“Dear Son”
Correspondence of John D.Rockefeller
For my wife; Helen, my daughter, Elizabeth;
and my three sons, Stephen, Christopher, and Jonathan.
Preface
The Letters
Epilogue
Preface
What did it mean to be “rich as Rockefeller”?
John D. Rockefeller, Jr., ***ieved that every right i**lied a responsibility? every opportunity, an obligation? every possession, a duty. How he shared these ideals with his father is revealed in this short co**ilation of letters they exged over 50 years.
Historians, journalists, and other entators have offered differin interpretations of what it meant to be a Rockefeller. There were over 200 magaziic*** and more than 60 books written on this father and soween 1**6 and 1990. Some had access to this correspondehers did not. Among those who did not were Ida Tar***l, who published her works on John D. Rockefeller and the Standard Oil Co**any in 1904 and 1905? Henry Demarest Lloyd, who published in 1**4? and Matthew Josephson, who published in 1934 and 1938.
Allan Nevins was the first to have access to these letters. He and his researcher read over 1,000 letters which had beeed from the f***ly fi*** by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Nevins quoted key ses of the letters as he developed his 1940 vision of Rockefeller in the heroic age of Ameri enterprise. Most of the same quotes appear in his revised 1953 version of the biography of Rockefeller, industrialist and philanthropist.
Raymond B. Fosdick’s biography of Rockefeller Junior, published in 1956, was the sed study based extensively on the same 1,000 letters.These letters, removed from their inal places in the fi*** and anized ologically, stitute a separate file series in the f***ly archives at the Rockefeller Archive ter.
These biographies provided other authors sedary access to this series. The letters have been quoted to support the differing views of the several authrace Goulder, trating on Rockefeller Senior as a citizen of Cleveland, found a rich vein of early Cleveland history. Alvin Moscow traced the thread of stewardship and philanthropy into the third geion from the letters. Peter Collier and David Horowitz discovered the seeds of a spiracy to trol the Uates, if not the world.
Ralph and Muriel Hidy had access to the letters for their history of Standard Oil of New Jersey. David Freeman Hawke used them for his cise look at Rockefeller Senior as the mate busines**an, while Peter Johnson and Jack Harr found iters the f***ly values aing which fostered the philanthropies of John D. Rockefeller 3rd.
Thus, bits and pieces of the 1,000 letters have appeared in print over the past 50 years. This filial relationship has beeo prove diametrically opposing views of the men and of the institutions they established.
The letters are presented here without ent? they speak for themselves. No motives have been assigned, no le planning has been attributed to passing words of the moment. Only people, places,events, and things not known from the text of the letters have beeified. Only typing errors have been corrected
Every father and every son might hope for the love and uanding displayed in these letters. This love, this uanding, and these itments were not ti on being “rich as Rockefeller”.
The Letters
On November 17, 1887, John D. Rockefeller, Jr., 13, wrote a letter to his father, 48, who was in New York City. Rockefeller Junior and his ******, Laura Spelman Rockefeller, were spending the wi Forest Hill, the Rockefeller’s home in Cleveland. The son had been ailing and his parents decided that the park-like enviro of Forest Hill would accelerate his recovery. The followiion of letters exged between father and son begins with Rockefeller Senior’s reply to that letter.
The 1st Letter
26, Broadway
New York
November 19, 1887
Dear Johnny:
Yours, 17th, just at hand, and so happy to hear from you and that you and your little Mother are doing so nicely in the quiet of the woods.Am in the midst of hard batt*** today, but getting on nicely, and looking forward to dropping in upon you sometime before long. It is not likely I do so, however, for Thanksgiving, which I regret. I have been called to Washington, but did not heed the summons, but hold myself in readio go at a moment’s notice. Mr. Brewster and several o over to be there on Monday m. Think about your decisiht in refereo the shed. Everything’s going on nicely at home. Old Mr. Hub***l, now 77 years of age, came down this m. He is the same dear good Methodist man he used to be. Stayed with us at the table and drank coffee and ate cakes and syrup. Went over the house and e much. Gave him an order for a bedstead for the spare room. His price will be several hundred dollars ***s than Pottier’ and I presume the bedstead will be as good or better than Pottier’s, and we know the beds are unsurpassed. Should this not be satisfactory to Mamma, we have the bedstead sent to Forest Hill for year, as we have talked of having new ohere. We like the appearance of the new man and think he will do well. Everything goes on **oothly in the house. You say you are not lonely. That is not the case with me. I am however doing the best I , and the rest are all doing remarkably well.
I have not written to Mama but telegraphed every day. Been so busy and khat numbers of letters were written from the house. She will get all the news. Business affairs are going nicely. With much love to you and Mama and great appreciation of the beautiful letter you wrote me.
Yours loving Father
Mr. John D. Rockefeller, Jr.
Forest Hill,
East Cleveland, O.
By 1887 the John D. Rockefeller f***ly had two homes in Cleveland and one in New York City. Rockefeller purchased 997 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland,in 1**8. It was a two-story Victorian home. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. was born in this house on January 29, 1874. The sed Cleveland home, Forest Hill,eventually a 700-acre estate, was acquired in 1878. The house, a three-story building, was inally built as a health resort. Over the years Rockefeller developed the property with a farm, two lakes for skating and swimming,a racetrack for his horses, bicycle trails, and a nine-hole golf course. The house burned down in December, 1917. In the 1930s part of the estate was developed into single-f***ly homes, an apartment co**lex, and a shopping area. The rest was given to the public as a park.
Between 1877 and 1884, when in New York, Rockefeller and his f***ly had rooms in the Bugham Hotel, between 49th and 50th Streets on Fifth Avenue. In October, 1884 he purchased 4, West 54th Street, a furnished four-story brownstone house built in 1**5–66. He made few ges in the house during the four decades he lived there.
After 1877 the f***ly normally spent the months from May to October in Cleveland and October to May in New York. However, Junior and his ******, Laura Spelman Rockefeller, spent the winter of 1887–88 at Forest Hill, as Junior was not in the best of health. This separatioo the earliest surviving correspondeween Rockefeller and his son.
In the fall of 1887 and the spring of 1888 Rockefeller and other trustees of the Standard Oil Trust testified before the U.S. House ittee iigating trusts. Benj***er was one of the inal trustees.
Pottier was a highly regarded New York manufacturer aailer of furniture.
The 2er
26, Broadway
New York
November 28th 1887
Dear John:
Yours, of the 22nd, duly received. Excuse delay in answering. Have also your telegram of today for the cutter, and will attend to it tomorrow m. I assume you want the oo carry two persons. I had a pleasant time in Washington. It is a beautiful city. The weather was mild and lovely.After receiving my testimony they did not wish any other although they had subpoenaed eight of us. We feel very well about the experience over there.The New York World hasn’t any further ammunition in this dire, is now going back to its first love, the Buffalo suit, trying to rake up something agains us. Had a delightful Sunday at home yesterday. Feeling well and ready for business. Looking forward with pleasure to seeing you the last of this week.
cur in your decision about painting the storm doors. You and Mother will surely have your own way in all these affairs, what’s the use of my saying a word. You are monarch of all you survey.
Yours loving Father
Forest Hill
East Cleveland, Ohio
In 1881 there was an explosion at the Buffalo Lubrig Co**any,a co**etitor of the Standard Oil Co**any. Three Standard Oil officials were indicted for alleged criminal as. Although their indits were eventually squashed by the courts, the explosion was frequently cited as an exa**le of Standard’s busiactics. The New York World was ohat kept the issue before the public. The entire affair is treated in Allan Nevins, John D. Rockefeller: The Heroic Age in Ameri Enterprise (New York: Char*** Ser’s Sons, 1940), II, pp. 76–79.
The 3rd Letter
26 Broadway
January 20th, 1888
My Dear Son:
We all weled yours of the 15th. Were very pleased to hear of your daily experience, and hope both you and Mother will be much better for this quiet try life. I am glad you know about it. It carries me bay boyhood days. I am having a pair of shoes made to lace up. I am told they support the ank*** better. I will bring them with me. Please tell Mother that everything is being dohat be in refereo the telephone wire to Forest Hill. A new route is desired and the effort to secure it makes a little delay. Aunty and I went to the Harlem River this m with Flash and Midnight in a new cutter which cost $300. Very extravagant I know, but the sleighing is so good that I could not resist the te**tation to buy it and hope to get the worth of our money. I drove four times the day before yesterday and three times yesterday, making an aggregate iwo days of about eighty mi***. Don’t you think I am ahusiastic youth? I am looking forward with great pleasure to seeing you week but may not leave until Friday.
