Emil Ganz
Encyclopedia
Emil Ganz was a businessman and three-time mayor
of Phoenix, Arizona
.
He fought in Georgia
during the American Civil War
, on the Confederate
side. From a German Jewish
background, he was an atheist, and brought his children up as atheists.
Ganz lived in Prescott, Arizona
, before moving to Phoenix in 1879. He established the Bank Exchange Hotel that same year and, in 1885, built a wholesale liquor business. He sold his liquor store in 1895 and served for 25 years as president of the National Bank of Arizona.
He began his political career with a two-year term on the Phoenix City Council
, before being elected mayor in 1885 and 1899. During his first term as mayor, one of the city's most destructive fires burned 13 businesses on April 26, 1885, including Ganz's own Bank Exchange Hotel. Phoenix had no fire department
or waterworks
at the time, and Ganz urged the City Council to establish these improvements. It wasn't until after another fire on August 6, 1886, that funding for a waterworks facility and volunteer fire department was approved.
In 2001, professional historian Mark Pry wrote a biography of Ganz, Immigrant Banker: The Life of Emil Ganz. The book was commissioned by granddaughter Joan Ganz Cooney
, a television producer
who co-created Sesame Street
; the biography is part of her papers, donated to the Schlesinger Library
at Harvard University
.
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
.
He fought in Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, on the Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
side. From a German Jewish
History of the Jews in Germany
The presence of Jews in Germany has been established since the early 4th century. The community prospered under Charlemagne, but suffered during the Crusades...
background, he was an atheist, and brought his children up as atheists.
Ganz lived in Prescott, Arizona
Prescott, Arizona
Prescott is a city in Yavapai County, Arizona, USA. It was designated "Arizona's Christmas City" by Arizona Governor Rose Mofford in the late 1980s....
, before moving to Phoenix in 1879. He established the Bank Exchange Hotel that same year and, in 1885, built a wholesale liquor business. He sold his liquor store in 1895 and served for 25 years as president of the National Bank of Arizona.
He began his political career with a two-year term on the Phoenix City Council
Phoenix City Council
The Phoenix City Council includes the mayor and 8 councilmembers. Each councilmember is elected from a different district of the city of Phoenix. The councilmembers are elected to 4 year terms in a nonpartisan election.The Council:-External links:*...
, before being elected mayor in 1885 and 1899. During his first term as mayor, one of the city's most destructive fires burned 13 businesses on April 26, 1885, including Ganz's own Bank Exchange Hotel. Phoenix had no fire department
Fire department
A fire department or fire brigade is a public or private organization that provides fire protection for a certain jurisdiction, which typically is a municipality, county, or fire protection district...
or waterworks
Water supply
Water supply is the provision of water by public utilities, commercial organisations, community endeavours or by individuals, usually via a system of pumps and pipes...
at the time, and Ganz urged the City Council to establish these improvements. It wasn't until after another fire on August 6, 1886, that funding for a waterworks facility and volunteer fire department was approved.
In 2001, professional historian Mark Pry wrote a biography of Ganz, Immigrant Banker: The Life of Emil Ganz. The book was commissioned by granddaughter Joan Ganz Cooney
Joan Ganz Cooney
Joan Ganz Cooney is an American television producer. She is one of the founders of the Children's Television Workshop , the organization famous for the creation of the children's television show Sesame Street. Cooney received her B.A...
, a television producer
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
who co-created Sesame Street
Sesame Street
Sesame Street has undergone significant changes in its history. According to writer Michael Davis, by the mid-1970s the show had become "an American institution". The cast and crew expanded during this time, including the hiring of women in the crew and additional minorities in the cast. The...
; the biography is part of her papers, donated to the Schlesinger Library
Schlesinger Library
The Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America is a research library at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Harvard University. According to Nancy F...
at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
.
External links
- Barbara Yost, "Right place, right time". The Jewish News of Greater Phoenix, 23 March 2001.