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

<p>Having already given significant collections to Yale, Edwin and Frederick W. Beinecke—as well as Johanna Weigle, widow of their brother Walter—gave funds to build a dedicated rare books library building. When the Beinecke Library opened on October 14, 1963, it became the home of the volumes from Rare Book Room, and three special collections: the Collection of American Literature, the Collection of Western Americana, and the Collection of German Literature. Shortly afterward, they were joined by the James Marshall and Marie-Louise Osborn Collection.</p>

<p>Beinecke Library became the repository for books in the Yale collection printed anywhere before 1800, books printed in Latin America before 1751, books printed in North America before 1821, newspapers and broadsides printed in the United States before 1851, European tracts and pamphlets printed before 1801, and Slavic, East European, Near and Middle Eastern books through the eighteenth century, as well as special books outside these categories.</p>

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. His glass collection is held by The Corning Museum of Glass.

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<p>Edwin, Frederick, and Walter Beinecke were born in New York City in 1886, 1887, and 1888. They were linked from their earliest years by a deep affection, shared interests, and complementary though different talents and personalities. Together they assumed the leadership of The Sperry and Hutchinson Company in the 1920’s and it grew from a small enterprise to a Fortune 500 company by 1975. The Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, given to Yale University by them and their families in 1963, stands as a symbol of the bond that persisted among them.</p>

<p>Edwin John Beinecke, the oldest of the three brothers, graduated from Phillips Academy and entered Yale College. He left Yale after two years to work with the George A Fuller Construction Company as a timekeeper for the construction of The Plaza Hotel in New York City. For more than fifty years he served as a director, president, chairman of the board, and finally chairman of Sperry and Hutchinson, providing inspired leadership to the growing organization throughout his association with it. He was director until his death in 1970.</p>

<p>Edwin Beinecke was a man of many interests. Over the years, he developed the largest collection of books, manuscripts, and works relating to Robert Louis Stevenson (now at the Beinecke Library) and a magnificent collection of German glass and stoneware (now at the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, New York). At his Greenwich, Connecticut home he created a garden that attracted horticultural enthusiasts from all over the United States. His dedication to Yale was legendary. For years, he was one of the Yale Library Associates, serving as chairman in 1949. He was awarded the Yale Alumni Medal in 1953.</p>