Joseph Early Widener (August 19, 1871 – October 26, 1943) was a wealthy American art collector who was a founding benefactor of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. and a major figure in Thoroughbred horse racing as head of New York's Belmont Park and builder of Miami, Florida's Hialeah Park racetrack. Events 43 BC - Octavian, later known as Augustus compels the Roman Senate to elect him Consul. Year 1871 ( MDCCCLXXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 740 - An Earthquake strikes Constantinople, causing much damage and death Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the A Museum is distinguished by a collection of often unique objects that forms the core of its activities for exhibitions Education, Research This article is about the National Gallery of the United States for other National Galleries see National Gallery. Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D Thoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide Sport and Industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred Horses It is governed by different national New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous History and Information It is world-famous as the home of the Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the Triple Crown. The Hialeah Park Race Track (also known as the Miami Jockey Club or Hialeah Race Track or Hialeah Park) is a historic site in Hialeah, Florida
Born in Philadelphia, he was the second son of Hannah Josephine Dunton (1836 –1896) and the extremely wealthy entrepreneur Peter A. B. Widener (1834 – 1915). Philadelphia (ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə Peter Arrell Brown Widener ( November 13, 1834 - November 6, 1915) was an American businessman and head of the prominent Joseph Widener attended Harvard University and for a short time studied architecture at the University of Pennsylvania. The term architecture (from Greek αρχιτεκτονικήarchitektoniki) can be used to mean a process a profession or documentation The University of Pennsylvania (also known as Penn) is a private University located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. He married Ella Pancoast with whom he had two children, Peter A. B. Widener, Jr. born in 1895, and Josephine "Fifi" Pancoast Widener, born in 1902.
Joseph Widener raised his family at Lynnewood Hall in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania. Lynnewood Hall is a 110-room Georgian-style mansion in Elkins Park, Montgomery County. Elkins Park is an Unincorporated community, portions of which are located in both Cheltenham Township and Abington Township in the Suburbs The 110 room Georgian-style mansion designed by Horace Trumbauer along with its extensive and important art collection, was part of the huge fortune inherited from his father. Georgian architecture is the name given in most English -speaking countries to the set of Architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840 Horace Trumbauer ( December 28, 1868 &ndash November 18, 1938) was a prominent American Architect of the Gilded Age
Contents |
RMS Titanic tragedy
In April of 1912, Joseph Widener lost his elder brother George Dunton Widener and George's son Harry Elkins Widener when they went down with the RMS Titanic. George Dunton Widener ( June 16, 1861 - April 15, 1912) was an American businessman who died in the sinking of the RMS ''Titanic'' Harry Elkins Widener ( January 3, 1885 - April 15, 1912) was a businessman and book collector from the United States. Construction The Titanic was a White Star Line ocean liner built at the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast, Ireland Mrs. Eleanor Widener was with her husband and was one of the passengers rescued from lifeboats by the RMS Carpathia. History The RMS Carpathia was built by Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson at their Newcastle upon Tyne, England shipyard Shortly after, Mrs. Widener, in the name of her deceased son, made a gift to Harvard University to build the monumental Harry Elkins Widener Library, which opened on June 24, 1915. The Harry Elkins Widener Memorial Library, commonly known as Widener Library, is the primary building of the Library system of Harvard University. Events 972 - Battle of Cedynia, the first documented victory of Polish forces takes place Not on the ship was their second son, George D. Widener, Jr., who would later be one of only four people in the history of American Thoroughbred horse racing to be named an "Exemplar of Racing" by the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. George Dunton Widener Jr ( March 11, 1889 - December 8, 1971) was an American businessman and a Thoroughbred racehorse Thoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide Sport and Industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred Horses It is governed by different national The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred
Thoroughbred horse racing
