Mitchell Kennerley

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

Mitchell Kennerley
Christopher Morley and Mitchell Kennerley in 1930
Born	(1878-08-14)August 14, 1878 Burslem, England
Died	February 22, 1950(1950-02-22) (aged 71) New York City, US
Known for	Publishing
Spouse	Helen Rockwell Morley

Life

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

Kennerley died in New York City at age 71.

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