12 Facts About Joseph Seligman

Joseph Seligman was the patriarch of what became known as the Seligman family in the United States and related to the wealthy Guggenheim family through Peggy Guggenheim's mother Florette.

Joseph Seligman's father wanted him to enter the family wool business, but circumstances made this difficult.

Jesse Seligman ran the store's branch in San Francisco, while Joseph managed the New York City store.

In 1877, Joseph Seligman was involved in the most publicized antisemitic incident in American history up to that point, being denied entry into the Grand Union Hotel in Saratoga Springs, New York, by Henry Hilton.

Joseph Seligman started conservatively in this sector, selling railroad bonds, but this led them to owning and operating railroads in order to protect their investments.

The first incident involved Joseph Seligman's declining the post of Secretary of the Treasury.

Joseph Seligman was invited to serve in the Committee of Seventy, a group of New Yorkers who banded together to fight the Tweed Ring.

Historians disagree as to whether the Joseph Seligman family were physically turned away from the hotel, told not to come to the hotel, or advised that they could stay only one final time.

Whether or not Joseph Seligman meant to be turned away from the hotel to cast a light on growing antisemitism in America, the resulting publicity emboldened other hoteliers to exclude Jews, placing advertisements saying "Hebrews need not apply" and "Hebrews will knock vainly for admission".

Joseph Seligman's body was returned to New York City and he was buried in Salem Fields Cemetery on May 4,1880.

Joseph Seligman married his cousin Babet Steinhardt in a ceremony in Baiersdorf in 1848.

In gratitude, Babet Joseph Seligman donated one acre of land and $500 towards the building of a church which still stands near downtown Joseph Seligman.