Joseph Widener used his great wealth to pursue his interest in Thoroughbred horse racing on a large scale. Not only did he become an owner of a large stable of racehorses, Widener acquired the Elmendorf Farm in Lexington, Kentucky and the Belmont Park racetrack in New York, plus he built Hialeah Park racetrack in Miami, Florida. Elmendorf Farm has been a Kentucky Thoroughbred horse racing fixture in Fayette County Kentucky since the early 1800s Lexington (officially Lexington-Fayette Urban County is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 68th largest in the United States. History and Information It is world-famous as the home of the Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the Triple Crown. New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous The Hialeah Park Race Track (also known as the Miami Jockey Club or Hialeah Race Track or Hialeah Park) is a historic site in Hialeah, Florida
In 1901, thirty-year-old Joseph Widener began purchasing Thoroughbred horses to compete in both flat racing and steeplechase events. Flat racing is a term commonly used to denote a form of Horse racing which is run over a level track at a predetermined distance The steeplechase is a form of Horse racing (primarily conducted in the United Kingdom, United States, France, and Ireland) and derives He hired future U. S Racing Hall of Fame horse trainer, J. The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred In Horse racing, a trainer is responsible for preparing a horse for races Howard Lewis. For the next four decades they combined to race fourteen Champions, two in flat racing and twelve Steeplechase Champions. The Eclipse Award is an American Thoroughbred Horse racing award named after the 18th century British Racehorse Eclipse Award for Outstanding Steeplechase horse is an American Thoroughbred Horse racing honor Widener's steeplechase horses won numerous important races including three editions of the American Grand National with Relluf (1914), Arc Light (1929), and Bushranger (1936). The American Grand National was a United States steeplechase Horse race for Thoroughbreds sanctioned by the National Steeplechase Association Bushranger (1930-1937 was an American Thoroughbred steeplechase racehorse. His steeplechasers Bushranger and Fairmount were both elected to the U. Bushranger (1930-1937 was an American Thoroughbred steeplechase racehorse. S Racing Hall of Fame.
Following the death of August Belmont, Jr., Joseph Widener and friends W. Averell Harriman and George Herbert Walker, purchased much of Belmont's Thoroughbred breeding stock. August Belmont Jr, ( February 18, 1853 - December 10, 1924) was an American financier the builder of New York's Belmont Park William Averell Harriman ( November 15 1891 July 26 1986) was an American Democratic Party politician businessman George Herbert "Bert" Walker ( June 11, 1875 - June 24, 1953) was a wealthy American banker and businessman For his Elmendorf Farm breeding operation, Widener acquired Belmont's very important sire Fair Play and the broodmare Mahubah, the parents of Man o' War. The father is defined as the Male Parent of an offspring The Adjective "paternal" refers to father parallel to "maternal" for Fair Play (1905-1929 was an American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who was successful on the track but even more so as a sire. Man o' War, ( March 29, 1917 Nursery Stud farm Lexington Kentucky - November 1, 1947, Faraway Farm) is considered by He also purchased a son of Fair Play named Chance Shot who would go on to win the 1927 Belmont Stakes and following the 1929 death of Fair Play would become Elmendorf Farm's leading sire. Chance Shot (foaled 1924 in Kentucky) was an American-bred Thoroughbred Stallion racehorse. The Belmont Stakes is a prestigious American Grade I stakes race held yearly in June at Belmont Park in Elmont New York. Widener had a life-size statue of Fair Play erected by his grave at Elmendorf Farm.
As part of the selloff of the August Belmont, Jr. estate, in 1925 Joseph Widener also acquired majority control of Belmont Park in Elmont, New York and would serve as the race track's president until 1939 when failing health necessitated his stepping down. History and Information It is world-famous as the home of the Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the Triple Crown. Elmont is a hamlet (and Census-designated place) as well as a bedroom suburb of New York City in Long Island, Nassau County New York
In 1930, he imported the stallion Sickle from Lord Derby in England who came to visit the U. Edward George Villiers Stanley 17th Earl of Derby KG, GCB, GCVO, TD, PC (23 St S. that year and was Widener's guest at the 1930 Kentucky Derby. The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three year-old thoroughbred horses held annually in Louisville Kentucky, on the first Saturday in May A son of the very important sire Phalaris, Sickle would produce 45 Graded stakes race winners and be the Leading sire in North America in 1936 and 1938. A graded stakes race is a term applied by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to a Thoroughbred horse race in The list below shows the leading sire of racehorses in North America for each year since 1830
Following Chance Shot's win in the 1927 Belmont Stakes, Widener's racing stable won the race two more times with Hurryoff in 1933 and with a son of Chance Shot in 1934 named Peace Chance. He also had five horses compete in the Kentucky Derby with his best finishes a second place earned by Osmand in 1927 and by Brevity in 1936.
