“Dear Son”
Correspondence of John www.youxs.org
For my wife; Helen, my daughter, Elizabeth;
and my three sons, Stephen, Christopher, and Jonathan.
Preface
The Letters
Epilogue
Preface
What did it mean to be “rich as Rockefeller”?
John D. Rockefeller, Jr., ***ieved that every right i**lied a responsibility? every opportunity, an obligation? every possession,he shared these ideals with his father is revealed in this short co**ilation of letters they exged over 50 years.
Historians, journalists, and other entators have offered differin interpretations of what it meant to bewere over 200 magaziic*** and more than 60 books written on this father and soween 1**6 an had access to this correspondehers di those who did not were Ida Tar***l, who published her works on John D. Rockefeller and the Standard Oil Co**any in 1904 and 1905? Henry Demarest Lloyd, who published in 1**4? and Matthew Josephson, who published in 1934 and 1938.
Allan Nevins was the first to have access to thes and his researcher read over 1,000 letters which had beeed from the f***ly fi*** by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Nevins quoted key ses of the letters as he developed his 1940 vision of Rockefeller in the heroic age of Amer of the same quotes appear in his revised 1953 version of the biography of Rockefeller, industrialist and philanthropist.
Raymond B. Fosdick’s biography of Rockefeller Junior, published in 1956, was the sed study based extensively on the same 1,00 letters, removed from their inal places in the fi*** and anized ologically, stitute a separate file series in the f***ly archives at the Rockefeller Archive ter.
These biographies provided other authors sedary access to thi letters have been quoted to support the differing views of the several authrace Goulder, trating on Rockefeller
Senior as a citizen of Cleveland, found a rich vein of early Clevelan Moscow traced the thread of stewardship and philanthropy into the third geion from th Collier and David Horowitz discovered the seeds of a spiracy to trol the Uates, if not the world.
Ralph and Muriel Hidy had access to the letters for their history of Standard Oil of Ne Freeman Hawke used them for his cise look at Rockefeller Senior as the mate busines**an, while Peter Johnson and Jack Harr found iters the f***ly values aing which fostered the philanthropies of John D. Rockefeller 3rd.
Thus, bits and pieces of the 1,000 letters have appeared in print over the past 5 filial relationship has beeo prove diametrically opposing views of the men and of the institutions they established.
The letters are presented here without ent? they speak fo motives have been assigned, no le planning has been attributed to passing words of th people, places,events, and things not known from the text of the letters hav typing errors have been corrected
Every father and every son might hope for the love and uanding displayed in thes love, this uanding, and these itments were not ti on being “rich as Rockefeller”.
The Letters
On November 17, 1887, John D. Rockefeller, Jr., 13, wrote a letter to his father, 48, who was in New Yor Junior and his ******, Laura Spelman Rockefeller, were spending the wi Forest Hill, the Rockefeller’s home i son had been ailing and his parents decided that the park-like enviro of Forest Hill would accelerate hi followiion of letters exged between father and son begins with Rockefeller Senior’s reply to that letter.
The 1st Letter
26, Broadway
New York
November 19, 1887
Dear Johnny:
Yours, 17th, just at hand, and so happy to hear from you and
that you and your little Mother are doing so nicely in the quiet of th in the midst of hard batt*** today, but getting on nicely, and looking forward to dropping in upon you sometime befor is not likely I do so, however, for Thanksgiving, whichbeen called to Washington, but did not heed the summons, but hold myself in readio go at a moment’ and several o over to be there on Monday m. Think about your decisiht in refereo th’s going on nicely a Mr. Hub***l, now 77 years of age, came down this m. He is the same dear good Methodist man he used to be. Stayed with us at the table and drank coffee and ate cakes an over the house andhim an order for a bedstead for the spar price will be several hundred dollars ***s than Pottier’ and I presume the bedstead will be as good or better than Pottier’s, and we know the beds ar this not be satisfactory to Mamma, we have the bedstead sent to Forest Hill for year, as we have talked of having ne like the appearance of the new man and think he will d goes on **oothly in th say you are no is not the case with me. I am however doing the best I , and the rest are all doing remarkably well.
I have not written to Mama but telegraphed ever so busy and khat numbers of letters were written from th will get all th affairs are goin much love to you and Mama and great appreciation of the beautiful letter you wrote me.
