Leaders of business, union leaders plus banking and other money matters
Click each name to find a list of resources available at HSP.
John Wanamaker
- Merchant, opened “Grand Depot” at 13th and Market
- Pioneer of the department store concept/one stop shopping
- Ran full length newspaper ads, had a restaurant in store, created fixed prices for merchandise, believed in truth-in-advertising, idea which exist today in stores
- Provided education for his employees and summer camp for their kids
- Was Postmaster General and started rural delivery, parcel post, banned lottery sales and started the postal savings system.
Morris Milgram
- Builder and developer of integrated housing
- After running into difficulty securing financing for new construction, purchased rental properties and changed their policies in order to all integration
- Provided integrated housing for 20,000 people in Philadelphia, Boston, Cambridge, Chicago, Princeton, Washington, DC, California, Maryland, New York, Texas and Virginia.
Terence V. Powderly
- Mayor of Scranton
- Took over leadership of the Knights of Labor in 1879
- Transformed from a collection of small, local assemblies into the most prominent national union of the latter part of the 19th century.
Joshua Humphreys
-Shipbuilder, built 6 ships that comprised first United States Navy
- His ship designs were so well done that the USS Constitution is still around today
Stephen Girard
- Wealthiest man in America at the time of his death
- Made his fortunes from shipping
- Opened up his own bank, Girard’s Bank
- Was the principal source of government credit during the War of 1812, his backing enabled the war to continue.
- Assisted Yellow Fever victims in the city
- His will left an endowment for the creation of a boarding school for poor orphans, Girard College
Sara Oberholtzer
- President of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union
- Wrote about and promoted thrift and championed the School Savings Bank movement
Albert M. Greenfield
- Began a real estate company that grew into one of the most lucrative in the city. He added picture theatres, building and loan associations and mortgages.
- Acquired a total of nine banks under the Banker’s Trust name, which failed in 1930
- Became involved with retail, owning 39 specialty stores in 19 states
- Acquired numerous Philadelphia hotels
- Served on over 43 boards
- Switched political parties and became a strong Democratic supporter
- Served as Chairman of the City Planning Commission for one year, laying foundations for Independence Square, Veteran’s Stadiums, Society Hill and Penn Center.