Origins & Early Life

Lincoln Edward Kirstein (May 4, 1907 – January 5, 1996) was an American writer, impresario, art connoisseur, philanthropist, and cultural figure in New York City, noted especially as co-founder of the New York City Ballet. He developed and sustained the company with his organizing ability and fundraising for more than four decades, serving as the company's general director from 1946 to 1989. According to the New York Times, he was "an expert in many fields", organizing art exhibits and lecture tours in the same years. Kirstein was born in Rochester, New York, to Jewish parents, the son of Rose Stein and Louis E.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Kirstein (1867–1942). His brother was George Kirstein, his sister was Mina Kirstein and his paternal grandparents were Jeanette (née Leiter) and Edward Kirstein, a successful Rochester clothing manufacturer who ran E. Kirstein and Sons, Company. His maternal grandfather was Nathan Stein, a senior executive at the Stein-Bloch & Co., in Rochester. He grew up in a wealthy Bostonian family and attended the private Berkshire School, along with George Platt Lynes, graduating in 1926.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

He then attended Harvard, the alma mater of his father, vice-president of Filene...

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