State Motto of New Your "Excelsior" - Ever Upward.
This constitution was framed by a convention which assembled at White Plains, July 10, 1776, and, after repeated adjournments and changes of location, terminated its labors at Kingston, Sunday evening, April 20, 1777, when the constitution was adopted, with but one dissenting vote, It was not submitted to the people for ratification.Nathan traveled to Albany to present his opposition to the Brush Bill on February 15, 1898. "The principal provisions of the bill to which exception is taken are those depriving the board of the services of the President of the Board of Police Commissioners, prohibiting the production of vaccine virus, diphtheria antitoxin, and other antitoxins, and the work in the prevention of infectious diseases, and excluding from the list of "infectious, contagious, and pestilential diseases" a number of diseases which now are classed by the Health Department or by the Health Departments of other cities as dangerous to the public health."
]]>In 1897, Nathan Straus (1848-1931) became the President and Commissioner of the New York City Board of Health for a two year term. Nathan took his responsibilities seriously. One of his first duties as President of the Health Board was to announce that hotels and bath houses would be required to provide bathers with life lines. The board also contemplated appointing a life savings corps of officers in uniforms. On February 2, 1898 The Times reported, "The Woman's Health Protective Association is still interested in the subject of expectoration tracts, and Nathan Straus, President of the Health Board, is to co-operate with the society in the war it is to wage this winter against the great New York expectorator."
Nathan traveled to Albany to present his opposition to the Brush Bill on February 15, 1898. "The principal provisions of the bill to which exception is taken are those depriving the board of the services of the President of the Board of Police Commissioners, prohibiting the production of vaccine virus, diphtheria antitoxin, and other antitoxins, and the work in the prevention of infectious diseases, and excluding from the list of "infectious, contagious, and pestilential diseases" a number of diseases which now are classed by the Health Department or by the Health Departments of other cities as dangerous to the public health."
Links:
“Nathan Straus 1848-1931” Straus Historical Society Newsletter Vol. 6 No. 1 (New York: February 1998); pp. 4-8.
http://www.straushistoricalsociety.org/uploads/1/1/8/1/11810298/________nwsltr298.pdf
“Nathan Straus 1848-1931” Straus Historical Society Newsletter Vol. 6 No. 2 (New York: August 1998); pp. 4-7.
http://www.straushistoricalsociety.org/uploads/1/1/8/1/11810298/________nwsltr898.pdf
“Nathan Straus Pasteurized Milk Laboratory” Straus Historical Society Newsletter Vol. 4 No. 2 (New York: February 2002); pp. 4-9.
http://www.straushistoricalsociety.org/uploads/1/1/8/1/11810298/____nwsltr202.pdf
“Nathan Straus, Public Servant” Straus Historical Society Newsletter Vol. 4 No. 2 (New York: February 2003); pp. 4-8.
http://www.straushistoricalsociety.org/uploads/1/1/8/1/11810298/________nwsltr203.pdf
“The Nathan Straus Soup Kitchens in Palestine” Straus Historical Society Newsletter Vol. 16 No. 1 (New York: August 2014); pp. 1-5.
http://www.straushistoricalsociety.org/uploads/1/1/8/1/11810298/nwslttr814.pdf
By 1920, with a wife and four sons to support, Nathan Jr. began thinking about public service. He ran for, and won, a seat in the New York State Legislature in 1920 and was reelected in 1922 and 1924. The Citizen's Union, a non-partisan organization, reported that Nathan Straus Jr. was the member with the best record on votes in either House.
Nathan Jr. inherited a 24 acre tract of land on the Boston Post Road in the Bronx following his parent's death. In 1934 he turned it into the country's first housing project, Hillside Homes. As a result of his involvement in this project, he became interested in housing. People in the United States knew little about modern housing techniques as practiced in many countries in Europe. He created a report for Mayor LaGuardia of New York on the housing practices in England. As a result of his interest and increasing expertise in this area, LaGuardia appointed him to the New York City Housing Authority. Nathan Jr. felt this experience prepared him for his later role as administrator of the United States Housing Authority in Franklin Delano Roosevelt's administration. He served with distinction from 1937 until February 1942.
