Archer Milton Huntington (March 10 1870 – December 11 1955)
was the stepson of railroad magnate, Collis P. Huntington. Archer 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. He also founded the Mariners' Museum in Newport News, Virginia. It is one of the largest and finest maritime museums in the world.
Huntington married sculptor Anna Hyatt whose large scale sculptures adorn Audubon Terrace at the Hispanic Society. Huntington also founded Brookgreen Gardens in South Carolina to display the works of Anna and dozens of other American sculptors. A portion of Brookgreen Gardens is leased to the state and makes up Huntington Beach State Park. In 1936, Huntington donated 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. This stipend amounts to $40,000 per year, including a $35,000 salary and $5,000 in travel expenses.
Birth Controversy
There is some confusion over whether Archer Huntington was born of his mother's first husband or out of wedlock during his mother's 15 year affair with Collis P. Huntington. Archer, himself, maintained that Collis was his biological father.
References
- Archer M. Huntington (1870-1955). Retrieved July 21 2005.
- Archer Milton Huntington. Retrieved August 27 2006.
- [1]. Retrieved February 15 2007
