Archer M. Huntington

Archer Milton Huntington (March 10 1870 – December 11 1955) was the son of Arabella (née Duval) Huntington and the stepson of railroad magnate and industrialist Collis P. Huntington.

A lifelong friend of the arts, he is best known for his scholarly works in the field of Hispanic Studies and for founding The Hispanic Society of America in New York City. He was also a major benefactor of the American Academy of Arts and Letters (also in New York). In 1932, he became the founder of the Mariners' Museum, one of the largest maritime museums in the world, in Newport News, Virginia, a new independent city established in the late 19th century largely though the efforts of his stepfather.

Marriage

Archer Huntington married sculptor Anna Hyatt whose large scale sculptures adorn Audubon Terrace at the Hispanic Society of America in New York City in 1904.

Hispanic studies

Huntington is best known for his scholarly works in the field of Hispanic Studies and for founding The Hispanic Society of America in New York City. The society, founded in 1904, is a museum and rare books library whose collections of Hispanic materials are unrivaled outside of Spain.

Philanthropy

In 1915, Huntington donated land on which the American Academy of Arts and Letters could construct a permanent New York City home. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9E0CE2DB1538E633A25756C2A9679C946496D6CF "Huntington Gives Site for Academy; Men of Arts and Letters to Erect Building Near Riverside Drive and 155th St. Next to Hispanic Museum; National Institute and American Academy Accept Offer of Eight City Lots for Site,"] "New York Times." January 25, 1915.]

In 1932, Huntington founded the Mariners' Museum in Newport News, Virginia, one of the largest maritime museums in the world. In that same year, he donated land and help to create Brookgreen Gardens in South Carolina, a public garden and park in which to display the works of American sculptors. A portion of Brookgreen Gardens is leased to the state and makes up Huntington Beach State Park.

In 1936, Huntington created an endowment which established an annual stipend for a Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress, now officially the Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress. In 2006, this stipend amounted to $40,000 per year, including a $35,000 salary and $5,000 in travel expenses. [ [http://www.loc.gov/today/pr/2006/06-131.html Poet Larureate stipend] ]

Notes

External links

* [http://library.syr.edu/digital/guides/h/huntington_am.htm Archer Milton Huntington papers] at Syracuse University Special Collections Research Center]
* American Numismatic Society: [http://www.amnumsoc.org/archives/HuntingtonBio.htm Huntington bio notes)]
* Hispanic Society: [http://www.hispanicsociety.org/hispanic/soulofSpain.htm Huntington bio notes]