John Langeloth Loeb and Frances Lehman Loeb Family Papers

The ancestors of John Langeloth Loeb and Frances Lehman Loeb were Jewish settlers in the American South and Jewish merchants from Germany who immigrated to the United States in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Frances "Peter" Lehman Loeb, of the powerful Lehman Family of New York City, was the niece of both a governor and a state Supreme Court justice. Her father, Arthur Lehman, was a senior partner in Lehman Brothers, the cotton mill company turned investment firm formed by his father, Mayer, and Mayer's brothers, Emanuel and Henry Lehman. They left Germany prior to the American Civil War, settling in Montgomery, Alabama and started a successful cotton and fine linens company.

Frances' maternal grandfather was Adolph Lewisohn, whose fortune consisted primarily of copper ore mining. If the Lehmans were prosperous in their business, Lewisohn's wealth rivaled theirs, both becoming members of "Our Crowd": families of Jewish, and wealthy, movers and shakers. "Our Crowd: The Great Jewish Families of New York" was a book written in 1967 by Stephen Birmingham that chronicled the gossipy origins of New York's most wealthy Jewish banking families, including the Lehmans, Lewisohns, Goldman, Sachs, Kuhns, Loebs, and Seligman families.

Adolph was born in Hamburg, Germany in 1849 and immigrated to New York the same year that the Lehmans moved from Alabama to New York City: 1867. He was sixteen years old and came to the U.S. to help his mercantile brothers, forming Lewisohn and Son, of which he would eventually become president. The business primarily concentrated on copper mining, which would be used foremost in Thomas Edison's electrical inventions. Adolph married Emma Cahn in 1878 and they had two children, Frances' mother, Adele, and Samuel (mostly known as Sam). Sam would head the family business after Adolph's death in 1938, and his wife was Margaret Valentine Seligman, the daughter of Joseph Seligman, patriarch of the Seligman Family, related to the Guggenheims.

John's father, Carl Morris Loeb, married Adeline Moses, a descendant of Jacob Phillips and the Moses and Nathans families of the American South who traced their lineage to the American Revolution. Carl arrived in the United States from Frankfort in 1892; Adele was born in Montgomery, Alabama and moved to New York City with Carl as he worked through the ranks at the American Metal Company.

The Lehman and the Moses families supported the Confederacy during the Civil War. After the war and Henry's death, the remaining Lehman Brothers decamped with their front office to New York City in 1867 where they expanded their business beyond fine cotton and linens to investment banking. Mayer Lehman and his wife, Babette Neugass, would have five children: Sigmund M. Lehmann, Hattie Lehmann Goodhart, Lisette Lehmann Fatman, Clara Lehman Limburg, Arthur (father of Frances), Irving (NYS Supreme Court Justice) and Herbert (Governor and Senator).

In 1896, Carl married Adeline. Carl and Adeline lived in St. Louis where Carl worked at American Metal, essentially running the office. Margaret, John and Carl, Jr. would be born there in 1899, 1902 and 1904. They moved to New York City in 1905 when Carl was appointed a vice president of the company, and Henry Loeb was born there in 1907. When the owner of American Metal, Jacob Langeloth, died suddenly as World War I approached in August 1914, its parent, Metallgesellshcaft, lost control of the American subsidiary. The company's proxy was passed to Carl, who consolidated his shares in the company and his position as president. According to All in a Lifetime, Carl's yearly pay as head of American Metal was $30,000 in 1917, but he received a bonus that year of $1,000,000.

Arthur Lehman married Adele Lewisohn in 1901. Adele left Barnard College to marry Arthur, much to her mother, Emma's, dismay. In 1903, the first of their three daughters... also much to the dismay of Emma... were born. The first daughter was Dorothy (1903), then Helen (1905), and lastly, the nameless girl born in 1906 who would be called "it" for the first six months of her life, according to Frances, until she came down with a fever and her parents dubbed her "Peter" after "Peter Pan" which had debuted as a play with Maude Adams in 1904. Frances notes in All in a Lifetime that "There were no antibiotics or the like at that time. My parents feared it was all their fault because they had not loved me. Daddy would call Mother three times a day and ask, "How is our Peter Pan?"...That's how I came to be called Peter."

To say the least, John and Frances both lived not only during the aftermath of the Gilded Age, but their families lived in a rarified world of tremendous wealth and isolation and among the wealthiest Jewish citizens of American society. Growing up in the same neighborhoods in New York City and at family estates in and around Purchase, NY, they both knew each other from grade school to high school, as the Lehman girls and Loeb children mostly attended the same school, the elite Horace Mann School in New York. The families of Purchase and New York City played and socialized together, and eventually, did business with and married each other.