]]>Nathan Straus Jr. (1889-1961) was the son of Nathan and Lina Gutherz Straus. He was not interested in going into the family's business of merchandising. He graduated from Princeton University in New Jersey in 1910 and, with his father's help, secured a position on the newspaper, New York Globe, where he learned everything from compositing to reporting. In 1913 he bought the periodical Puck, which he envisioned could become similar to today's New Yorker Magazine. Puck published articles about women's suffrage, financial and social assistance, and medical science.
By 1920, with a wife and four sons to support, Nathan Jr. began thinking about public service. He ran for, and won, a seat in the New York State Legislature in 1920 and was reelected in 1922 and 1924. The Citizen's Union, a non-partisan organization, reported that Nathan Straus Jr. was the member with the best record on votes in either House.
Nathan Jr. inherited a 24 acre tract of land on the Boston Post Road in the Bronx following his parent's death. In 1934 he turned it into the country's first housing project, Hillside Homes. As a result of his involvement in this project, he became interested in housing. People in the United States knew little about modern housing techniques as practiced in many countries in Europe. He created a report for Mayor LaGuardia of New York on the housing practices in England. As a result of his interest and increasing expertise in this area, LaGuardia appointed him to the New York City Housing Authority. Nathan Jr. felt this experience prepared him for his later role as administrator of the United States Housing Authority in Franklin Delano Roosevelt's administration. He served with distinction from 1937 until February 1942.
Links:
“Otto Frank and Nathan Straus, Jr.: Their Letters Discovered at New York’s YIVO” Straus Historical Society Newsletter Vol. 9 No. 1 (New York: August 2007); pp. 1-6.
http://www.straushistoricalsociety.org/uploads/1/1/8/1/11810298/____________nwsltr807.pdf
“For the Sake of the Children: The Letters between Otto Frank and Nathan Straus, Jr” Straus Historical Society Newsletter Vol. 14 No. 2 (New York: February 2013); p. 1.
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Brother Nathan Straus (1848-1931) was best known as a philanthropist. It is not generally known that Nathan was also a public servant. He was the Commissioner of Parks in New York City, President of the Department of Health, a member of the Forestry Board of New York State and Forest Commissioner. He was an independent Democrat who ran for the office of Mayor of New York City and was proposed as the nominee of the Democratic Party for the Senate of New York State.
On Nathan's 75th birthday in 1923, congratulatory messages were sent from around the world. Theodore Roosevelt wrote, "There are no two men for whom I have a greater respect than Nathan Straus and his brother Oscar. Both of them have given the best that lay in them to the public service. Both of them have been ready at all times to contribute not only money, but more important still, their untiring devotion and work to the service of their fellow citizens." President Harding sent his greetings, "Mr. Straus's public service and private and public philanthropies have deserved [sic] much of his fellow-citizens and I hope that he may live many more years of similar usefulness."
]]>When we think of public service and the Straus family, we usually think of Oscar S. Straus (1850-1926). A few of his positions include Minister to Constantinople, Ambassador to Turkey and Secretary of Commerce and Labor. But Oscar and Isidor were not the only Straus siblings to serve.
Brother Nathan Straus (1848-1931) was best known as a philanthropist. It is not generally known that Nathan was also a public servant. He was the Commissioner of Parks in New York City, President of the Department of Health, a member of the Forestry Board of New York State and Forest Commissioner. He was an independent Democrat who ran for the office of Mayor of New York City and was proposed as the nominee of the Democratic Party for the Senate of New York State.