******ly,
Your Father Forest Hill
East Cleveland, Ohio
Aunty was Lucy Spelman, Laura’s sister. Flash and Midnight were a pair of black gelding trotters. Rockefeller enjoyed driving and rag and often raced against his neighbors down Enclid Avenue as well as orack he had at Forest Hill.
The 4th Letter
Forest Hill Ju 91
My dear Son:
We are just in receipt of your telegram in refereo Edith’s book — Hope you had a pleasant Sabbath. It has been delightful here since we came. We all feel the letting down process, ging from the Seaboard to the interior, but it is delightful, and I trust it will be the thi calculated to give us all health and strength.
I suppose Mama or the girls have written you in refereo the Sunday School, and it was not my purpose to write you a letter, but I wao tell you about answering my telegrams — Preface your answers with ‘‘telegram received” and they will go free just the same as mine,under my frank. Take the best care of your health. Enjoy the society of your friends iry and telegraph at once if there is anything you wao do for you.
We all unite in love.
Your affeate,Father
4, W 54th Street New York
Edith Rockefeller Mick was Senior’s fourth daughter. She was born on August 31, 1872, and died on August 25, 1932.
The 5th Letter
26, Broadway
New York
February 17, 1**2
Dear John:
Yours of the 14th was duly received yesterday, and mama and I read it as we were riding in the brougham, and both greatly e from every point of view. Be assured that the appreciation you show is a**le payment for all we have ever tried to do for you, and I have not words to express ratitude for what you show us in your daily life, and for the hope you give us for the future time when our turn es for us to lean more on you.
I wrote Mr. Sinclair, as follows, on Monday of this week.
“I desire to have Edward take full charge of the farm barns and buildings, also the horses and the work tering there. I supposed this was uood last June.”
We had a very pleasant journey home, arriving a little late. The weather has been delightful here and the skating good, though only a few friends with us enjoy it. We are all feeling quite well, and our pleasure would be so muhanced if you could be with us: but we much prefer you should do as you are doing, ***ieving it to be best for you, and sequently for us all.
Both sermons on Sunday were excellent, and the woes on prosperously.
I have made some fine loans siurning, and engaged in som new business projects which are promising.
******ly,
Your Father Forest Hill
Cleveland, Ohio
The Rockefellers attehe Fifth Avenue Baptist Church when in New York. W. H. P. Faunce was the minister in 1**2. He later became the president of Brown Uy.
The 6th Letter
Forest Hill
Cleveland, Ohio
September 27, 1**3
My Dear John:
We were all very happy to receive your first loer upon your college life at Brown — It seems a very auspicious beginning and on reading it I was firmed respeg our decision for Brown instead of Yale — There are men enough and I judge a good class and the moral and religious tone seem of the best, besides how very cordially they receive you and your friends. I have forwarded your letter to your ******.We all read it over and ain with pleasure — Glad to know your arra seem to be so favorable for the beginning.
You must have good nourishing food at all times and plenty of it —You t work without What you eat.
If you decide at any time you would like your riding horse we will send him to you.
You must have plenty of exercise in the open air. We could send ara one for the use of your friends if you so desire.
We io go to New York Friday and Uncle Rudd will acco**any us — Mother arrived in Philadelphia on Tuesday m after a pleasant safe journey.
We cut down some more trees and made a decided i**rovement —the promi oak in the group southwest of the house, also maple near chestnut just ***ow it and the tall thin maple down in front.
The weather is delightful — We pass the time very pleasantly and all join in love.
Your Father No.11 Slater Hall,Providence, R.I
William Cullen Rudd married Mary Ann Rockefeller, John D.Rockefeller’s sister. He was the president of dler and Rudd, a Cleveland grocery and specialty store.
The 7th Letter
Home
4, West 54th St.
New York
January 26, 1**5
My Dear Son:
I enclose check to your order for Twenty-one dollars, for your twentyfirst birthday, being one for each year
It would be very pleasant if we could all spend the day together at home, but I think uhe circumstances, it is better for you to remain at college as you have been obliged to be away from your work so much of late.
I ot tell you how much happiness we all have in you, and how much we are looking forward to, and relying on you for iure.
We are grateful beyond measure for your promise and for the fidence your life inspires in us, not only, but in all your friends and acquaintances and this is of more value than all earthly possessions.
We all join in the hope that this and all the days to e, may bring only good to you, and we rejoice that you know from experiehat good for you, is inseparably ected with the good y to others. But this is not a lecture, only a kind word from an affeate father to a much loved and only son on the occasion of his 21st birthday.
John D. Rockefeller Brown Uy Providence, R.I.
The 8th Letter
Forest Hill
Cleveland, Ohio July 10th, 1**9
Dear John:
I have your beautiful letter of the 7th. We are so glad you feel better for the vacation and we all hope you will hold the ground gained and be sure to take more rest, and ge whenever you think you . We all join in thanking you over and ain, for as we review the journey, we are led to appreciate more than we could have expressed to you the plan you adopted, and executed in such a thhly satisfactory way.
We receive our pay from you as we go, ten fold. fidence is a plant of slow growth, but in your case it was a sturdy plant long years ago. We are grateful beyond measure that we trust, and do trust you in every place without reserve.
Be sure to take good care of your health. This is of the first sideration. All join in love and the hope that some of us will see you soon.
Affeately,Father
26, Broadway New York
The 9th Letter
Forest Hill
Cleveland, Ohio July 8, 1905
Dear Son:
I have yours of the 5th with regard to your house question at Potico.
You need not pay for any of the work of the mech
anics about the house hereafter. Let the wat’s wages for last winter be charged to the house, as you suggest. The care of the grounds about the house, as well as the flowers, I will pay. If you are entirely satisfied to do so, you ma tio pay half of Tony’s wages for the services which he reo you in the house, as you suggest.
I am so happy that you and Abby enjoy the place. I found my attat to it increasing with each day of my stay, and it was with great reluce I left it. Now I am absorbed in dear old Forest Hill, and busy indeed, and mrateful than I tell you for the good health which I have and whiab*** me to do two or three times as much as work, Mrs.Tuttle says, as I used to do when she was here before.
This is a quiet day, and we are cele***ting my sixty-sixth birthday. At five o’clock we expe Italian band of thirty-five and a very few friend to hear them play. I wish you could both be with us.
We have Edith’s baby, and she is a dear girl.
All unite in love to you and Abby.
Affeately,Father
Potico Hills, N.Y.
Edith Rockefeller, John D. Rockefeller’s daughter, married Harold Fowler Mi November 26, 1**5. Their daughter, Mathilda Mick, was born on April 8, 1905. They had three children who lived to maturity: Harold Fowler Mick, Jr., Muriel Mick Hubbard,and Mathilda Mick Oser.
Mrs. Tuttle was the telegrapher who maintained unicatioween Forest Hill and 26, Broadway.
The 10th Letter
Forest Hill
Cleveland, Ohio
September 18, 1907
Dear Son:
Please have five hundred (500) shares of Standard Oil stock trasferred to Edith, and five hundred (500) shares to Alta, and wheransfers are made, have them both notified. And while you are about it, you might as well have five hundred (500) shares transferred to yourself, and notify me of the whole job lot.
Affeately,Father
26, Broadway New York
P.S. Of course, I would not be giving any of you this, only when it seems as though the stock would not be worth anything and I want full credit for the desire to help out. However, please do not let any of it get out of your hands without seeing me.
The 11st Letter
Forest Hill
Cleveland, Ohio July 27, 1908
Dear Son:
In the absence of Henry Cooper from the office, I required informatiarding the D.& R. G. notes and the tract, but could not get it until his return. Please arrange so that any i**ortant matter of this kind be reviewed in the office, in the absence of the particular individual having i specially in hand.
Affeately,Father
26, Broadway New York
Henry E. Cooper was a friend of Junior’s at Brown. He was a member of the office staff from 1907 to 1912 and was the chairman of the itt os.
Rockefeller had a large iment in the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad bonds.
The 12er
26, Broadway
New York
February 1, 1909
Dear Father:
I have just been going over a co**arative statement of my ats for the years since I married. Since you expressed i in my total expenditures a year or so ago I am thinking that you may be ied in glang at this at, copy of which I enclose herewith.
I am quite aghast at the large increase in my total expenditures last year. The increase is, in round numbers, $19,000. It is ated for in half a dozen items:
The summer expeem has hitherto been charged to my personal at. There is therefore in the sum of these two an increase over last year of $3,000 partly due to the higher cost of a house, etc., in Bar Harbor,partly to a present which I made to Abby.
