Philip Matthew Monahan papers relating to Gotham Book Mart career, circa 1970s-1990.

Format:

Other

Author/Creator:

Monahan, Philip Matthew, 1946-1990, creator.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Gotham Book Mart.

Book industries and trade.

Literature.

New York (N.Y.)--Social life and customs.

New York (N.Y.).

New York (N.Y.)--Intellectual life.

Genre:

Photographs

negatives (photographic)

Obituaries

Penn Provenance:

Gift of Heather Maki (Estate of Katherine Keskey), 2025.

Physical Description:

1 box ( .4 linear foot)

Arrangement:

Organized into 5 series: I. Photographs of Gotham Book Mart and notable figures; II. Materials by or about Gotham Book Mart's authors and artists; III. Memorial tributes and obituaries; IV. Philip Matthew and Katherine Monahan's wedding at Gotham Book Mart materials; and V. Philip Matthew Monahan's social life materials.

Place of Publication:

circa 1970s-1990.

Biography/History:

Philip Matthew Monahan was born in Hanover, Massachusetts to parents Sylvia Monahan née Press (1912-1995) and Edward T. Monahan (1909-1969). He graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in English Literature, and Columbia University with a Masters in English Literature. In 1973, he joined New York City's iconic bookstore, Gotham Book Mart, where he would spend the next two decades of his career and eventually become director of the rare book department. A specialist in modern literature, he compiled bibliographical studies of authors such as Thomas Pynchon, Basil Bunting and Edward Gorey. In his memorial tribute for Monahan, Brad Morrow describes him as a polymathic, someone who "knew something about everything." A lover of books, Monahan actually celebrated his wedding to Katherine Keskey (1948-2025) at Gotham Book Mart. Monahan was also noted as an excellent pool and billiard player.

Summary:

The collection documents both the career and social life of Philip Matthew Monahan at Gotham Book Mart from the 1970s to Monahan's death in 1990. It primarily includes documentation of Monahan's personal life, such as a collection of photographs from his wedding at Gotham Book Mart as well as memorial tributes from his friends and family. Additionally, the collection features some photographs of and materials by notable literary figures such as celebrated writer Arthur Miller and Frances Steloff, the founder of Gotham Book Mart. The series include: I. Photographs of Gotham Book Mart and notable figures; II. Materials by or about Gotham Book Mart's authors and artists; III. Memorial tributes and obituaries; IV. Philip Matthew and Katherine Monahan's wedding at Gotham Book Mart materials; and V. Philip Matthew Monahan's social life materials. The first three series are arranged chronologically and the last two series are arranged alphabetically by material type.

OCLC:

1608173721