Joseph E. Ralph
Encyclopedia
Joseph E. Ralph was an official in the United States Department of the Treasury
who was Director of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing
from 1908 to 1917.
in 1863. He was raised in Joliet, Illinois
.
After school, Ralph apprenticed in a steel works machine shop, ultimately becoming an expert mechanic. He was active in union and political activities. By these connections, he became Assistant Postmaster of the United States House of Representatives
. He was later Superintendent of Construction at Ellis Island
. He worked for the United States Customs Service
as Deputy Collector at the World's Columbian Exposition
in Chicago
in 1893.
Ralph joined the Bureau of Engraving and Printing
in 1895 as a plate cleaner. In 1897, he became Custodian of Dies and Rolls. He was made Assistant Director of the Bureau in 1906. Upon the sudden death of Thomas J. Sullivan
in 1908, Ralph replaced Sullivan as Director of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing
. He resigned from the Bureau in 1917.
After leaving government service, Ralph headed a banknote company. He later became assistant to the president of U.S. Steel
.
Ralph died suddenly in 1922 at age 59.
United States Department of the Treasury
The Department of the Treasury is an executive department and the treasury of the United States federal government. It was established by an Act of Congress in 1789 to manage government revenue...
who was Director of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Director of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing
The Director of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing is the head of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing within the United States Department of the Treasury. The current Director of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing is Larry R. Felix....
from 1908 to 1917.
Biography
Joseph E. Ralph was born in PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
in 1863. He was raised in Joliet, Illinois
Joliet, Illinois
Joliet is a city in Will and Kendall Counties in the U.S. state of Illinois, located southwest of Chicago. It is the county seat of Will County. As of the 2010 census, the city was the fourth-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 147,433. It continues to be Illinois' fastest growing...
.
After school, Ralph apprenticed in a steel works machine shop, ultimately becoming an expert mechanic. He was active in union and political activities. By these connections, he became Assistant Postmaster of the United States House of Representatives
Postmaster of the United States House of Representatives
The Postmaster of the United States House of Representatives was an employee of the United States Congress from 1834 to 1993.Before the creation of the office of Postmaster, mail duties were handled by workers in the office of the Doorkeeper, who were paid additional compensation...
. He was later Superintendent of Construction at Ellis Island
Ellis Island
Ellis Island in New York Harbor was the gateway for millions of immigrants to the United States. It was the nation's busiest immigrant inspection station from 1892 until 1954. The island was greatly expanded with landfill between 1892 and 1934. Before that, the much smaller original island was the...
. He worked for the United States Customs Service
United States Customs Service
Until March 2003, the United States Customs Service was an agency of the U.S. federal government that collected import tariffs and performed other selected border security duties.Before it was rolled into form part of the U.S...
as Deputy Collector at the World's Columbian Exposition
World's Columbian Exposition
The World's Columbian Exposition was a World's Fair held in Chicago in 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the New World in 1492. Chicago bested New York City; Washington, D.C.; and St...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
in 1893.
Ralph joined the Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Bureau of Engraving and Printing
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing is a government agency within the United States Department of the Treasury that designs and produces a variety of security products for the United States government, most notable of which is paper currency for the Federal Reserve. The Federal Reserve itself is...
in 1895 as a plate cleaner. In 1897, he became Custodian of Dies and Rolls. He was made Assistant Director of the Bureau in 1906. Upon the sudden death of Thomas J. Sullivan
Thomas J. Sullivan
Thomas J. Sullivan was an official in the United States Department of the Treasury who was Director of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing from 1906 to 1908.-Biography:...
in 1908, Ralph replaced Sullivan as Director of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Director of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing
The Director of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing is the head of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing within the United States Department of the Treasury. The current Director of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing is Larry R. Felix....
. He resigned from the Bureau in 1917.
After leaving government service, Ralph headed a banknote company. He later became assistant to the president of U.S. Steel
U.S. Steel
The United States Steel Corporation , more commonly known as U.S. Steel, is an integrated steel producer with major production operations in the United States, Canada, and Central Europe. The company is the world's tenth largest steel producer ranked by sales...
.
Ralph died suddenly in 1922 at age 59.