Yours loving Father
Mr. John D. Rockefeller, Jr.
Forest Hill,
East Cleveland, O.
By 1887 the John D. Rockefeller f***ly had two homes in Cleveland and one in New Yor purchased 997 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland,in 1**8. It was a two-story Victoria D. Rockefeller, Jr. was born in this house on January 29,
he sed Cleveland home, Forest Hill,eventually a 700-acre estate, was acquired i house, a three-story building, was inally built as a healt the years Rockefeller developed the property with a farm, two lakes for skating and swimming,a racetrack for his horses, bicycle trails, and a nine-hole gol house burned down in December,the 1930s part of the estate was developed into single-f***ly homes, an apartment co**lex, and a shoppin rest was given to the public as a park.
Between 1877 and 1884, when in New York, Rockefeller and his f***ly had rooms in the Bugham Hotel, between 49th and 50th Streets on Fift October, 1884 he purchased 4, West 54th Street, a furnished four-story brownstone house built in 1**5–66. He made few ges in the house during the four decades he lived there.
After 1877 the f***ly normally spent the months from May to October in Cleveland and October to May in Ne, Junior and his ******, Laura Spelman Rockefeller, spent the winter of 1887–88 at Forest Hill, as Junior was not in the best o separatioo the earliest surviving correspondeween Rockefeller and his son.
In the fall of 1887 and the spring of 1888 Rockefeller and other trustees of the Standard Oil Trust testified before the www.youxs.org. House ittee iigatin***er was one of the inal trustees.
Pottier was a highly regarded New York manufacturer aailer of furniture.
The 2er
26, Broadway
New York
November 28th 1887
Dear John:
Yours, of the 22nd, dul delay i also your telegram of today for the cutter, and will attend to it tomorrow m. I assume you want the oo carry tw a pleasant time i is a beautifu weather was mild an receiving my testimony they did not wish any other although they had subpoenaed eight of us. We feel very well about the ex
perience ove New York World hasn’t any further ammunition in this dire, is now going back to its first love, the Buffalo suit, trying to rake up something agains us. Had a delightful Sunday at hom well and ready fo forward with pleasure to seeing you the last of this week.
cur in your decision about painting the stor and Mother will surely have your own way in all these affairs, what’s the use of my sayingare monarch of all you survey.
Yours loving Father
Forest Hill
East Cleveland, Ohio
In 1881 there was an explosion at the Buffalo Lubrig Co**any,a co**etitor of the Standard Oil Co**any. Three Standard Oil officials were indicted for alleged criminal as. Although their indits were eventually squashed by the courts, the explosion was frequently cited as an exa**le of Standard’ New York World was ohat kept the issue before th entire affair is treated in Allan Nevins, John D. Rockefeller: The Heroic Age in Ameri Enterprise (New York: Char*** Ser’s Sons, 1940), II, pp. 76–79.
The 3rd Letter
26 Broadway
January 20th, 1888
My Dear Son:
We all weled yours of th very pleased to hear of your daily experience, and hope both you and Mother will be much better for this quiet tr glad you know about it. It carries me bay boyhoo having a pair of shoes made to lace up. I am told they support the ank***bring them with me. Please tell Mother that everything is being dohat be in refereo the telephone wire to Fores route is desired and the effort to secure it makes a littl and I went to the Harlem River this m with Flash and Midnight in a new cutter which cost $300. Very extravagant I know, but the sleighing is so good that I could not resist the te**tation to buy it and hope to get the worth of ou four times the day b
efore yesterday and three times yesterday, making an aggregate iwo days of about eighty mi***. Don’t you think I am ahusiastic youth? I am looking forward with great pleasure to seeing you week but may not leave until Friday.
******ly,
Your Father Forest Hill
East Cleveland, Ohio
Aunty was Lucy Spelman, Laura’ and Midnight were a pair of black geldin enjoyed driving and rag and often raced against his neighbors down Enclid Avenue as well as orack he had at Forest Hill.
The 4th Letter
Forest Hill Ju 91
My dear Son:
We are just in receipt of your telegram in refereo Edith’s book — Hope you had a pleasan has been delightful here since w all feel the letting down process, ging from the Seaboard to the interior, but it is delightful, and I trust it will be the thi calculated to give us all health and strength.
