Signed MEMORIAL. Patrick J. KENNEDY, JFK's grandfather

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Signed MEMORIAL. Patrick J. KENNEDY, JFK's grandfather

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Sold Date: 10/05/2007
Channel: Online Auction
Source: eBay
Category: Fraternal, Political, Organizations

This stunning memorial document honors the memory of PATRICKJ. KENNEDY (1858-1929), a Bostonpolitical leader and a successful businessman and saloon keeper--and grandfather of President John F. Kennedy.

The document appears to be entirely drawn, lettered, and painted (watercolor) by hand. It is signed by 8 people (see close-up of signatures):

JOSEPH A. CARY
JOSEPH J. CORBETT
WILLIAM J. DONOVAN
WILLIAM T. FITZGERALD
JOHN F. FITZGERALD (1863-1950, former MAYOR of Boston , known as HONEY FITZ)
FRANCES LALLY
JOHN H. LANE
FLORENCE J. McCARTHY

The document measures 22 ¾ inches long by 16 inches wide. It is made of thick paper and has been mounted with glue onto cardboard. The glue is drying out, however, and the paper is beginning to lift (see picture).

The edge has the remains of glue on the top and t is some foxing (light on the interior, heavy on the left side). (The border foxing would probably disappear under a mat.)

The border decoration has a gold background on which graceful acanthus leaves are painted in ink and colored in green. At the top is a legend on a bluish-gray background. Below that is the name PATRICK J. KENNEDY in gold letters and, below that, the word REQUIESCAT (May He Rest in Peace) with a shamrock design.

Next follows a poem by EDWARD MACHUGH (who, I believe, was the author of a book published in 1938 called "Treasury of Gospel Hymns & Poems.")

is the text:

Legend:

In wholehearted desire to memorialize East Boston's native son, our late loved associate and cherished friend, PATRICK J. KENNEDY, who truly lived for men in emulation of the Gentle Nazarene, whose teachings our deceased comrade unfailingly followed, the signatories, sponsors for the legions of his affectionate fellow citizens, reverently dedicate this tribute in verse to his dear family, whose lives were singularly blessed with abundant happiness, contentment and tranquility, in the shelter of his love and devotion, and that the children, through each succeeding generation, may profit by the lesson of his life of purity and high moral influence. In sorrow and in deepest sympathy we share the grief of his beloved family, the poignant sense of loss at the passing of one of nature's noblemen. And we humbly pray that the pain of parting may be assuaged by tender compassion of the consolatrix afflictorum , and the sublime confidence of the sweet repose of his soul in the home eternal.

Poem:

Great heart and noblest Roman of them all.
In tender fragrant memory we recall
That gentle voice and smiling mein [sic],
Pulsating sympathy so keen,
That those distressed were wont to lean
On Kennedy

Wise counselor in warring factions' strife,
When unity seemed lost and taunts were rife,
His valued word of wisdom calm,
O'erspread the sores in soothing balm,
And disputants walked arm-in-arm
With Kennedy

A husband to the cherished wife endeared,
As father, an exemplar fond revered;
A friend whom multitudes acclaimed,
A courtly gentleman who aimed
At heights of noblest thought attained
By Kennedy

His soul has gone aloft with spreading sail,
The course is steered straight to the Holy Grail;
God rest him, comrade, faithful, true,
Whose heart of gold, possessed by few,
Is stilled to mourning friends who knew
The kindly, gentle P.J. Kennedy

Edward MacHugh