Mortimer L. Schiff
Encyclopedia
Mortimer Loeb Schiff , sometimes Mortimer Leo Schiff, was an American banker and notable early Boy Scouts of America
(BSA) leader. His son John Mortimer Schiff was also involved with the BSA.
Mortimer Leo Schiff was the only son of the German
-Jewish American
banker and philanthropist Jacob Schiff
and his wife Therese. While he worked as a partner in the financial firm of Kuhn, Loeb & Co.
from 1900 until his death in 1931, he also devoted much of his time to the development of scouting in America
. He was a member of the World Scout Committee of the World Organization of the Scout Movement
and the Theodore Roosevelt Council Executive Board. After a long tenure as vice-president of the BSA beginning in 1910 , during which he also appeared on the cover of Time magazine on February 14, 1927 , he was elected president of the organization in 1931. However, his untimely death came only one month later . He had also been serving as the BSA's International Commissioner for several years.
The property for the Mortimer L. Schiff Scout Reservation
was subsequently purchased by his mother, named in his honor, and donated to the BSA for their national training center.
Schiff was awarded the Bronze Wolf
, the only distinction of the World Organization of the Scout Movement
, granted by the World Scout Committee for exceptional services to world Scouting.
Both Mortimer and his son, John M. Schiff
, received Silver Buffalo Award
s from the BSA.
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
(BSA) leader. His son John Mortimer Schiff was also involved with the BSA.
Biography
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 American
American Jews
American Jews, also known as Jewish Americans, are American citizens of the Jewish faith or Jewish ethnicity. The Jewish community in the United States is composed predominantly of Ashkenazi Jews who emigrated from Central and Eastern Europe, and their U.S.-born descendants...
banker and philanthropist Jacob Schiff
Jacob Schiff
Jacob Henry Schiff, born Jakob Heinrich Schiff was a German-born Jewish American banker and philanthropist, who helped finance, among many other things, the Japanese military efforts against Tsarist Russia in the Russo-Japanese War.From his base on Wall Street, he was the foremost Jewish leader...
and his wife Therese. While he worked as a partner in the financial firm of Kuhn, Loeb & Co.
Kuhn, Loeb & Co.
Kuhn, Loeb & Co. was a bulge bracket, investment bank founded in 1867 by Abraham Kuhn and Solomon Loeb. Under the leadership of Jacob H. Schiff, it grew to be one of the most influential investment banks in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, financing America's expanding railways and growth...
from 1900 until his death in 1931, he also devoted much of his time to the development of scouting in America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He was a member of the World Scout Committee of the World Organization of the Scout Movement
World Organization of the Scout Movement
The World Organization of the Scout Movement is the Non-governmental international organization which governs most national Scout Organizations, with 31 million members. WOSM was established in 1920, and has its headquarters at Geneva, Switzerland...
and the Theodore Roosevelt Council Executive Board. After a long tenure as vice-president of the BSA beginning in 1910 , during which he also appeared on the cover of Time magazine on February 14, 1927 , he was elected president of the organization in 1931. However, his untimely death came only one month later . He had also been serving as the BSA's International Commissioner for several years.
The property for the Mortimer L. Schiff Scout Reservation
Mortimer L. Schiff Scout Reservation
The Mortimer L. Schiff Scout Reservation, located in central New Jersey, was a major Boy Scout training facility for almost 50 years. It was named after Mortimer L. Schiff, the father of John M...
was subsequently purchased by his mother, named in his honor, and donated to the BSA for their national training center.
Schiff was awarded the Bronze Wolf
Bronze Wolf
The Bronze Wolf Award is bestowed by the World Scout Committee to acknowledge "outstanding service by an individual to the World Scout Movement"...
, the only distinction of the World Organization of the Scout Movement
World Organization of the Scout Movement
The World Organization of the Scout Movement is the Non-governmental international organization which governs most national Scout Organizations, with 31 million members. WOSM was established in 1920, and has its headquarters at Geneva, Switzerland...
, granted by the World Scout Committee for exceptional services to world Scouting.
Both Mortimer and his son, John M. Schiff
John M. Schiff
John Mortimer Schiff was an American banker and national president of the Boy Scouts of America from 1951 to 1956.-Biography:...
, received Silver Buffalo Award
Silver Buffalo Award
The Silver Buffalo Award is the national-level distinguished service award of the Boy Scouts of America. It is presented for noteworthy and extraordinary service to youth on a national basis, either as part of, or independent of the Scouting program...
s from the BSA.
See also
- John M. Schiff Scout Reservation