The Guggenheims. A Family History

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A portrait of a great American dynasty and its legacy in business, technology, the arts, and philanthropy, this narrative chronicles the Guggenheim family, founded by Swiss immigrant Meyer Guggenheim. At their peak in the early twentieth century, they were among America's wealthiest families, recognized as the richest Jewish family globally after the Rothschilds. Unlike their peers in finance and trade, the Guggenheims amassed their fortune through mining and refining precious metals. Meyer's belief in family unity propelled his seven sons, led by Daniel, to expand their mining and smelting empire. However, as family solidarity waned and the original brothers passed away, the lack of male heirs became detrimental. In the third generation, Harry Guggenheim, Daniel's son, attempted to lead the family into new ventures like aviation and publishing but ultimately witnessed the decline of their business. Concurrently, the name "Guggenheim" evolved to symbolize art rather than industry, with Solomon and Peggy Guggenheim championing modernism and abstract expressionism in America. Solomon's museum has played a vital role in disseminating Western art globally. The family's legacy continues through notable members like publisher Roger Straus II and archaeologist Iris Love. Through meticulous research, Irwin Unger and Debi Unger present a remarkable story of the Guggenheim family's rise to prominence.