In the donation at there is an increase of $9,000. This is a great surprise to me, but the money has all goo good places. The total is siderably more than that I had plao give.
An increase of $1,000 in maintenance, means, ice, coal, electric light,and things of that sort.
An increase of $2,000 in food, partly due to our larger f***ly, and partly to the increase in the cost of food.
An increase of $2,000 in wages. We have now two trained antly in our e**loy at $100 a month each. We have added a housekeeper since last year at $50 a month. There was in addition a special trained nurse during Abby’s illness last summer. We also keep the Tarrytown house open the year round and have beside two servants in the house, a colored man and the wat on the payroll.
This covers a large part of the increase.
Personal At covers all traveling expenses, my gifts to Abby, my own clothes, and things not chargeable to other ats.
Ials covers presents made, things bought for ourselves, such as books, objects of art, doctors’ bills ( which last summer ran up to about$2,000), etc.
Affeately,John
Hotel Bon Air Augusta, Ga
After several summers of *****ng cottages along the Massachusetts shore, Junior rented Sears Cottage in Bar Harbor, Maine, for the summer of 1908. His son Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller was born there. In 1910 he bought a house, the Eyrie, in Seal Harbor, Maine. After 1910 the f***ly spent part of most summers in Seal Harbor. The house was de****shed in 1961.
Junior’s total expenditures for 1908 were $65,918.47.
The 13rd Letter
Hotel Bon Air
Augusta, Geia February 2, 1909
Dear Son:
We deeply appreciate your beautiful letter of the 29th, and are so thankful for you and Abby and the dear children and are so muforted and sustaio know what you are and all that you may be to us and to others iime to e. We lean upon you more and more, and be assured that we are more appreciative than we have yet expressed or even uaken to express in words of your thoughtful kindness and stant attention to all the mio our well being and happiness.
There is and will be much for you all to do in the world, and it is a matter of the greatest to us that you may be better aer fitted for these peculiar responsibilities, for which you have thus far shown yourselves so emily qualified
All goes well with us, and we unite in love.
Affeately,Father
26, Broadway New York
The 14th Letter
The Hotel Bon Air Augusta, Geia March 13th, 1***
Dear Son:
Answering yours of March 8th with refereo the purchase of the stock of the Equitable Trust Co**any. I io buy 6,000 shares. If you and Mr. Gates object, please telegraph? if you do not object, insist on having 6,000 shares. In these matters we must have some assurance.
Affeately,Father
26, Broadway New York
The 15th Letter
Golf House
Lakewood, N.J.
March 20th, 1***
Dear Son:
Answering yours of March 17th, I hardly think we will want to sell out the 500 shares of Equitable Trust Co. stock, but we see if the question is called.
I may be wrong but I still io think it might be well to have 500 or 1,000 shares more.
If you thi you may have Mr. Cooper placed on the Board and on the Executive ittee. I know of no reason why we should not throw business in the way of this Co**any.
Affeately,Father
26, Broadway New York
The 16th Letter
Golf House
Lakewood, N.J.April 13, 1914
Dear Son:
I am direg Mr. Cary to give you Ten Thousand (10,000) shares of Colorado Fuel Co**any stock. In case you are buying or selling this stock,I suggest it would be desirable to keep me posted on what you are doing so that we may not be in flict
I feel that you made a splendid effort at Washington before the ittee, and I want you to have an active i personally in the property. I hope we make it worth more money.
Affeately,Father
26, Broadway New York
Junior called the events surrounding the iners strike in 30 Colorado co**anies, including the Colorado Fuel and Iron Co**any,one of the most signifit things to ever happen to the Rockefeller f***ly.He appeared twice befressional ittees, and sought viable ao the struggle between capital and labor ies.His life was threatened. He chose as his mentor William Lyon Mzie King, later prime minister of ada, and with him developed a plan for industrial representation.
The history of the labor u and its local resolutioailed in the Nevins biographies of Rockefeller Senior and the Fosdick biography of Junior. A different prospective on the events is given in Gee S.McGovern and Leonard F. Gutteridge, The Great Coalfield War (Boston:Houghton Mifflin, 1972
The 17th Letter
Potico Hills,New York
January 28, 1915
Dear Son:
I am giving you Forty thousand (40,000) shares of the on stock of the Colorado Fuel and Iron Co**any, with the hope that we may make it much more valuable than it is today.
I take the greatest satisfa in the way you bore yourself through all the long and tedious ex***nations of this week, from Monday m to Wednesday night, before the Industrial ission. I ***ieve great good will e out of it. Mother and I are very proud, and more than satisfied with the result. I do not think of anyone who could have doer, nor does anyone I have in mind could have done so well, and I ***ieve that a multitude of people, friends and foes alike, will share this view.
Affeately,Father
26, Broadway,New York
Junior had appeared before the Industrial Relations isssion which had beeablished by gress in 1912. His testimony reflected his ging views of labor relations because of the Colorado strikes, the Ludlow massacre, and the influence of William Lyon Mzie King.
The 18th Letter
Forest Hill
Cleveland, Ohio
September 5, 1916
Dear Son:
Referring to my telegram to you yesterday, as follows:
“Letter 31 received. My letter of the 28th did not request that you ask Mr. Bosworth to get aimate and I agree with you that Joe will probably do the work just as cheaply by the day as by tract.”
I hope you will uand from this and my letters on the subject that I am entirely willing to leave this whole question with you, and I regret that you have had any bother or trouble about it and many other things that you have given much careful attention to in your most stious desire to everything to relieve me from ay and worry. Be assured I appreciate it all more than words express, and it has been especially gratifying to me siher went away, though never for a moment lag before.
I am grateful to say that I think all our troub*** which have been on us in the last fifteen hteen months, ih the iigatioc., are out of the way, and I want you to know how thhly I appreciate your patiend loyal devotion and unceasing desire to do everything possible in these matters.
I was very much pleased when I heard that you were going with Chipman on a hunting expedition, and I want your vacation to be a very restful one for you, not only the vacation but the autumn and winter, after the long and trying experiehrough which you passed, ih the Colorado affairs with whiade such a wonderful success?this is reized by everybody so far as I have ever heard any expressions,and I have heard many and most gratifying ones.
We are getting along nicely with the office affairs, and it would be i**ossible for them to have any fri or trouble with us if they desired to, and I ***ieve they do not desire to. We hold ourselves in readio do anything and everything for them in any way to aid in carrying out the new programs in the very best of spirit, so that I hope you will di**iss all this from your thoughts.
I have been unusually well and able to attend to business during the summer, and much better than last year, and I hope you will not hesitate to take up with me, or put on to me, anything, at any time, that will be any relief or help to you.
We are having a lovely summer here and will probably delay returning to Potico a little lohan lanned.
Mr. Mitchell has been on about our taxes at Potid goes again tonight. We think these matters are shaping up well and that the official there are disposed to take up the question in a reasonable way.
I have inteo wait until the first of October befiving you the results of the ge of administration at Potico, but ***ieving that it will be a means of fort and satisfa to you, I will give the figures as far as we have gone. During this period of eleven months, the saving in labor and material, that is to say, the expenditures at Potico Hills, has been $209,000, and in these calculations we do not include an expenditure of $27,000 made on your house, $16,000 for the new paved road, and other things ih automobile purchases, etc.,making an aggregate of $50,000. In other words, c the eleven months with the same eleven months of the previous years, the aggregate expenditures for labor and materials at Potico Hills amouo$259,000 more than for the eleven months endiember 1st of this year. I desire that these figures shall not be made public. They may vary slightly in some particulars, but they all be fully firmed by our books.
With loving regards for you and Abby and each of the dear children,and a grateful heart that you are all spared to me, I am.
Affeately,Father
Seal Harbor, Maine
Wel*** Bosworth was the architect for the Potico Hills gardens, a new facade for Kykuit, and for Rockefeller restorations in France. William S. Mitchell, a Cleveland attorney, was brought to the New York office. H died in 1921.
The 19th Letter
Kijkuit
Potico Hills,New York
October 25, 1916
Dear Son:
I am giving to you the following securities:
376 Colorado Fuel and Iron Co**any General Me, 5% Bonds,due in 1943. 7,440 Colorado Industrial, 5%, Bonds, due in 1934.
7,943 shares of Colorado Fuel and Iron Co**any Preferred Stock.
$400,000 Pueblo Realty Trust Co**any, 6%, Notes, due in 1919.
I have instructed Mr. Houston to have them all turned over to you at once.