I suppose Mama or the girls have written you in refereo the Sunday School, and it was not my purpose to write you a letter, but I wao tell you about answering my telegrams — Preface your answers with ‘‘telegram received” and they will go free just the same as mine,under m the best care of you the society of your friends iry and telegraph at once if there is anything you wao do for you.
We all unite in love.
Your affeate,Father
4, W 54th Street New York
Edith Rockefeller Mick was Senior’s fourt was born on August 31, 1872, and died on August 25, 1932.
The 5th Letter
26, Broadway
New York
February 17, 1**2
Dear John:
Yours of the 14th was duly received yesterday, and mama and I read it as we were riding in the brougham, and both greatly e from every point o assured that the appreciation you show is a**le payment for all we have ever tried to do for you, and I have not words to express ratitude for what you show us in your d
aily life, and for the hope you give us for the future time when our turn es for us to lean more on you.
I wrote Mr. Sinclair, as follows, on Monday of this week.
“I desire to have Edward take full charge of the farm barns and buildings, also the horses and the work terin this was uood last June.”
We had a very pleasant journey home, arriving a littl weather has been delightful here and the skating good, though only a few friends with us enjoy it. We are all feeling quite well, and our pleasure would be so muhanced if you could be with us: but we much prefer you should do as you are doing, ***ieving it to be best for you, and sequently for us all.
Both sermons on Sunday were excellent, and the woes on prosperously.
I have made some fine loans siurning, and engaged in som new business projects which are promising.
******ly,
Your Father Forest Hill
Cleveland, Ohio
The Rockefellers attehe Fifth Avenue Baptist Church when in Ne was the minister in 1**2. He later became the president of Brown Uy.
The 6th Letter
Forest Hill
Cleveland, Ohio
September 27, 1**3
My Dear John:
We were all very happy to receive your first loer upon your college life at Brown — It seems a very auspicious beginning and on reading it I was firmed respeg our decision for Brown instead of Yale — There are men enough and I judge a good class and the moral and religious tone seem of the best, besides how very cordially they receive you and you forwarded your letter to your ******.We all read it over and ain with pleasure — Glad to know your arra seem to be so favorable for the beginning.
You must have good nourishing food at all times and plenty of it —You t work without What you eat.
If you decide at any time you would like your riding horse we will send him to you.
You must have plenty of exercise in the o
pe could send ara one for the use of your friends if you so desire.
We io go to New York Friday and Uncle Rudd will acco**any us — Mother arrived in Philadelphia on Tuesday m after a pleasant safe journey.
We cut down some more trees and made a decided i**rovement —the promi oak in the group southwest of the house, also maple near chestnut just ***ow it and the tall thin maple down in front.
The weather is delightful — We pass the time very pleasantly and all join in love.
Your Father www.youxs.org Slater Hall,Providence, www.youxs.org
William Cullen Rudd married Mary Ann Rockefeller, John www.youxs.org’ was the president of dler and Rudd, a Cleveland grocery and specialty store.
The 7th Letter
Home
4, West 54th St.
New York
January 26, 1**5
My Dear Son:
I enclose check to your order for Twenty-one dollars, for your twentyfirst birthday, being one for each year
It would be very pleasant if we could all spend the day together at home, but I think uhe circumstances, it is better for you to remain at college as you have been obliged to be away from your work so much of late.
I ot tell you how much happiness we all have in you, and how much we are looking forward to, and relying on you for iure.
We are grateful beyond measure for your promise and for the fidence your life inspires in us, not only, but in all your friends and acquaintances and this is of more value than all earthly possessions.
We all join in the hope that this and all the days to e, may bring only good to you, and we rejoice that you know from experiehat good for you, is inseparably ected with the good y t this is not a lecture, only a kind word from an affeate father to a much loved and only son on the occasion of his 21st birthday.
John D. Rockefeller Brown Uy Providence, www.youxs.org.
The 8th Letter
Forest Hill
Cleveland, Ohio July 10th, 1**9
Dear
John:
I have your beautiful letter of th are so glad you feel better for the vacation and we all hope you will hold the ground gained and be sure to take more rest, and ge whenever you thin all join in thanking you over and ain, for as we review the journey, we are led to appreciate more than we could have expressed to you the plan you adopted, and executed in such a thhly satisfactory way.
We receive our pay from you as we go, te is a plant of slow growth, but in your case it was a sturdy plant long year are grateful beyond measure that we trust, and do trust you in every place without reserve.