After graduating from Harvard in 1924, John worked at the American Metal Company, learning how the company worked. He noted in All in a Lifetime that he spent six months working in the mine areas of mineral and coal town, Langeloth, PA, outside of Pittsburgh. The company mined precious minerals and it was a hard way to make a living. He spent a year in the front offices of the company in Pittsburgh, getting to know the working Polish miners who predominately toiled in the mines and learning how the front office worked. According to him, this type of business didn't sit well with him, and towards the fourth year of employment, he decided to leave the ferrous metal business and move into investment banking.

John and Frances were married on November 18, 1926, seven days after John's 24th birthday at Adolph Lewisohn's Fifth Avenue mansion. Frances was 20. They traveled to Europe, and were joined briefly by her parents and sister, Dorothy. Halfway through the trip, Frances became pregnant and cut their honeymoon short. Judith Loeb was born on September 11, 1927.

After leaving Pittsburgh and returning to New York permenantly, Loeb spent some transition time at the Wertheim and Company firm in 1929, working as a runner and then as a broker . Just before starting at Wertheim, John and Frances took their first trip to Havana, Cuba, which was a destination for them up until the Cuba Revolution after 1953. After leaving Wertheim, John mentions in All in a Lifetime that Carl and American Metal Company had a falling out regarding financial commitments in African copper mine shares, and Carl was forced to resign, but not after leveraging his shares of the company. John then proposed to Carl the creation of Carl M. Loeb and Co., and persuaded some employees of Wertheim to join the new endeavor, including long-time Loeb, Rhoades partner, Palmer Dixon. By 1931, John bought a New York Stock Exchange seat for $250,000. The in-depth history of the firm is beyond the scope of this historical note and there are numerous papers within the collection which go into details regarding a brokerage firm that spanned from 1931 to 1979, with John Loeb leading the firm until 1972. In an 1987 oral history of the world of finance, Loeb lamented two things: retiring too early at the age of 70, and the demise of Loeb, Rhoades and Co. He noted:

"I regret that Loeb Rhoades isn't in existence anymore in many ways, but on the other hand, I don't think I could be very happy functioning in the present atmosphere. In the old days with certain investment bankers had long and friendly relationships with certain companies, and these companies had confidence in the bankers. Today it's open season."

"The merger we did end up doing, with Hornblower, turned out to be a big mistake. They had a different back-office system than we did, and that created real problems when business picked up suddenly. That was a basic error: to merge with a firm that had a different back-office system. The logic of that merger obviously wasn't studied enough. What we should have done at the time was shrink. It would have cost us $10 million to shake down, but would have given us staying power."

While Loeb and Rhoades prospered, Frances cared for her growing family and households, with a home in New York City, one in Purchase, and later on, a camp called Gull Bay in Upper Saranac, and a beach house in Palm Springs, Florida and Lyford Cay, Nassau, Bahamas. However, in 1936, the same month that Arthur Lehman died of an embolism, John was hospitalized with intestinal cancer. After a painful surgery and mourning for Arthur, John decided that he could no longer commute from Purchase to NYC daily, which was two hours away by car or a forty-five minute train ride to Harrison, NY, and a drive to their home, called "Ridgeleigh." After an apartment hunt, they moved to 730 Park Avenue, where they would live until their deaths in 1996. They regularly weekended and vacationed at Purchase after their move to 730 Park.

During World War II, John attempted to enlist to fight, but due to having had cancer in 1936, was medically rejected. The Loebs decamped to Washngton, D.C. from 1941-1944 where John was involved as the Assistant Director of Procurement for Lend-Lease and then a Special Assistant to the Office of War Mobilization. By the end of his work with the U.S. government, Frances became pregnant with her fifth and final child, Deborah, born in February 1946.

Frances kept meticulous records of her personal charitable giving, which was separate from the John and Frances Loeb Foundation and they worked together on some philanthropic endeavors, particularly in Israel. John heavily invested in Harvard and the Museum of Modern Art (Loeb's official portrait was painted by surrealist Salvador Dali), and the Customs House located in downtown Manhattan (now the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian), while Frances invested in children's work and Vassar's library and art center. John and his siblings invested in New York University by building the Loeb Student Center (1959-2001) on Washington Square Park and the Loeb Boathouse at Central Park, among other philanthropic endeavors. John helped the interior designer Dorothy "Sister" Parish source and purchase several pieces for Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy's redecorating of the Oval Office at the White House. (The Bouviers were personal friends.) The Loebs, particularly Frances, invested as producers in Broadway shows, the first being An Invitation to Murder starring Humphrey Bogart in the early 1930s.

