Mitchell Kennerley (August 14, 1878 – February 22, 1950) was an English born American publisher, editor, and gallery owner.

Mitchell Kennerley
man lighting another man's pipe with a match
Christopher Morley and Mitchell Kennerley in 1930
Born(1878-08-14)August 14, 1878
DiedFebruary 22, 1950(1950-02-22) (aged 71)
Known forPublishing
SpouseHelen Rockwell Morley

Life

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Title page of an edition of poetry printed by Mitchell Kennerly in 1910

He was born at Burslem, England.

He was the manager of the New York branch of John Lane, the London publisher, from 1896 to 1900, business manager of the Smart Set in 1900-01, founded in 1901 and was editor and proprietor until 1905 of the Reader magazine.

He married Helen Rockwell Morley. In 1906, he started in the book publishing business. He used typesetter Frederic W. Goudy for his books, and advanced him money to complete one of his first successful fonts, which Goudy named Kennerley Old Style as a dedication.[1]

In 1910, he undertook the publication of The Forum and of The Papyrus (the later for author Michael Monahan). He was a dealer in and published the work of Oscar Wilde and Walt Whitman. In 1913, he was arrested, for sending an "obscene" book through the mail.

In 1912, Kennerley's The Lyric Year One Hundred Poems, gave writer George Sterling 2nd place for his An Ode for the Centenary of the Birth of Robert Browning. This recognition was shared with Bertha Newberry's The Beloved, as they represented California in this anthology.[2][3]

He was president of Anderson Galleries, from 1916 to 1929. In 1937-1938 he co-founded Parke-Bernet Galleries.

Death and legacy

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Kennerley died in New York City at age 71.

His papers are held at the New York Public Library,[4] and Vassar College.[5]

References

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  1. ^ Goudy, Frederic (1946). A Half-Century of Type Design and Typography: 1895-1945, Volume 1. New York: The Typophiles. pp. 77–81, 105. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  2. ^ "George Sterling Captures Prize". Oakland Tribune. Oakland, California. December 6, 1912. Retrieved 2022-07-15.
  3. ^ Earle, Ferdinand (1912). The Lyric Year One Hundred Poems. New York. Retrieved 2022-07-15. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  4. ^ "Mitchell Kennerley Papers" (PDF). New York Public Library. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
  5. ^ "Guide to the Mitchell Kennerley Papers". Vassar College. Retrieved 23 February 2013.

Bibliography

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Bruccoli, Matthew J., The Fortunes of Mitchell Kennerley, Bookman; 1986, Harcourt, Brace Jovanovich ISBN 0-15-132671-1

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  • Shatzkin, Leonard, "Zero Royalty", book review of The Fortunes of Mitchell Kennerley, Bookman, by Matthew J. Bruccoli; The New York Times, December 7, 1986
  • Gross, John, book review of The Fortunes of Mitchell Kennerley, Bookman, by Matthew J. Bruccoli; The New York Times, October 21, 1986