Affeately,Father
26, Broadway New York
This gift was valued at $7,968,982.50. Although Rockefeller had given several large gifts to his son in the past, this letter was the first in a remarkable series transferring over $450 million from father to son. Some letters transferred large amounts of cash, up to $1 million?most transferred securities in Ameri industry and gover. For exa**le:
Ameri Linseed
United Dye Wood Corp
Iional Agricultural Corporation
Lakewood Engineering
Atlantic Refining Co
Vacuum Oil Co.
Standard Oil (NJ)
Standard Oil (NY)
Prairie Oil and Gas Co. Prairie Pipeline Co.
Illinois Pipeline Co.
solidated Gas Co.
Colorado Fuel and Iron Co.
solidation Coal Co.
Merts Fire Assurance Corp. New York State Bonds
Corporate Stock City of New York Uates Liberty Bonds
Uates Bonds
Barust Co**any
National City Bank
Equitable Trust Co.
Chase National Bank
Exge Bank
Manhattan Railway Co.
Interbh Rapid Transit
Wheeling and Lake Erie Railroad Western Maryland RR
New York tral RR
The 20th Letter
Golf House
Lakewood, N.J.
May 9, 1917
Dear Son:
A brief word only! History is making so rapidly, I hardly keep up with it, but this fact is being very forcibly i**ressed upon my mind that my individual ability to do things for others is only a fra of what it was before the Goverook a first me on my possessions and my ine, requirio pay foveral purposes many millions of dollars each year. With this in view, we must all reflect very carefully before any further ittals are made fifts of money, especially as I ow see where I shall require to pay in a very few months no ***s thay millions of dollars, not including what I have already paid and for which I am already i.
All goes well with us, and we are happy aed and hope that you and Abby will be rational, restful, retiring, and right-minded, and that you will look with righteous indignation upon any overtaxing of your time and strength, remembering that you have much work to do in the world and it ot all be done in a day. Be patient and be moderate. Allow other people to bear some of their share of the burdens of life, and in the end you will acco**lish more, live longer and be happier.
Affeately,Father
The Homestead
Hot Springs, Virginia
The 21st Letter
Forest Hill
Cleveland, Ohio
September 5, 1917
Dear Son:
Answering yours of the 30th.
While I am not f***liar with the situation in Colorado, I am very pleased to hear that you are not goi and that yoing to remain at Seal Harbor, and that you have had a very enjoyable aful summer. This is of more value to you and to me than all the Colorados.You and Abby both his summer’s rest very much, and I have not heard of anything that has given me so much pleasure as the reports from you of this restful happy period for you both.
I would be very pleased to go to you for a visit. This seems i**ossible now, and I fear I ot do so this seas
on.
I am steadily i**roving. I am in my right mind and possess all my reasoning faculties and enjoying life to the full.
We have had an unusually large number of guests during this summer,and they have tributed to our pleasure.
When Mr. Inglis arrived at the hotel last Wednesday m, I sent for him and brought him out bag and baggage. He has been here ever sind looked well and acted well in my dress suit? but his own arrived last night and he looks better then ever. He seems enthusiastic about his work,and we are much together. I do not know how long he wants to remain, but I will be glad to have him stay as long as he thinks he is getting any fish in his . You will know and judge better of this later on. Meanwhile, I will do what little I do to aid him.
It is alright about the vegetab***, and the milk, etc., so long as you all have good digestion. And you know, it would be a lot of trouble to keep the ats.
I am liking the e-Si**lex very much, and perhaps I ought to order another, but I have not as yet made up my mind to this.
As to the horses, carriages, etc., I have nothing new. I sent you a little memorandum some months agarding this and may want to call it up again iumn. My reports are that the en have done pretty well at Potico this summer. They certainly ought to do their best in respoo the very good treatment they are receiving and have always received from us and the co**aratively little work that they are called upon to do.
I am pleased to hear that the sed portrait is being copied, and I hope it will be a success. I am w how the lady would do whom you e**loyed to paint one of me from the photograph.
I should be glad to begin work with Mr. Sargent here now. Probably I will not go to Potitil about the time of your arrival. I do not know where he is, and thus far have not tried to reach him. You may want him for Abby first, and if so, I shall be very happy to have it so. With dear love to ead everyone of you, I am.
Affeately,Father
Seal Harbor, Maine
John Singer Sargent, Ameri artist, paiwo portraits of John D.Rockefeller, one in the spring of 1917 at Ormond Beach, Florida, and one in the fall at Potico Hills.
The 22er
Forest Hill
Cleveland, Ohio
September 28, 1917
Dear Son:
We sent you and Abby a cake with “1855” marked on it. September 26, 1855, represents the day and the year in which I obtained my first and only situation. We had a nice cele***tion. Mrs. Eyears and her daughter,Mr. and Mrs. Bustard, Miss Sked, and Dr. Biggar were here. The day was bright and passed very pleasantly.
We are happy that you have all returned safely and hope to join you in a few days. We have made two delays in fixing the date of our departure, on at of some treatments I am having here which seem to be helping me.
With love to you and each of your dear ones, I am.
Affeately,Father
26, Broadway New York
The 23rd Letter
Golf House
Lakewood, N.J.
December 21, 1917
Dear Son:
Answering your letter of December 19 regarding the gift to Dr.Simon Flexner, might it not be better to increase his salary? We will think carefully and talk further at our venience.
Affeately,Father
26, Broadway,New York
The 24th Letter
Golf House
Lakewood, N.J.
December 21, 1917
Dear Son:
Answering yours of the 20th, how would it be to ask Mr. Welborn if he or any others would care to buy any of the stock of the Co**any and thus t our relations as partners. In case they do, theake up the question of assisting them some, if necessary. You may find it is not necessary — it may be discovered that they are capitalists. However, I would think the first way of assisting them would be to have the co**any loan them money.
I am, unfortunately, in your sad dition, having desired to help everybody and everything and leaving myself high and dry.
I am hoping, however, that in the years to e I may be able to emerge and wash myself ashore with a cake of Pear’s soap.
I have met with large losses on my securities, and I am very desirous to husband my cash with the hope to recoup some **all part, at least, of these losses.
Affeately,Father
26, Broadway New York
The 25th Letter
Golf House
Lakewood, N.J.July 30, 1918
Dear Son:
I am this day giving you 18,800 shares of the on stock of the Ameri Linseed Co**any and 22,400 shares of the Preferred, and 500 shares of the Lakewood Engineering Co**any, 4,200 shares of the Iional Agricultural Corporation Preferred and 12,423 shares of the Atlantic Refining Co**any and 37,269 shares of the Vacuum Oil Co**any and 13,000 shares of the Standard Oil Co**any of New Jersey, and I have requested Mr. Houston to have the same transferred to you.
Affeately,Father
Seal Harbor, Maine
The 26th Letter
Golf House
Lakewood, N.J.
September 12, 1918
Dear Son:
Answering yours of the 9th, you could not have ehe visits of the past two weeks which we have had together more than I did.
You are very busy, but you never seem too busy to put yourself out to e and visit me. These visits I appreciate more and more, and I don’t tell you so nearly as much as I ought to.
What a Providehat your life should have been spared to take up the responsibilities as I lay them down! I could not have anticipated in the earlier years that they would have been so great, nor could I have dreamed that you would have e so pro**tly and satisfactorily to meet them, and to go beyond, ie**lation of ht attitude to the world in the discharge of these obligations.
I appreciate, I am grateful, beyond all I tell you. There is much for you to acco**lish iure. Do not allow yourself to be overburdened with details. Others must look to these. We will plan and work together. I want to stay a long time to help do my part. I hope you will take good care of your health. This is a religious duty, and you acco**lish so much more for the world if you keep well and strong.
Affeately,Father
26, Broadway New York
The 27th Letter
Ormond Beach
February 18, 1919
Dear Son:
Answering yours of the 12th, I agree with you about the i**ortance of doing the right thing toward the soldiers who are returning home, in aiding them to secure positions. I hear that not a few of them are expeg somethier than their old positions and will not be tent to return to their former locatioc., so that I assume that great care will be required to be exercised in dealing with eadividual case. I want to do fairly and liberally toward the men, but not to weaken or pauperize them by doing any unreasohings, perce catering to unreasonable whims, if there be such.
The situation at Potico at present is rather difficult. You may surmise what I have in mind when I recall a versation which we had before my ing away, and on at of this it will not be easy to enter upon new uakings — some little delay would necessarily be occasioned. I am desirous that we should do all that we ought to do in this e, but I also hope we avoid that unreasonable men claiming tinuously high wages and demanding the least of service have saddled upon us. I could prefer much that we might go slowly ahe natural settling process have its effed the men e, one by one, as individual applits and make their arras on their merits, subjeoval when their services were not required for any cause.
