Albert D. Lasker papers, 1881-2015, bulk 1920-1950

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Summary

Creators:
Lasker, Albert Davis, 1880-1952
Abstract:
The collection reflects broadly the professional life of American businessman and philanthropist Albert D. Lasker, as well as other family members including Mary Lasker, Edward Lasker, Frances Lasker Brody, and Mary Lasker Block.
Extent:
Approximately 4,050 items in 38 boxes
Language:
The records are in English.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection spans Albert D. Lasker's entire life and his family up to the 21st century. The majority of the collection is made up of interviews and research conducted by Boyden Sparkes, who Albert D. Lasker had hired to ghost-write his autobiography in 1938 (not for publication). This includes interviews with Lasker himself, family members, colleagues, and fellow businessmen, and covers Lasker's early life and his career in both advertising, art collecting, and philanthropy. There is also some material about Lasker's involvement in the defense of Leo Frank, a Jewish American factory superintendent, in Georgia, who was convicted of the murder of a 13-year-old girl; Frabk was ultimately taken from prison and lynched in August 1915. There is also material about Lasker's family including: his first wife Flora, their three children (and their families), his brief marriage to Doris Kenyon, and his third wife Mary Woodard Lasker. There is also some material about his father Morris Lasker and his life in Galveston, Texas. There is a small amount of material about Edward Lasker's career with horse racing and about his second wife American actress Jane Greer.

The collection includes a large amount of ephemera, scrapbooks, photograph albums, and loose (and framed) photographs and portraits. Also included are several audio-visual items, published books, and a Grammy Award.

Many of the photographs in the photograph albums are loose or coming loose.

The collection is arranged in the following series: Albert D. Lasker Material (Boxes 1-9); Lord & Thomas Material (Boxes 10-11); Family Files (Boxes 12-16); Photographs/Scrapbooks (Boxes 17-32); Ephemera (Boxes 33-35); Audio-Visual Material (Box 36); and Books (Boxes 37-38). The material is arranged in alphabetical order within each series.

Biographical / historical:

Albert D. Lasker was an American businessman who is often considered to be the founder of modern advertising. Lasker, who was Jewish, was born in Germany in 1880 and raised in Galveston, Texas. In 1898 he moved to Chicago and got an advertising position at Lord & Thomas. In 1903, after Lord retired, Lasker purchased his share and became a partner. He purchased the firm in 1912. Lasker worked on and created advertising for several large companies including: Lucky Strikes, Palmolive, Pepsodent, Kotex, and Kleenex. In 1921, President Harding appointed Lasker to the United States Shipping Board; he served for two years. After thirty years at Lord & Thomas, Lasker sold the firm to three senior executives. Lasker and his third wife, Mary, became nationally prominent art collectors and philanthropists. Together they founded and endowed the Lasker Award, which has recognized the work of many leading scientists and researchers, particularly in the field of medical research. His uncle was German liberal politician Eduard Lasker. Albert D. Lasker died in 1952.

Albert D. Lasker married Flora Warner in 1902. They had three children, all of whom became prominent figures in their fields of interest: Mary Lasker Block (b.1904) established the Block Museum in Chicago along with her husband Leigh B. Block; Edward Lasker (b.1912) was a successful businessman, lawyer, and thoroughbred racehorse owner; and Frances Lasker Brody (b.1916), art collector and philanthropist, became a founding benefactor of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and a guiding patron of the Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Gardens. After the sudden death of his wife, Flora, in 1936, Lasker was briefly married to actress Doris Kenyon. In 1940, Lasker married Mary Reinhardt; they were married until his death.

Acquisition information:
Gifts of Christopher Brody and Steven Lasker, October 2012.
Rules or conventions:
Finding Aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
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