Jacob Schiff's letter to John Steward Kennedy
Jacob Henry Schiff (1847–1920)
Letter to John Steward Kennedy
November 15, 1897
This letter from the philanthropist and banker Jacob Henry Schiff to his friend John Stewart Kennedy (1830–1909), a businessman and trustee of the Library, documents Schiff’s pledge to provide funds for the establishment of a Department of Semitic Literature at the Library. It also marks the earliest known mention of a specialized curatorial position that would be responsible for the safeguarding and development of the collection. The letter reveals that Kennedy discussed the matter with Schiff shortly before Schiff made his pledge. As a trustee, Kennedy advocated for the Library’s interests and acted on behalf of John Shaw Billings (1838–1913), the Library’s first director.
: Manuscripts and Archives Division
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