Mortimer Loeb Schiff (June 5, 1877 – June 4, 1931), sometimes Mortimer Leo Schiff, was an American banker and notable early

Boy Scouts of America Scouting America is the largest scouting organization and one of the largest List of youth organizations, youth organizations in the United States, with over 1 million youth, including nearly 200,000 female participants. Founded as the Boy Sco ...

(BSA)

leader Leadership, is defined as the ability of an individual, group, or organization to "", influence, or guide other individuals, teams, or organizations. "Leadership" is a contested term. Specialist literature debates various viewpoints on the co ...

. His son, John Mortimer Schiff, was also involved with the BSA. He was also the father of

Dorothy Schiff Dorothy Schiff (March 11, 1903 – August 30, 1989) was an American businesswoman who was the owner and then publisher of the ''New York Post'' for nearly 40 years. She was a granddaughter of financier Jacob Schiff. Schiff was interested in soc ...

, who was the owner and publisher of the ''

New York Post The ''New York Post'' (''NY Post'') is an American Conservatism in the United States, conservative daily Tabloid (newspaper format), tabloid newspaper published in New York City. The ''Post'' also operates three online sites: NYPost. ...

'' from 1939 to 1976.

Life and career

Mortimer Loeb Schiff was born on June 5, 1877, the only son of the German

Jewish American American Jews (; ) or Jewish Americans are American citizens who are Jewish, whether by culture, ethnicity, or religion. According to a 2020 poll conducted by Pew Research, approximately two thirds of American Jews identify as Ashkenazi, 3% id ...

banker and philanthropist

Jacob Schiff Jacob Henry Schiff (born Jakob Heinrich Schiff; January 10, 1847 – September 25, 1920) was a German-born American banker, businessman, and philanthropist. He helped finance the expansion of American railroads and the Japanese military efforts a ...

and his wife, Therese (née Loeb). He entered

Amherst College Amherst College ( ) is a Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1821 as an attempt to relocate Williams College by its then-president Zepha ...

in the class of 1896, though he did not graduate; he was likely the first Jewish student ever to attend there. While he worked as a partner in the financial firm of Kuhn, Loeb & Co. from 1900 until his death in 1931, he also devoted much of his time to the development of scouting in

America The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

. He was a member of the

World Scout Committee The World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM ) is the largest and, after the Order of World Scouts (formed in 1911), is the second-oldest international organization in the Scout Movement, having been established in 1922. It has 176 members. ...

of the

World Organization of the Scout Movement The World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM ) is the largest and, after the Order of World Scouts (formed in 1911), is the second-oldest international organization in the Scout Movement, having been established in 1922. It has 176 members. ...

and the Nassau County (now Theodore Roosevelt) Council Executive Board. After a long tenure as vice-president of the BSA beginning in 1910, during which he also appeared on the cover of ''

Time magazine ''Time'' (stylized in all caps as ''TIME'') is an American news magazine based in New York City. It was published weekly for nearly a century. Starting in March 2020, it transitioned to every other week. It was first published in New York Cit ...

'' on February 14, 1927, he was elected

president President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television *'' Præsident ...

of the organization in 1931. However, his untimely death came only one month later on June 4, 1931. He had also been serving as the BSA's International Commissioner for several years.

Legacy

The property for the

Mortimer L. Schiff Scout Reservation The Mortimer L. Schiff Scout Reservation, located in northern New Jersey, was a major Boy Scout training facility for almost 50 years. It was named after Mortimer L. Schiff, the father of John M. Schiff; both of whom were World Scout Committee me ...

was purchased by his mother, named in his honor, and donated to the BSA for their national training center in April 1933. Schiff's son, John M. Schiff, in 1961 was the 27th person worldwide to be awarded the

Bronze Wolf The Bronze Wolf Award is an award presented by the World Organization of the Scout Movement for outstanding service by an individual to the Scout Movement. Just over 400 people have received the Bronze Wolf since its creation in 1935. WOSM has r ...

, the only distinction of the

, granted by the World Scout Committee for exceptional services to world Scouting. The Bronze Wolf award was first initiated in 1935 and given to Lord Baden-Powell, four years after the death of Mortimer Schiff.

Personal life

Schiff was married to Adele Neustadt. They had two children: his daughter,

(March 11, 1903 – August 30, 1989) was an owner and then publisher of the ''

'' for nearly 40 years. Both Mortimer and his son, John M. Schiff, received

Silver Buffalo Award The Silver Buffalo Award is the national-level distinguished service award of Scouting America. It is presented for noteworthy and extraordinary service to youth on a national basis, either as part of, or independent of the Scouting program. The ...

s from the BSA.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Schiff, Mortimer L. 1877 births 1931 deaths Jewish American bankers American bankers Loeb family Recipients of the Bronze Wolf Award

Mortimer L. Schiff Mortimer Loeb Schiff (June 5, 1877 – June 4, 1931), sometimes Mortimer Leo Schiff, was an American banker and notable early Boy Scouts of America (BSA) leader. His son, John Mortimer Schiff, was also involved with the BSA. He was also the fat ...

World Scout Committee members Amherst College alumni Presidents of the Boy Scouts of America

Life and career

Legacy

Personal life

See also

References