I wish you might find it veo talk with Mr. Ellis on the subject without requiring him to take any immediate defiion, and write to me what views he expresses in regard to the is of the situation, and anything else of ihat he may present in this e.
Meanwhile, I am giving the matter careful thought, and have written to him.
Affeately,Father
26, Broadway New York
The 28th Letter
Kijkuit
Potico Hills, N.Y.September 2, 1920
Dear Son:
Answering yours of the 14th ult., with refereo the Manship bust,I am not io have Mr. Manship do another, at least at present. I am not perfectly satisfied with the bronze bust. Possibly I may be a difficu subject for a bust. I shall not be adverse to sidering the question of having one made if some other man appears, upon whom we unite.
As to the statue in front of the Tea House, I think it is very beautiful,but as the price is so very high I hesitate, but I will tihe observation and study, and give the matter further refle
Affeately,Father
Seal Harbor, Maine
The statue in front of the Tea House at Potico Hills urportedly done by the French artist Augustin Pajou (1730–1809). Pajou was the official sculptor for the court of Louis XVI. He was best known for his portrait busts. After Junior’s death, curators from the Metropolitan Museum of Art determihat it was not a Pajinal and Nelson A.Rockefeller had it removed. Paul Manship, the Ameri sculptor, also did the Prometheus statue at Rockefeller ter.
The 29th Letter
Ormond Beach Florida
January 4, 1921
Dear Son:
I was greatly pleased with your beautiful letter respeg the way in which you spent the holiday, with the young men and women from the Southern republics. I thought they must have greatly ehe occasion.
We were all made very happy to hear that the three boys were to be united with the church last Sunday m, and so much regret that we could not have bee on that occasion. How we be grateful enough for this maion of desire on their part to walk in the footsteps of their parents! Our sincere hope is that their lives will give you the joy and support which yours has given to your parents. If so, you will have occasion fratitude beyond words to express.
We had our little Christmas festival here, with perhaps thirty or forty presents, including the children, with a beautiful Christmas tree and many presents. We had music upon the an and violin, and all were free to unite in the singing, and altogether it was an old time urained joyous festive occasion, with much pleasantry and good cheer.
Of course we have missed our dear ones, but we shall enjoy them all the more wheurn, and each day makes one ***s for us to remain away.With the mild winter, ossibly look for an early return of the spring.If so, we shall not be slow to em***ce our opportunity to hurry back.
With te love for ead every one of you.
Affeately,Father
26, Broadway New York
The 30th Letter
Ormond Beach
Florida
January 10, 1921
Dear Son:
Answering yours of the 6th, I have today wired you as follows:
‘‘I am still strongly opposed to the increasing of dividends of the Standard Oil Co**any of New Jersey and urge that you use all your influence against it. There will be time enough for this when we find ou cash balances increasing instead of decreasing, and we have experiences such as the V.O. and others fresh in mind, where aid high rates of i because of the desire to increase dividends when we ought to have kept the money ireasury. It will be easy enough to increase the dividends later, when we see that it is all safe, but I am vihat the servative policy which we pursued in the old days in the finang of the oil co**anies is the right one and I am very desirous that we should not depart from it. I shall be perfectly willing to increase when it is apparent that we have suffit reserves of cash and that we are steadil increasing those reserves, but these are no times for us to waver in respect to holding our money and keeping our s strong and not being unduly influenced by a multitude of little men who are moved by a desire for speculatioc., and whose aggregate is are the merest fra of the large servative holders who want these s so mahat the good name which we have for fifty years of careful ma established shall be tinued.”
Affeately,Father
26, Broadway New York
V.O. was the Vacuum Oil Co**any, later merged with the Standard Oil Co**any of New York.
The 31st Letter
Ormond Beach
Florida
January 12, 1921
Dear Son:
Referring to your telegram of the 12th.
I uand you to state that the pay off the preferred and have $800,000,000 left. Is this correct? So far, so good.
But the history of the case is that this had a reserve of,say, $100,000,000 in cash, whiotwithstanding its large earnings,was exhausted, and $200,000,000, was borrowed, of which all but$130,000,000 was used up, the last I heard.
Now, g all you say, and more, and sidering the question from the standpoint of the itself, which at all times must be the g sideration, and not the whim of any **all individual stockholder, or a desire to make a market to sell this stock, the prime factor is, as I state, to keep the strong, prosperous, vigorous, aggressive, on its ow and on its ows. Then it borrow mohen it sell stock. But the tail must not wag the dog, and the business must be ducted primarily for the good of the itself, and only then will the best i of every shareholder be served. The matter of selling the shares is of no at,in my estimation, when co**ared to siderations which I have here eed. The stock will find a ready sale at advang prices when its own holders want to buy it rather than sell it, on at of its intrinsic merits, and any effort to increase dividends to sell stock will result the same as putting it oock Exge, which thus far has been a failure.
It will be time enough to sider increasing dividends when the increasing reserves of cash, with co-ordinately increasing profits,ehis, but so long as the business increases, and the cash reserves decrease, whatever the profits show, I prefer much to keep the dividends down and not further me ourselves to bankers at high rates of i, aoderhods of finang, which, though I trust was the thing for us to have done uhe circumstances of the last two years, is he***s to be regretted, and the time will e in my opinion, when we will not be proud of this great debt, bearing high i, with the rede**tive clause of 115, when money is again cheap and we have a superabundance of cash, instead of the dition in which we found ourselves in this period of expansion of the business, resulting in the exhaustion of all our cash resources, and the creation of this debt of practically $230,000,000.
Affeately,Father
26, Broadway New York
The 32er
Ormond Beach
Florida
February 14, 1921
Dear Son:
Edith seems not to get on well in managing her finances. Mr. Cutler give you at any time desired some information about her large iedness — and this, too, with a gross ine which I judge she must have of somewhere between $800,000 and $1,000,000 a year. I have not succeeded very well in aidihough I have early desired to do so. I do not te**late further gifts, and in this e it occurs to me to suggest to you, and I think I may later on also to Alta, that if you should fih at any time, now or later, in straightened circumstances— indeed, I do not o suggest it — that you would be on the alert to render some assistao prevent i**ending disaster.
Experience is a good teacher. Edith tells me she has learned some things. She tells me she will profit by her experience. I do not suggest great assista any oime, but I know you will always be ready to,perhaps I may say, chip in, to prevent dear Edith being utterly stranded financially — and I leave this as a final record for your tender and mos thoughtful and brotherly sideration for our darlih.
Only retly I heard that the Chicago Opera anization had called upon her for an additional $100,000, after most liberal assistance already rendered. I also saw in the public prints that she and Harold had tributed in that e some two millions of dollars toward keeping this ship afloat. So goes the world, and indeed we learn by experience. What fools we mortals be! And Harold’s , I may say, with or without his sely threw away on the e**loyees, as I have ***ieved and still ***ieve,without warrant, a vast sum of money uhe guidance of some i**ulse of some mortal, living or dead I know not — but an i**ulse, good, bad or indifferent, whatever it might have been — well, let’s call it gohrew away a million dollars of precious gold, more or ***s. And such is life.
Affeately,Father
26, Broadway New York
Bertram Cutler was hired as bookkeeper in the Rockefeller office i 1901. He retired in the 1960s as the head of the iment and atiments.
The 33rd Letter
Ormond Beach
Florida
February 23, 1921
Dear Son:
I am giving you this day the follo
wing securities:
20,784 shares Equitable Trust Co**any
12,800"Barust Co**any
2,800"National City Bank
1,500"Chase National Bank
580"Merts Fire Assurance Corporation 460"Merts Fire Assurance Corp. Pfd.
1,056"United Dyewood Corporation
172" Exge Bank
Affeately,Father
26, Broadway New York
The 34th Letter
Ormond Beach Florida
March 23, 1921
Dear Son:
I am enclosing corresponden regard to a request from the Arcadia Uy for me to tribute.
If a tribution is made, I think it better to be made by you, with the idea that in case of my passing — which I desire here particularly to state I do not te**late at any early period, and indeed my ces for long tinuaoday seem quite as good or better that ever before, and I am happy to make this unqualified record — or in case of my suddeure uedly at any time it would be better that you, my successor, and most likely to remain much lohan I, should have to do with the tag ends of business affairs, rather than that these should be entailed upon my estate, my desire being that the estate, for all reasons, should be settled as soon as possible after my departure.
Therefore I think that not only this gift, but others of the same character hereafter, had better be taken up and disposed of by you. I approach the question of the gift without any prejudices. I have given to this project earlier, and have no reason to ***ieve that it has not been wisely used, and that the object is worthy of our sideration.
I hope I have made this clear. There is no mystery attached to it in any way, but it seems best that you should attend to it rather than I.
Affeately,Father
26, Broadway New York
The 35th Letter
Ormond Beach Florida
April 5, 1921
Dear Son:
I am giving you this day the following securities:
78,013 shs.Ohio Oil Co**any?
26,005"Illinois Pipe Line Co**any?
21,040"Prairie Oil and Gas Co**any?
31,560"Prairie Pipe Line Co**any?
Mr. Cary will see that the same are properly transferred and delivered.
Affeately Father
26, Broadway New York
The 36th Letter
Kijkuit
Potico Hills, N.Y. June 18, 1921
Dear Son:
Answering yours of the 15th, with refereo certailemen calling upon me on my birthday.
I want to assure you I greatly appreciate this kind thought, but my time is so uain, and birthdays, as well as others, are so fully occupied, I have no sense of loneliness or lack of co**anionship or of the best of fellowship, for which I am most profoundly thankful. I have no lonely days. I have no days when I am possessed of a sense of a lack of co**anionship. How grateful I should be for all this!
So while I much appreciate the desire of the friends to visit me on that particular day, and while I would be so happy to see them on any day, especially at the time of my golf, I think, as it might entail some little deprivation in some way to them, it is better for them not to take the trouble. I shall see them betimes and enjoy them as ever, and be grateful for all their helpful kindness and thoughtfulness — and much mrateful for yours, and much more scious all the time of my inability to fully express that gratitude to you.
With refereo my attending the church, I began to attend the Fifth Avenue Baptist Churewhere between “66” and “70”. I could not definitely state for the first time, but Dr. Armitage was the pastor and Uncl Will, I think, came to the church either in “65” or “66”, and soon occupied a place of i**ortance. I think he was Church Treasurer. Not long after he united with the church.
Affeately,Father
26, Broadway New York
The 37th Letter
Ormond Beach
Florida
January 14, 1922
Dear Son:
Referring to yours of the 7th, with refereo the solidation Coal Co**any, the question respeg our future relations to this and to other such like is, I take it, will be govero some extent, by the question of whether we secure men of the right type to represent us.
I take it that with the large amounts of capital we have to i, if we succeed in seg men of the right kind, we in a number of cases better afford to owher manufacturing co**anies and scatter them amongst the banking or that line of iments.
Furthermore, it is to be remembered that you have five sons ing along, and it will not be many years before you will begin to choose places for them to take, for their education? and naturally, for some of them, for their future settled business? although they will iure of the case also e to have general knowledge of the affairs which you have in hand, so that they be of the greatest assistance, jointly with you, in administering the large affairs that have fallen to us
It seems to me that as a general proposition it would be better for them to turn their attention to work and administration and the care of the property, seekiwhile, of course, to cultivate ihe desire to give out as we have sought to do to be others with the result of our divided attention, primarily to business, but happily for us, we have from the first kept along with the benevolences and the helpful relations which brings us today so much satisfa and real happiness. Let us be happy indeed and rejoi what we have been able to acco**lish, giving God the praise — to whom it is due.
With te affe,Father
26, Broadway New York
The 38th Letter
Ormond Beach
Florida
January 23, 1922
Dear Son:
I am giving you this day the following securities:
800 shares Wheeling and Lake Erie Ry. Co. Preferred Stock
53,961 """""“7% Prior Pfd.”
71,472.85321 shs Western Maryland Ry Co. First Pfd Stock
19,175""""“Sed”
15,872.048 """"“on”
Hoping that you will have the wisdom to manage, supervise and dire the administration of the affairs of these corporations in such a way as t the best results, not only, but that you will be guided in the distribution of any moneys derived from the same in the way that will do the most good in the world.
With te affe,Father
26, Broadway New York
The 39th Letter
Ormond Beach
Florida
January 26, 1922
Dear Son:
As to the sums which I have handed you from time to time, it is to be remembered that I have already set aside large amounts in our different trusts, for benevolent purposes, in addition to my regular giving personally,and with the careful and protracted study which I give to each object of any siderable moment, it is evident that I shall not fulfill to the co**lete extent, my heart’s desire to make everything that I give to the world available, for many years to e.
As you are in touch with the world from a somewhat different angle from mine, and there have been a**le mea by a kind Providence, I have hoped that with your stant and careful studies, and wide and broad knowledge of the needs of the world, you would have the ful***t enjoyment in personally determining and carrying out plans of your own for helping the world, and I rejoice to afford you this opportunity, in the fident assurahat great good will result therefrom.
I am indeed b***sed beyond measure in having a son whom I trust to do this most particular and most i**ortant wo carefully. Be servative. Be sure you are right — and then do not be afraid to give out,as your heart pro**ts you, and as the Lord inspires you.
With te affe,Father
26, Broadway New York
The 40th Letter
Ormond Beach
Florida
January 27, 1925
Dear Son:
Answering yours of the 20th, outlining your plans for a trip South, and the promise of a visit here, which I do not o say fills me with great joy and anticipation.
We want you all to e to our house. It would be lovely to have you all here at the same time, and I think there is no doubt but what we arra. I uand Mrs. Evans will, if she hasn’t done so already,write to you fully giving cordial endorsement of this view.
It would seem too bad to have any of you over iel, and I may say that our floors are of soft wood, and I think the boys would enjoy sleeping on them if there should not be enough beds, but I ***ieve we do eveer than that, and provide fortable sleeping aodations in beds. This would certainly be our pleasure.
I am looking forward with eagero y, and to hearing your at of the different iing experieo which you refer.We are always st up iing information, which brings us great pleasure and satisfa.
Affeately,Father
26, Broadway New York
The 41st Letter
Golf House
Lakewood, N.J.
November 10, 1925
Dear Son:
Answering yood letter of the 25th, we sent you yesterday the following message: “Letter twenty-five received. All goes well and we urge you to stay for absolute quiet a. With te affe.”This m we have telegraphed you further: “I advise carefully to sider going to some quiet pla Switzerland, the air is so ***g and stimulating? but this is only a suggestion. Love.”
The seessage was sent in view of the happy experience of some friends with whom we have just retly been talking. Switzerland seemed to lift them right up, and they found good hotel aodations. I need not repeat what I have so often said, that the question of health and strength and vigor has so much to do with an active, useful, religious life, that everything else must bend to seg and maintaining it. The slow eating,the discrimination ihe sleep, and the indepe reje of many of the numerous social demands are of supreme i**ortance. I attribute my good dition to my almost reck***s independeermining for myself what to do and the rigid adhering tulations which give me the maximum of rest and quiet and leisure, and I am being richly paid for it every day, and ***ieve I have acco**lished more for the be of others than could have been doherwise. Please do not hesitate to stay as long as you thi, and rely upon it, we will keep the wheels moving here,and develop strength and resourcefulness in some of your aides, who will be better for being obliged to act more on their own judgement. You know I have shirked all my life, and, I might say, have done very little that I could get others to do, and have acco**lished far more than I could have done if I had pursued the other policy to do it all myself.
We are having a perfectly lovely time in Lakewood, and are building a beautiful fence all around our estate, and we are delighted with it. It is far superior to any feng we have at Potico. I am sure you will be much pleased with it.
We will hope to see Abby and David, and will do our best for them,and for the other dear children.
Give yourselves no about affairs here, a, rest, rest —and fight, if need be, for freedom from the many who would pull you down instead of helping to lift you up.
With te affe for you and Abby
Father Paris, France
The 42er
Golf House
Lakewood, N.J.May 4th, 1926
Dear Son:
I have read with muterest your letter of April 9th, summariziain matters which we have talked over on the occasion of your visit to Ormond, during the winter.
As I again review our philanthropic gifts during the past thirty years, I feel we did well to proceed slowly and cautiously as we did. If the whole thio be dooday, you have rightly uood me as feeling that it should be done, and doubt***s could be dh a single anization, with many eies and the avoidance of such overlapping as you point out. It may and very likely will be wise, if not in the immediate future, a little later on, t some or all of these boards themselves, certainly various of their departments, into closer cooperation and affiliation. As rapidly and as fully as such steps bee wise and desirable, their being taken would seem to me emily appropriate and advisable. While the ma of these funds is wholly in the hands of the several boards of trustees, because I regard this matter so i**ortant for the best acco**lishment of the purposes for which the funds were established, I would like to have you send to the trustees of each board a copy of your letter to me and of this letter to you, so that it may be clear to them and to their successors that no aine iablishing these separate boards should ever be strued as indicative of my wish that they should always remain separate, or as a reason why the ful***t and most co**lete cooperation or affiliation or absorption should not ultimately tak place, if and when it is in the judgement of those responsible, such steps are deemed to be wise.
Affeately,
Your Father
John D. Rockefeller 26, Broadway New York City
The 43rd Letter
Golf House
Lakewood, N.J.June 19, 1928
Dear Son:
It goes without saying that I deeply appreciate your beautiful letter of the 14th, with the suggestion of a present for me on the occasion of my birthday.
Your presence, and that of the other dear ones of our f***ly, is all that I desire. I would tell you frankly if I could think of anything else in the world I would like to have. In truth, I do not. I am happy aed,and if at any time I make a suggestion as to something that it should give you pleasure to present to me, I will not hesitate to tell you.
Please do not mistake me. I am truly appreciative. My cup is full and running over, and my days are filled with brightness and cheer. I have all that heart could wish, and many times more than I could ever deserve. I am grateful that I have my faculties, and I have due appreciation of all those things, which make the b***sings of life so much sweeter.
With te affe,Father
26, Broadway New York
The 44th Letter
Kijkuit
Potico Hills, N.Y.September 1, 1928
Dear Son:
Thank you for your beautiful letter of the 27th.
I sincerely feel that we acco**lish all that we desire by carefully co-operating and ferring as to ways and means, not only resisting the te**tation to take on new obligations, but gradually eliminating many of the old, thus redug the volume of matters requiring attention, and with the ining of the boys to begin to assume some of the responsibilities that we have carried, this, I am sure, will affreat promise of ort and relief.
Everything is going on well here, and you must get all the be possible in the remaining days before returning home, and when you do return, under no circumstances should you pluo work without resolving carefully to observe all limitations. If more responsibility presents itself I know there are a number round about you who are only too eager to do all in their power to help, and to avail of this will prove of great be all around
We are enjoying perfect weather today, ao be through with the heated term, for the present.
With te affe,Father
26, Broadway New York
The 45th Letter
Ormond Beach
Florida
February 15, 1929
Dear Son:
Until receipt of your message of the 13th, I seemed to be possessed with the thought that we were not to write letters, and I do not feel at all certain that this will reach you. Yood letter of January 9th came duly to hand, and we were delighted to hear that you were all in good health and enjoying your trip. The days have gone very rapidly, and we are beginning to look forward to going to Lakewood about the first of April. The weather has been excellent, and we have all been in good dition of health and have enjoyed our stay here.
I presume you have bee fully posted on the affairs of the offi so far as you have desired to hear of them. We have had our usual run of visitors, and are now expeg Dr. Vi, who will e week, and possibly Mrs. Warner. You very likely have had a detailed at of the death ates and the serious dition ates, and the daughter,and one of the grandchildren. It seems a fearful cal***ty. On receipt of word ates’ death I sent the following message tates:
‘‘I am deeply shocked and saddeo learn of the passing of your dear husband, my co**anion, friend and invaluable helper for the long, long years in our business and philanthropidertakings. Too much ot be said of his most helpful servi these relations. He will be greatly missed by the multitudes whose lives have been b***sed as a result of the be influences in which his labors ih those of others of our associates have done so much toward uplifting our fellow men and in relieving world-wide suffering. Those of us who remain united in paying highest tribute to his ***oved ******. Be assured of my sy**athy for you and each of your dear ones in this sad bereavement.”
Our home here is more pleasant than ever, and we are tented and happy, and are stantly saying how much we have to be grateful for.We receive on
every haions, too many to ee, of your course in the Indiana matter, and we keep closely in touch. Indeed,yesterday we sent four long messages and they seemed to be very acceptable to the ittee. I presume you have had from the office a little published response from me which seemed necessary a few days ago,and which appears to have been well-received, and we hope may do some good.
We trust you are all getting the needful rest, and that you have succeeded well in di**issing all thoughts that would in any wise interfere with this object. Our friends here are more than ever kind and helpful to us,and it is most reassuring and cheering, and so we keep saying, gratitude,gratitude, gratitude.
Do not hurry back. The world will wag along, and now that you are so far away, you may have occasio if you do not take in to the full all the fav opportunities afforded for enjoymeai
With te affe,Father To be forwarded by New York office
Junior, Abby, their son David, Dr. James H. Breasted of the Uy of Chicago, and some other friends visited Egypt, Pa***tine, and Fran aerip in the spring of 1929. Gee E. Vi was the president of the Rockefeller Foundation from 1917 to 1929.
The 46th Letter
Golf House
Lakewood, N.J.June 12, 1929
Dear Son:
Answering yours of the 10th, I am deeply touched by and grateful festion to make me a birthday present of a Rolls-Royce, but my dear son, I could not stiously allow myself to be possessed of any more cars until we have fewer on hand which are entirely satisfactory for our service. I dare not allow su exa**le to go out with my endorsement before all of our young people ing along, and our neighbors and others.
I am most grateful to say that I am happy and perfectly tented with the cars we now have. The greatest birthday gift that possibly be bestowed upon me is the preseny dear ones and their affe, and under your leadership they are a stant delight and satisfa to me.
Please uand that this is from no laost keen appreciation of your kind offer
With te affe,Father
26, Broadway New York
The 47th Letter
Ormond Beach
Florida
December 28, 1931
Dear son:
Thank you for the beautiful shawl, the useful umbrella holder, the exquisite flowers and wreaths and the book descriptive of the Riverside church, which you kindly sent me — all most acceptable and greatly appreciated — as well as all the wonderful things you are doing for me from day to day the year around.
All goes well with us. We are busy indeed, and tonight is our Christmas cele***tion. We have had a number of seasonal gatherings,larger and **aller, and more of them than usual, to say nothing of the photographs, etc., all of which have brought pleasure, and, we hope a little good to somebody.
We built our first fire this m in my room. The te**erature wa 60°F outside.
It is taking unusual patiend wisdom for these days through which assing and I hope the experiences will result io the multitudes, though they are not just what we should have chosen for a real pleasant time.
We are anxiously looking forward to the visit from you and Abby.Do be careful, both of you, and observe your limitatiard***s of the clamor of the people, who would ride you to death. We must all stand up for our own prote, and down here we are trying every day to learn that ***son aogether as to the wisest means of acco**lishing it with the least tax or fri, and with the utmost kindliness.
I am still rejoig that I went to the New York osteopath, and we have one here in whom Mrs. Evans delights. He seems to be wonderful and she has had him ten or twelve times with gratifyis. We will save him up for you and Abby.
With te affe for ead every one of you
Father 26 Broadway New York
The 48th Letter
Lakewood, N.J.July 12, 1935
Dear Son:
Your ever wele letter of the 11th just at hand and is a great fort and delight to us all. We will be pleased to see the historian with you as suggested, and we wele the flight of time til then. We could not have enjoyed a visit more than the last. With te affe for you and dear Abby with all the children.
Father Seal Harbor, Maine
The 49th Letter
Ormond Beach
Florida
February 24, 1936
Dear Son:
Your unspeakably good letter of the 20th just is at hand and deeply appreciated. Many thanks. All is going well with us and we are ting the days until you and Abby e. All of you take good care of yourselves.
With te affe,Father
Room 5600
30, Rockefeller Plaza New York
John D. Rockefeller died on May 23, 1937 at his home in Florida. Five weeks earlier he had written Junior about plans for a wedding present for the son of his daughter Alta Rockefeller P*****ce. With Junior’s approval he decided to make the gift to a trust set up for the grandson. He addressed this letter, dated April 13, 1937, as always: “Dear Son.” He cluded it saying, “All goes well with us and we unite in every best wish for you and Abby and all the rest. With te affe, Father.
Epilogue: The Stewardship in A
From 1907 to 1937 Edith Rockefeller Mick, Senior’s sed daughter, co**iled scrapbooks of press artic*** on her father’s life. The colle, some 200 oversized volumes of about 200 pages each, is at the Rockefeller Archive ter. Favorable and unfavorable artic*** from neers and periodicals, aorial cartoons, jostle each other on the many pages. The last three volumes, co**iled after Rockefeller’s death,were different. Almost without exception, publications from around the world sing the praises of Rockefeller the philanthropist, the builder of a great co**any, the founder of the Rockefeller Foundation, the General Education Board, the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research, and the Uy of Chicago. The tents of these three volumes describe the public legacy that Rockefeller, Senior, bequeathed to his son — a public legacy as signifit as the private oran**itted through the fifty year of correspondeween father and son.
