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'''Louis Bamberger''' (15 May 1855 – 11 March 1944) was [[Newark, New Jersey]] |
'''Louis Bamberger''' (15 May 1855 – 11 March 1944) was the leading citizen of [[Newark, New Jersey]], from the early 1900s until his death in 1944. He is noted for co-founding (with his sister [[Caroline Bamberger Fuld]]) the [[Institute for Advanced Study]] in Princeton, New Jersey. He was a businessman and philanthropist and at his death all flags in Newark were flown at [[half-staff]] for three days, and his large department store closed for a day. |
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==Early life== |
==Early life== |
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Louis Bamberger was born in [[Baltimore, Maryland]] in 1855, to [[ |
Louis Bamberger was born in [[Baltimore, Maryland]] in 1855, to [[German Jewish]] parents Elkan Bamberger and Theresa Hutzler. |
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==Bamberger's== |
==Bamberger's== |
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He came to Newark in 1892 and bought at auction a failing general goods store on Market Street, renaming it [[Bamberger's|L. Bamberger & Company]]. The following year, he took two partners |
He came to Newark in 1892 and bought at auction a failing general goods store on Market Street, renaming it [[Bamberger's|L. Bamberger & Company]]. The following year, he took two partners: [[Felix Fuld]] and Louis M. Frank. The store was an immediate success, and Bamberger was able to open an ornate [[chateauesque]] building in 1912 that covered a whole city block. For decades, Bamberger’s clock was the downtown meeting place for Newarkers. In 1928, the store's sales were $28 million (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US|28|1928|r=0}} million in {{#expr:{{CURRENTYEAR}}-1}}), making it the fourth highest grossing store in the United States. |
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In 1929, Bamberger sold his department store to [[Macy's|R.H. Macy and Company]], |
In 1929, Bamberger sold his department store to [[Macy's|R.H. Macy and Company]], which kept the original Bamberger name. Bamberger knew that he owed his success to hundreds of able employees, and split $1 million among 240 employees. The Bamberger name remained in use for the stores in the New Jersey division of Macy's until 1986. |
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==Charitable work== |
==Charitable work== |
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Bamberger supported both secular and Jewish charities. |
Bamberger supported both secular and Jewish charities. Bamberger personally funded the buildings for Newark’s YMHA, the [[Newark Museum]], and the New Jersey Historical Society. He worked to help persecuted Jews escape from Germany's [[Third Reich]]. Bamberger was also a major contributor to the Community Chest and Beth Israel Hospital. However, his largest donation was not to a Newark charity; in 1930, Bamberger and his sister gave $5 million to fund the [[Institute for Advanced Study]]. Bamberger's sister, [[Caroline Bamberger Fuld]], also gave Newark money for the cherry trees in [[Branch Brook Park]]. |
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==Further reading== |
==Further reading== |
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Revision as of 12:16, 16 January 2019
 | This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (December 2013) |
Louis Bamberger | |
|---|---|
 Louis Bamberger, date unknown | |
| Born | 15 May 1855 |
| Died | 11 March 1944 (aged 88) |
| Nationality | American |
Louis Bamberger (15 May 1855 – 11 March 1944) was the leading citizen of Newark, New Jersey, from the early 1900s until his death in 1944. He is noted for co-founding (with his sister Caroline Bamberger Fuld) the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey. He was a businessman and philanthropist and at his death all flags in Newark were flown at half-staff for three days, and his large department store closed for a day.
Early life
Louis Bamberger was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1855, to German Jewish parents Elkan Bamberger and Theresa Hutzler.
Bamberger's
He came to Newark in 1892 and bought at auction a failing general goods store on Market Street, renaming it L. Bamberger & Company. The following year, he took two partners: Felix Fuld and Louis M. Frank. The store was an immediate success, and Bamberger was able to open an ornate chateauesque building in 1912 that covered a whole city block. For decades, Bamberger’s clock was the downtown meeting place for Newarkers. In 1928, the store's sales were $28 million (equivalent to $497 million in 2023), making it the fourth highest grossing store in the United States.
In 1929, Bamberger sold his department store to R.H. Macy and Company, which kept the original Bamberger name. Bamberger knew that he owed his success to hundreds of able employees, and split $1 million among 240 employees. The Bamberger name remained in use for the stores in the New Jersey division of Macy's until 1986.
Charitable work
Bamberger supported both secular and Jewish charities. Bamberger personally funded the buildings for Newark’s YMHA, the Newark Museum, and the New Jersey Historical Society. He worked to help persecuted Jews escape from Germany's Third Reich. Bamberger was also a major contributor to the Community Chest and Beth Israel Hospital. However, his largest donation was not to a Newark charity; in 1930, Bamberger and his sister gave $5 million to fund the Institute for Advanced Study. Bamberger's sister, Caroline Bamberger Fuld, also gave Newark money for the cherry trees in Branch Brook Park.
Further reading
- Louis Bamberger: Department Store Innovator and Philanthropist by Linda B. Forgosh, 2016, Brandeis University Press/University Press of New England
Personal life
Bamberger was a shy man who never married. He would accept honorary presidencies of charitable organizations and let his name be known, but he did not use his largesse to make himself more famous. He was always reluctant to speak in public.
References
- William Starr Myers, Prominent Families of New Jersey in Two Volumes, vol. 1, pp. 46–47.
- Nat Bodian, The Legendary Philanthropies of Newark's Louis Bamberger, Old Newark Web Group
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