Adolph Lewisohn
Encyclopedia
Adolph Lewisohn was a German
-Jewish immigrant born in Hamburg
who became a New York City
investment banker, mining magnate, and philanthropist. He is the namesake of the former School of Mines
building on the Morningside Heights campus of Columbia University
, as well as the former Lewisohn Stadium
at the City College of New York
. Time magazine called him: "one of the most intelligent and effective workers on human relationships in the U.S."
on May 27, 1849 and was named after his father. At the age 16 Adolph emigrated to New York City to assist his brothers, Julius and Leonard Lewisohn
with the family's mercantile business, Adolph Lewisohn & Son which was named for his father. Adolph eventually became President of that business.
After meeting Thomas Edison
in the 1870s, Adolph pushed the family firm to become involved with copper. It proved to be a profitable venture, and they established several mining companies; including Tennessee Copper and Chemical Corporation, General Development Company, Miami Copper Company, and the South American Gold and Platinum Company. Subsequently, Adolph and his brothers became "copper kings" with one of their mines paying 35 million in dividends by the 1890s. It was about this time that Adolph states he made all the money he wanted to make, and decided to stop and enjoy it.
Lewisohn was an avid collector art and items of historical interest, and was deep lover of classical music; in particular opera
. He collected paintings, antiquities, decorative arts, manuscripts and rare books. He was particularly known for his extensive collection of works by artists from the Barbizon school
and the later Impressionist artists. He was also an amateur singer, and every year on his birthday would sing opera arias to his birthday party guests up until the end of his life.
Lewisohn had a firm belief that everyone should be able to experience fine art, and much his philanthropic endeavours went towards making this vision happen. He donated a significant portion of his art collection to the Brooklyn Museum of Art, including “The Awakening” by Maurice Stern
, "Selina" by Jacob Epstein
, and “Eve and the Apple,” by Kaj Neilsen. He was also a regular supporter of fine music in the New York. In addition to supporting local institutions like the Metropolitan Opera
, he underwrote most of the costs of an annual Summer music concert series held at the Lewisohn Stadium
. The series sported some of the best international performers in the classical world, and due to Lewisohn's generosity, ticket prices were very inexpensive and affordable to what he termed 'the every day man'.
Adolph married Emma Cahn on June 26, 1878 in Manhattan when he was 29 years old. Adolph Lewisohn died on August 17, 1938 at his Upper Saranac Lake
camp, Prospect Point Camp
.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
-Jewish immigrant born in Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
who became a New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
investment banker, mining magnate, and philanthropist. He is the namesake of the former School of Mines
School of Mines
A school of mines is a term used for many engineering schools established in the 18th and 19th centuries that originally focused on mining engineering and applied science...
building on the Morningside Heights campus of Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, as well as the former Lewisohn Stadium
Lewisohn Stadium
Lewisohn Stadium was an amphitheater and athletic facility built on the campus of the City College of New York. It opened in 1915 and was demolished in 1973.-History:...
at the City College of New York
City College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
. Time magazine called him: "one of the most intelligent and effective workers on human relationships in the U.S."
Biography
He was born in HamburgHamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
on May 27, 1849 and was named after his father. At the age 16 Adolph emigrated to New York City to assist his brothers, Julius and Leonard Lewisohn
Leonard Lewisohn
Leonard Lewisohn was an American merchant and philanthropist.-Biography:He was born in Hamburg, Germany, to Jewish parents, Julie and Samuel Lewisohn...
with the family's mercantile business, Adolph Lewisohn & Son which was named for his father. Adolph eventually became President of that business.
After meeting Thomas Edison
Thomas Edison
Thomas Alva Edison was an American inventor and businessman. He developed many devices that greatly influenced life around the world, including the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and a long-lasting, practical electric light bulb. In addition, he created the world’s first industrial...
in the 1870s, Adolph pushed the family firm to become involved with copper. It proved to be a profitable venture, and they established several mining companies; including Tennessee Copper and Chemical Corporation, General Development Company, Miami Copper Company, and the South American Gold and Platinum Company. Subsequently, Adolph and his brothers became "copper kings" with one of their mines paying 35 million in dividends by the 1890s. It was about this time that Adolph states he made all the money he wanted to make, and decided to stop and enjoy it.
Lewisohn was an avid collector art and items of historical interest, and was deep lover of classical music; in particular opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
. He collected paintings, antiquities, decorative arts, manuscripts and rare books. He was particularly known for his extensive collection of works by artists from the Barbizon school
Barbizon school
The Barbizon school of painters were part of a movement towards realism in art, which arose in the context of the dominant Romantic Movement of the time. The Barbizon school was active roughly from 1830 through 1870...
and the later Impressionist artists. He was also an amateur singer, and every year on his birthday would sing opera arias to his birthday party guests up until the end of his life.
Lewisohn had a firm belief that everyone should be able to experience fine art, and much his philanthropic endeavours went towards making this vision happen. He donated a significant portion of his art collection to the Brooklyn Museum of Art, including “The Awakening” by Maurice Stern
Maurice Stern
Maurice Stern is an American operatic tenor. He studied at the Eastman School of Music and with Franco Corelli in New York City. In 1959 he made his debut at the New York City Opera as The Emperor Altoum in Giacomo Puccini's Turandot. He performed regularly with the company through 1963...
, "Selina" by Jacob Epstein
Jacob Epstein
Sir Jacob Epstein KBE was an American-born British sculptor who helped pioneer modern sculpture. He was born in the United States, and moved to Europe in 1902, becoming a British citizen in 1911. He often produced controversial works which challenged taboos on what was appropriate subject matter...
, and “Eve and the Apple,” by Kaj Neilsen. He was also a regular supporter of fine music in the New York. In addition to supporting local institutions like the Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
, he underwrote most of the costs of an annual Summer music concert series held at the Lewisohn Stadium
Lewisohn Stadium
Lewisohn Stadium was an amphitheater and athletic facility built on the campus of the City College of New York. It opened in 1915 and was demolished in 1973.-History:...
. The series sported some of the best international performers in the classical world, and due to Lewisohn's generosity, ticket prices were very inexpensive and affordable to what he termed 'the every day man'.
Adolph married Emma Cahn on June 26, 1878 in Manhattan when he was 29 years old. Adolph Lewisohn died on August 17, 1938 at his Upper Saranac Lake
Upper Saranac Lake
Upper Saranac Lake is one of three connected lakes, part of the Saranac River, in the towns of Santa Clara and Harrietstown, near the village of Saranac Lake in the Adirondacks in northern New York. Upper Saranac Lake is the sixth largest lake in the Adirondacks. With Middle Saranac Lake and...
camp, Prospect Point Camp
Prospect Point Camp
Prospect Point Camp is an Adirondack Great Camp notable for its unusual chalets inspired by European hunting lodges. William L. Coulter's design is a significant example of the Adirondack Rustic style. It is located on a bluff overlooking the northern reaches of Upper Saranac Lake, near Eagle...
.