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Philip Matthew Monahan papers relating to Gotham Book Mart career
Notifications
Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us] 3420 Walnut Street, 6th Floor (Monday-Friday, 10 am to 4:30 pm), Philadelphia, PA 19104-6206
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
Philip Matthew Monahan (1946-1990) 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.
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.
Gift of Heather Maki/Estate of Katherine Keskey, 2025.
Organization
Subject
Place
- Publisher
- University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts
- Finding Aid Author
- Madeleine Schirber
- Finding Aid Date
- 2026 April 24
- Access Restrictions
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The bulk of this collection is open for research use; however, use of the original audio cassette in Box 1, Folder 6 is restricted. If the original does not already have a copy, it may be sent to an outside vendor for copying. Patrons are financially responsible for the cost. The turnaround time from the time of request to delivery of digital items will depend on the nature of the material and is subject to review for condition. Please contact the Kislak Center (kislak@upenn.edu) for cost estimates and ordering. Researchers should be aware of specifics of copyright law and act accordingly.
- Use Restrictions
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Copyright restrictions may exist. For most library holdings, the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania do not hold copyright. It is the responsibility of the requester to seek permission from the holder of the copyright to reproduce material from the Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts.