The Guggenheim family ( ) is an American-Jewish family known for making their fortune in the mining industry, in the early 20th century, especially in the United States and South America. After World War I, many family members withdrew from the businesses and became involved in philanthropy, especially in the arts, aviation, medicine, and culture.

History

Meyer Guggenheim Meyer Guggenheim ( ; ; February 1, 1828 – March 15, 1905) was the patriarch of what became known as the Guggenheim family in the United States, which became one of the world's wealthiest families during the 19th century, and remained so duri ...

, a Swiss citizen of

Ashkenazi Jewish Ashkenazi Jews ( ; also known as Ashkenazic Jews or Ashkenazim) form a distinct subgroup of the Jewish diaspora, that Ethnogenesis, emerged in the Holy Roman Empire around the end of the first millennium Common era, CE. They traditionally spe ...

ancestry, arrived in the United States in 1847. His surname derived from the name of the Alsatian village of

Gougenheim Gougenheim (; ) is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Grand Est in north-eastern France. Between 1 February 1973 and 1 January 1986 Rohr was merged with Gougenheim. The Guggenheim family is named after Gougenheim. Location The village ...

. He married Barbara Meyer, whom he met in the United States. Over the next few decades, their 11 children and their descendants became known for global successes in

mining Mining is the Resource extraction, extraction of valuable geological materials and minerals from the surface of the Earth. Mining is required to obtain most materials that cannot be grown through agriculture, agricultural processes, or feasib ...

and

smelting Smelting is a process of applying heat and a chemical reducing agent to an ore to extract a desired base metal product. It is a form of extractive metallurgy that is used to obtain many metals such as iron-making, iron, copper extraction, copper ...

businesses, under the name Guggenheim Exploration, including the

American Smelting and Refining Company ASARCO (American Smelting and Refining Company) is a mining, smelting, and refining company based in Tucson, Arizona, which mines and processes primarily copper. The company has been a subsidiary of Grupo México since 1999. Its three largest o ...

. In the early 20th century, the family amassed one of the largest fortunes in the world. Following World War I, it sold its global mining interests and later purchased

nitrate Nitrate is a polyatomic ion with the chemical formula . salt (chemistry), Salts containing this ion are called nitrates. Nitrates are common components of fertilizers and explosives. Almost all inorganic nitrates are solubility, soluble in wa ...

mines in Chile. Subsequently, the family largely withdrew from direct involvement in running businesses.Davis, ''passim'' Family members became known for their philanthropy in diverse areas such as modern art, aviation, and medicine. They donated funds to develop

Guggenheim Museums The Guggenheim Museums are a group of museums in different parts of the world established (or proposed to be established) by the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation. Museums in this group include: * The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, Ne ...

, the

Guggenheim Aeronautical Laboratory The Guggenheim Aeronautical Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology (GALCIT), was a research institute created in 1926, at first specializing in aeronautics research. In 1930, Hungarian scientist Theodore von Kármán accepted the di ...

, and the Guggenheim Pavilion at

Mount Sinai Medical Center Mount Sinai Hospital, formerly at times known as Mount Sinai Medical Center, is a 319-bed major urban hospital in Chicago, Illinois, with its main campus located adjacent to Douglass Park at 15th Street and California Avenue on the city's West Si ...

, designed by

I. M. Pei Ieoh Ming Pei
– website of Pei Cobb Freed & Partners ( ; ; April 26, 1917 – May 16, 2019) was ...

in New York City.

Current interests

Peter Lawson-Johnston, a British Guggenheim descendant, founded

Guggenheim Partners Guggenheim Partners, Inc is a global investment and advisory financial services firm that engages in investment banking, asset management, capital markets services, and insurance services. Guggenheim has c. 2,000 employees. The firm has offices ...

which today (2023) manages over $300 billion in assets. Another family vehicle, Guggenheim Investment Advisors, oversees about $50 billion in assets.

