13 Facts About Nathan Cummings

Nathan Cummings was the founder of Consolidated Foods, which later became known by one of its product lines, Sara Lee Corporation.

In 1911, David moved the family back to Canada and settled in Montreal, while Nathan Cummings remained in New York.

Nathan Cummings had established a shoe shop and factory of his own by 1924, but the business foundered during the Depression, and he was forced to declare bankruptcy in 1932.

Sara Lee was the name of one of the company's best known brands, which Nathan Cummings had acquired in 1956.

Nathan Cummings retired from the company in 1968, but remained honorary chairman and active in company affairs until his death in 1985.

In 1992, a history of the Nathan Cummings family entitled David and Bessie Komiensky, Jewish Lithuanian Immigrants: A Brief Family History, was commissioned by friends as a surprise gift for Herbert Kellert Nathan Cummings, and published by Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.

Nathan Cummings knew nothing of Pissarro, but he was confident in what he liked.

Nathan Cummings' collections were diverse, including French Impressionist paintings, modern sculpture, ancient Peruvian ceramics, and works of living artists such as Henry Moore, Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, Georges Braque, Giacomo Manzu and Alberto Giacometti, who became members of his social circle.

Nathan Cummings enjoyed friendships with other celebrities, including Duke and Duchess of Windsor and Bob Hope, a good friend who emerged from a giant cake at Cummings's eightieth birthday.

Nathan Cummings enjoyed contemporary art and delighted in new discoveries.

Nathan Cummings often acquired whole series of works by artists he liked, later distributing the works to friends or scattering them around the workplace.

Nathan Cummings bought and sold without expecting to keep the works forever, allowing old favorites to be replaced by new enthusiasms.

Nathan Cummings expected that everyone would share his passion for art: as well as giving away works of art as presents, he displayed parts of his collection in the offices of his companies for the enjoyment of the staff.