Edward Renehan
Encyclopedia
Edward John Renehan, Jr. (born c 1956) is a publisher, consultant and writer, and onetime professional musician. He made headlines in 2008 when he was convicted of document theft
.
and at aged 13 began learning the guitar. He studied blues guitar with the Reverend Gary Davis
in New York as a teenager. By 20, he was playing and recording with folksingers Pete Seeger
and Don McLean
, among others. In his early twenties he performed with Happy Traum
, Artie Traum
and others at various venues and folk festivals in the North East.
Renehan graduated from State University of New York at New Paltz
.
Renehan worked for several New York publishing companies, focusing on the developing domain of digital publishing, including e-publishing and print-on-demand (POD) technologies. From 1994, he worked as a consultant and author, including writing books on the Kennedys, Jay Gould
, Cornelius Vanderbilt
and John Burroughs
, as well as best-selling books about computers and computing.
In 2006 and 2007, while serving as acting director of the Theodore Roosevelt Association
, he stole letters by Presidents Washington
, Lincoln
, Roosevelt
from its archives, which he sold for about $97,000. In 2008 he pleaded guilty to a federal charge and a state charge related to the theft. He apologized for his actions, which he stated occurred during the manic phase of bipolar disorder
which was undiagnosed at the time. "I alone am responsible for this one great, indelible stain which now and forever disfigures a life I am otherwise proud of", he said. In September 2008, he was sentenced to eighteen months in minimum security federal imprisonment and was fined $86,000 in restitution. Biographer T.J. Stiles
cast doubts on the accuracy of certain claims in Renehan's book about Cornelius Vanderbilt, which was written during Renehan's manic period. Following his release he continued to work in publishing, including founding New Street Communications which is focused on digital and POD editions. On his website, he describes that medication he has taken since his diagnosis has stabilized his bipolar mood swings.
Renehan is married, has two children, and lives in Rhode Island
. He has served on several nonprofit boards, including the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater
and that of the Southern Rhode Island Conservation District, and is active in the Electronic Frontier Foundation
and the National Depressive and Manic Depressive Association.
Document theft
Document theft is the crime of stealing documents of historical, literary, or cultural interest from public or private archives, often for the purpose of sale to private collectors....
.
Biography
Renehan grew up on Long IslandLong Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
and at aged 13 began learning the guitar. He studied blues guitar with the Reverend Gary Davis
Reverend Gary Davis
Reverend Gary Davis, also Blind Gary Davis, was an American blues and gospel singer and guitarist, who was also proficient on the banjo and harmonica...
in New York as a teenager. By 20, he was playing and recording with folksingers Pete Seeger
Pete Seeger
Peter "Pete" Seeger is an American folk singer and was an iconic figure in the mid-twentieth century American folk music revival. A fixture on nationwide radio in the 1940s, he also had a string of hit records during the early 1950s as a member of The Weavers, most notably their recording of Lead...
and Don McLean
Don McLean
Donald "Don" McLean is an American singer-songwriter. He is most famous for the 1971 album American Pie, containing the renowned songs "American Pie" and "Vincent".-Musical roots:...
, among others. In his early twenties he performed with Happy Traum
Happy Traum
Happy Traum is an American folk musician who started playing music in the Fifties. Happy is most famously known as one half of Happy and Artie Traum, a duo he began with his brother...
, Artie Traum
Artie Traum
Artie Traum was a New Age Voice Award-winning guitarist, producer and songwriter. Traum's work appeared on more than 35 albums...
and others at various venues and folk festivals in the North East.
State University of New York at New Paltz
The State University of New York at New Paltz, known as SUNY New Paltz for short, is a public university in New Paltz, New York. It was founded in 1828 as the School for teaching of classics. In 1885, the New Paltz Normal and Training School was established as a school to prepare teachers for the...
.
Renehan worked for several New York publishing companies, focusing on the developing domain of digital publishing, including e-publishing and print-on-demand (POD) technologies. From 1994, he worked as a consultant and author, including writing books on the Kennedys, Jay Gould
Jay Gould
Jason "Jay" Gould was a leading American railroad developer and speculator. He has long been vilified as an archetypal robber baron, whose successes made him the ninth richest American in history. Condé Nast Portfolio ranked Gould as the 8th worst American CEO of all time...
, Cornelius Vanderbilt
Cornelius Vanderbilt
Cornelius Vanderbilt , also known by the sobriquet Commodore, was an American entrepreneur who built his wealth in shipping and railroads. He was also the patriarch of the Vanderbilt family and one of the richest Americans in history...
and John Burroughs
John Burroughs
John Burroughs was an American naturalist and essayist important in the evolution of the U.S. conservation movement. According to biographers at the American Memory project at the Library of Congress,...
, as well as best-selling books about computers and computing.
In 2006 and 2007, while serving as acting director of the Theodore Roosevelt Association
Theodore Roosevelt Association
The Theodore Roosevelt Association is a historical and cultural organization dedicated to honoring the life and work of Theodore Roosevelt , the 26th president of the United States....
, he stole letters by Presidents Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
, Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
, Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
from its archives, which he sold for about $97,000. In 2008 he pleaded guilty to a federal charge and a state charge related to the theft. He apologized for his actions, which he stated occurred during the manic phase of bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder or bipolar affective disorder, historically known as manic–depressive disorder, is a psychiatric diagnosis that describes a category of mood disorders defined by the presence of one or more episodes of abnormally elevated energy levels, cognition, and mood with or without one or...
which was undiagnosed at the time. "I alone am responsible for this one great, indelible stain which now and forever disfigures a life I am otherwise proud of", he said. In September 2008, he was sentenced to eighteen months in minimum security federal imprisonment and was fined $86,000 in restitution. Biographer T.J. Stiles
T.J. Stiles
T. J. Stiles is a biographer who lives in San Francisco, California. His most recent book, The First Tycoon: The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt T. J. Stiles is a biographer who lives in San Francisco, California. His most recent book, The First Tycoon: The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt T....
cast doubts on the accuracy of certain claims in Renehan's book about Cornelius Vanderbilt, which was written during Renehan's manic period. Following his release he continued to work in publishing, including founding New Street Communications which is focused on digital and POD editions. On his website, he describes that medication he has taken since his diagnosis has stabilized his bipolar mood swings.
Renehan is married, has two children, and lives in Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
. He has served on several nonprofit boards, including the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater
Hudson River Sloop Clearwater
The Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc. is an organization based in Beacon, New York that seeks to protect the Hudson River and surrounding wetlands and waterways through advocacy and public education...
and that of the Southern Rhode Island Conservation District, and is active in the Electronic Frontier Foundation
Electronic Frontier Foundation
The Electronic Frontier Foundation is an international non-profit digital rights advocacy and legal organization based in the United States...
and the National Depressive and Manic Depressive Association.
Works
- Dark Genius of Wall Street: The Misunderstood Life of Jay Gould, King of the Robber Barons
- The Kennedys at War
- The Secret Six: The True Tale of the Men Who Conspired with John Brown
- John Burroughs: An American Naturalist
- Commodore: The Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt
- The Lion's Pride: Theodore Roosevelt and his Family in Peace and War
- Great American Websites
- 1001 Really Cool Websites (book/disc)
- 1001 Programming Tools (book/disc)
- The Scientific American Guide to Science on the Internet
- Net Worth: Creating and Maximizing Wealth with the Internet (book/disc)
- Science on the Web
- The Clearwater Songbook (editor)
- Hackerproof (1st edition), with Lars Klander
- A RIVER VIEW and Other Hudson Valley Essays by John Burroughs (editor)