A Passion for Books Lost at Sea: Harry Elkins Widener’s Story
He was born on the 3rd of January 1885 in Philadelphia, into a wealthy and well-connected family. He developed a love of books. By the time he attended Harvard, graduating in 1907, he had already begun building what many believed could have become one of the greatest private libraries of his time.
Harry cared about detail, condition, and history. Those who knew him spoke of his enthusiasm and warmth.
In April 1912, he boarded the Titanic at Cherbourg with his parents, returning home. When the ship hit the iceberg on the 14th of April, everything changed. His mother thankfully survived, but Harry, his father, and others that were close to him were tragically lost in the freezing Atlantic. He was only 27 years old at the time.
His mother chose to honour him. In 1915, she funded the Widener Memorial Library at Harvard, this ensured that his love of books would continue to shape future generations.
Do you think legacy is shaped more by what we achieve, or by what others choose to remember about us?
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