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Etta Wedell Mastbaum (September 6, 1886 – November 1, 1953) was an American philanthropist, department store executive, art collector, and director of a national chain of motion picture theaters.
Etta Wedell Mastbaum | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 6, 1886 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | November 1, 1953 (age 67) Manhattan, New York City, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Spouse | Jules Mastbaum |
| Children | 2 including Peggy Solomon |
| Parent(s) | Rachel Lit Wedell Philip M. Wedell |
| Family | Richard Gimbel (nephew) Benjamin M. Golder (son-in-law) Charles J. Solomon (son-in-law) |
Born Etta Lit Wedell to a Jewish family on September 6, 1886, in Philadelphia, the daughter of Rachel Lit and Philip M. Wedell.[1] Her mother founded the original store that became Lit Brothers in 1891.[1] Etta attended the Philadelphia Seminary for Women.[1] In 1904, she married theatre owner Jules Mastbaum.
Collecting Rodin’s works
While traveling in Europe in the 1920s, Etta and her husband were intrigued by sculptor Auguste Rodin. That led to a lifetime of collecting his works and eventually amassing the largest collection — after Rodin’s own — of Rodin’s sculptures, bas-reliefs, drawings, books, and letters.[1] The French government permitted them to remove the artworks from France, provided they be exhibited in a permanent structure open to the public.[1] The Mastbaums built the Jacques Gréber and Paul Cret designed Rodin Museum in Philadelphia.[1]
After the death of her husband in 1926, Etta donated the collection to the people of Philadelphia in his honor.[1] She also donated a bronze cast by Rodin, The Gates of Hell, to France — which resulted in her being decorated by the government of France.[1] She assumed control of her husband's company Stanley Company of America and served as an executive of her family's company Lit Brothers.[1]
She served as a second vice president of the Mastbaum Loan System, a not-for profit dedicated to providing financial assistance to the poor.[1] She was also an active donor to the American Red Cross and Emergency Aid of Philadelphia.[1]
Family life
Etta and Jules Mastbaum had three daughters: Louisette "Billie" Mastbaum Wolf Dickson, Margery "Peggy" Mastbaum Solomon, and Elizabeth Mastbaum.[1][2][3] Etta was a member of Congregation Mikveh Israel in Philadelphia. She died at age 67 in 1953, in Manhattan.[1]
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