving, the winner of the 1938 Travers Stakes,[14] and Attention, who beat Triple Crown winner Whirlaway to place first in the 1941 Arlington Classic.[4]

• United States Congress. "Parker Corning (id: C000785)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Parker Corning at Find a Grave
• Parker Corning at The Political Graveyard