Guggenheim family
Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:More citations needed Template:Infobox family
The Guggenheim family (Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell) is an American-Jewish family of Swiss origin known for making their fortune in the mining industry, in the early 20th century, especially in the United States and South America. After World War I, many family members withdrew from the businesses and became involved in philanthropy, especially in the arts, aviation, medicine, and culture.
History
Meyer Guggenheim, a Swiss citizen of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry, arrived in the United States in 1847. His surname derived from the name of the Alsatian village of Gougenheim.<ref>Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz.</ref> He married Barbara Meyer, whom he met in the United States. Over the next few decades, their 11 children and their descendants became known for global successes in mining and smelting businesses, under the name Guggenheim Exploration, including the American Smelting and Refining Company. In 1882, with seven of his sons already involved in the family businesses, Meyer organized M. Guggenheim's Sons, which was later reorganized as Guggenheim Brothers.<ref name="guggenheimpartners">Template:Cite web</ref> In the early 20th century, the family amassed one of the largest fortunes in the world.
Following World War I, it sold its global mining interests and later purchased nitrate mines in Chile. Subsequently, the family largely withdrew from direct involvement in running businesses.<ref name=Davispassim>Davis, passim</ref> Family members became known for their philanthropy in diverse areas such as modern art, aviation, and medicine. They donated funds to develop Guggenheim Museums, the Guggenheim Aeronautical Laboratory, and the Guggenheim Pavilion at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Manhattan, designed by I. M. Pei.<ref name=Davispassim />
Current interests
Peter Lawson-Johnston, a British Guggenheim descendant, founded Guggenheim Partners which today (2025) manages over $345 billion in assets.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Another family vehicle, Guggenheim Investment Advisors, oversees about $50 billion in assets.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Family tree
Meyer Guggenheim (1828–1905) married Barbara Meyer, of German Jewish descent, in 1852. They met in the United States. They had 11 children together, including eight sons, five of whom were active in the family businesses: Isaac, Daniel, Maurice ("Murry"), Solomon Robert, and (John) Simon Guggenheim. Sons Benjamin, Robert, and William pursued other careers. The daughters were Jeanette, Rose, and Cora. Meyer's 11 children, their spouses, and notable descendants are shown below:
- Meyer Guggenheim (1828–1905), m. Barbara Meyer (1834–1900) (m. 1852 – her death)
- Isaac Guggenheim (1854–1922), m. Carrie Sonneborn (1859–1933) (m. 1876 – his death)<ref name=IGDies>Template:Cite news</ref>
- Beulah V. Guggenheim (1877–1960), m. William I. Spiegelberg<ref name=Davis422>Davis, p. 422</ref>
- Edyth B. Guggenheim (1880–1960), m. Louis M. Josephthal, future admiral and founder of Josephthal & Co.<ref name=Audrey>Template:Cite news</ref>
- Audrey Josephthal (1903–2003) m. Cornelius Ruxton Love Jr. (died 1971)<ref name=Audrey />
- Iris Love (1933–2020)<ref name=Audrey /><ref>Filler, Martin. "Love Among the Ruins", Departures, March 30, 2010.</ref>
- Audrey Josephthal (1903–2003) m. Cornelius Ruxton Love Jr. (died 1971)<ref name=Audrey />
- Template:Tree list/final branch Helene Guggenheim (1886–1962)
- m. Edmund L. Haas (m. 1905; div.)<ref>Davis, p. 145</ref>
- m. Corlette Glorney<ref name=Davis422 />
- Template:Tree list/final branch m. Lord Melvill Ward<ref name=IGDies />
- Daniel Guggenheim (1856–1930), became head of the family after his father's death; m. Florence Shloss (1863–1944) (m. 1884 – his death)
- Meyer Robert Guggenheim (1885–1959)
- Harry Frank Guggenheim (1890–1971)
- Template:Tree list/final branch Diane Guggenheim (1924–1991)
- Template:Tree list/final branch Gladys Eleanor Guggenheim (1895–1980), m. Roger Williams Straus (1891–1957) (m. 1914 – his death)
- Template:Tree list/final branch Roger Williams Straus Jr. (1917–2004), a founder and chairman of Farrar, Straus and Giroux, publishers
- Roger Williams Straus III (born 1943)
- Template:Tree list/final branch Roger Williams Straus Jr. (1917–2004), a founder and chairman of Farrar, Straus and Giroux, publishers
- Maurice "Murry" Guggenheim (1858–1939), m. Leonie Bernheim (1865–1959) (m. 1887 – his death)<ref>Davis, p. 168</ref>
- Edmond A. Guggenheim (1888–1972), m. Marion Price (1888–1992)
- Template:Tree list/final branch Lucille Guggenheim (1894–1972), m. Frederic Adam Gimbel (1891–1996), div.
- Solomon R. Guggenheim (1861–1949), founded the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation; m. Irene M. Rothschild (1868–1954), daughter of Victor Henry Rothschild (m. 1895 – his death)
- Eleanor Mary Guggenheim (1896–1992), m. Arthur Stuart, 7th Earl Castle Stewart (1889–1961) (m. 1920 – his death)
- David Stuart, Viscount Stuart (1921–1942)
- Robert Stuart, Viscount Stuart (1923–1944)
- Arthur Stuart, 8th Earl Castle Stewart (1928–2023)
- Template:Tree list/final branch Andrew Stewart, 9th Earl Castle Stewart (born 1953)
- Template:Tree list/final branch The Honorable Simon Stuart (1930–2002)
- Gertrude R. Guggenheim (1898–1966)
- Template:Tree list/final branch Barbara Josephine Guggenheim (1904–1985), married John Lawson-Johnston of the family producing Bovril
- Template:Tree list/final branch Peter Lawson-Johnston, President Guggenheim Museum, founder Guggenheim Partners
- Eleanor Mary Guggenheim (1896–1992), m. Arthur Stuart, 7th Earl Castle Stewart (1889–1961) (m. 1920 – his death)
- Jeanette Guggenheim (1863–1889), m. Albert M. Gerstle (1860–1896)
- Template:Tree list/final branch Nettie Gerstle (1889–?)
- Benjamin Guggenheim (1865–1912), died in the Titanic disaster; m. Florette Seligman (1870–1937) (m. 1895 – his death)<ref name=Davis82>Davis, p. 82</ref>
- Benita Rosalind Guggenheim (1895–1927)
- Marguerite "Peggy" Guggenheim (1898–1979), founded the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice
- m. Laurence Vail (div. 1928)
- Michael Cedric Sindbad Vail (1923–1986), m. Margaret Angela Vail (m. 1957 – his death)
- Karole Vail (1959–)
- Template:Tree list/final branch Pegeen Vail Guggenheim (1925–1967)
- m. Jean Hélion (1904–1987) (m. 1946; div. 1956)
- Fabrice Hélion<ref name=Davis337>Davis, p. 337</ref>
- Nicolas Hélion<ref name=Davis337 />
- Template:Tree list/final branch Davide Hélion<ref name=Davis337 />
- Template:Tree list/final branch m. Ralph Rumney (1934–2002) (m. 1958 – her death)
- Template:Tree list/final branch Sandro Rumney (born 1958)
- m. Jean Hélion (1904–1987) (m. 1946; div. 1956)
- Michael Cedric Sindbad Vail (1923–1986), m. Margaret Angela Vail (m. 1957 – his death)
- m. Max Ernst (1891–1976) (m. 1941; div. 1946)
- m. Laurence Vail (div. 1928)
- Template:Tree list/final branch (Barbara) Hazel King-Farlow Guggenheim (1903–1995),
- m. Sigmund Marshall Kempner (m. 1921; div. 1922)<ref name=Davis326>Davis, p. 326</ref>
- m. Milton S. Waldman (m. 1923; div. 1930)<ref name=Davis326 />
- Terrence Waldman (1924–1928)<ref name=Davis326 />
- Benjamin Waldman (1927–1928)<ref name=Davis326 />
- Template:Tree list/final branch Terrence (four-and-a-half years old) and Benjamin (14 months) both fell to their deaths from the roof of the Surrey, a 16-story apartment hotel at 20 East 76th Street, New York, on October 19, 1928.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- m. Denys King-Farlow (Hugh St. Denys Nettleton King-Farlow) (m. 1930; div.)<ref name=Davis328>Davis, p. 328</ref>
- John King-Farlow (1932–2002)<ref name=Davis328 />
- Template:Tree list/final branch Barbara Benita King-Farlow (1934–?)<ref name=Davis328 />
- Ghislaine Agostini
- Amelia Kaye
- Template:Tree list/final branch Adam Jacobs
- m. Charles Everett McKinley Jr. (d. 1942) (m. ? – his death)<ref name=Davis328 />
- m. Archibald Butt Jr. (div.)
- Template:Tree list/final branch m. Larry Leonard (div.)
- Robert Guggenheim (1867–1876)
- (John) Simon Guggenheim (1867–1941), elected as a U.S. Senator from Colorado; m. Olga Hirsch (1877–1970) (m. 1898 – his death)
- John Simon Guggenheim (1905–1922)
- Template:Tree list/final branch George Denver Guggenheim (1907–1939)
- William Guggenheim (1868–1941)
- m. Grace Brown Herbert (m. 1900; div. 1901)
- m. Aimee Lillian Steinberger (1877–1957) (m. 1904 – his death)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- Template:Tree list/final branch William Guggenheim Jr. (1907–1947), m. Elizabeth Newell (1913–2004) (m. 1937–his death) [she later m. William J. Broadhurst]
- William Guggenheim III (1939–2023)
- m. Grace Embury (1940– ) (div.)<ref name=Davis439>Davis, p. 439</ref>
- Maire Embury Guggenheim (born 1962)<ref name=Davis439 />
- Jaenet Newell Guggenheim (1963–2011)<ref name=Davis439 />
- m. Judith Arnold (1943– ) (div.)<ref name=Davis439 />
- William Douglas Guggenheim (born 1970)<ref name=Davis439 />
- m. Traci Lee Aikey (born 1978)
- Lilian Grace Guggenheim (born 2009)
- Katherine Joy Guggenheim (born 2010)
- Emily Faith Guggenheim (born 2013)
- m. Traci Lee Aikey (born 1978)
- Christopher Mark Guggenheim (born 1976)<ref name=Davis439 />
- m. Cheryl Anne Brower (born 1973)
- Alexandra Anne Guggenheim (born 2014)
- Athena May Guggenheim (born 2014)
- m. Cheryl Anne Brower (born 1973)
- Jonathan Paul Guggenheim (born 1978)<ref name=Davis439 />
- Zoya Odette Guggenheim (born 2017)
- William Douglas Guggenheim (born 1970)<ref name=Davis439 />
- m. Stephanie Maddox (born 1951) (div.)
- m. Grace Embury (1940– ) (div.)<ref name=Davis439>Davis, p. 439</ref>
- William Guggenheim III (1939–2023)
- Template:Tree list/final branch William Guggenheim Jr. (1907–1947), m. Elizabeth Newell (1913–2004) (m. 1937–his death) [she later m. William J. Broadhurst]
- Rose Guggenheim (1871–1945), m. Albert Loeb, the nephew of Solomon Loeb<ref name=Davis82 />
- Harold A. Loeb (1891–1974)
- Edwin M. Loeb (1894–1966)
- Template:Tree list/final branch Willard E. Loeb (1896–1958)
- Template:Tree list/final branch Cora Guggenheim (1873–1956), m. Louis F. Rothschild (1869–1957), founder of L. F. Rothschild<ref name=Davis82 />
- Louis F. Rothschild Jr. (1900–1902)
- Muriel Barbara Rothschild (1903–1999), m. William Donald Scott
- Template:Tree list/final branch Gwendolyn Fay Rothschild (1906–1983)
- Isaac Guggenheim (1854–1922), m. Carrie Sonneborn (1859–1933) (m. 1876 – his death)<ref name=IGDies>Template:Cite news</ref>
Businesses
The following is a list of businesses in which the Guggenheim family have held a controlling or otherwise significant interest.
- ASARCO
- Anglo-Lautaro Nitrate Corporation
- Braden Copper Company
- Cain Hoy Stable
- Chile Exploration Company
- Farrar, Straus and Giroux
- Gourmet
- Guggenheim Partners
- Kennecott Copper
- Nevada Northern Railway
- Newsday
- Tradition Records
- Yukon Gold Company<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>