Harry Elkins Widener

Harry Elkins Widener was a renowned American book collector and member of the wealthy Widener family of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the son of George Dunton Widener and Eleanor Elkins Widener, and his family was known for their significant contributions to Harvard University, including the Widener Library. Widener's life was marked by his passion for book collecting, which was influenced by his family's love for literature and rare books. He was also a close friend of Theodore Roosevelt and J.P. Morgan, and his collection included works by William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, and Jane Austen.

● Early life and education

Widener was born on January 3, 1885, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to a family of wealthy industrialists and philanthropists. He was educated at Harvard University, where he developed a strong interest in literature and book collecting. During his time at Harvard University, Widener was heavily influenced by Charles Eliot Norton and George Lyman Kittredge, who were both prominent scholars and professors at the university. Widener's love for rare books was also encouraged by his family, particularly his mother, Eleanor Elkins Widener, who was a close friend of Isabella Stewart Gardner and Henry James.

● Career

Widener's career as a book collector was marked by his acquisition of rare and valuable literary works, including first editions of Don Quixote and Pride and Prejudice. He was a member of the Grolier Club and the Bibliophile Society of Boston, and his collection included works by William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and Lord Byron. Widener's collection was also notable for its inclusion of manuscripts and letters by famous authors, such as Nathaniel Hawthorne and Ralph Waldo Emerson. His passion for book collecting was shared by his friends, including John Jacob Astor IV and Benjamin Guggenheim, who were also passengers on the RMS Titanic.

● Personal life

Widener's personal life was marked by his love for travel and adventure. He was a frequent traveler to Europe and Asia, and his journeys often took him to London, Paris, and Rome. Widener was also a close friend of Theodore Roosevelt and J.P. Morgan, and his family was known for their significant contributions to Harvard University, including the Widener Library. Widener's love for literature and book collecting was also shared by his family, particularly his mother, Eleanor Elkins Widener, who was a close friend of Edith Wharton and Henry Adams.

● Death and legacy

Widener's life was tragically cut short when he died in the sinking of the Titanic on April 15, 1912. He was just 27 years old at the time of his death, and his loss was deeply felt by his family and friends, including Theodore Roosevelt and J.P. Morgan. Widener's collection of rare books was later donated to Harvard University, where it formed the basis of the Widener Library. The library, which was established in 1915, is one of the largest and most comprehensive research libraries in the world, with a collection that includes works by Aristotle, Galileo Galilei, and Isaac Newton.

● Memorial

The Widener Library at Harvard University serves as a memorial to Widener's life and legacy. The library, which was designed by Horace Trumbauer, is a grand Beaux-Arts building that features a reading room with a vaulted ceiling and marble columns. The library's collection includes over 3 million volumes, including rare books, manuscripts, and letters by famous authors. The Widener Library is also home to the Harry Elkins Widener Collection, which includes many of the rare books and manuscripts that Widener collected during his lifetime. The library is a testament to Widener's love for literature and book collecting, and it continues to be an important research center for scholars and students from around the world, including those from Oxford University, Cambridge University, and Yale University. Category:American book collectors