Talk:Harry Elkins Widener

Libraries and the Man

I've impulsively merged Widener Library here without discussion. There's so much overlap between the two, and (certainly for the man, and to a lesser extent for the library) there's so relatively little to say, and their stories are so intertwined, that it just seems to make sense. Everything said about the library gives more honor to the man, too. Of course, in choosing the title of the merged article the man takes precedence over the building. I do sp hope all approve. EEng (talk) 18:08, 18 January 2013 (UTC)

Strong oppose, and reverted. As the centerpiece of the largest university library system in the world, the library is probably more significant than the person it was named after. As the history of Widener Library shows, you've now been reverted by User:Moe Epsilon, User:The Illusive Man, User:87.67.21.139, and myself. Please stop merging without any consensus to do so. —Lowellian (reply) 02:20, 14 February 2013 (UTC)

Snippet moved from Widener Library

Retrieve the cite from there

Harry Widener had belonged to both the Bibliophile Society of Boston and the Grolier Club,

"the most important club of [bibliophiles] in the world. The late J. P. Morgan had sent word ... that he would like Harry made a member. The question of a seconder was waived; it was understood that Mr. Morgan's endorsement of his protégé's qualifica­tions was sufficient." Source: A. Edward Newton (September 1918). "A Remembrance of Harry Elkins Widener". The Atlantic Monthly. Vol. 122. pp. 351–6.

Sources

• https://fiftywordsforsnow.com/ebooks/bookcollecting/ The Amenities of Book-Collecting and Kindred Affections, A. Edward Newton. Contains the Atlantic reminiscence of HEW, also much more, with scattered references to HEW. (Appears to have been a series of Atlantic articles?) Likely (?) the source of the Bacon story.
• https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-57683638 Speculates (somewhat silly) that HEW had this fancy Rubaiyat with him on the Titanic.

Businessman?

What is the basis for describing him as a "businessman"? None of the sources I have seen mention what business he did. As far as I can tell, as the son of a wealthy family, he was supported by his parents and did not actually engage in business. Did he? Or is he characterized as a businessman merely because he would eventually have inherited his parents businesses?Bill (talk) 16:57, 6 August 2023 (UTC)