First, Kenneth, [Chicago, Privately Printed, 1919]. Posthumously published letters home, written by Archibald MacLeish's brother Kenneth during World War I and compiled by their mother, Martha MacLeish. Together with biographies of each of MacLeish's parents: Andrew MacLeish, 1838-1928 [Chicago: Privately Printed, 1929] and Martha Hillard MacLeish, 1856-1947 [(n.p.): Privately Printed, 1949]. Archibald wrote the foreword to the latter volume. The biography of Andrew has a gift inscription. All three volumes are at least very good, without dust jackets, as issued. Kenneth bears the ownership name of Ruth Shackford [?]. Kenneth was assembled by Martha as a tribute to her son who was a pilot attached to the RAF and killed in the war. Kenneth was shot down in 1918 and was listed as missing for several months before his plane and body were found. Included here is a full page letter from Kenneth from Paris, written in December 1917, preparing his family for the eventuality of his death: "It isn't a question of when we die. It's how....Don't pray that I'll never be in danger. Pray that I'll meet it as your son should." The letter is tucked inside a studio folder with a photograph of Norman MacLeish, brother of Kenneth and Archibald. Also included is a four page letter from the American Red Cross to Norman detailing the attempts to locate Kenneth during the four month period between October 1918 and February 1919. Also included is a 1920 letter from Josephus Daniels, Secretary of the Navy, written in response to having received a copy of the book, Kenneth. It ends with the sentiment: "I was happy to name one of our destroyers after him. It is a name that will live." Laid into the copy of Kenneth included here is the announcement of the naming of the MacLeish. The biographies of Andrew and Martha were also privately printed, for family members and friends of the family. The MacLeishes were one of the wealthy, educated, elite American families at the turn of the century and through the first half of the 20th century. Andrew was a co-founder, with John D. Rockefeller, of the University of Chicago. All of these items are from the estate of Norman MacLeish, Archibald's brother. [#028949] SOLD