34 em Rhodora [FEBRUARY 
various times during his life he had suffered, compelled him to give 
up this pleasure. 
In 1896 he became a member of the Committee to visit the Gray 
Herbarium. He never faltered in his zeal to work for this institution 
and he contributed very largely to its development. The fine library 
wing was erected solely through his generosity and every undertaking 
of the Herbarium requiring financial support was sure of a liberal 
contribution from the Doctor. Nor were the Gray Herbarium and 
the Botanical Club the sole recipients of his benefactions. Both he 
and Mrs. Kennedy were constant in their support of many public 
and private charities. Few persons were aware during his life of the 
extent of his gifts, for the Doctor was most averse to publicity and 
the consciousness that he had done the right thing was a sufficient 
reward to him. 
Dr. Kennedy’s herbarium was essentially personal. Started in his 
college days, its carefully directed growth was continued until the 
year before his death. It was his daily companion and was kept in 
his spacious study together with his most used books of reference. 
Although he might have purchased sets of rare plants from dealers 
and professional collectors more freely than most amateurs, he rarely 
did so, preferring to build up his collection by his own application, 
thereby gaining personal familiarity with the floras and groups in 
which he was particularly interested. When he subscribed for sets 
it was because he desired to aid some worthy piece of exploration 
rather than he might himself possess the specimens. 
He was careful and painstaking in his methods and his beautifully 
mounted sheets of well made specimens would serve as models of 
their kind. He often ‘lingered long over their identification, but 
having reached his decision wrote the label with businesslike dispatch 
in his clear round hand. 
His moss collection he gave some years before his death to the 
Cryptogamic Herbarium of Harvard University together with many 
valuable works relating to the group. In November, 1917, he gave 
his flowering plants and ferns, amounting to 13,490 sheets, to the 
Gray Herbarium. By far the greater part of his plants were from 
New England. When traveling elsewhere he always observed and 
often collected plants but he made no serious attempt to secure for 
his herbarium plants from beyond the limits of New England and 
adjacent portions of Canada. 
