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The Guggenheims, 1848-1988: An American Epic
The Guggenheims, An American Epic
- GenresBiographyNonfiction
512 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 1988
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 19, 2015
I appreciate biographies and in this instance I wish I had read this book when it was published in 1978 for personal reasons mentioned below.
Born in 1828 Meyer Guggenheim left Switzerland in 1848 immigrating to America the land of opportunity, settling in Philadelphia. Jewish faith was important to Meyer and a factor in his decision to become an American. I found it interesting that he was conservative. Poor and soon married he became a door to door peddler slowly accumulating wealth through his spendthrift attitude. With a keen vision for trends to make money he began importing lace and embroidery. Meyer’s next venture involved mining and smelting minerals including silver, lead and copper in Colorado, Alaska, Mexico, Chile and other areas. It was important to Meyer that he had sons to manage his operations and he would be blessed with 7 (who lived) along with 3 daughters. When America entered World War I in 1917 the Guggenheim family owned 75%-80% of all silver, copper and lead assets in the world.
The first ¼ of the book dealt with the family amassing wealth, while the final ¾ of the book dealt with the genealogy and lifestyle of Meyer’s children. By the 1930’s the Guggenheim wealth had reached its peak. Critics said their wealth took advantage of both common labor and nature. The 7 sons would only produce a total of 6 male heirs and it’s said this was a major factored into the slow decline of wealth. Of the sons some were playboys, while Simon became a U.S. Senator from Colorado, Solomon started the Guggenheim Museum and Benjamin died tragically on the Titanic. Daniel had a son Harry (Meyer’s grandson) who became an aviator with the Naval Reserve in Europe during World War I and later in life made tremendous contributions to aviation and rocketry. Most importantly future Guggenheim generations made their own mark in society through much philanthropy by forming funds and foundations and generously making donations to institutions and charities.
Back around 1980, while in my 20’s, my early career was a buyer for a major east coast retail operation with over 150 stores. One vendor who called on me was the president and owner of his manufacturing facility. Although I was on a first name basis I shall not reveal his first name. During our first dinner in true fashion I cut to the chase and inquired about his last name, Guggenheim as the name certainly commanded a good reservation in NYC. He explained in plain fashion the connection to the “big” Guggenheim noting that at the turn of the century in 1900 the Guggenheim family was second only to the Rockefeller family in wealth. He mentioned several other historical facts listed in my review above. I pondered why he was having dinner with me but as it turned out “XXX” Guggenheim was a very sincere and down to earth gentleman, who enjoyed getting to know people. We soon formed a friendship that transcended beyond business. Over time he would be accompanied by his lovely wife and I’d bring a date. Both Guggenheims were exceptional conversationalists, which is a rare in today’s society. I recall one night before dinner at a bar in Boston when “XXX” Guggenheim introduced me to a friend, Dr. Henry Heimlich and my first thought was if I choked during my meal I’d receive the proper Heimlich maneuver. I last spoke with “XXX” about four years ago. He was in his late 80’s spending a few days at his Central Park apartment. Our telephone conversation lasted about a half hour fondly touching on the past, present and future. At the time I was preparing my World War I book for publication that listed two of Meyer Guggenheim’s grandsons in the index. How time flies. I hope he and his wife are still living life to its fullest!
Born in 1828 Meyer Guggenheim left Switzerland in 1848 immigrating to America the land of opportunity, settling in Philadelphia. Jewish faith was important to Meyer and a factor in his decision to become an American. I found it interesting that he was conservative. Poor and soon married he became a door to door peddler slowly accumulating wealth through his spendthrift attitude. With a keen vision for trends to make money he began importing lace and embroidery. Meyer’s next venture involved mining and smelting minerals including silver, lead and copper in Colorado, Alaska, Mexico, Chile and other areas. It was important to Meyer that he had sons to manage his operations and he would be blessed with 7 (who lived) along with 3 daughters. When America entered World War I in 1917 the Guggenheim family owned 75%-80% of all silver, copper and lead assets in the world.
