MacNeil’s Bust of John Stewart Kennedy ~ 100 Years Ago ~ THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

 A BRIEF NOTE from the Webmaster: 

“We did not discover this bust by Hermon A. MacNeil until 2020, 100 YEARS after this sculpture was installed in its niche at New York Public Library. 
Here’s the story we found!”

IN 1920 THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY Bulletin reported the following story and photos:

“The John Stewart Kennedy Memorial was completed and the bust of Mr. Kennedy by H. A. MacNeil, the sculptor, was installed in the niche prepared for it in the Fifth Avenue entrance lobby. Mr. Kennedy was formerly the President of the Lenox Library, and upon the consolidation became a Trustee and Second Vice-President of The New York Public Library, in which capacities he continued to serve until his death in 1909. He took an active part in the negotiations, which resulted in the consolidation, and the deep interest, which he displayed in the development of the Library and his liberal benefactions to it will be ever remembered.”  [SOURCE: Bulletin of the New York Public Library, Volume 24: January to December 1920, New York, 1920] 

1920 New York Public Library. The John Stewart Kennedy Memorial was completed and the bust of Mr. Kennedy by H. A. MacNeil, the sculptor, was installed in the niche prepared for it in the Fifth Avenue entrance lobby.

Kennedy was a Scottish-born American businessman, financier and philanthropist. At the time of his death his will gave away $30,000,000 to various , universities, libraries, museums, Presbyterian missions, around the city and globe, including $2,500,000 to the New York Public Library.  [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Stewart_Kennedy]

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