William Mitchell Kendall (February 13, 1856 – August 8, 1941)
William Mitchell Kendall was the grandson of William and Lydia Coleman Mitchell. Born the only child of Phebe Mitchell Kendall and her husband, Joshua, in Jamaica Plain, MA, “Willie” as he was called, would go on to make quite a name for himself. Whether you realize it or not, he left an impression on the built landscape, particularly in the northeast. With a degree from Harvard and further graduate studies at MIT, he joined one of America’s leading architectural firms – McKim, Mead, and White in 1882 – when he was hired as the head of the design office. This put all designs at the firm under his guidance.
In 1906, he became a partner, working closely with Charles Follen McKim who was murdered in 1909. Kendall then took White’s place in the firm. He is said to have brought a softness to some of McKim’s more severe architectural designs and carried on his mentor’s beliefs throughout his work at McKim, Mead and White which he did until his own death in 1941. He and his wife would have no children but surrounded by nieces, nephews, and their children, he may have played a similar role to his beloved Aunt Maria. He left many Mitchell family pieces to the MMA in his estate.
JNLF
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