Lessing J. Rosenwald
Encyclopedia
Lessing Julius Rosenwald (February 10, 1891 – June 24, 1979) was an American businessman, a collector of rare books and art, and a chess
patron.
, Lessing J. Rosenwald was the son of Julius Rosenwald
, a clothier who became part-owner and was president of Sears, Roebuck and Company
from 1908–1923, and chairman from 1923–1932. Lessing went to work for Sears in 1911 as a shipping clerk, and in 1920, was given the important responsibility of opening a catalog supply center for the growing mail-order company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
. He resided for many years in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania
.
Succeeding his father, he was Chairman of Sears from 1932 until 1939, when he dedicated himself full-time to collecting rare books and art. In 1943, he pledged to donate his collections to the Library of Congress
and the National Gallery of Art
, both located in Washington, DC, after his death. Rosenwald was also a chess
enthusiast, and donated money to support American chess. He sponsored the U.S. Chess Championship
in the 1950s.
, which advocated American neutrality in World War II
before the attack on Pearl Harbor
, and was led by his successor at Sears-Roebuck and lifelong friend Robert E. Wood
. He resigned from the committee's board in December 1940 over concerns about anti-Semitism
, but stated that he remained "fully in accord with the Committee's objectives".
In 1943, Rosenwald accepted the invitation to become President of the American Council for Judaism
, an association of anti-Zionist Reform Jews
, a position he held until 1955; after that he remained Chairman of the Board. During this time, Rosenwald was also active in rescue efforts of European Jews, and urged the United States to admit large numbers of refugees, both Jew and Gentile.
, The Camel Club, novel, London (Pan Books) 2006, p. 164 ff.
Chess
Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
patron.
Biography
Born in ChicagoChicago
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...
, Lessing J. Rosenwald was the son of Julius Rosenwald
Julius Rosenwald
Julius Rosenwald was a U.S. clothier, manufacturer, business executive, and philanthropist. He is best known as a part-owner and leader of Sears, Roebuck and Company, and for the Rosenwald Fund which donated millions to support the education of African American children in the rural South, as well...
, a clothier who became part-owner and was president of Sears, Roebuck and Company
Sears, Roebuck and Company
Sears, officially named Sears, Roebuck and Co., is an American chain of department stores which was founded by Richard Warren Sears and Alvah Curtis Roebuck in the late 19th century...
from 1908–1923, and chairman from 1923–1932. Lessing went to work for Sears in 1911 as a shipping clerk, and in 1920, was given the important responsibility of opening a catalog supply center for the growing mail-order company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
. He resided for many years in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania
Jenkintown, Pennsylvania
Jenkintown is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, about 10 miles north of downtown Philadelphia. "Jenkintown" is also used to describe a number of neighborhoods surrounding the borough, which also are known by names such as Rydal, Jenkintown Manor and Noble...
.
Succeeding his father, he was Chairman of Sears from 1932 until 1939, when he dedicated himself full-time to collecting rare books and art. In 1943, he pledged to donate his collections to the Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
and the National Gallery of Art
National Gallery of Art
The National Gallery of Art and its Sculpture Garden is a national art museum, located on the National Mall between 3rd and 9th Streets at Constitution Avenue NW, in Washington, DC...
, both located in Washington, DC, after his death. Rosenwald was also a chess
Chess
Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
enthusiast, and donated money to support American chess. He sponsored the U.S. Chess Championship
U.S. Chess Championship
The U.S. Chess Championship is an invitational tournament held to determine the national chess champion of the United States. Since 1936, it has been held under the auspices of the U.S. Chess Federation. Until 1999, the event consisted of a round-robin tournament of varying size...
in the 1950s.
Political Activities
Rosenwald was the best known Jewish supporter of the America First CommitteeAmerica First Committee
The America First Committee was the foremost non-interventionist pressure group against the American entry into World War II. Peaking at 800,000 members, it was likely the largest anti-war organization in American history. Started in 1940, it became defunct after the attack on Pearl Harbor in...
, which advocated American neutrality in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
before the attack on Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
, and was led by his successor at Sears-Roebuck and lifelong friend Robert E. Wood
Robert E. Wood
Robert Elkington Wood was a U.S. Army Brigadier General and businessman best known for his leadership of Sears, Roebuck and Company.- Early life :...
. He resigned from the committee's board in December 1940 over concerns about anti-Semitism
Anti-Semitism
Antisemitism is suspicion of, hatred toward, or discrimination against Jews for reasons connected to their Jewish heritage. According to a 2005 U.S...
, but stated that he remained "fully in accord with the Committee's objectives".
In 1943, Rosenwald accepted the invitation to become President of the American Council for Judaism
American Council for Judaism
The American Council for Judaism is an organization of American Jews committed to the proposition that Jews are not a nationality but merely a religious group, adhering to the original stated principles of Reform Judaism, as articulated in the 1885 Pittsburgh Platform.The ACJ was founded in June...
, an association of anti-Zionist Reform Jews
Reform Judaism
Reform Judaism refers to various beliefs, practices and organizations associated with the Reform Jewish movement in North America, the United Kingdom and elsewhere. In general, it maintains that Judaism and Jewish traditions should be modernized and should be compatible with participation in the...
, a position he held until 1955; after that he remained Chairman of the Board. During this time, Rosenwald was also active in rescue efforts of European Jews, and urged the United States to admit large numbers of refugees, both Jew and Gentile.
International Renown
Lessing J. Rosenwald's importance as a rare book collector and donator to the Library of Congress is featured in David BaldacciDavid Baldacci
David Baldacci is a bestselling American novelist.-Biography:Baldacci received a B.A. from Virginia Commonwealth University and a law degree from the University of Virginia. As a student, Baldacci wrote short stories in his spare time, and later practiced law for nine years near Washington, D.C....
, The Camel Club, novel, London (Pan Books) 2006, p. 164 ff.