William Eastman Chenery

William Eastman Chenery was an American writer and editor born in 1859 and died in 1932. He is chiefly remembered for Home Entertaining: Amusements for Every One, published in Boston by Lothrop, Lee & Shepard in 1912.

In the book’s preface, he explains that the collection grew out of many years spent looking for clever, workable entertainments for the home. The result is a broad mix of games, tricks, and pastimes designed for family circles and small gatherings, with an emphasis on activities that were easy to stage and enjoyable to perform.

Reliable biographical information about his wider life is limited in the sources I could confirm here, so this overview stays close to what can be supported: Chenery’s lasting place in print comes from his role in gathering and shaping a practical, upbeat handbook of home entertainment that continued to circulate long after its original publication.