Finding Aid to the Benjamin Harrison Swig papers
Presley Hubschmitt
The Bancroft Library
February 2024
The Bancroft Library
University of California
Berkeley, CA 94720-6000
bancref@library.berkeley.edu
Contributing Institution:
The Bancroft Library
Title: Benjamin Harrison Swig papers
Identifier/Call Number: BANC MSS 2010/874
Physical Description:
42 linear feet
(3 cartons, 19 flat boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1912-1998
Physical Location: Many of the Bancroft
Library collections are stored offsite and advance notice may be required for use. For
current information on the location of these materials, please consult the library's online
catalog.
Language of Material:
English .
Biographical / Historical
Benjamin Harrison Swig was a real estate entrepreneur and a philanthropist. Born in
Massachusetts, he became a bank treasurer when he was nineteen years old. In the 1920s, he
went into real estate. Following the Great Depression, he specialized in making business
arrangements for department stores. By the 1940s, Swig and his partner, J.D. Weiler, were
among the biggest real estate operators in the U.S. In 1946, Swig settled in San Francisco
and established himself as one of the city's leading businessmen. He invested in the city's
premier hotels, including the Fairmont, and in high-rise developments downtown. Hundreds of
organizations benefited from his generosity. He gave millions of dollars to Jewish,
Catholic, and secular colleges and universities, hospitals, and social service agencies; to
the U.S. military; and to numerous city funds for youth groups, including the Columbia Park
Boys' Club and to Boys' Town in Italy. He was recognized by the pope for his contributions
to Catholic causes. He also contributed to Israeli institutions and was active in Democratic
Party campaigns; was a civilian aide to the secretary of the Sixth U.S. Army, and a
president of the San Francisco Chapter of the U.S. Army Association.
Scope and Contents
The collection contains many awards; honorary degrees; certificates given to Swig. Also
includes some correspondence with family, friends, famous people including a few letters
with close friends Earl Warren and Edmund G. "Pat" Brown; photographs of Swig at events; and
photocopies of newspaper clippings.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Accruals
No future additions are expected.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Benjamin Harrison Swig papers were transferred to The Bancroft Library from the Judah
L. Magnes Museum in 2010.
Processing Information
Processed by Presley Hubschmitt in 2024 with funding from the Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert
Foundation.
Existence and Location of Copies
There are no alternative forms of this collection.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Benjamin Harrison Swig papers, BANC MSS 2010/874,The Magnes
Collection of Jewish Art and Life, The Bancroft Library, University of California,
Berkeley.
Conditions Governing Use
Some materials in these collections may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17,
U.S.C.). In addition, the reproduction of some materials may be restricted by terms of
University of California gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and
publicity rights, licensing and trademarks. Transmission or reproduction of materials
protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of
the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited
without permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with
the user. For additional information about the University of California, Berkeley Library's
permissions policy please see: http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/about/permissions-policies
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Jewish businesspeople--California--San Francisco
Jewish philanthropists.
Correspondence.
Photographs.
Jews -- California -- San Francisco.
Jews -- California -- San Francisco -- Social life and
customs
Swig, Benjamin Harrison, 1893-1980
Fairmont Hotel
(San Francisco, Calif.)
Brown, Edmund G. (Edmund Gerald), 1905-1996
carton 1, folder 1-3
General Correspondence
1949-1952
carton 1, folder 4-7
General Correspondence
1959-1962
carton 1, folder 8-9
General Correspondence
May 1962-February
1965
carton 1, folder 10-12
General Correspondence
February
1965-December 1974
carton 1, folder 13
General Correspondence
November 1974-June
1980
carton 1, folder 14
Correspondence from Earl Warren
undated
carton 1, folder 15-17
Correspondence from Well-Known People
1950-1959
carton 1, folder 18-19
Correspondence from Well-Known People
1959-1962
carton 1, folder 20
Correspondence from Well-Known People
December
1962-December 1965
carton 1, folder 21-22
Correspondence from Well-Known People
July 1965-April
1969
carton 1, folder 23
Correspondence from Well-Known People
April 1976-October
1980
carton 2, folder 1-4
Correspondence - Colleges, Universities, Etc.
November
1969-March 1976
carton 2, folder 5
Correspondence - Colleges, Universities, Etc.
April 1976-June
1979
carton 2, folder 6-7
Correspondence - Universities, Civic and Charitable
February
1965-October 1969
carton 2, folder 8-11
Correspondence - Civic and Charitable
1952-1959
carton 2, folder 12-13
Correspondence - Civic and Charitable
November
1969-November 1979
carton 2, folder 14-15
Correspondence - Contributions
October
1958-December 1959
carton 2, folder 16-17
Correspondence - Contributions
February
1960-August 1964
carton 2, folder 18-20
Correspondence - Contributions
September
1964-July 1970
carton 2, folder 21-22
Correspondence - Contributions
October
1970-December 1975
carton 2, folder 23
Correspondence - Contributions
January
1976-November 1980
carton 2, folder 24
Correspondence - Aerospace Defense Week
1963
carton 2, folder 25-26
Armed Forces Scrapbook
May 1959-June
1964
carton 3, folder 1-2
Armed Forces Scrapbook
July 1964-June
1970
carton 3, folder 3-4
Armed Forces Scrapbook
August 1970-June
1975
carton 3, folder 5
Armed Forces Scrapbook
September
1977-August 1980
carton 3, folder 6-8
Programs
December 1967-May
1977
carton 3, folder 9
Programs
June 1977-October
1980
carton 3, folder 10
Miscellaneous Correspondence - Duplicates
undated
carton 3, folder 11
Article on Mel Swig Memorial
1995
carton 3, folder 12
Fairmont Hotel Brochure and Newspaper Write-up
undated
carton 3, folder 13
The Taunton High School Journal - photocopies
1912
carton 3, folder 14
"To Remember Richard Lewis Swig"
1998
carton 3, folder 15
Miscellaneous Personal Materials
undated
carton 3, folder 16
List of Achievements
undated
carton 3, folder 17
"Yesterday's Newspaperboy - Today's Leader" Award - Scrapbook
1977-1978
carton 3, folder 18-20
Certificates and Awards
undated
carton 3, folder 21
Certificates and Awards - Israel
undated
carton 3, folder 22
Certificates and Awards - Youth Organizations
undated
carton 3, folder 23
Certificates and Awards - Federal Home Loan Bank Board
undated
carton 3, folder 24-25
Photographs signed by famous people
undated
carton 3, folder 26
Photographs - Miscellaneous
undated
flat_box 1
Scrapbook - University Correspondence
1949-1955
flat_box 1
Scrapbook - In Appreciation of Benjamin H. Swig on his 85th
Birthday
1978 November 30
flat_box 2, folder 1-3
Photograph Album - Brandeis University, University of Santa Clara, Investiture
as Papal Knight
1948-1970
flat_box 2, folder 4-6
Photograph Album - Brandeis University, University of Santa Clara
October 1972-June
1980
flat_box 3, folder 1-3
Photograph Album - People and Places
1951-1974
flat_box 3, folder 4-5
Scrapbook - Dinner Programs, etc.
1958-1967
flat_box 4, folder 1-2
Photograph Album - People and Places
1976-1980
flat_box 4, folder 3-4
Scrapbook - Presidents
undated
flat_box 5, folder 1-3
Photograph Album - People and Places
1952-1969
flat_box 5, folder 4-6
Photograph Album - People and Places
1970-1975
flat_box 6, folder 1-3
Photograph Album - Family Photographs
1924-1967
flat_box 6, folder 4-5
Photograph Album - Family Photographs
1960s-1970s
flat_box 7, folder 1-3
Photograph Album - Civic and Charitable
1960-1970
flat_box 7, folder 4-6
Photograph Album - Civic and Charitable
1970-1980
flat_box 8, folder 1-3
Photograph Album - Armed Forces
1952-1968
flat_box 8, folder 4-6
Photograph Album - Armed Forces
1968-1980
flat_box 9
85th Birthday Photographs
undated
flat_box 9
Scrapbook - Obituraries and Letters of Condolence
1980 October 31
flat_box 10
Photographs and Awards on Wood Boards - Mostly Armed Forces related
undated
flat_box 11
Photographs and Awards on Wood Boards
undated
flat_box 12
Photographs and Awards on Wood Boards
undated
flat_box 13
Photographs and Awards on Wood Boards
undated
flat_box 14
Photographs and Awards on Wood Boards
undated
flat_box 14
Hebrew University Swig Building drawing
undated
flat_box 15
Scrapbooks - Investments, Realty, Fairmont Hotel
undated
flat_box 16
Scrapbook - Family, Interests, Activities
undated
flat_box 17
Certificates and Awards
undated
flat_box 17
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem - The Benjamin H. Swig Student Residence
Center Album
1976
flat_box 18
Certificates and Awards
undated
flat_box 19
Certificates, Awards, and Photographs
undated
