McCrindle, Joseph F. 1923–2008

(Joseph Feder McCrindle)

OBITUARY NOTICE—

See index for CA sketch: Born March 27, 1923, in New York, NY; died July 11, 2008, in New York, NY. Art collector, philanthropist, magazine editor, and anthologist. Born into a wealthy family, McCrindle acquired a taste for the finer things in life, and he surrounded himself with them as long as he lived. His special interest was fine art, and he collected thousands of classical master drawings and other artworks, not as investments but for the pleasure they brought him. He gave away many works as well, distributing them here and there to institutions where he thought his selections would be a good match for existing collections. McCrindle was also a connoisseur of the written word, and when he realized that mainstream publishers were reluctant to publish some of the authors he admired, in 1958 he founded the Transatlantic Review to showcase their work. He edited the review until 1977. Then McCrindle established the Henfield Foundation (now the Joseph F. McCrindle Foundation) to support promising authors, musicians, and others with annual grants. McCrindle's financial legacy rendered a formal career unnecessary, but in addition to his editorial work at the Transatlantic Review, he also worked for various book publishers and as an independent literary agent. McCrindle edited collections of material that he encountered in his pursuit of excellence in the arts. His books include Stories from the "Transatlantic Review" (1970), Behind the Scenes: Theater and Film Interviews from the "Transatlantic Review" (1971), and The Henfield Prize Stories (1992).

OBITUARIES AND OTHER SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

New York Times, July 18, 2008, p. C10.