Through a Candid Lens: Henry O. Havemeyer’s Newport

Grace Hennessy investigated the Henry O. Havemeyer Collection as a 2026 Buchanan Burnham Fellow at the Newport Historical Society. Hennessy’s analysis of Havemeyer’s photographs shows how he diverged from photographers of the previous century. Havemeyer used new camera and film technology to capture everyday moments, and in doing so, revealed much about himself and his community. As a wealthy insider, Havemeyer’s photos allow for a literal look at the lives of Newport summer residents in the early twentieth century. Grace Hennessy is a master’s student at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago pursuing a dual degree in Arts Administration & Policy and Modern & Contemporary Art History. She recently graduated from Wellesley College, where she earned a BA in Art History and Middle Eastern Studies. As an emerging scholar and arts professional, Grace is passionate about evaluating American visual material from an interdisciplinary and multicultural lens–pushing against and questioning dominant narratives of knowledge production. She is also interested in projects that prioritize accessibility and using research as a tool to connect institutions with the communities they aim to serve.