Overview

Nathan Straus (1848–1931) encompassed worlds. He rose from his Jewish German immigrant family's ruin in Civil War Georgia to become co-owner of Macy's and Abraham & Straus department stores. He helped build American Zionism and cofounded the American Jewish Congress movement. His public service led to a nomination for New York City mayor. This, the first comprehensive biography of Straus, details each of these lives but argues that his most historic achievements lay elsewhere—in philanthropy. Inspired by both his Jewish values and no-nonsense pragmatism, Straus designed, funded, and oversaw four Progressive philanthropic initiatives. The greatest—his demonstration and advocacy campaigns for milk pasteurization—saved the lives of countless thousands of infants in New York City and, ultimately, across much of America and western Europe. Straus also founded America's first TB preventorium for at-risk children: a model for the forty-five more that followed. Partnering with Hadassah, he brought American public health innovations to Mandate Palestine. He provided vast relief for New York City's jobless in the severe 1890s depression. In all, Straus's humanitarianism won the acclaim of American presidents and world leaders and the gratitude of millions. We can learn from him today.

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9781978843479

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Reviews

""At last, a full-length biography of one of the greatest Jewish philanthropists that history forgot. Nathan Straus' contribution to public health—especially by championing pasteurized milk for children—saved countless lives in the U.S. and Palestine and demonstrated how strategic philanthropy can improve the world. Brimming with lessons for our time."" - Jonathan D. Sarna, author of Amer­i­can Ju­daism: A His­to­ry ""A compelling and highly engaging story of a largely forgotten philanthropist and entrepreneur whose efforts helped shape the twentieth century, this book fills gaps in diverse historical subfields such as medicine, economics, childhood, and religion. This inspiring story is a must-read for anyone interested in philanthropic innovation."" - Cynthia Connolly, professor emerita, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing ""Finally, Nathan Straus receives his due. His life would have merited a biography, like this excellent one by Andrew Fisher, even if not for his transformative involvement in growing the nation's public health system, but this book offers a fine way to see that as well as the fuller breadth of his public service."" - Hasia R. Diner, professor emerita, New York University ""Finally, we have a comprehensive biography of Nathan Straus that does the great man justice. Fisher has crafted a scholarly, deeply referenced, and eminently readable book that tells the story of the legendary Straus family. Highly recommended to readers of Jewish history, philanthropy, commerce, politics, and public health."" - Jeff Levin, author of Religion and Medicine: A History of the Encounter Between Humanity's Two Greatest Institutions

""Finally, Nathan Straus receives his due. His life would have merited a biography, like this excellent one by Andrew Fisher, even if not for his transformative involvement in growing the nation's public health system, but this book offers a fine way to see that as well as the fuller breadth of his public service."" - Hasia R. Diner, author of A New Promised Land: A History of Jews in America ""Nathan Straus, philanthropist, public health advocate, department store magnate, and a founding father of Mandate Palestine's public health system, has finally been memorialized in a full-length biography. Fisher has done a superb job of deftly piecing together the fabulous adventures of a remarkable man."" - Howard Markel, author of The Secret of Life: Rosalind Franklin, James Watson, Francis Crick, and the Discovery of DNA's Double Helix ""At last, a full-length biography of one of the greatest Jewish philanthropists that history forgot. Nathan Straus's contribution to public health—especially by championing pasteurized milk for children—saved countless lives in the U.S. and Palestine and demonstrated how strategic philanthropy can improve the world. Brimming with lessons for our time."" - Jonathan D. Sarna, author of Amer­i­can Ju­daism: A His­to­ry ""A compelling and highly engaging story of a largely forgotten philanthropist and entrepreneur whose efforts helped shape the twentieth century, this book fills gaps in diverse historical subfields such as medicine, economics, childhood, and religion. This inspiring story is a must-read for anyone interested in philanthropic innovation."" - Cynthia Connolly, professor emerita, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing ""Finally, we have a comprehensive biography of Nathan Straus that does the great man justice. Fisher has crafted a scholarly, deeply referenced, and eminently readable book that tells the story of the legendary Straus family. Highly recommended to readers of Jewish history, philanthropy, commerce, politics, and public health."" - Jeff Levin, author of Religion and Medicine: A History of the Encounter Between Humanity's Two Greatest Institutions ""Among his many accomplishments, Straus's adoption and promotion of pasteurization of milk, and his philanthropic support providing clean, ""pasteurized"" milk for children of poor families, stand as a major public health triumph."" - Alfred Sommer, professor and dean emeritus, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health ""Finally, a biography of a figure whose business acumen and relentless philanthropic initiative, like a Jewish Carnegie or Rockefeller, changed the structure of the modern world and saved countless children's lives! Fisher's compelling and deeply researched telling of Straus's world spans three continents, all classes of people, two wars, and Jewish and mainstream society—completing our understanding of the remarkable Straus family."" - Jaclyn Granick, author of International Jewish Humanitarianism in the Age of the Great War

""A compelling and highly engaging story of a largely forgotten philanthropist and entrepreneur whose efforts helped shape the twentieth century, this book fills gaps in diverse historical subfields such as medicine, economics, childhood, and religion. This inspiring story is a must-read for anyone interested in philanthropic innovation."" --Cynthia Connolly ""professor emerita, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing"" ""Finally, Nathan Straus receives his due. His life would have merited a biography, like this excellent one by Andrew Fisher, even if not for his transformative involvement in growing the nation's public health system, but this book offers a fine way to see that as well as the fuller breadth of his public service."" --Hasia R. Diner ""professor emerita, New York University""

Author Information

Andrew Fisher, an independent scholar, is the retired founding executive director of the Lavelle Fund for the Blind. A New Jersey resident, he has 35 years of experience in New York City charitable foundations and is a winner of Helen Keller International’s Humanitarian Award.

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