David Wolcott Kendall was born in 1851 to a father who was a cabinetmaker in Rochester, New York. David learned the trade and in 1879 he joined the Phoenix Furniture Co., in Grand Rapids, MI, becoming one of the major furniture designers of the era.
His version of the Morris Chair became known as the “McKinley Chair” after President William McKinley selected one for installation in the White House. Kendall was also credited with developing an office chair that revolves and reclines.
He died February 16, 1910, in Mexico City, while on a tour of inspection and study of architecture.
In 1928 his second wife Helen gave the money in his memory to establish Kendall School of Art and Design.
The David Wolcott Kendall Memorial School was housed in the old Kendall homestead at 145 Fountain Street.
Helen Miller Kendall passed away at the home on Fountain Street in 1925.
The monument erected by David W. Kendall, famed furniture designer, in memory of Mrs. Delle Colby Kendall, his first wife, was carved from a huge block of Blue Bedford limestone weighing nineteen tons. The six foot stone is embellished by designs drawn by Kendall and carved by the noted German sculptor Otto Vanselow. The designs on the boulder include nautical ropes, ships, a flag, and references to Mayflower descendants.
*"The Story of Grand Rapids" by Z.Z. Lydens, on page 534.
-A close student of art, he gave every encouragement to the young people of Grand Rapids who were of that turn of mind. In the amateur artists' exhibit, held not long before his death, at the Ryerson public library, he was one of the judges, and many of the young people will cherish the warm words of encouragement which he gave them as they continue to mount the steps of progress in their profession. Fraternally, he was affiliated with Doric Lodge No. 342, F. & A. M., which still possesses a gavel made of olive wood which Mr. Kendall brought from the Holy Land, and Columbian Chapter No. 132, R. A. M. It is a fact that has been sincerely regretted that Mr. Kendall did not live to carry out his intention to write a book on furniture designing and making in the United States, for which he had accumulated much material, and which would no doubt have been a valuable addition to the world's literature on these subjects.
*Ernest Fisher Book.
His version of the Morris Chair became known as the “McKinley Chair” after President William McKinley selected one for installation in the White House. Kendall was also credited with developing an office chair that revolves and reclines.
He died February 16, 1910, in Mexico City, while on a tour of inspection and study of architecture.
In 1928 his second wife Helen gave the money in his memory to establish Kendall School of Art and Design.
The David Wolcott Kendall Memorial School was housed in the old Kendall homestead at 145 Fountain Street.
Helen Miller Kendall passed away at the home on Fountain Street in 1925.
The monument erected by David W. Kendall, famed furniture designer, in memory of Mrs. Delle Colby Kendall, his first wife, was carved from a huge block of Blue Bedford limestone weighing nineteen tons. The six foot stone is embellished by designs drawn by Kendall and carved by the noted German sculptor Otto Vanselow. The designs on the boulder include nautical ropes, ships, a flag, and references to Mayflower descendants.
*"The Story of Grand Rapids" by Z.Z. Lydens, on page 534.
-A close student of art, he gave every encouragement to the young people of Grand Rapids who were of that turn of mind. In the amateur artists' exhibit, held not long before his death, at the Ryerson public library, he was one of the judges, and many of the young people will cherish the warm words of encouragement which he gave them as they continue to mount the steps of progress in their profession. Fraternally, he was affiliated with Doric Lodge No. 342, F. & A. M., which still possesses a gavel made of olive wood which Mr. Kendall brought from the Holy Land, and Columbian Chapter No. 132, R. A. M. It is a fact that has been sincerely regretted that Mr. Kendall did not live to carry out his intention to write a book on furniture designing and making in the United States, for which he had accumulated much material, and which would no doubt have been a valuable addition to the world's literature on these subjects.
*Ernest Fisher Book.
David Wolcott Kendall was born in 1851 to a father who was a cabinetmaker in Rochester, New York. David learned the trade and in 1879 he joined the Phoenix Furniture Co., in Grand Rapids, MI, becoming one of the major furniture designers of the era.
His version of the Morris Chair became known as the “McKinley Chair” after President William McKinley selected one for installation in the White House. Kendall was also credited with developing an office chair that revolves and reclines.
He died February 16, 1910, in Mexico City, while on a tour of inspection and study of architecture.
In 1928 his second wife Helen gave the money in his memory to establish Kendall School of Art and Design.
The David Wolcott Kendall Memorial School was housed in the old Kendall homestead at 145 Fountain Street.
Helen Miller Kendall passed away at the home on Fountain Street in 1925.
The monument erected by David W. Kendall, famed furniture designer, in memory of Mrs. Delle Colby Kendall, his first wife, was carved from a huge block of Blue Bedford limestone weighing nineteen tons. The six foot stone is embellished by designs drawn by Kendall and carved by the noted German sculptor Otto Vanselow. The designs on the boulder include nautical ropes, ships, a flag, and references to Mayflower descendants.
*"The Story of Grand Rapids" by Z.Z. Lydens, on page 534.
-A close student of art, he gave every encouragement to the young people of Grand Rapids who were of that turn of mind. In the amateur artists' exhibit, held not long before his death, at the Ryerson public library, he was one of the judges, and many of the young people will cherish the warm words of encouragement which he gave them as they continue to mount the steps of progress in their profession. Fraternally, he was affiliated with Doric Lodge No. 342, F. & A. M., which still possesses a gavel made of olive wood which Mr. Kendall brought from the Holy Land, and Columbian Chapter No. 132, R. A. M. It is a fact that has been sincerely regretted that Mr. Kendall did not live to carry out his intention to write a book on furniture designing and making in the United States, for which he had accumulated much material, and which would no doubt have been a valuable addition to the world's literature on these subjects.
*Ernest Fisher Book.
His version of the Morris Chair became known as the “McKinley Chair” after President William McKinley selected one for installation in the White House. Kendall was also credited with developing an office chair that revolves and reclines.
He died February 16, 1910, in Mexico City, while on a tour of inspection and study of architecture.
In 1928 his second wife Helen gave the money in his memory to establish Kendall School of Art and Design.
The David Wolcott Kendall Memorial School was housed in the old Kendall homestead at 145 Fountain Street.
Helen Miller Kendall passed away at the home on Fountain Street in 1925.
The monument erected by David W. Kendall, famed furniture designer, in memory of Mrs. Delle Colby Kendall, his first wife, was carved from a huge block of Blue Bedford limestone weighing nineteen tons. The six foot stone is embellished by designs drawn by Kendall and carved by the noted German sculptor Otto Vanselow. The designs on the boulder include nautical ropes, ships, a flag, and references to Mayflower descendants.
*"The Story of Grand Rapids" by Z.Z. Lydens, on page 534.
-A close student of art, he gave every encouragement to the young people of Grand Rapids who were of that turn of mind. In the amateur artists' exhibit, held not long before his death, at the Ryerson public library, he was one of the judges, and many of the young people will cherish the warm words of encouragement which he gave them as they continue to mount the steps of progress in their profession. Fraternally, he was affiliated with Doric Lodge No. 342, F. & A. M., which still possesses a gavel made of olive wood which Mr. Kendall brought from the Holy Land, and Columbian Chapter No. 132, R. A. M. It is a fact that has been sincerely regretted that Mr. Kendall did not live to carry out his intention to write a book on furniture designing and making in the United States, for which he had accumulated much material, and which would no doubt have been a valuable addition to the world's literature on these subjects.
*Ernest Fisher Book.
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