Five intensely personal themes ran through these letters. There is the intimate resped love shared among the members of the f***ly.There were the instrus and cautions of a father to his growing son.The son’s willio accept the father’s precepts and exa***** reflects the reverse side of this theme. There is the son’s scious assu**tion of the responsibilities resulting from a f***ly fortuhat approached $990 million in 1912, responsibilities that were increasingly transferred to the son. Finally, there was the overriding faith in a benevolent God.
In 1**5 Rockefeller Senior wrote, “We rejoice that you know from experiehat good for you is inseparately ected with the good y to others. But this is not a lecture, only a kind word from an affeate father to a much loved and only son on the occasio of his 21st birthday.” The letter enclosed a birthday gift of $21.
By 1922 Senior had given Junior over $465 million. The large gifts were made between 1916 and 1922. Midstream during the transfer of the fortune, Senior wrote, “What a Providehat your life should have been spared to take up the responsibilities as I lay them down. . . . I am indeed b***sed beyond measure in having a son whom I trust to do this most particular and most i**ortant wo carefully. Be servative. Be sure you are right — and then do not be afraid to give out, as your heart pro**ts you, and as the Lord inspires you.”
The stream of instru and inspiration from father to son was received with humility. “May God grarength to follow in your footsteps, with the same sweetness of spirit, the same generosity of heart and the same wisdom which has been so characteristic of your life.” The personal boween father and son is expressed best ihoughts on fulfilling their responsibilities flowing from the fortun
But there are other aspects of the relationship reflected in the correspondehe ception, creation, and nurturing of the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research, the General Education Board, and the Rockefeller Foundatiolined in these letters. Junior was the effi go-between who turhe dreams of F. T. Gates, William Rainey Harper,William W. Welch, and other reformers into reality by guiding Seniift-giving.
Junior, however, was not always successful in guiding his father’s thoughts. In 1921 officers of the Standard Oil Co**any (New Jersey) wao increase the annual dividends. Although his protest was unsuccessful, Sehat Junior try to thwart the plan. “It will be easy enough to increase dividends later, when we see that all is safe, but I am vihat the servative policy we pursued in the old days in the finang of the oil co**anies is the right one and I am very desirous that we should not depart from it. . . .
The prime factor is, as I state, to keep the strong, prosperous,vigorous, aggressive, on its ow and on its ows. Then it borrow mohen it sell stock. But the tail must not wag the dog, and the business must be ducted primarily for the good of the itself, and only then will the best i of every stockholder be served.”
Alongside the business and philanthropied, the letters portray the ever-ging life and activities of a growing f***ly. Between 1887 and 1**7 there were sleigh rides and ice skating. S doors were painted and horses were bridled. Rockefeller Senior testified befress oandard Oil Trust, and the first gift was made to the new Uy of Chicago. In 1**3 Junior entered Brown Uy, where he found new social dimensions, a future wife, and an education.
The sed decade, 1**7 – 1907, mought Junior into his father’s personal office. He became one of three advisors to Senior, the others bein F. T. Gates and Starr J. Murphy. He speculate oock market and lost“hundreds of thousands of dollars,” which his father replaced. He assisted iions of the terms for the creation of the large Rockefeller philanthropies.
Junior marries Abby Aldrid their first two children were born,Abby and John D. 3rd. His salary reached $10,000 a year, an amount he was sure he was not worthy to receive. He suggested his father provide financial support for Junior’s sister, Alta, and her new husband, E.Parmelee P*****ce. Seo provide funds for the purchase of blas, brushes, brooms, and the other “thousand and otle things required for the operation of a house.” He also provides the house.
Between 1907 and 1916 Junior and the office staff diversified the fortune from an e**hasis on oil co**anies, railroads, and real estate into holdings in banks, insurance co**anies, and additional railroads. Seniave some shares iandard Oil Co**any (New Jersey) to his three living children but cautiohem not to sell the stock without inf him. He also gave Junior his entire holding in the Ameri Linseed Co**any and some real estate in New York City. This decade was also a period when Junior’s f***ly expands: four sons were born: Nelson Aldri 1908, Laurance S. in 1910, Winthrop in 1912, and David in 1915. Junior built a new home for his growing f***ly at 10, West 54th Street, adjat to his father’s town house at 4, West 54th. He bought a large home in Seal Harbor, Maine, and expanded his home on the f***ly estate in Potico Hills, New York.
Between 1917 and 1922 Seniave Junior over $425 million in cash,bonds, and securities. Senior’s letters of tran**ittal and Junior’s letters of gratitude was brilliant exa***** of si**licity. ra words are needed when the gift was for $1 million in cash or $20 million in bonds.
The twenty years, 1917–1937, bring subtle ges in the correspondehe care of homes in Florida, New Jersey, New York,and Maine became matters of growing . Senior’s portrait aiwice by John Singer Sargent, Paul Manship created a marble bust,and William O. Inglis preserved Senior’s recolles in type. Senior tinued his i in the affairs of the oil industry and the world around him but he prefered to be an observer rather a partit.
Junior’s letters were filled with his growing universe of a. He bought land for Ft. Tryon park in northern Manhattan and fihe building of Rockefeller ter and the tower of Riverside Church. He began the restoration of ial Williamsburg and of cultural mos in Frand a, and built a museum in Jerusalem. Believing that worthwhile places enriched the soul of man, he made America’s national parks one of his main beneficiaries. His largesse spreaded across the nation? from Acadia in Maio the Graons in Wyoming, from the redwoods of California to the pines of the Great Smoky Mountains and Shenandoah, he tributed millions of dollars and hours of personal and thought.
The 1920s also saw Junior ehe publi with his vision of necessary ges in the religious and business climate of America. He challehe “fualists” of the Northern Baptist vention,not only with words but with a by withdrawing his past substantial financial support and throwing that support to the religious liberals represented by Harry Emerson Fosdid the Riverside Church.
Speaking clearly and with fidence, Junior challehe existihics of the business unity. He mounted a widely publicized proxy fight to drive Col. Robert W. Stewart from the chairmanship of the Standard Oil Co**any of Indiana whe proved ***s than ho in his testimony before a gressional ittee. Echoes of this challenge could be seen in the access oil industry leaders find to Senior though Junior.
Senior withdrawed gradually into a golfing routine which moved with the seasons from Florida to New Jersey to New York and back. F***ly matters grew in i**ortaters. Junior’s f***ly, now sisting of one daughter and five sons, emergds from young *****hood and the six ehe eic, social, and political establishment. Each major turning point in their lives was shared with Senior. As about Senior’s health grows, f***ly visits to Florida and New Jersey became more frequent. Senior looked forward to such visits. The exge of gifts ti Christmas and birthdays. They range from a e-Si**lex and the cash value of a Rolls Royce to golf balls, tie pins, handkerchiefs,and cravats. The last letter in this sele refered to the proper size of a wedding gift to a grandchild.
Both Rockefellers stroved to live up to the ideal of stewardship presented in these letters. Seniave over $480 million to the Rockefeller philanthropiizations and another $58 million to schools and colleges and tious and welfare anizations. He gave about $500 million to members of his f***ly, most of it to Junior. While the bulk of Seniiving was directed to the Rockefeller philanthropies, Junior diversified his giving dramatically. Of his $537 million in philanthropic giving, he gave $192 million to Rockefeller philanthropiizations,such as the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, the Iional Education Board,the Bureau of Social Hygiene, and the Sealantid, but he gave over$345 million to anizations and causes. Of this total, $121 milliooward cultural aion activities such as the national parks, ial Williamsburg, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Lin ter for the Perf Arts. Brown, Harvard, and New York uies, Barnard and Spelman colleges, the Massachusetts Institute of Teology, the New York Public Li***ry, the United Negro College Fund, and the Iional Houses in New York and Paris were the largest recipients of the $106 million given toward education. The $72 million given tious anizations read among the YM and YWCAs,the Riverside Chur New York, the National cil of Churchs, and the Union Theological Seminary, as well many **aller gregations and anizations. The sed largest recipient of Rockefeller Juniiving was the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. anized by his five sons in 1940, the Fund was created to rationalize the giving of the diverse group. Juhe Fund $58 million in 1952 and one half of his estate, over $70 millioo the Fund after his death in 1960.
He gave $261 million to members of his f***ly, primarily through trusts that endured across several geions.
John D. Rockefeller and his son John D. Rockefeller, Jr., shared in the adventure once described by Senior as an effort toward making a better world. This was the legacy of their uanding of their stewardship.
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