Ridgely Hunt
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Ridgely Hunt Jr. (1887–1933) was a publishing executive and professor. After a 10-year career in the book distribution and publishing industries, Hunt served as librarian of the
Yale University Library The Yale University Library is the library system of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. Originating in 1701 with the gift of several dozen books to a new “Collegiate School," the library's collection now contains approximately 14.9 m ...
in
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. He was a grandson of William H. Hunt, the
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during the Garfield Presidential Administration. Hunt was also a nephew of William Henry Hunt, who served as territorial
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and as a
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on the
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.


Early life, education, and military experience

Hunt was born to Ridgely Hunt Sr. and Virginia DeLancy (Kearney) Hunt in Washington, D.C., on September 16, 1887. After graduating from
Morristown School Morristown may refer to: Places Canada * Morristown, Kings County, Nova Scotia * Morristown, Antigonish County, Nova Scotia United States * Morristown, Arizona * Morristown, Indiana ** Morristown station (Indiana) *Morristown, Minnesota **Morristo ...
in
Morristown, New Jersey Morristown () is a Town (New Jersey), town in and the county seat of Morris County, New Jersey, Morris County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.
, in 1905, he entered the
U.S. Naval Academy The United States Naval Academy (USNA, Navy, or Annapolis) is a federal service academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It was established on 10 October 1845 during the tenure of George Bancroft as Secretary of the Navy. The Naval Academy is the sec ...
in
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, as a member of the Class of 1909. Hunt later transferred to
Yale University Yale University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701, Yale is the List of Colonial Colleges, third-oldest institution of higher education in the United Stat ...
to complete his undergraduate education. Hunt participated in the
Elizabethan Club The Elizabethan Club is a social club at Yale University named for Queen Elizabeth I and her era. Its profile and members tend toward a literary disposition, and conversation is one of the Club's chief purposes. The Elizabethan Club's collectio ...
, a social club, and the Sachem Club. He graduated from the
Sheffield Scientific School Sheffield Scientific School was founded in 1847 as a school of Yale University, Yale College in New Haven, Connecticut, for instruction in science and engineering. Originally named the Yale Scientific School, it was renamed in 1861 in honor of Jos ...
at Yale in 1914 with a bachelor's degree in philosophy. Between 1914 and 1918, Hunt worked at Parsons Trading Company, a paper company, and he then worked as an export manager for Arnold, Cheney, and Company. In 1918, Hunt enlisted with the 7th New York Infantry. After receiving a transfer to the 107th Infantry Regiment in the 27th Division, he served overseas with the
American Expeditionary Forces The American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) was a formation of the United States Armed Forces on the Western Front (World War I), Western Front during World War I, composed mostly of units from the United States Army, U.S. Army. The AEF was establis ...
in
World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
. Upon earning a commission as a second lieutenant in August 1918, he served with the 101st Infantry of the 81st Division.


Career in the book industry

After receiving his discharge from the
U.S. Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of the United Stat ...
in 1919, Hunt joined Brick Row Book Shop to manage its New York office. He later served as a sales manager for D. Appleton & Company and then Duffield & Company. In 1931, Hunt began serving as librarian of the Linonia and Brothers Library at Yale University. Hunt also held the rank of assistant professor. While working at Yale, he published the book ''Gardener's Friend and Other Pests'' with noted architect
George Shepard Chappell George Shepard Chappell, AIA (January 2, 1877 – November 25, 1946) was an American architect, parodist, journalist (with the magazine '' Vanity Fair'') and author. He is known as the author of numerous books, including a travel series parody p ...
. In 1933, Hunt received a promotion to the position of supervisor of the college libraries at Yale.


Family

Hunt married Julia deForest Cheney in 1915. They had four children together. Hunt's child Nancy (born Ridgely Hunt III) worked as a journalist with ''
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''.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hunt, Ridgely American librarians Yale University faculty United States Naval Academy alumni Yale University alumni 20th-century people from Washington, D.C. 1887 births 1933 deaths Morristown-Beard School alumni