Joseph Widener's father had had business interests in France and like other wealthy elite Americans of that era, maintained a place in fashionable Paris. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city In addition to racing horses in the United States, Widener also kept a stable of Thoroughbreds in France. Competing in French grass racing, his horses won the 1923 and 1926 editions of the Prix La Rochette and the 1923, 1924, and 1937 runnings of the Prix d'Aumale. Grass is the common word that generally describes Monocotyledonous green Plants The family Gramineae ( Poaceae) are the "true grasses" and include The Prix La Rochette is a Group 3 flat horse race in France open to two-year-old Thoroughbreds It is run over a distance of 1400 The Prix d'Aumale is a Group 3 flat horse race in France open to two-year-old Thoroughbred fillies.
Widener also owned English Hackney horses who competed at various shows. The Hackney Horse is a recognized breed of Horse that was developed in Great Britain.
Hialeah Park
In 1930, Joseph Widener built a 40,000 square foot mansion in Palm Beach, Florida. The square foot is an Imperial unit / US customary unit (non- SI non- metric) of Area, used mainly in the United States Palm Beach is an upscale Incorporated town in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. [1] where he would spend a good part of most winters. That same year, he founded the Miami Jockey Club and in 1931 built Hialeah Park. The Hialeah Park Race Track (also known as the Miami Jockey Club or Hialeah Race Track or Hialeah Park) is a historic site in Hialeah, Florida Hailed as one of the most beautiful Thoroughbred race tracks in the world, in 1979 Hialeah Park was listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places. A race track (or 'racetrack' or 'racing track' is a purpose-built facility for Racing of animals (eg The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP is the United States government's official list of districts sites buildings structures and objects deemed worthy of Major races here were the Widener Handicap inaugurated in 1936, and the Flamingo Stakes, an important stepping stone to the Kentucky Derby for 3-year-old horses. The Widener Handicap at Hialeah Park in Miami Florida was a Grade I stakes race for Thoroughbred racehorses 4-years-old and up The Flamingo Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race for three year olds held annually in April at the Hialeah Park in Hialeah Florida The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three year-old thoroughbred horses held annually in Louisville Kentucky, on the first Saturday in May Following Widener's death, ownership of the facility changed hands several times and after running into financial difficulties it closed in 2001.
Art collector
Joseph Widener added to the extensive and valuable art collection he had inherited from his father. His collection included a dozen or more works by Rembrandt as well as those by Johannes Vermeer, Edouard Manet, Pierre Auguste Renoir and others. Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (July 15 1606 &ndash October 4 1669 was a Dutch painter and etcher. Johannes or Jan Vermeer (baptized in Delft with the name Joannis on October 31 1632, and buried in the same city under the name Jan Pierre-Auguste Renoir ( February 25, 1841 &ndash December 3, 1919) was a French Artist who was a leading painter in In 1939, Widener made a number of donations from his assorted collections including manuscripts of historical and artistic importance gifted to the Rare Book Department at the Free Library of Philadelphia. The Free Library of Philadelphia is the Public library system serving Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. However, his most important philanthropic endeavor was as a founding benefactor of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.. This article is about the National Gallery of the United States for other National Galleries see National Gallery. Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D Widener's 1939 donation of a vast collection was announced by U. S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt at the Gallery's opening ceremony. The President of the United States is the Head of state and Head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in United States by Known as the Widener Collection, the more than 2,000 sculptures, paintings, decorative art, and porcelains went on display in 1942. Joseph Widener's own 1921 portrait by Augustus John hangs in the National Gallery of Art. Augustus Edwin John OM, RA, (4 January 1878 &ndash 31 October 1961 was a Welsh painter draughtsman, and Etcher.
In poor health for several years, Joseph Early Widener died at his Lynnewood Hall estate in 1943 and was interred in the Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia. Laurel Hill Cemetery, in Philadelphia Pennsylvania, is the second major Rural cemetery in the United States and one of the few cemeteries in the country
External links
- Normandy Farm, Lexington, Kentucky at the National Sporting Library's Thoroughbred Heritage website
- Joseph E. Widener, Founding Benefactor of the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
- (Joseph E.) Widener Collection at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
- Lewis-Widener manuscript collection at the Free Library of Philadelphia
- Joseph E. Widener's biography of at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic