This article's lead sectionmay be too short to adequately summarize the key points. Please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of all important aspects of the article.(September 2021)
John Holmes Jenkins III (1940–April 16, 1989) was an American historian,[1] antiquarian bookseller, publisher, and poker player.[2]
Jenkins published his first book Recollections of Early Texas History the year he graduated from high school. He went on to become a well-known dealer in antiquarian books and documents, primarily of Texas history. Unlike many booksellers, he read much of what he bought and sold, resulting in his ten-volume Papers of the Texas Revolution. His Jenkins Publishing Company, including the Pemberton Press for trade publishing and the San Felipe Press for private publishing, produced more than 300 titles.[3]
In 1971, Jenkins was instrumental in helping the FBI recover an extremely valuable portfolio of original colored engravings, John James Audubon's Birds of America, stolen from Union College in Schenectady, New York. Jenkins's accounts of this experience, the purchase of the Eberstadt collection, and other lively reminiscences appear in his book Audubon and Other Capers, published in 1976. That same year, he received an honorary doctor of letters degree from Union College for his role in recovering the Audubon portfolio, as well as for his contributions to historical scholarship and the book trade. In 1980, Jenkins was elected president of the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America. In this capacity, he worked as principal organizer of a national system for identifying and publicizing the theft or loss of rare books and other valuable materials from libraries, booksellers, and private collections, and for seeing that the thieves are arrested and prosecuted.
Jenkins became a champion poker player in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he was known as "Austin Squatty" because of his habit of sitting cross-legged. He finished in 7th place at the 1983 World Series of Poker main event, earning $21,600, and two months before his death he won first place in Las Vegas at Amarillo Slim's No Limit Hold-em, earning $99,050.
Death
Jenkins was killed on April 16, 1989, by a shot to the back of his head, near Bastrop, Texas,[4] while doing field research as part of his work on a biography of Edward Burleson, which was published posthumously, coauthored and completed by Kenneth Kesselus, a Texas historian and first cousin of Jenkins.[2] Although shot in the back of the head, the sheriff declared it a suicide, claiming he somehow disposed of the gun which was never found.
Calvin Trillin, "Knowing Johnny Jenkins" from New Yorker October 1989
Stanford University Libraries
Texas Observer
Center for American History, University of Texas
John Jenkins 'Austin Squatty' Tournament Results
January 04, 2023
john, holmes, jenkins, this, article, lead, section, short, adequately, summarize, points, please, consider, expanding, lead, provide, accessible, overview, important, aspects, article, september, 2021, 1940, april, 1989, american, historian, antiquarian, book. This article s lead section may be too short to adequately summarize the key points Please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of all important aspects of the article September 2021 John Holmes Jenkins III 1940 April 16 1989 was an American historian 1 antiquarian bookseller publisher and poker player 2 Contents 1 Career 2 Death 3 See also 4 References 5 Sources 6 External linksCareer EditJenkins published his first book Recollections of Early Texas History the year he graduated from high school He went on to become a well known dealer in antiquarian books and documents primarily of Texas history Unlike many booksellers he read much of what he bought and sold resulting in his ten volume Papers of the Texas Revolution His Jenkins Publishing Company including the Pemberton Press for trade publishing and the San Felipe Press for private publishing produced more than 300 titles 3 Jenkins was elected a fellow of the Texas State Historical Association in 1967 In 1971 Jenkins was instrumental in helping the FBI recover an extremely valuable portfolio of original colored engravings John James Audubon s Birds of America stolen from Union College in Schenectady New York Jenkins s accounts of this experience the purchase of the Eberstadt collection and other lively reminiscences appear in his book Audubon and Other Capers published in 1976 That same year he received an honorary doctor of letters degree from Union College for his role in recovering the Audubon portfolio as well as for his contributions to historical scholarship and the book trade In 1980 Jenkins was elected president of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America In this capacity he worked as principal organizer of a national system for identifying and publicizing the theft or loss of rare books and other valuable materials from libraries booksellers and private collections and for seeing that the thieves are arrested and prosecuted Jenkins became a champion poker player in Las Vegas Nevada where he was known as Austin Squatty because of his habit of sitting cross legged He finished in 7th place at the 1983 World Series of Poker main event earning 21 600 and two months before his death he won first place in Las Vegas at Amarillo Slim s No Limit Hold em earning 99 050 Death EditJenkins was killed on April 16 1989 by a shot to the back of his head near Bastrop Texas 4 while doing field research as part of his work on a biography of Edward Burleson which was published posthumously coauthored and completed by Kenneth Kesselus a Texas historian and first cousin of Jenkins 2 Although shot in the back of the head the sheriff declared it a suicide claiming he somehow disposed of the gun which was never found See also EditList of unsolved murdersReferences Edit Conwell Kent June 18 2008 Publisher book seller was proud of Texas roots Beaumont Enterprise Retrieved November 20 2020 a b Parrish T Michael Jenkins John Holmes III Handbook of Texas Online Texas State Historical Association Retrieved March 13 2013 Obituary John H Jenkins Abbey Newsletter hosted by The Western Association for Art Conservation 13 5 September 1989 Retrieved March 13 2013 The Legend of John Holmes Jenkins Texas Monthly February 19 2020 Retrieved November 20 2020 Sources EditAustin American Statesman April 23 1989 Gregory Curtis Forgery Texas Style Texas Monthly March 1989 Dallas Morning News April 18 19 28 1989 John H Jenkins Papers Barker Texas History Center University of Texas at Austin Otho Plummer John H Jenkins Bookseller Texana 3 Fall 1965 External links EditJohn Jenkins from the Handbook of Texas Online Calvin Trillin Knowing Johnny Jenkins from New Yorker October 1989 Antiquarian Bookseller s Association of America Stanford University Libraries Texas Observer Center for American History University of Texas John Jenkins Austin Squatty Tournament Results Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Holmes Jenkins amp oldid 1059389122, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
