Altschul, Frank, 1887-1981

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Frank Altschul was born in San Francisco on April 21, 1887. He graduated from Yale in 1908 and served as chairman of the General American Investors Co. Inc. Altschul died on May 29, 1981.

From the guide to the Frank Altschul papers, 1924-1941, (Manuscripts and Archives)

Investment banker, philanthropist, bibliophile, authority on international affairs.

From the description of Frank Altschul papers, 1900-1981. (Columbia University In the City of New York). WorldCat record id: 298686798

Frank Altschul was born in San Francisco on April 21, 1887. He graduated from Yale in 1908 and served as chairman of the General American Investors Co., Inc. Altschul died on May 29, 1981.

From the description of Frank Altschul papers, 1924-1941 (inclusive). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 702168256

BIOGHIST REQUIRED Frank Altschul was born in San Francisco on April 21, 1887 to Charles and Camilla Mandlebaum Altschul. Charles, a partner in the investment firm Lazard Frares, brought his family to New York City in 1901 to work at the company's New York office. Frank Altschul studied at Yale University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1908. Following commencement, he traveled for two years, studying banking in London, Paris, Berlin, and Mexico City. During World War I, he served as an Army captain in France and was awarded the Legion of Honor. He married Helen Lehman Goodhart in 1913, and the couple would have four children.

BIOGHIST REQUIRED Altschul proved to be a highly successful financier and became a senior partner at Lazard Freres in 1943. In 1948, he became chairman of the board of the General American Investors Corporation, where he remained until his retirement in 1961. During the 1930's, Altschul also served on the governing committee of the New York Stock Exchange and was director of the Chase National Bank.

BIOGHIST REQUIRED Altschul applied his skill in running large organizations to a variety of causes, particularly political and advocacy organizations. He served as Director of the English-Speaking Union and vice president of the Woodrow Wilson Foundation and was heavily involved in the Council on Foreign Relations for almost four decades, serving as secretary and later as vice president from 1951 to 1971. Altschul's interest in interntional affairs was also present in his writing. A prolific writer of essays, articles, and book reviews, as well as a book, Let No Wave Engulf Us (1944). He frequently wrote letters to the editors of major newspapers, particularly the New York Times. Altschul was invited to speak before groups ranging from political and business committees to high school classes, and gave talks on psychological warfare, US relations with Israel, and many other subjects.

BIOGHIST REQUIRED A self-described bibliophile, Altschul was an avid collector of books and possessed a lifelong fascination with printing. He was the co-founder and first chairman of the Yale Library Associates, which oversees the Yale Library System the Beineke Library. He established an endowment and donated much of his own collection to the Bienecke, including an extensive collection of the works and papers of George Meredith. In 1933, Altschul founded Overbrook Press on his estate in Stamford, Connecticut and began producing a wide variety of books, pamphlets, and ephemera. The press was highly regarded for its craftsmanship and innovative design work, and Overbrook volumes were consistently included in the ''Fifty Books of the Year'' show of the American Institute of Graphic Arts. Overbrook Press was dissolved in 1969.

BIOGHIST REQUIRED Altschul was a philanthropist and supporter of education and the arts, endowing chairs and fellowships at Yale, Williams College, the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and the New School for Social Research. He also gave generously to hospitals and charities. His wife Helen shared his interest in education, serving on the board of trustees Barnard College and funding a chair in English.

BIOGHIST REQUIRED Frank Altschul died on May 29, 1981.