On Nathan's 75th birthday in 1923, congratulatory messages were sent from around the world. Theodore Roosevelt wrote, "There are no two men for whom I have a greater respect than Nathan Straus and his brother Oscar. Both of them have given the best that lay in them to the public service. Both of them have been ready at all times to contribute not only money, but more important still, their untiring devotion and work to the service of their fellow citizens." President Harding sent his greetings, "Mr. Straus's public service and private and public philanthropies have deserved [sic] much of his fellow-citizens and I hope that he may live many more years of similar usefulness."
Links:
“Nathan Straus 1848-1931” Straus Historical Society Newsletter Vol. 6 No. 1 (New York: February 1998); pp. 4-8.
http://www.straushistoricalsociety.org/uploads/1/1/8/1/11810298/________nwsltr298.pdf
“Nathan Straus 1848-1931” Straus Historical Society Newsletter Vol. 6 No. 2 (New York: August 1998); pp. 4-7.
http://www.straushistoricalsociety.org/uploads/1/1/8/1/11810298/________nwsltr898.pdf
“Nathan Straus Pasteurized Milk Laboratory” Straus Historical Society Newsletter Vol. 4 No. 2 (New York: February 2002); pp. 4-9.
http://www.straushistoricalsociety.org/uploads/1/1/8/1/11810298/____nwsltr202.pdf
“Nathan Straus, Public Servant” Straus Historical Society Newsletter Vol. 4 No. 2 (New York: February 2003); pp. 4-8.
http://www.straushistoricalsociety.org/uploads/1/1/8/1/11810298/________nwsltr203.pdf
“The Nathan Straus Soup Kitchens in Palestine” Straus Historical Society Newsletter Vol. 16 No. 1 (New York: August 2014); pp. 1-5.
http://www.straushistoricalsociety.org/uploads/1/1/8/1/11810298/nwslttr814.pdf
Jesse was active in the Democratic Club. He also was a member of the Founders’ Committee of the Woodrow Wilson Foundation. Jesse was elected president of the National Retail Dry Goods Association for 1922. He was elected to the Board of Trustees of the United Hospital Fund on February 1, 1924 and to the active committee to raise funds for the Hampton-Tuskegee Institute in March 1925. The same month he gifted the Atlanta Art Museum 5,000 annotated photographs of paintings, mostly by old masters of the Italian Renaissance School.
Jesse was part of a delegation of the New York State Chamber of Commerce that went to Cuba as guests of Cuba’s President Machado in January 1928. He was a member of the New York State Commission for the Revision of Tax Laws. The commission became operative April 23, 1930. Jesse was also the chairman of the notification committee of the Independent Citizens’ Committee for the re-election of Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt and Lieut. Governor Herbert Lehman of New York in October 1930. Jesse was elected to the Board of Overseers of Harvard University in 1925 and chairman of the Visiting Committee in 1930. He was a director of the New York County National Bank, the Lincoln Trust Company and the New York Life Insurance Company. He was a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the American Academy of Political and Social Sciences, the Educational Association of New York, the National Economic League and the Business Historical Society to name just a few of his affiliations.
He took his appointments seriously, learning everything he could about each organization and its purpose and then acted accordingly. He personally gave the award to graduates of the Brooklyn Junior High School No. 109. He supported the Isidor and Ida Straus Scholarship at the Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute in Hampton, VA. He gave generously to the American Red Cross, the National Committee on Prisons and Prison-Labor, the Lenox Hill Neighborhood Association, Mt. Kisco Police Department, the Boy Scout Fund and countless other causes. With all of his business, civic and philanthropic activities, Jesse Isidor Straus was a devoted family man. He tried to be home each evening for dinner. Although he couldn't prevent his mind from wandering to the problems of the day, he was always available to his wife and children. He was a serious man who still found it possible to bring humor and music into his world. Jesse Isidor Straus was a merchant, public servant and philanthropist. And in each he excelled.
In 1931, Jesse was appointed as head of New York State Temporary Emergency Relief Administration (T.E.R.A.). He left that position in 1932 after realizing it had become a full time position. Although he resigned as chair of T.E.R.A., Jesse continued his civic work. He was a member of the executive committee of the Chamber of Commerce. Jesse also served on the Salvation Army United Appeal general committee. In 1933, he was nominated and appointed the United States Ambassador to France, a position he held until 1936. He died on October 4th, 1936 surrounded by family.
]]>Jesse Isidor Straus (1872-1936) was born in June 25th, 1872 at 28 West 38th Street in New York City. He attended Harvard and graduated in 1893 with an A.B. degree. Jesse married Irma Nathan (1874-1970) on November 20th, 1895. After graduation, Jesse began work as a clerk at Hanover National Bank and then went on to work for Abraham and Straus in Brooklyn. In 1896, he joined R.H. Macy & Co. Jesse and his brothers Percy and Herbert assumed sole senior partnership at Macy’s in 1912. They were called a “triumvirate” and “Merchant Princes” by the press. He was a Macy’s partner until 1919 at which time he was elected the President.
Jesse was active in the Democratic Club. He also was a member of the Founders’ Committee of the Woodrow Wilson Foundation. Jesse was elected president of the National Retail Dry Goods Association for 1922. He was elected to the Board of Trustees of the United Hospital Fund on February 1, 1924 and to the active committee to raise funds for the Hampton-Tuskegee Institute in March 1925. The same month he gifted the Atlanta Art Museum 5,000 annotated photographs of paintings, mostly by old masters of the Italian Renaissance School.
Jesse was part of a delegation of the New York State Chamber of Commerce that went to Cuba as guests of Cuba’s President Machado in January 1928. He was a member of the New York State Commission for the Revision of Tax Laws. The commission became operative April 23, 1930. Jesse was also the chairman of the notification committee of the Independent Citizens’ Committee for the re-election of Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt and Lieut. Governor Herbert Lehman of New York in October 1930. Jesse was elected to the Board of Overseers of Harvard University in 1925 and chairman of the Visiting Committee in 1930. He was a director of the New York County National Bank, the Lincoln Trust Company and the New York Life Insurance Company. He was a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the American Academy of Political and Social Sciences, the Educational Association of New York, the National Economic League and the Business Historical Society to name just a few of his affiliations.
He took his appointments seriously, learning everything he could about each organization and its purpose and then acted accordingly. He personally gave the award to graduates of the Brooklyn Junior High School No. 109. He supported the Isidor and Ida Straus Scholarship at the Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute in Hampton, VA. He gave generously to the American Red Cross, the National Committee on Prisons and Prison-Labor, the Lenox Hill Neighborhood Association, Mt. Kisco Police Department, the Boy Scout Fund and countless other causes. With all of his business, civic and philanthropic activities, Jesse Isidor Straus was a devoted family man. He tried to be home each evening for dinner. Although he couldn't prevent his mind from wandering to the problems of the day, he was always available to his wife and children. He was a serious man who still found it possible to bring humor and music into his world. Jesse Isidor Straus was a merchant, public servant and philanthropist. And in each he excelled.
In 1931, Jesse was appointed as head of New York State Temporary Emergency Relief Administration (T.E.R.A.). He left that position in 1932 after realizing it had become a full time position. Although he resigned as chair of T.E.R.A., Jesse continued his civic work. He was a member of the executive committee of the Chamber of Commerce. Jesse also served on the Salvation Army United Appeal general committee. In 1933, he was nominated and appointed the United States Ambassador to France, a position he held until 1936. He died on October 4th, 1936 surrounded by family.
Links:
“Jesse Isidor Straus 1872-1936” Straus Historical Society Newsletter Vol. 6 No. 1 (New York: August 2004); pp. 3-7.
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“Jesse Isidor Straus 1872-1936: Part Two” Straus Historical Society Newsletter Vol. 6 No. 2 (New York: February 2005); pp. 1-7.
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“Jesse I. Straus ‘Businessman for Roosevelt’ and Ambassador in Paris” Straus Historical Society Newsletter Vol. 14 No. 2 (New York: February 2013); pp. 8-9.
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