Kennedy was born on March 23, 1858. He was appointed domestic prelate to Pope Leo XIII on December 16, 1901. He was professor of theology at Overbrook Seminary in Philadelphia before he was created Prothontary apostolic by Pope Pius X on March 15, 1904; in 1901 he became the Rector of the North American College in Rome, in which position he distinguished himself. He became titular bishop of Adrianopolis on November 30th, 1907, and was promoted to titular Archbishop of Seleucia in Isauria on June 17, 1915. He had a stroke and was ill for two years before he died on August 28, 1917, hoping always that he would get well enough to return to America which was impossible because of the First World War.
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A signed photograph that Kennedy gave to Muller-Ury.
Painted probably in Rome in May 1907. The New York Evening Mail, January 18, 1908 said of this picture: ‘Rather more interesting from an artistic point of view, is the warmly tinted and attractive portrait of Bishop Kennedy.’
Kennedy wrote to the artist from Rome on April 10, 1908 (artist’s papers) saying: ‘My dear friend,/ A letter from home announces the safe arrival of my portrait. They are all enthusiastic about it and declare it a splendid work of art and a most exact likeness. I thank you for your kindness in this matter…’ This would indicate that the portrait was destined for the artist’s two unmarried sisters, Theresa and Margaret Kennedy (and perhaps his half-sister Miss Florence Fisher) all of whom may have lived in Philadelphia.
The editor is grateful to the Rev. Christopher J. Schreck, and Mrs. Lorena A. Boylan of the Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary for their assistance with this entry.