From the guide to the Frank Altschul Papers, 1884-1986, [Bulk: 1925-1980]., (Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Jay, Pierre, 1870-1949. Pierre Jay papers, 1920-1930 (inclusive), 1925-1930 (bulk). Yale University Library
referencedIn Pierre Jay papers, 1920-1930, 1925-1930 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn William Baskerville Hamilton Papers, 1700-1975 David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
referencedIn Lucien Goldschmidt, Inc. Records, 1930-1991 (bulk 1937-1986) Grolier Club
creatorOf Frank Altschul Papers, 1884-1986, [Bulk: 1925-1980]. Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Grabhorn Press. Grabhorn Press records, 1917-1973. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Grabhorn Press records, 1917-1973 Bancroft Library
creatorOf Catholic Church. [Psalter]. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Letter from Frank Altschul to T. J. Wise, sending a copy of the catalogue of his George Meredith collection; 14 March 1932. [Ashley Library Catalogue, xi, p. 93].includes:f. 29 Frank Altschul: Thomas James Wise, book collector: Letter to Thomas Jam... British Library
referencedIn T. M. Cleland Papers, 1880-1964, (bulk 1920-1963) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn John Mason Brown papers, 1922-1967. Houghton Library
referencedIn Armstrong, Hamilton Fish, 1893-1973. Hamilton Fish Armstrong papers, 1893-1973 (bulk 1916-1973). Princeton University Library
creatorOf Altschul, Frank, 1887-1981. Letter, 1925 Feb. 12. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Hamilton Fish Armstrong Papers, 1893-1973, 1916-1973 Princeton University. Library. Dept. of Rare Books and Special Collections.Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library. Public Policy Papers.
referencedIn Fine Press Printing Ephemera Collection, 1898-2010, 1924-1948 Princeton University. Library. Dept. of Rare Books and Special CollectionsGraphic Arts Collection
referencedIn Papers of Paul J. Sachs, 1903-2005 Harvard Art Museums. Archives
referencedIn Strouse, Norman H. The Overbrook Press : an example of collecting in depth. San Francisco : ms., 1975 Nov. 18. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Learned Hand papers Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138
referencedIn Perlman, Morris, d. 1958. Morris Perlman collection, undated. Jewish Historical Society of Lower Fairfield County
referencedIn International Institute of Rural Reconstruction. Records, 1914-1999. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
creatorOf Altschul, Frank, 1887-1981. Frank Altschul papers, 1900-1981. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn New York Times Company records. Arthur Hays Sulzberger papers, 1823-1999 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Altschul, Frank, 1887-1981. Typed letter signed Frank Altschul to: Miss French May 5, 1960. Wellesley College
referencedIn Edna St. Vincent Millay collection of papers, 1904-1974, 1909-1956 The New York Public Library. Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature.
referencedIn Overbrook Press Records, 1929-1978, [Bulk: 1935-1961] Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Altschul, Frank, 1887-1981. Frank Altschul papers, 1924-1941 (inclusive). Yale University Library
creatorOf Altschul, Frank, 1887-1981. Letter, 1939 May 9. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Harvard University. Autograph File, G. 1641-2009. Houghton Library
referencedIn Overbrook Press. Overbrook Press records, 1929-1978. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Autograph File, C Houghton Library
creatorOf Frank Altschul papers, 1924-1941 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn Autograph File, B, ca.1500-1982 Houghton Library
creatorOf Altschul, Frank, 1887-1981. Correspondence, 1924 June 9, 10. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Chester Bowles papers, 1924-1982 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn Grolier Club. Library. Records of the librarians, 1897-1970. Grolier Club
creatorOf Wilde, Oscar, 1854-1900. Salomé : drame en une acte / Oscar Wilde : AMs, [1891]. Rosenbach Museum & Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Adler, Almer. person
associatedWith Altschul, Camilla. person
associatedWith Altschul, Camilla. person
associatedWith Altschul, Charles, 1857-1927. person
associatedWith American Jewish Committee. corporateBody
associatedWith Armstrong, Hamilton Fish, 1893- person
associatedWith Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library. corporateBody
associatedWith Bourke-White, Margaret, 1904-1971. person
associatedWith Bowles, Chester, 1901-1986 person
correspondedWith Brown, John Mason, 1900-1969 person
associatedWith Brzezinski, Zbigniew K., 1928- person
associatedWith Catholic Church. corporateBody
associatedWith Cleland, T. M. (Thomas Maitland), 1880-1964. person
associatedWith Columbia University. corporateBody
associatedWith Council on Foreign Relations. corporateBody
associatedWith Eisenhower, Dwight D. (Dwight David), 1890-1969. person
associatedWith French, Hannah D. (Hannah Dustin), 1907- person
associatedWith Grabhorn Press. corporateBody
correspondedWith Grolier Club. Library. corporateBody
associatedWith Hamilton, William Baskerville, 1908-1972 person
associatedWith Hand, Learned, 1872-1961 person
associatedWith Herbert H. Lehman Collections (Columbia University). corporateBody
associatedWith Hoover, Herbert, 1874-1964. person
associatedWith International Institute of Rural Reconstruction. corporateBody
associatedWith Jay, Pierre, 1870-1949. person
associatedWith Kennedy, John F. (John Fitzgerald), 1917-1963. person
associatedWith Knollenberg, Bernhard, 1892-1973. person
associatedWith Landon, Alfred M. (Alfred Mossman), 1887-1987. person
associatedWith Lehman, Herbert H. (Herbert Henry), 1878-1963. person
associatedWith Lehman, Herbert H., Mrs. person
associatedWith Luce, Clare Boothe, 1903-1987. person
associatedWith Luce, Henry Robinson, 1898-1967. person
associatedWith Lucien Goldschmidt, Inc. corporateBody
associatedWith Meredith, George, 1828-1909. person
associatedWith Millay, Edna St. Vincent, 1892-1950 person
associatedWith National Planning Association. corporateBody
associatedWith New York Times Company corporateBody
associatedWith Overbrook Press. corporateBody
correspondedWith Perlman, Morris, d. 1958. person
associatedWith Princeton University. Library. Dept. of Rare Books and Special Collections. corporateBody
associatedWith Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945. person
associatedWith Rusk, Dean, 1909- person
associatedWith Sachs, Paul J., 1878-1965 person
associatedWith Strouse, Norman H. person
associatedWith Truman, Harry S., 1884-1972. person
associatedWith Wilde, Oscar, 1854-1900. person
associatedWith Willkie, Wendell L. (Wendell Lewis), 1892-1944. person
associatedWith Wing, Donald Goddard, 1904-1972. person
associatedWith Woodrow Wilson Foundation. corporateBody
associatedWith Yale University. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Europe
United States
France
United States
New York (N.Y.)
Subject
Printing
Book collecting
Political campaigns
Cold War
Disarmament
Humanitarianism
International relations
World War, 1914-1918
Occupation
Bankers
Book collectors
Businessmen
Philanthropists
Printer
Activity

Person

Birth 1887

Death 1981

French,

English

Information

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