Salmagundi Library Newsletter | Autumn | 2024 | Prominent Salmagundians : past and present
Our Club’s 30th President (1946-47) Henry Michael O’Connor was one of the many widely accomplished men of his generation. Born 1893 at Brookline MA to Irish parents, he graduated from the Massachusetts Normal Art School, Museum of Fine Arts School (Boston both), the Academy of Rome and Académie Julian, Paris. He was student of Joseph Pennell, Joesph de Camp and for two years assistant to Abbot Thayer in Dublin NH.
He was also a boxer, both amateur and professional, piano player to silent movies, circus barker, and crossed the Atlantic on a cattle boat to spend a year studying the glass and porcelain industries in Europe. He began his magazine work during his time in Italy. Returning to the U.S., his career eventually flourished, and he became a prominent portrait painter, illustrator, and art educator.
But this is too dry. Here is O’Connor’s own voice in reply to an invitation to his 50th anniversary reunion of the Massachusetts Normal Art School:
After graduating from MNAS I returned to teach one year. I then went to the Boston Museum School where in 1917 Kaiser Wilhelm was causing a rumpus in Europe and I volunteered the day after war was declared to help win the war on the high seas.
When the war was over I went to live with and be assistant to the noted painter and naturalist Abbott Thayer in Dublin, N.H. I worked in his studio from 8 A.M. until noon when I was free to pursue my own painting between the chores of tilling a vegetable patch and being nursemaid to 100 laying and non-laying hens.
I got the bug to visit Italy after studying Italian with Uncle Abbott and off I went to Europe. However at this time the Republic of Ireland was at war with England. In 1921 the Black and Tans had been sent over to subdue the Irish and I wanted to make sure they didn’t accomplish it. I shipped aboard an English steamer carrying Texas steers heading for Liverpool at which port I was arrested and subsequently deported as a dangerous character, accompanied by two very, very friendly Bobbies. I went to France, thence to Spain, to the Azores, and finally I arrived in Italy where I remained almost 3 years. I entered the American Academy as a special student having been recommended by the only two American Honorary Members, Abbott Thayer and Edwin Blashfield. The restraint was too much and I left school to hotfoot it through the countries that bordered on the Adriatic, Aegean and Mediterranean Seas.
When I finally arrived back in the U.S., I was badly in need of a job and began to teach in the High Schools of New York City. On the side I did illustrations and advertising. “The Story of the Gloucester Fishermen” written by James B. Connelly and illustrated by me won first prize awarded by the recently organized American Institute of Graphic Arts. I illustrated several books after that but soon returned to painting portraits.
At about this time I married a sweet Yankee maiden named Regina Summers, a descendant of the famous English pirate who settled Bermuda and from whom she inherited the ability to tame wild horses and Irishmen, or vice versa. I have remained bridle-broken since 1924. I gave up teaching and traveled. In the meantime I was elected President of the famous old Salmagundi Club of N.Y. and was secretary for 25 years. I also became the President of the Artists Fellowship, a charitable organization, for 12 years.
When World War II broke out I was at sea with the Navy doing some paintings and other assignments on invitation of Pres. Roosevelt. Of recent date I have painted several Admirals and other navy officers, also governors, doctors, business men, etc. The portrait of Pres. Roosevelt which hangs in the Nat’l Democratic Club, N.Y.C. and the portrait of his son James were victims of my brush.
I am now enjoying life as much as I ever did and look forward to greeting old friends on June 8.
The Smith Library was very generously given a set of over 400 items from O’Connor’s life, bought from his estate by Alexander Katlan and Gary Kraidman. In two large white binders, it documents his life and career, beginning naturally enough with his birth certificate. There are photographs, telegrams, letters, letters of recommendation, newspaper clippings and papers from his Navy years.
Also, examples of his newspaper and magazine work, and a lengthy working draft of his time with Thayer. There are substantial portions related to his illustrations in two books : The Book of the Gloucester Fishermen and Navy Men, and letters and documents pertaining to his portrait work, the American Irish Historical Society, and of course The Salmagundi Club.
This Collection, and The Book of the Gloucester Fishermen are on display in the Library for the month of September.