Family tree

Meyer Guggenheim (1828–1905) married Barbara Meyer, of German Jewish descent, in 1852. They met in the United States. They had 11 children together, including eight sons, five of whom were active in the family businesses: Isaac, Daniel, Maurice ("Murry"), Solomon Robert, and (John) Simon Guggenheim. Sons Benjamin, Robert, and William pursued other careers. The daughters were Jeanette, Rose, and Cora. Meyer's 11 children, their spouses, and notable descendants are shown below: *

(1828–1905), m. Barbara Meyer (1834–1900) (m. 1852 – her death) ** Isaac Guggenheim (1854–1922), m. Carrie Sonneborn (1859–1933) (m. 1876 – his death) *** Beulah V. Guggenheim (1877–1960), m. William I. SpiegelbergDavis
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/ref> *** Edyth B. Guggenheim (1880–1960), m. Louis M. Josephthal, future admiral and founder of Josephthal & Co. **** Audrey Josephthal (1903–2003) m. Cornelius Ruxton Love Jr. (died 1971) *****

Iris Love Iris Cornelia Love (August 1, 1933 – April 17, 2020) was an American classical archaeologist, best known for the rediscovery of the Temple of Aphrodite in Knidos. Early life and education Love was born in New York to Cornelius Love, a dip ...

(1933–2020) *** Helene Guggenheim (1886–1962) **** m. Edmund L. Haas (m. 1905; div.) **** m. Corlette Glorney **** m. Lord Melvill Ward **

Daniel Guggenheim Daniel Guggenheim (July 9, 1856 – September 28, 1930) was an American mining magnate and philanthropist, and a son of Meyer and Barbara Guggenheim. By 1910 he directed the world's most important group of mining interests. He was forced out ...

(1856–1930), became head of the family after his father's death; m. Florence Shloss (1863–1944) (m. 1884 – his death) ***

Meyer Robert Guggenheim Meyer Robert Guggenheim (May 17, 1885 – November 16, 1959) was an American diplomat and a member of the Guggenheim family. Born in New York City, he was the son of Daniel Guggenheim (1856–1930), brother of Harry Frank Guggenheim, and nephew ...

(1885–1959) ***

Harry Frank Guggenheim Harry Frank Guggenheim (August 23, 1890 – January 22, 1971) was an American businessman, diplomat, publisher, philanthropist, aviator, and horseman. Early life He was born August 23, 1890, in the Wst End section of Long Branch, New Jersey. H ...

(1890–1971) **** Diane Guggenheim (1924–1991) *** Gladys Eleanor Guggenheim (1895–1980), m. Roger Williams Straus (1891–1957) (m. 1914 – his death) **** Roger Williams Straus Jr. (1917–2004), a founder and chairman of

Farrar, Straus and Giroux Farrar, Straus and Giroux (FSG) is an American book publishing company, founded in 1946 by Roger Williams Straus Jr. and John C. Farrar. FSG is known for publishing literary books, and its authors have won numerous awards, including Pulitzer P ...

, publishers *****Roger Williams Straus III (born 1943) ** Maurice "Murry" Guggenheim (1858–1939), m. Leonie Bernheim (1865–1959) (m. 1887 – his death) *** Edmond A. Guggenheim (1888–1972), m. Marion Price (1888–1992) *** Lucille Guggenheim (1894–1972), m. Frederic Adam Gimbel (1891–1996), div. **

Solomon R. Guggenheim Solomon Robert Guggenheim (February 2, 1861 – November 3, 1949) was an American businessman in needlework, gold, silver, copper, and lead and an art collector. He is best known for establishing the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation and the Sol ...

(1861–1949), founded the

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, often referred to as The Guggenheim, is an art museum at 1071 Fifth Avenue between 88th and 89th Street (Manhattan), 89th Streets on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York City. It hosts a permanent coll ...

and

Foundation Foundation(s) or The Foundation(s) may refer to: Common uses * Foundation (cosmetics), a skin-coloured makeup cream applied to the face * Foundation (engineering), the element of a structure which connects it to the ground, and transfers loads f ...

; m. Irene M. Rothschild (1868–1954), daughter of

Victor Henry Rothschild Victor Henry Rothschild or V. Henry Rothschild (April 6, 1835 – May 16, 1911) was an American businessman. Biography Victor Henry Rothschild was one of seven children born to a Jewish family on April 6, 1835, in Nordstetten, Baden-Württemberg, ...

(m. 1895 – his death) *** Eleanor Mary Guggenheim (1896–1992), m. Arthur Stuart, 7th Earl Castle Stewart (1889–1961) (m. 1920 – his death) **** David Stuart, Viscount Stuart (1921–1942) **** Robert Stuart, Viscount Stuart (1923–1944) **** Arthur Stuart, 8th Earl Castle Stewart (1928–2023) ***** Andrew Stewart, Viscount Stuart (born 1953) **** The Honorable Simon Stuart (1930–2002) *** Gertrude R. Guggenheim (1898–1966) *** Barbara Josephine Guggenheim (1904–1985), married John Lawson-Johnston of the family producing

Bovril Bovril is a thick and salty meat extract paste, similar to a yeast extract, developed in the 1870s by John Lawson Johnston. It is sold in a distinctive bulbous jar and as cubes and granules. Its appearance is similar to the British Marmite and ...