Be sure to take good care of you is of the firs join in love and the hope that some of us will see you soon.
Affeately,Father
26, Broadway New York
The 9th Letter
Forest Hill
Cleveland, Ohio July 8, 1905
Dear Son:
I have yours of the 5th with regard to your house question at Potico.
You need not pay for any of the work of the mech
anics about the hous the wat’s wages for last winter be charged to the house, as yo care of the grounds about the house, as well as the flowers, I wil you are entirely satisfied to do so, you ma tio pay half of Tony’s wages for the services which he reo you in the house, as you suggest.
I am so happy that you and Abby enjoy th my attat to it increasing with each day of my stay, and it was with great reluce I left it. Now I am absorbed in dear old Forest Hill, and busy indeed, and mrateful than I tell you for the good health which I have and whiab*** me to do two or three times as much as work, www.youxs.org says, as I used to do when she was here before.
This is a quiet day, and we are cele***ting my sixty-sixt five o’clock we expe Italian band of thirty-five and a very few friend to hear the you co
uld both be with us.
We have Edith’s baby, and she is a dear girl.
All unite in love to you and Abby.
Affeately,Father
Potico Hills, www.youxs.org.
Edith Rockefeller, John D. Rockefeller’s daughter, married Harold Fowler Mi November 26, 1**5. Their daughter, Mathilda Mick, was born on April 8,had three children who lived to maturity: Harold Fowler Mick, Jr., Muriel Mick Hubbard,and Mathilda Mick Oser.
Mrs. Tuttle was the telegrapher who maintained unicatioween Forest Hill and 26, Broadway.
The 10th Letter
Forest Hill
Cleveland, Ohio
September 18, 1907
Dear Son:
Please have five hundred (500) shares of Standard Oil stock trasferred to Edith, and five hundred (500) shares to Alta, and wheransfers are made, have them bot while you are about it, you might as well have five hundred (500) shares transferred to yourself, and notify me of the whole job lot.
Affeately,Father
26, Broadway New York
www.youxs.org. Of course, I would not be giving any of you this, only when it seems as though the stock would not be worth anything and I want full credit for the desire to hel, please do not let any of it get out of your hands without seeing me.
The 11st Letter
Forest Hill
Cleveland, Ohio July 27, 1908
Dear Son:
In the absence of Henry Cooper from the office, I required informatiarding the D.& R. G. notes and the tract, but could not get it until hi arrange so that any i**ortant matter of this kind be reviewed in the office, in the absence of the particular individual having i specially in hand.
Affeately,Father
26, Broadway New York
Henry E. Cooper was a friend of Junior’s a was a member of the office staff from 1907 to 1912 and was the chairman of the itt os.
Rockefeller had a large iment in the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad bonds.
The 12er
26, Broadwa
New York
February 1, 1909
Dear Father:
I have just been going over a co**arative statement of my ats for the years sinceyou expressed i in my total expenditures a year or so ago I am thinking that you may be ied in glang at this at, copy of which I enclose herewith.
I am quite aghast at the large increase in my total expenditures las increase is, in round numbers, $19,000. It is ated for in half a dozen items:
The summer expeem has hitherto been charged to my personal at. There is therefore in the sum of these two an increase over last year of $3,000 partly due to the higher cost of a house, etc., in Bar Harbor,partly to a present which I made to Abby.
In the donation at there is an increase of $9,000. This is a great surprise to me, but the money has all goo goo total is siderably more than that I had plao give.
An increase of $1,000 in maintenance, means, ice, coal, electric light,and things of that sort.
An increase of $2,000 in food, partly due to our larger f***ly, and partly to the increase in the cost of food.
An increase of $2,000 i have now two trained antly in our e**loy at $100 a mont have added a housekeeper since last year at $50was in addition a special trained nurse during Abby’s illness las also keep the Tarrytown house open the year round and have beside two servants in the house, a colored man and the wat on the payroll.
This covers a large part of the increase.
Personal At covers all traveling expenses, my gifts to Abby, my own clothes, and things not chargeable to other ats.
Ials covers presents made, things bought for ourselves, such as books, objects of art, doctors’ bills ( which last summer ran up to about$2,000), etc.
Affeately,John
Hotel Bon Air Augusta, Ga
After several summers of *****ng cottages along the Massachusetts shore, Junior ren