Alexander Hamilton's Great-Nephew Will Be Inducted Into Nutley Hall of Fame

This month, Henry Cuyler Bunner will be inducted into the Nutley Hall of Fame. To celebrate that event, the Nutley Historical Society is presenting "The World of H.C. Bunner: Changing the Tastes of America from New York to Nutley."

Henry Bunner (1855-1896), an internationally known editor of Puck magazine, a star author and poet for Scribner's, and the great-nephew of Alexander Hamilton, lived in Nutley, New Jersey, for the last ten years of his short life.

As editor of the incredibly successful and influential Puck magazine, Bunner shone a light on political corruption while promoting the rights of women and the many immigrants, whom he called "the new Americans," flowing into the country. At the same time, Bunner was a prominent author and poet at the powerful Scribner's Sons publishing house. But his most important influence came from challenging writers to form their literary characters from American models rather than continuing to look to Europe.

Autographed first-edition Bunner books, original copies of Puck, never-before-seen artwork by Puck artists and Bunner family members, hand-written Bunner correspondence and poetry, and many other items explain and celebrate the New York Bunner.

Nutley, New Jersey, where Bunner spent the last ten years of his life was also an exciting place at an exciting time. Bunner moved there shortly after his marriage, and commuted by train to his office in Lower Manhattan. His neighbors were some of Nutley's most influential citizens, including Annie Oakley (America's first female superstar) and Jack Bouvier (Jackie Kennedy's father).

Period photographs, enlarged postcards, and handwritten documents show off Mr. Bunner's neighborhood.

Since Annie Oakley was a close friend of Bunner's, the museum's collection will be presented in that light. New discoveries in the museum's archives have made our Annie Oakley collection one of the most significant in the country.

The exhibit will also have items on display from the general store where Bunner hung out and discussed local politics, including the only phone in town during Bunner's ten years in Nutley.

Bunner joined a growing art colony in Nutley, and the exhibit includes original works by Frank Fowler, who designed murals for the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel; Arthur Hoeber, tonalist painter and NY Times art critic; and Albert Sterner, illustrator for Lifeand Collier's magazines; among others.

At noon on Sunday, November 12, a formal opening will take place on the first floor of the Nutley Museum. Author Linda Selman will present some exciting research on H.C. Bunner, after which the upstairs exhibit will open. Refreshments will be served. The Nutley Museum, housed in a charming 1875 schoolhouse less than 10 miles from Midtown, is located at 65 Church Street, Nutley, NJ, 07110.

The actual Hall of Fame ceremony takes place on Sunday, November 19, at the Nutley Public Library (90 Booth Drive) at 2:00 p.m. While the museum event is free, tickets must be purchased for the Hall of Fame ceremony (973-667-0405).

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