Samuel H. Kress

Samuel H. Kress was a renowned American businessman, art collector, and philanthropist, best known for founding the Kress Corporation, a chain of five and dime stores, and for his extensive collection of Renaissance and Baroque art, which he donated to the National Gallery of Art and other institutions, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. His business acumen and philanthropic efforts earned him recognition from prominent figures, such as Franklin D. Roosevelt and Dwight D. Eisenhower. Kress's contributions to the art world were also acknowledged by institutions like the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Detroit Institute of Arts.

● Early Life and Education

Samuel H. Kress was born in Cherryville, Pennsylvania, to a family of modest means, and grew up in a rural area near Allentown, Pennsylvania. He attended Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania, where he developed an interest in business and entrepreneurship, inspired by successful businessmen like John Jacob Astor and Andrew Carnegie. Kress's early life was also influenced by his relationships with family members, including his brother, Claude W. Kress, and his uncle, Albert Loewy, who owned a dry goods store in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. After completing his education, Kress worked for his uncle's store, where he gained valuable experience in retail and management, similar to other successful entrepreneurs, such as Marshall Field and Richard Warren Sears.

● Business Career

Kress's business career began in 1887, when he opened his first five and dime store in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, with the help of his brother, Claude W. Kress, and his uncle, Albert Loewy. The store was successful, and Kress soon expanded his operations to other locations, including Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and Scranton, Pennsylvania, where he competed with other retailers, such as Woolworth's and Kresge's. In 1896, Kress incorporated his business as the Kress Corporation, which would eventually become one of the largest retail chains in the United States, with over 400 stores across the country, rivaling other successful chains, such as Sears, Roebuck and Co. and J.C. Penney. Kress's business model was influenced by other successful retailers, including F.W. Woolworth and S.S. Kresge, and he was also a member of the National Retail Dry Goods Association.

● Art Collection and Philanthropy

Kress's interest in art began in the 1920s, when he started collecting Renaissance and Baroque paintings, including works by Titian, Tintoretto, and Caravaggio. He was advised by prominent art dealers, such as Joseph Duveen, 1st Baron Duveen, and Bernard Berenson, who helped him acquire works by famous artists, including Raphael, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci. Kress's collection eventually grew to include over 3,000 works of art, which he donated to the National Gallery of Art and other institutions, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Cleveland Museum of Art. His philanthropic efforts were recognized by institutions like the American Academy in Rome and the Archaeological Institute of America, and he was also a supporter of the Museum of Modern Art and the Whitney Museum of American Art.

● Legacy and Impact

Samuel H. Kress's legacy extends far beyond his business accomplishments, as he is remembered as one of the most important art collectors and philanthropists of the 20th century. His donations to the National Gallery of Art and other institutions have had a lasting impact on the art world, and his collection is still considered one of the most significant in the United States. Kress's contributions to the art world were also recognized by prominent artists, including Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, and Georgia O'Keeffe, and he was a supporter of the Art Students League of New York and the National Academy of Design. His legacy continues to inspire new generations of art collectors and philanthropists, including Paul Mellon, John D. Rockefeller III, and David Rockefeller, and his name is still associated with institutions like the Kress Foundation and the Samuel H. Kress Foundation.

● Personal Life

Samuel H. Kress was a private person who kept his personal life out of the public eye, but it is known that he was married to Claire Kittner Kress, and had no children. He was a member of the Episcopal Church and supported various charitable organizations, including the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army. Kress was also a supporter of the Republican Party and was a friend of prominent politicians, including Herbert Hoover and Calvin Coolidge. He died on September 22, 1955, in New York City, leaving behind a legacy as a successful businessman, art collector, and philanthropist, and his name is still remembered in connection with institutions like the Kress Corporation, the National Gallery of Art, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Category:American art collectors Category:American philanthropists Category:American businessmen