Gerald Gidwitz: Difference between revisions
Adding local short description: "American businessman (1906–2006)", overriding Wikidata description "American businessperson" |
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{{Short description|American businessman (1906–2006)}} |
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'''Gerald S. Gidwitz''' (July 16, 1906 – July 11, 2006) was a co-founder of the cosmetics and salon parlour firm [[Helene Curtis]] Industries. |
'''Gerald S. Gidwitz''' (July 16, 1906 – July 11, 2006) was a co-founder of the cosmetics and salon parlour firm [[Helene Curtis]] Industries. |
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==Early life== |
==Early life== |
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Gidwitz was born in [[Memphis, Tennessee]]. His father was a cotton farmer and general store owner in [[Mississippi]]. When Gidwitz was 12 years old, his family moved to [[Chicago, Illinois]], where his father started a business that made paper boxes. |
Gidwitz was born in [[Memphis, Tennessee]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/14/business/gerald-gidwitz-99-helene-curtis-founder-dies.html|title=Gerald Gidwitz, 99, Helene Curtis Founder, Dies|agency=Associated Press|date=2006-07-14|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-02-20|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> His father was a cotton farmer and general store owner in [[Mississippi]]. When Gidwitz was 12 years old, his family moved to [[Chicago, Illinois]], where his father started a business that made paper boxes.<ref name=":0" /> |
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==Helene Curtis== |
==Helene Curtis== |
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After graduating from the [[University of Chicago]] in 1927, Gidwitz worked at National Minerals Company. |
After graduating from the [[University of Chicago]] in 1927,<ref name=":1" /> Gidwitz worked at National Minerals Company with his brother, Willard. The Gidwitzes father had acquired the troubled beauty products company in settlement of a debt National Minerals owed the Gidwitz box company.<ref name=":0" /> |
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National Minerals' main product was a clay for beauty facials. Gidwitz helped refocus the company's product line toward beauty parlor supplies, including permanent wave solutions and hair dryers. In the late 1940s the company began marketing home beauty products, including shampoos and hair sprays. The company's first consumer product was a hair cream marketed under the [[Suave]] label. |
National Minerals' main product was a clay for beauty facials. Gerald and Willard Gidwitz helped refocus the company's product line toward beauty parlor supplies, including permanent wave solutions and hair dryers. In the late 1940s the company began marketing home beauty products, including shampoos and hair sprays. The company's first consumer product was a hair cream marketed under the [[Suave (personal care brand)|Suave]] label. |
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National Minerals was renamed Helene Curtis Industries in 1956, when the company went public. Gidwitz served as chairman of the company from 1952 to 1996, when it was bought by [[Unilever]]. |
National Minerals was renamed Helene Curtis Industries in 1956, when the company went public. Willard Gidwitz ran day-to-day operations, while Gerald Gidwitz focused on acquisitions and creating other companies.<ref name=":0" /> Gerald served as chairman of the company from 1952 to 1996, when it was bought by [[Unilever]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2006-07-13-0607130127-story.html|title=Gerald Gidwitz|last=reporter|first=Trevor Jensen, Tribune staff|website=chicagotribune.com|date=13 July 2006 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-20}}</ref> |
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Gidwitz also founded or acquired companies in other economic sectors. In the 1980s he launched a company providing building supplies, |
Gidwitz also founded or acquired companies in other economic sectors. In the 1980s he launched a company providing building supplies, Continental Materials Corporation. He also bought two companies that manufactured farm equipment. |
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==Political life== |
==Political life== |
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In the 1950s Gidwitz founded the anti-communist Education for Survival Foundation, which had the aim of making "every school district in the nation aware of the grim fact that we are engaged in a battle of the classroom with [[Soviet Union|Russia]]." |
In the 1950s Gidwitz founded the anti-communist Education for Survival Foundation, which had the aim of making "every school district in the nation aware of the grim fact that we are engaged in a battle of the classroom with [[Soviet Union|Russia]]." |
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During the [[Cold War]], Gidwitz supported groups that assisted defectors from [[Eastern bloc|Soviet bloc]] countries. In 1962 he launched a monthly "Cold War digest" that provided information on military, political and technological aspects of the Cold War. |
During the [[Cold War]], Gidwitz supported groups that assisted defectors from [[Eastern bloc|Soviet bloc]] countries. In 1962, he launched a monthly "Cold War digest" that provided information on military, political and technological aspects of the Cold War. |
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Gidwitz served on the board of [[Roosevelt University]]. Gidwitz funded literacy programs through Roosevelt University and worked with the National Planning Association, which creates programs to improve education and promote literacy. During the 1940s he set up after-hours classes for workers at Helene Curtis. |
Gidwitz served on the board of [[Roosevelt University]]. Gidwitz funded literacy programs through Roosevelt University and worked with the National Planning Association, which creates programs to improve education and promote literacy. During the 1940s, he set up after-hours classes for workers at Helene Curtis. |
