Rosenwald, Lessing J. (Lessing Julius), 1891-1979

print view

role

Collector

dates

1891-1979

city

Philadelphia

state

PA

other cities

Chicago, IL; Ithica, NY; Jenkintown, PA;

sex

M

historical notes

Lessing Julius Rosenwald was, in addition to being businessman (Sears, Roebuck & Company heir), an art and rare book collector who specialized in prints and drawings.

To hold and display his art collection, Rosenwald opened the Alverthorpe Gallery in Jenkintown, PA, in 1939.

In 1943, Rosenwald pledged his print collection to The National Gallery of Art and his rare book collection to the Library of Congress. The National Gallery's Rosenwald Collection would eventually include approximately 27,000 works of art.

Rosenwald was the founder and chairman of the American Council for Judaism.

decades
of activity

1920-1930
1930-1940
1940-1950
1950-1960
1960-1970

updated

11/24/2025 10:11:49

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Archives/Repository	Collection Title	Collection Details
Library of Congress Manuscript Division	Lessing J. Rosenwald papers, 1819-1979 (bulk 1932-1979).	see details...
Archives of American Art Victor Building, Suite 2200	Frank Weitenkampf letters, 1889-1942.	see details...
Archives of American Art Victor Building, Suite 2200	Lessing J. Rosenwald interview, 1970 Aug. 18.	see details...
National Gallery of Canada 380 Sussex Drive	Jacques Callot [exhibition records]: a selection of prints from the Collections of Rudolf L. Baumfeld and Lessing J. Rosenwald.	see details...
National Gallery of Art, Library 2000B South Club Drive	The life of Christ [exhibition records]: prints from the Rosenwald collection.	see details...
Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts University of Pennsylvania	Correspondence with Carl Zigrosser, 1941-1971, n.d.	see details...
Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts University of Pennsylvania	Notes and draft for an article for Comoediae of Terentius by Johannes Grüninger, 1970s.	see details...
National Gallery of Art, Archives 2000B South Club Drive	Lessing J. Rosenwald Papers, 1922-1980.	see details...
Philadelphia Museum of Art Archives	Fiske Kimball Records, 1908-1955, n.d. (bulk 1925-1954)	see details...
Philadelphia Museum of Art Archives	Evan H. Turner Records, 1964-1978	see details...