The first ¼ of the book dealt with the family amassing wealth, while the final ¾ of the book dealt with the genealogy and lifestyle of Meyer’s children. By the 1930’s the Guggenheim wealth had reached its peak. Critics said their wealth took advantage of both common labor and nature. The 7 sons would only produce a total of 6 male heirs and it’s said this was a major factored into the slow decline of wealth. Of the sons some were playboys, while Simon became a U.S. Senator from Colorado, Solomon started the Guggenheim Museum and Benjamin died tragically on the Titanic. Daniel had a son Harry (Meyer’s grandson) who became an aviator with the Naval Reserve in Europe during World War I and later in life made tremendous contributions to aviation and rocketry. Most importantly future Guggenheim generations made their own mark in society through much philanthropy by forming funds and foundations and generously making donations to institutions and charities.
Back around 1980, while in my 20’s, my early career was a buyer for a major east coast retail operation with over 150 stores. One vendor who called on me was the president and owner of his manufacturing facility. Although I was on a first name basis I shall not reveal his first name. During our first dinner in true fashion I cut to the chase and inquired about his last name, Guggenheim as the name certainly commanded a good reservation in NYC. He explained in plain fashion the connection to the “big” Guggenheim noting that at the turn of the century in 1900 the Guggenheim family was second only to the Rockefeller family in wealth. He mentioned several other historical facts listed in my review above. I pondered why he was having dinner with me but as it turned out “XXX” Guggenheim was a very sincere and down to earth gentleman, who enjoyed getting to know people. We soon formed a friendship that transcended beyond business. Over time he would be accompanied by his lovely wife and I’d bring a date. Both Guggenheims were exceptional conversationalists, which is a rare in today’s society. I recall one night before dinner at a bar in Boston when “XXX” Guggenheim introduced me to a friend, Dr. Henry Heimlich and my first thought was if I choked during my meal I’d receive the proper Heimlich maneuver. I last spoke with “XXX” about four years ago. He was in his late 80’s spending a few days at his Central Park apartment. Our telephone conversation lasted about a half hour fondly touching on the past, present and future. At the time I was preparing my World War I book for publication that listed two of Meyer Guggenheim’s grandsons in the index. How time flies. I hope he and his wife are still living life to its fullest!
April 6, 2020
“Oh, because it’s much too dynastic, that’s why.” These are the words uttered in protest by the wife of the 6th and only member of the Guggenheim family , in 1976, that was able to produce sons to perpetuate the name of one of the truly great American family dynasties of the 20th century.
This book is a near exhaustive dive into the minutiae of the Guggenheim family. It chronicles the escape from anti-Semitic Switzerland to America of the family patriarch, in search of a brighter future.
What this book manages to do is show the sacrifice and almost self denial that is involved in moving from absolute poverty to dynastic wealth. In all this is a story that resonates because it is a search for meaning. The Guggenheim family sought to find meaning in material wealth and mineral resource conquests, and find it they did. Because we know money itself is not an end in and of itself, we find that the second half of particularly the 3rd and 4th generation of Guggenheim was to dedicate their lives to philanthropic pursuits in the arts and sciences.
Whether this was driven by tax planning advice, or genuine search is left to speculation. What is clear is that this family, for all its imperfections, has had a lasting effect on American and sometimes global science and arts that still extends today. Though written in the 1970s, this book gives some timeless lessons in capitalism, business , family, education, money, wealth and history that any curious bibliophile should bother to read. Enlightening and curious read this!
This book is a near exhaustive dive into the minutiae of the Guggenheim family. It chronicles the escape from anti-Semitic Switzerland to America of the family patriarch, in search of a brighter future.