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In 2002 Gidwitz gave a grant to [[National-Louis University]] to create the Gidwitz Center for Urban Planning and Community Development. |
In 2002, Gidwitz gave a grant to [[National-Louis University]] to create the Gidwitz Center for Urban Planning and Community Development. |
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He died on July 11, 2006 of congestive heart failure. |
He died on July 11, 2006, of congestive heart failure, five days shy of his 100th birthday. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
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* Fornek, Scott. (2006, July 12). ''Built Helene Curtis into $1 bil. business''. The Chicago Sun-Times |
* Fornek, Scott. (2006, July 12). ''Built Helene Curtis into $1 bil. business''. The Chicago Sun-Times |
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* Associated Press. (2006, July 14). ''Gerald Gidwitz, 99, Helene Curtis Founder''. The New York Times, p. |
* Associated Press. (2006, July 14). ''Gerald Gidwitz, 99, Helene Curtis Founder''. The New York Times, p. C9 |
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* Jensen, Trevor. (2006, July 15). ''Gerald Gidwitz, 99; Helped Start Cosmetics Maker Helene Curtis''. The Los Angeles Times |
* Jensen, Trevor. (2006, July 15). ''Gerald Gidwitz, 99; Helped Start Cosmetics Maker Helene Curtis''. The Los Angeles Times |
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{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. --> |
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| NAME = Gidwitz, Gerald |
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| ALTERNATIVE NAMES = |
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| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American businessperson |
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| DATE OF BIRTH = 1906 |
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| PLACE OF BIRTH = |
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| DATE OF DEATH = 2006 |
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| PLACE OF DEATH = |
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}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Gidwitz, Gerald}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gidwitz, Gerald}} |
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[[Category:1906 births]] |
[[Category:1906 births]] |
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[[Category:2006 deaths]] |
[[Category:2006 deaths]] |
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[[Category:Deaths from cardiovascular disease]] |
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[[Category:University of Chicago alumni]] |
[[Category:University of Chicago alumni]] |
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[[Category:American businesspeople]] |
[[Category:20th-century American businesspeople]] |
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Latest revision as of 19:08, 23 May 2024
Gerald S. Gidwitz (July 16, 1906 – July 11, 2006) was a co-founder of the cosmetics and salon parlour firm Helene Curtis Industries.
Early life
[edit]Gidwitz was born in Memphis, Tennessee.[1] His father was a cotton farmer and general store owner in Mississippi. When Gidwitz was 12 years old, his family moved to Chicago, Illinois, where his father started a business that made paper boxes.[1]
Helene Curtis
[edit]After graduating from the University of Chicago in 1927,[2] Gidwitz worked at National Minerals Company with his brother, Willard. The Gidwitzes father had acquired the troubled beauty products company in settlement of a debt National Minerals owed the Gidwitz box company.[1]
National Minerals' main product was a clay for beauty facials. Gerald and Willard Gidwitz helped refocus the company's product line toward beauty parlor supplies, including permanent wave solutions and hair dryers. In the late 1940s the company began marketing home beauty products, including shampoos and hair sprays. The company's first consumer product was a hair cream marketed under the Suave label.
National Minerals was renamed Helene Curtis Industries in 1956, when the company went public. Willard Gidwitz ran day-to-day operations, while Gerald Gidwitz focused on acquisitions and creating other companies.[1] Gerald served as chairman of the company from 1952 to 1996, when it was bought by Unilever.[2]
Gidwitz also founded or acquired companies in other economic sectors. In the 1980s he launched a company providing building supplies, Continental Materials Corporation. He also bought two companies that manufactured farm equipment.
Political life
[edit]In the 1950s Gidwitz founded the anti-communist Education for Survival Foundation, which had the aim of making "every school district in the nation aware of the grim fact that we are engaged in a battle of the classroom with Russia."
During the Cold War, Gidwitz supported groups that assisted defectors from Soviet bloc countries. In 1962, he launched a monthly "Cold War digest" that provided information on military, political and technological aspects of the Cold War.
Gidwitz served on the board of Roosevelt University. Gidwitz funded literacy programs through Roosevelt University and worked with the National Planning Association, which creates programs to improve education and promote literacy. During the 1940s, he set up after-hours classes for workers at Helene Curtis.
In 2002, Gidwitz gave a grant to National-Louis University to create the Gidwitz Center for Urban Planning and Community Development.
He died on July 11, 2006, of congestive heart failure, five days shy of his 100th birthday.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "Gerald Gidwitz, 99, Helene Curtis Founder, Dies". The New York Times. Associated Press. 2006-07-14. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
- ^ a b reporter, Trevor Jensen, Tribune staff (13 July 2006). "Gerald Gidwitz". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
- Fornek, Scott. (2006, July 12). Built Helene Curtis into $1 bil. business. The Chicago Sun-Times
- Associated Press. (2006, July 14). Gerald Gidwitz, 99, Helene Curtis Founder. The New York Times, p. C9
- Jensen, Trevor. (2006, July 15). Gerald Gidwitz, 99; Helped Start Cosmetics Maker Helene Curtis. The Los Angeles Times