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Creator
Kennedy, Edward G. (Edward Guthrie), 1849-1932
Call number
MssCol 1631
Physical description
1 linear foot (4 v.)
Language
Materials in English
Preferred Citation

Edward Guthrie Kennedy papers, Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library

Repository
Manuscripts and Archives Division
Access to materials
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Edward Guthrie Kennedy (1849-1932) was an American art dealer, collector and connoisseur of books and prints. He began his career as an art dealer in Boston in the late 1860s. A decade later he joined the New York firm of Wunderlich & Company; in the 1890s he became head of the firm and changed the name to Kennedy & Company. Collection consists of letters and sketches sent to Kennedy by James McNeill Whistler and others. Letters, postcards and telegrams from Whistler, 1887-1902, concern the artist's work and social life in London and Paris. Also included are several illustrative sketches in ink and pencil. Remainder of the papers consists of letters to Kennedy from associates, 1910-1918, and copies of letters written by Whistler to persons other than Kennedy.

Biographical/historical information

The art dealer, collector, connoisseur of books and prints, Edward Guthrie Kennedy, was born in Carvagh, Ireland, in 1849 and died in New York in 1932. He began his career as an art dealer in Boston in the late 1860s. A decade later he joined the New York firm of Wunderlich & Company, and met the American artist, James McNeill Whistler. After Wunderlich's death in the 1890s Kennedy became the head of the firm, the name of which he later changed to Kennedy & Company. He retired in 1916. in addition to these papers, which were given to the Library in 1926, Kennedy donated to the Library collections of etchings and engravings and continued his gifts through the 1920s. He also bequeathed to the Library a quarter of the residuary of his estate, the income to be used to purchase prints.

Scope and arrangement

The papers include letters, postcards, and telegrams, 1887-1902, to Kennedy from his friend, James McNeill Whistler (1834-1903) wittily reflecting the artist's working and social life in bohemian London and Paris, and his quarrels and tactical skirmishes with collectors, dealers, and critics, and a couple of illustrative sketches in ink and pencils There also are some, letters to Kennedy written on Whistler's behalf by his wife, Beatrix, and his sister-in-law, Ethel Whibley, a few autograph letters by Whistler, and contemporary copies of other letters by him to persons other than Kennedy. The remainder of the papers consists of letters to Kennedy, 1910-1918, from D.Y. Cameron, Charles Whibley, Robert Jaffray and others.

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

1926, Received from Edward Guthrie

Processing information

Accessioned by Richard Salvato, 1-22-88

Using the collection

Location

Manuscripts and Archives Division
Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street, New York, NY 10018-2788
Brooke Russell Astor Reading Room, Third Floor, Room 328