**** Peter Lawson-Johnston, President

Guggenheim Museum The Guggenheim Museums are a group of museums in different parts of the world established (or proposed to be established) by the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation. Museums in this group include: * The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, Ne ...

, founder

** Jeanette Guggenheim (1863–1889), m. Albert M. Gerstle (1860–1896) *** Nettie Gerstle (1889–?) **

Benjamin Guggenheim Benjamin Guggenheim (October 26, 1865 – April 15, 1912) was an American businessman, who was a wealthy member of the Guggenheim family. He was among the most prominent American passengers aboard and perished along with 1,495 others when the ...

(1865–1912), died in the ''Titanic'' disaster; m. Florette Seligman (1870–1937) (m. 1895 – his death)Davis
p. 82
/ref> *** Benita Rosalind Guggenheim (1895–1927) *** Marguerite "Peggy" Guggenheim (1898–1979), founded the

Peggy Guggenheim Collection The Peggy Guggenheim Collection is an art museum on the Grand Canal in the Dorsoduro ''sestiere'' of Venice, Italy. It is one of the most visited attractions in Venice. The collection is housed in the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, an 18th-century ...

Venice Venice ( ; ; , formerly ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 islands that are separated by expanses of open water and by canals; portions of the city are li ...

**** m. Laurence Vail (div. 1928) ***** Michael Cedric Sindbad Vail (1923–1986), m. Margaret Angela Vail (m. 1957 – his death) ****** Karole Vail (1959–) ***** Pegeen Vail Guggenheim (1925–1967) ****** m.

Jean Hélion Jean Hélion (April 21, 1904October 27, 1987) was a French painter whose abstract work of the 1930s established him as a leading modernist. His midcareer rejection of abstraction was followed by nearly five decades as a figurative painter. He w ...

(1904–1987) (m. 1946; div. 1956) ******* Fabrice HélionDavis
p. 337
/ref> ******* Nicolas Hélion ******* Davide Hélion ****** m.

Ralph Rumney Ralph Rumney (5 June 1934 – 6 March 2002) was an English artist, born in Newcastle upon Tyne, where his father was an Anglican vicar. In 1957 lifelong conscientious objector Rumney—he evaded National Service by going on the run in continen ...

(1934–2002) (m. 1958 – her death) ******* Sandro Rumney (born 1958) **** m.

Max Ernst Max Ernst (; 2 April 1891 – 1 April 1976) was a German-born painter, sculptor, printmaker, graphic artist, and poet. A prolific artist, Ernst was a primary pioneer of the Dada movement and surrealism in Europe. He had no formal artistic trai ...

(1891–1976) (m. 1941; div. 1946) *** (Barbara) Hazel King-Farlow Guggenheim (1903–1995), **** m. Sigmund Marshall Kempner (m. 1921; div. 1922)Davis
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/ref> **** m. Milton S. Waldman (m. 1923; div. 1930) ***** Terrence Waldman (1924–1928) ***** Benjamin Waldman (1927–1928) ***** Terrence (four-and-a-half years old) and Benjamin (14 months) both fell to their deaths from the roof of the Surrey, a 16-story apartment hotel at 20 East 76th Street, New York, on October 19, 1928. **** m. Denys King-Farlow (Hugh St. Denys Nettleton King-Farlow) (m. 1930; div.)Davis
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/ref> ***** John King-Farlow (1932–2002) ***** Barbara Benita King-Farlow (1934–?) ****** Ghislaine Agostini ****** Amelia Kaye ****** Adam Jacobs **** m. Charles Everett McKinley Jr. (d. 1942) (m. ? – his death) **** m. Archibald Butt Jr. (div.) **** m. Larry Leonard (div.) ** Robert Guggenheim (1867–1876) ** (John) Simon Guggenheim (1867–1941), elected as a U.S. Senator from Colorado; m. Olga Hirsch (1877–1970) (m. 1898 – his death) *** John Simon Guggenheim (1905–1922) *** George Denver Guggenheim (1907–1939) **

William Guggenheim William Guggenheim (November 6, 1868June 27, 1941) was an American businessman and philanthropist. He was the youngest son of Meyer Guggenheim, the patriarch of the Guggenheim family. Guggenheim became a member of the American Philosophical Soc ...