Frances and John, who were well-traveled, began taking more vacations as the 1960s approached, and Frances, who mostly was a politically- and philanthropically-minded socialite with a keen sense of her place in society, continued to use her social skills to bolster political candidates such as President Dwight D. Eisenhower, former New York State Governor Thomas Dewey, and Mayor John Lindsay of New York City. John was also active in politics, but while predominately being a Republican, John leaned toward some Democratic candidates, particularly President Lyndon Johnson, of which he had a close relationship, working on "A Decent Home" report with Johnson that discussed in detail U.S. housing issues in the late 1960s. Meanwhile, Frances began a career outside of the home and philanthropy by working as the head of Mayor Lindsay's intiative to better accomodate foreign diplomats and their families in New York from 1963 until she was replaced by Mayor Ed Koch in 1978. Under her leadership, a directory of services for diplomatic families was created, and she developed welcome programs that included general health, mental welfare, and connections resources for them.

By the time Deborah was born in 1946, the older Loeb children were heading towards marriage and adulthood. Judith, the eldest, married broker Richard Norton Beaty, who died in 1965. Afterward, she married Marco Chiara, the son of Italian author, Pietro Chiara. She had five children and died a few days after her 83rd birthday in 2010. John Langeloth Loeb, Jr., worked at Loeb, Rhoades and Co. and was appointed an Ambassador to Denmark from 1981-1983. He married Nina Sundby in 1960, and divorced a few years later. His second wife was Meta Martindell Harrsen, and after their divorce, John married Sharon Handler in 2012. He has two children, Alexandria Loeb Driscoll and Nicolas Loeb. Ann married the Seagrams Distillery heir, Edgar Bronfman, from 1953-1973. Ann died in 2011. Her twin Arthur, who suffers from mild cerebral palsey, opened the Madison Avenue Bookstore. Deborah married dashing landed gentry playboy David Davies in 1967, and divorced not long after their son Taran, was born. She has been married to James Brice since 1977.

John Langeloth Loeb and Frances "Peter" Lehman Loeb were the ultimate power couple of the 20th century. When they died in 1996 (she of emphysema, after a lifetime of smoking) and he later in the same year, more than likely due to age and grief, they had been married for almost 70 years. In 1986, they celebrated their anniversary at the Plaza Hotel with their closest friends, including socialites, investment bankers, artists, and royalty. Their relationship might have had its ups and downs over seventy years, but from all indications, they dearly loved each, were kind to each other, and enjoyed their lives to the fullest.

1844

Rimpar, Germany to Mobile, AL.

Henry Lehman immigrates to the U.S.

1847

Rimpar, Germany to Montgomery, AL.

Emanuel Lehman immigrates to the U.S.

1849 May 27

Hamburg, Germany

Adolph Lewisohn born.

1850

Rimpar, Germany to Montgomery, AL

Mayer Lehman immigrates to the U.S.

1858

Mayer Lehman marries Babette Neugass. They would have eight children: Sigmund M. Lehmann, Hattie Lehmann Goodhart, Lisette Lehmannn Fatman, Clara Lehman Limburg, Arthur Lehman, Irving Lehman, and Herbert H. Lehman.

1867

Montgomery, AL to New York, NY

Frances's grandfather, Mayer Lehman and his brother Emanuel, move the family business operations to New York shortly after their brother Henry dies in New Orleans.

1867 August 1

Hamburg to New York City

Adolph immigrates to America from Hamburg.

1870

New York, NY

New York Cotton Exhange, a commodities exchanged founded by 100 cotton brokers and merchants including the Lehman Brothers, opens. Becomes New York Board of Trade in 1998.

1873 June 1

New York, NY

Arthur Lehman, son of Mayer and Babette, born.

1875 September 28

Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany

Carl Loeb born.

1876 January 28

Irving Lehman, brother of Arthur and Herbert, born.

1876 February 11

Montgomery, AL

Adele Moses born.

1878 March 28

New York, NY

Herbert Lehman born.

1878 June 26

Adolph marries Emma Cahn. They would have two children, Adele and Samuel.

1882 May 17

New York, NY

Adele Lewisohn born.

1892

Carl M. Loeb arrives in the United States at the age of seventeen to work at American subsidiary of German company, American Metal Company.

1893

Bavaria

Arthur, Irving and Herbert visit European family. Arthur maintains the first of five photo albums of his travels.

1896

Adeline Moses marries Carl Morris Loeb.

1897

Rhoades and Company founded.

1901 November 25

Arthur Lehman marries Adele Lewisohn.

1902 November 11

St. Louis, Missouri

John Langeloth Loeb born to Carl and Adeline.

1903 April 22

New York, New York

Dorothy Lehman born to Arthur and Adele.

