by Cieslafdn | Aug 12, 2015 | Rosenwald Fund
Julius Rosenwald, circa 1915
Original photo: Bain News Service, Library of Congress
Today, August 12th, would have been Julius Rosenwald’s 151st birthday, and coincidentally The Rosenwald Schools production received a “gift” today from the National Center for Jewish Film: some moving images of J.R. we hadn’t seen before in a 1914 film about the Agro-Joint, a program supported by Rosenwald that economically empowered Jews who were facing discrimination in Russia and other countries.
It was on this day in 1912 that Rosenwald first started becoming a prominent philanthropist. On his birthday of that year, he announced gifts totaling $687,500 to various Chicago institutions (the West Side Charities, the University of Chicago, a social workers “Country Club”) in a move that was reported on in newspapers across the country, including the two New York papers pictured below.
1. Front page, New-York Tribune, Aug 12, 1912, LOC
2. Page 7, The Sun, Aug 13, 1912, LOC
As part of his birthday gifts, J.R. also made a $25,000 donation to Tuskegee Institute for Booker T. Washington to disburse as he saw fit. That money ended up going towards the pilot program for the Rosenwald Schools, a school-building program that would last until 1930 and result in over 5,000 rural schools for African American chidren.
At the outset of his career as a philanthropist (which began, unlike some other notable figures, while he was still heavily involved with Sears operations) Rosenwald seems to already have the clear philosophy of giving that would govern his philanthropy until he died. As he says in The Sun article above: “I do not believe in the practice of giving money away after death. I believe in seeing the money that is not necessary being used for the help and betterment of others. It is a great satisfaction… We should give while we live and not when we are gone.”
by Cieslafdn | Jul 3, 2015 | Rosenwald Fund
Eleven Oaks is a pristine 7.6 acre community, located in Fairfax Virginia. New housing developments, specifically single-family houses, have overtaken what was once the Fairfax Rosenwald School. A single historical marker in the community describes the Fairfax Colored School, built in 1920 by businessman and philanthropist, Julius Rosenwald. This particular school is one of four Rosenwald schools located in Fairfax county alone, and represents just one of the hundreds of schools for African-Americans built by Rosenwald across the rural South. As the head of Sears, Roebuck and Co., Rosenwald chose to focus philanthropic efforts on building schools. His Jewish heritage allowed for him to identify with the margianalized African-American communities of the U.S. To learn more about the new housing development and the Fairfax Rosewald School, click here.
At Eleven Oaks, choices include this or that Fairfax
http://www.washingtonpost.com/realestate/the-many-options-include-a-choice-of-this-or-that-fairfax/2015/07/01/6e3e4300-18ed-11e5-93b7-5eddc056ad8a_story.html
by Cieslafdn | Jun 28, 2015 | Rosenwald Fund
On Saturday, June 27th, a group of Dillard University Alum came together for food, fellowship, and most importantly fundraising in efforts to continue the legacy of “Fair Dillard”. In the midst of reminiscing and meeting new people, fellow 2004 alum, Kellen Patterson was eager to share with President and 2008 Alum, Erica Williams information about the film, Rosenwald. As a champion of African American education, businessman and philanthropist, Julius Rosenwald contributed heavily to Dillard University. Ms. Patterson spoke about the film, and how much of an impact Rosenwald had on the African American community, especially the rural South. Each alum received a post card detailing the film’s premiere at The Avalon Theatre on Friday, August 28th. Fellow 2010 alum and Howard University History Ph.D student, Arlisha Norwood was excited to mention to Ms. Patterson that she is familiar with Julius Rosenwald and his restoration of the Ridgeley Rosenwald School, the only Rosenwald school in Prince George’s county. In honor of Rosenwalds’ contributions to Dillard University, the university named it’s administration building after him.
To learn more about Dillard University’s history, click here. To learn more about the Ridgeley Rosenwald School, click here.
by Cieslafdn | Mar 10, 2015 | Rosenwald Fund
Julius Rosenwald started making moves toward providing low-cost housing to African Americans in 1914. The African American population of Chicago was greatly growing during the Great Migration, which resulted in the 1919 race riot. This caused Rosenwald to “devote funding to offsetting the Black belt housing crisis,” resulting in the building of the Michigan Boulevard Garden Apartments (nicknamed “the Rosenwald”). The building was closed in 2000 due to a leaky gas pipe, and it’s physical condition has deteriorated ever since. However, nearly 15 years later, a permit has finally been received to renovate the apartments, and the development team is hoping that they will be completed by 2016. The new complex will be called the Rosenwald Courts, and the official groundbreaking ceremony occurred in February.
Read more about it
here, and don’t forget to check out
The Rosenwald Schools to hear more about the Michigan Boulevard Garden Apartments.
by Cieslafdn | Feb 13, 2015 | Aviva Kempner, Rosenwald Fund
On February 24th, 2015, the Library of Congress will host a conversation with a biographer, journalist and filmmaker about Julius Rosenwald’s philanthropic efforts. His contribution helped to build YMCAs for African Americans in the US. With assistance from Madame C.J. Walker, a notable entrepreneur and activist in African American and American History, they made an undeniably positive impact in the lives of many blacks in America.
The panel discussion will include Peter Ascoli, the grandson and biographer of Julius Rosenwald. Journalist A’Lelia Bundles, great-grandaughter of Madam C.J. Walker will present. Also Aviva Kempner, who is the founder of the Washington Jewish Film Festival and the director and producer of The Rosenwald Schools, a documentary that explores the life and legacy of Julius Rosenwald and the Rosenwald Fund will take part in the conversation.
The Library of Congress is located on Capitol Hill at 101 Independence Ave SE, Washington, DC 20540 and the event will be held from 12:00pm to 1:00pm in the James Madison Building on the 2nd Floor of the Law Library. Admission is FREE, however it is requested that everyone RSVPs. To RSVP, click here.
Erica Marshall, Winter Intern
by Cieslafdn | Feb 5, 2015 | Rosenwald Fund
Apparently! Here’s a picture of an article found during research in The New York Times mentioning the genius’s attendance!
The Nobel Prize winning genius Albert Einstein not only valued the acquisition of knowledge, but also using the gift of knowledge to benefit all of mankind. As someone who once said “It is every man’s obligation to put back into the world at least the equivalent of what he takes out of it,” it is not surprising that Einstein took the time to honor Julius Rosenwald, a great philanthropist. While both men possessed very different gifts and utilized them in different ways, they inarguably both dedicated their lives to changing the lives of others. Einstein knew Physics and Rosenwald knew Business; however both men are surely geniuses in their own right.
Photograph of Albert Einstein
Photo Source: Google.com
Erica Marshall, Winter Intern
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