(1868–1941) *** m. Grace Brown Herbert (m. 1900; div. 1901) *** m. Aimee Lillian Steinberger (1877–1957) (m. 1904 – his death) **** William Guggenheim Jr. (1907–1947), m. Elizabeth Newell (1913–2004) (m. 1937–his death) he later m. William J. Broadhurst***** William Guggenheim III (1939–2023) ****** m. Grace Embury (1940– ) (div.)Davis
p. 439
/ref> ******* Maire Embury Guggenheim (born 1962) ******* Jaenet Newell Guggenheim (1963–2011) ****** m. Judith Arnold (1943– ) (div.) ******* William Douglas Guggenheim (born 1970) ******** m. Traci Lee Aikey (born 1978) ********* Lilian Grace Guggenheim (born 2009) ********* Katherine Joy Guggenheim (born 2010) ********* Emily Faith Guggenheim (born 2013) ******* Christopher Mark Guggenheim (born 1976) ******** m. Cheryl Anne Brower (born 1973) ********* Alexandra Anne Guggenheim (born 2014) ********* Athena May Guggenheim (born 2014) ******* Jonathan Paul Guggenheim (born 1978) ******** Zoya Odette Guggenheim (born 2017) ****** m. Stephanie Maddox (born 1951) (div.) ** Rose Guggenheim (1871–1945), m. Albert Loeb, the nephew of

Solomon Loeb Solomon Loeb (born Salomon Löb, June 29, 1828 – December 12, 1903) was a German-born American banker and businessman. He was a merchant in textiles and later a banker with Kuhn, Loeb & Co. Biography His father, a devout Jew, had been a small ...

*** Harold A. Loeb (1891–1974) *** Edwin M. Loeb (1894–1966) *** Willard E. Loeb (1896–1958) ** Cora Guggenheim (1873–1956), m. Louis F. Rothschild (1869–1957), founder of L. F. Rothschild *** Louis F. Rothschild Jr. (1900–1902) *** Muriel Barbara Rothschild (1903–1999), m. William Donald Scott *** Gwendolyn Fay Rothschild (1906–1983)

Businesses

The following is a list of businesses in which the Guggenheim family have held a controlling or otherwise significant interest. *

ASARCO ASARCO (American Smelting and Refining Company) is a mining, smelting, and refining company based in Tucson, Arizona, which mines and processes primarily copper. The company has been a subsidiary of Grupo México since 1999. Its three largest ...

* Anglo-Lautaro Nitrate Corporation *

Braden Copper Company Braden Copper Company was an American company that controlled the El Teniente copper mine in Chile until 1967 when its copper holdings were nationalized. History Braden Copper Company was founded on 18 June 1904 by E.W. Nash, Barton Sewell, Willi ...

Cain Hoy Stable Cain Hoy Stable was a Thoroughbred racing stable and horse breeding operation with training facilities in Columbia, South Carolina, and Kissimmee, Florida. It was owned by Harry Guggenheim, who also raced horses in Europe. A founding member of t ...

* Chile Exploration Company *

* ''Gourmet'' *

Kennecott Copper Kennecott Utah Copper LLC (KUC), a division of Rio Tinto Group, is a mining, smelting, and refining company. Its corporate headquarters are located in South Jordan, Utah. Kennecott operates the Bingham Canyon Mine, one of the largest open-pit c ...

Nevada Northern Railway The Nevada Northern Railway was a railroad in the U.S. state of Nevada, built primarily to reach a major copper producing area in White Pine County, Nevada. The railway, constructed in 1905–06, extended northward about from Ely, Nevada, Ely to ...

*''

Newsday ''Newsday'' is a daily newspaper in the United States primarily serving Nassau and Suffolk counties on Long Island, although it is also sold throughout the New York metropolitan area. The slogan of the newspaper is "Newsday, Your Eye on LI" ...

'' *

Tradition Records Tradition Records was an American record label from 1955 to 1966 that specialized in folk music. The label was founded and financed by Guggenheim heiress Diane Hamilton (the pseudonym of Diane Guggenheim) in 1956. Its president and director was ...

*''Yukon Gold Company''

References

External links