What this book manages to do is show the sacrifice and almost self denial that is involved in moving from absolute poverty to dynastic wealth. In all this is a story that resonates because it is a search for meaning. The Guggenheim family sought to find meaning in material wealth and mineral resource conquests, and find it they did. Because we know money itself is not an end in and of itself, we find that the second half of particularly the 3rd and 4th generation of Guggenheim was to dedicate their lives to philanthropic pursuits in the arts and sciences.
Whether this was driven by tax planning advice, or genuine search is left to speculation. What is clear is that this family, for all its imperfections, has had a lasting effect on American and sometimes global science and arts that still extends today. Though written in the 1970s, this book gives some timeless lessons in capitalism, business , family, education, money, wealth and history that any curious bibliophile should bother to read. Enlightening and curious read this!
November 8, 2021
This is the revised and updated version of the original 1978 book. Published by Shapolsky Publishers, it very oddly includes this "Bibliographical Note": "For a complete Guggenheim bibliography and Notes on Sources, see the William Morrow & Co. edition of this book, published in 1978 and available in most public libraries throughout the United States."
This book is worth reading because the subject is fascinating. The Guggenheims built an industrial empire based on mining; at one point they controlled 75% of the world's copper and lead. The first half the book details how a Swiss, Jewish immigrant and his sons accomplished that feat. The rest centers on the amazing philanthropic endeavors they funneled their wealth into. It's also a tale of the assimilation of a Jewish family into WASP-America.
I vaguely knew of the Guggenheim museums in New York and Venice (and post this book in Bilbao). But I had no idea the family funded Robert Goddard and his experiments in rocketry, helped establish American aviation, and founded the various Guggenheim foundations that nurtured American writers, poets, artists and scientists when they most needed help. Guggenheim fellows had by 1986 won 57 Nobel and 140 Pulitzer prizes.
Davis is not the world's best writer: he is very judgmental: telling you what to think before he provides the facts behind his judgments. The book is somewhat repetitive and disorganized. However, he makes his case that the Guggenheims were indeed the Medici of nineteenth and twentieth century America. And the Guggenheims made news: from Ben's death on the Titanic, after chivalrously escorting his mistress and her maid into the lifeboats to Peggy's flings with many of the 20th-Century's greatest artists.
This book is worth reading because the subject is fascinating. The Guggenheims built an industrial empire based on mining; at one point they controlled 75% of the world's copper and lead. The first half the book details how a Swiss, Jewish immigrant and his sons accomplished that feat. The rest centers on the amazing philanthropic endeavors they funneled their wealth into. It's also a tale of the assimilation of a Jewish family into WASP-America.
I vaguely knew of the Guggenheim museums in New York and Venice (and post this book in Bilbao). But I had no idea the family funded Robert Goddard and his experiments in rocketry, helped establish American aviation, and founded the various Guggenheim foundations that nurtured American writers, poets, artists and scientists when they most needed help. Guggenheim fellows had by 1986 won 57 Nobel and 140 Pulitzer prizes.
Davis is not the world's best writer: he is very judgmental: telling you what to think before he provides the facts behind his judgments. The book is somewhat repetitive and disorganized. However, he makes his case that the Guggenheims were indeed the Medici of nineteenth and twentieth century America. And the Guggenheims made news: from Ben's death on the Titanic, after chivalrously escorting his mistress and her maid into the lifeboats to Peggy's flings with many of the 20th-Century's greatest artists.
July 31, 2011
It is this author's theory that European jews, after being oppressed and restricted for so many years virtually exploded with energy and talent when they reached the shores of America. This is certainly true of the Guggenheims who emigrated from Switzerland in 1848. The seven surviving brothers earned barrels full of cash by mining for coal, silver, gold, tin, and nitrate. And it is often mentioned that they viewed their mining employees as ciphers on a balance sheet not strictly human. Female members of the Guggenheim family are rarely mentioned and when they are it is usually to lament the lack of a male heir. I did enjoy the detailed analysis that author Davis provided for most (male) family members. They certainly were an interesting and diverse group.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews