"WANAMAKER ILL AT HOME FOR SEVERAL WEEKS"

DEPARTMENT STORE MAGNATE'S CONDITION HAS ASSUMED A 'GRAVE ASPECT'

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (JFK+50) On the evening of November 30, 1922, the condition of department store magnate John Wanamaker* was reported by his medical team as "having assumed a grave aspect."

Mr. Wanamaker, according to The New York Tribune, had been "ill at his home...for several weeks."

A medical bulletin states...

"Though resting comfortably now, (he) has passed through an exhausting series of attacks of coughing..." 

JFK+50

John Wanamaker passed away on December 12, 1922.  At death, his estate was estimated to be worth $100 million.

*John Wanamaker was born in Philadelphia, PA. JW founded Wanaamaker's Department Store, one of the 1st of its kind in the U.S. 

He served as Postmaster General under President Benjamin Harrison 1889-1893.  JW was considered to be a pioneer in marketing.

SOURCE

"Wanamaker's Condition Assumes Grave Aspect," The New York Tribune, December 1, 1922, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

 

 

John Wanamaker

Bain News Service Photo

Library of Congress

"I CANNOT RESIST EXPRESSING MY CONGRATULATIONS"

PRESIDENT WRITES MOTHER OF SIXTEEN

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On August 30, 1921, correspondence between President Warren G. Harding and Mrs. Domenico Zaccahea of New York City was made public.

The President had seen a photograph of the Zaccahea family, which included 16 children, in the newspaper and decided to write her a letter. 

Mr. Harding wrote that his own mother had 8 children and once confided to him that she would have welcomed 8 more.

Mrs. Zaccahea sent a reply to the White House in which she wrote...

"My husband and I are never discouraged over the great task before us..."

She went on to tell the President that her husband earned $20 a week working for John Wanamaker* and asked Mr. Harding if he would give her husband a recommendation for "a better position."

The President accommodated the lady's request by writing to Mr. John Wanamaker. 

*Wanamaker's Department Store was founded in Philadelphia & expanded to New York City in 1896.

SOURCE

"Mother of 16 Wins Harding's Aid To Get Better Job for Husband," The New York Tribune, August 31, 1921, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/ 

 

 

 Wanamaker's Original Store Directory

Photo by Coreyfein01

2017