[PDF] Henry Edwards Huntington The Founder And The Library eBook

Author : James Thorpe
Publisher : Univ of California Press
Page : 676 pages
File Size : 18,32 MB
Release : 1994-08-18
Category : History
ISBN : 9780520913660

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A legendary book collector, a connoisseur of fine art, a horticulturist, and a philanthropist, Henry Edwards Huntington is perhaps best known as the founder of the world-renowned Huntington Library, Art Gallery, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, California. James Thorpe's comprehensive biography of Huntington tells the richly human story of the man who became America's greatest book collector and was a leading figure in the development of southern California. Henry Edwards Huntington was born in New York State in 1850. He began working at the age of 17, eventually moved to California, and in later years was hailed for his vision in developing the street railway system that created the structure of the Los Angeles area. Always a lover of books, Huntington acquired many spectacular volumes—among them the complete Gutenberg Bible on vellum and the library of the Earl of Bridgewater. He also built a splendid art collection and established a grand botanical garden on the grounds of the buildings that would house his art and books. Then, in an act of philanthropy seldom equaled, he gave these great treasures to the public. The intimate side of Huntington's life appears in these pages, too. Thorpe has culled a vast trove of private letters, diaries, and other documents that reveal Huntington's exceptional personal qualities. The author's well-rounded biography of this unassuming yet gifted American is also richly evocative of the times in which Henry Edwards Huntington lived.

Author : Selena A. Spurgeon
Publisher : Huntington Library Press
Page : 160 pages
File Size : 19,85 MB
Release : 1992
Category : Antiques & Collectibles
ISBN :

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A refreshing view of the lives of Henry Edwards and Arabella Huntington and the institution they created, drawn from original documents and letters in the Huntington archives. Written by a longtime Huntington docent, the book documents Huntington's business enterprises, including the development of the railroads in Southern California. It also records what we know about Arabella Huntington's mysterious background and first marriage to Collis Huntington. The purchase of the ranch in San Marino, the subsequent development of the library and art collections, and the creation of the gardens are also described. A final chapter, "Arrangements for the Future," provides insight into the way the founder's plans shaped the unique educational and cultural institution of today.