1904 August 4

New York, NY

Carl Morris Loeb, Jr. born to Carl and Adeline.

1905 October 8

Helen Lehman born to Arthur and Adele.

1906 September 25

New York, NY

Frances Lehman born to Arthur and Adele.

1919

Frances Lehman helps her Uncle Herbert with the Prison Reform Campaign in New York City.

1923

Dorothy Lehman marries Richard Jacques Bernhard. They would have two sons, Robert Arthur and William Lehman.

1924

JLL graduates from Harvard.

FLL enters Vassar, leaves after two years to marry JLL in 1926.

JLL begins working at the American Metal Company in Pittsburgh, beginning a period of love letters from FLL to JLL. JLL moves to NYC in 1926.

1926 November 18

Lewisohn home on Fifth Avenue

John and Frances marry.

1926 to early 1927

St. Moritz and other European places. Frances becames pregnant with Judith during honeymoon.

JLL and FLL honeymoon

1927 September 11

Purchase, NY

Judith Helen Loeb born to JLL and FLL.

1929

Helen Lehman marries Benjamin Buttenweiser. They would have three children: Lawrence, Peter, and Paul.

1929 June 20

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Edgar Bronfman born to Samuel and Saidye Rosner Bronfman.

1930 May 2

New York, NY

John Langeloth, Jr., born to JLL and FLL.

1931 January 2

New York, NY

Carl Loeb and his son, John, establish Carl M. Loeb and Co.

1932 September 19

Twins Ann Margaret and Arthur Lehman Loeb born to JLL and FLL.

1934 May-July

Theater Masque, New York, NY

An Invitation to Murder, written by Rufus King, produced by Ben Stein, and starring Humphrey Bogart, opens and closes on Broadway. This was the first theatrical production JLL and FLL invested in.

Fall 1935

Southern Hemisphere

Arthur and Adele embark on their fourth around the world trip together, aboard the RMS Franconia. They produce a photo album of their trip complete with a full RMS Franconia log book of their trip.

1936 May

Havana and New York

During an earlier visit to Cuba, JLL becomes sick. In NYC, he is diagnosed with intestinal cancer and operated on by Dr. A.A. Berg, spending time in the hospital.

1936 May 16

New York, NY

Arthur Lehman suffers an embolism and dies.

1937

New York, NY

Carl M. Loeb and Company merges with Rhoades and Company to become Loeb, Rhoades, and Company. Palmer Dixon, who knew John from Harvard and worked for Rhoades, became a partner of the new merged company.

John is still feeling unwell after surgery and begins to study yoga. He credits yoga with getting him back into shape and for a renewed view on life and business.

1938 August 17

Upper Saranac Lake

Adolph Lewisohn dies at 89.

1941-1945

Washington, DC

JLL is unable to enlist due to health reasons and moves family to Washington working as Assistant Director of Procurement in charge of lend lease, and later joining the temporary staff of UNRRA, and then becoming a Special Assistant to the Surplus Property Director at the Office of War Mobilization.

1945 September 22

Port Chester, NY

Judge Irving Lehman dies.

1946 February 19

New York, NY

The youngest child of JLL and FLL, Deborah, is born.

1948

Judith marries Richard Norton Beaty, who becomes a partner in Loeb, Rhoades and Company in 1959.

1953-1973

Ann Margaret Loeb marries Seagrams heir, Edgar M. Bronfman.

1953 November 28

Adeline Moses Loeb dies.

1955 January 3

New York, NY

Carl Morris Loeb dies.

1955-1977

JLL appointed Senior Partner at Loeb, Rhoades and Company and Emeritus Senior Partner from 1972-1977.

1958

John Langeloth, Jr. becomes partner at Loeb, Rhoades and Company.

1960

Denmark

John Langeloth, Jr., marries Nina Sundby. They have one child, Alexandria, and divorce a few years later.

1965

Richard Norton Beaty dies. After his death, Judith marries Marco Chiara, son of Italian writer Piero Chiara. They later divorce.

1965 August 11

Purchase, Harrison NY

Adele Lewisohn Lehman dies.

1966-1977

City Hall, New York, NY

Frances starts work under Mayor John Lindsay of New York City as New York City Commissioner for the United Nations.

1986 November 18

Plaza Hotel, New York, NY

60th wedding anniversary of JLL and FLL.

1996 May 17

New York, NY

Frances Lehman Loeb dies.

1996 December 8

New York, NY

John Langeloth Loeb dies.

2010 September 14

Judith Helen Beaty Chiara dies.

2011 April 5

Ann Loeb Bronfman dies.

2013 December 21

New York, NY

Edgar Bronfman dies.