Carl Van Vechten (1880–1964)

Novelist, music and drama critic, photographer, and enthusiast of African-American culture. From an early age, Carl Van Vechten developed an interest in music and theater. His early career included two stints as a music, drama, and modern dance critic for the New York Times. In 1914, Van Vechten married Russian-born American silent-film actress Fania Marinoff. Shortly afterwards, he left his full-time newspaper job, but continued to write, and published several collections of his essays relating to music, ballet, and cats. His first novel, "Peter Whiffle: His Life and Works," was published in 1922. Van Vechten wrote six more novels before changing careers again in 1932 to pursue photography. Most of his photos reflected his love for the theater, ballet and opera, and writing. He was also interested in African-American writers and artists and was a patron of the Harlem Renaissance. He helped to promote such writers as Langston Hughes, Richard Wright, and Wallace Thurman. He was a life-long friend of Gertrude Stein. Upon her death, he was appointed as her literary executor and helped to bring her unpublished writings into print. In 1961, in honor of a lifetime devoted to the development of literature and fine arts, he was named to the National Institute of Arts and Letters. Van Vechten remained active, writing and photographing, up until his death in 1964.