Beinecke, Edwin J. (Edwin John), 1886-1970

Edwin John Beinecke, the oldest of three brothers, graduated from Phillips Academy and entered Yale College. After two years, he left Yale. Edwin and his brothers, Frederick and Walter Beinecke, also Yale alumni, founded the Sperry and Hutchinson Company. For more than fifty years he served as a director, president, chairman of the board, and finally chairman of Sperry and Hutchinson. He was director until his death in 1970.

Beinecke is perhaps best known as a philanthropist and a collector of rare books, manuscripts, and German enameled glass. He and his brother Frederick Beinecke contributed funds for the construction of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale University; Edward also developed a large collection of books, manuscripts, and works relating to Robert Louis Stevenson, which is now at the Beinecke Library. His glass collection is held by The Corning Museum of Glass.