Many biographies of John D. Rockefeller and John D. Rockefeller, Jr. have been compiled- some have used bits of the original correspondence presented here and tried to show opposing interests between John D. Rockefeller and his son. Still others were written without correspondence at all. This collection of never-before-published letters traces the history of the transfer of the Rockefeller fortune over the course of fifty years. It illustrates how the endowment was bestowed from Senior to Junior with respect, sound advice, and with a mutual trust between father and son. The letters also reveal far more than the business side of entrusting the Rockefeller fortune to the younger generation. The misives are filled with news of family matters and personal wishes constituting a record of the Rockefeller family values which, in turn, sponsored the philantrophies of Junior. Outlined in these letters is the conception for the Rockefeller Foundation, the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research, and the General Education Board. Later would follow the realization of the Fort Tryon Park, the Rockefeller Center, Riverside Church, and the restoration of Colonial Williamsburg. Junior's holdings peaked in 1928 at 5 million and his dedication to public parks, and institutions around the world absorbed a considerable portion of his wealth. Ernst's introduction reflects on five themes which run continuously throughout the letters: the respect and love among the members of the family, a father's precautions to his maturing son, the son's willingness to accept his father's precepts and examples, the son's conscious assumption of the responsibilities of the bequeathed fortune, and overriding faith in a benevolent God. These themes continually come together to form the outline of a philosophy of life behind the Rockefeller legacy, as when Senior writes: I am indeed blessed beyond measure in having a son whom I can trust to do this most particular and most important work. Go carefully. Be conservative. Be sure you are right- and then do not be afraid to give out, as your heart prompts you, and as the Lord inspires you.
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Joseph W. Ernst is Director Emeritus of the Rockefeller Archive Center.
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
FATHER LOVES SON VERY MUCH,
By
This review is from: Dear Father, Dear Son: Correspondence of John D. Rockefeller and Jr. (Hardcover)
I have read the CHINESE TRANSLATION of the J.D.ROCKEFELLER's Letters to Jr. I am still waiting for the ORIGINAL ENGLISH VERSION of Rockefeller's
Letters to Jr. I am very touched by J.D., such a GREAT FATHER with so much LOVE for HIS SON J.D.Jr. The letters are full of teachings and sharing about experiences in LIFE, from J.D.'s humble beginning as a $5/week book-keeper in CHICAGO area, I believe or it was in CLEVELAND.(Pardon me, I am not AMERICAN).J.D.'s aspirations and determination to succeed in business began with his HARD WORK, THRIFT, DETERMINATIONS, HUMBLE, a lots of great virtues in the past which today young people in HK/CHINA & USA have forgotten. You see the trouble in financial tsunami which we are facing today are the results of forgetting the virtues of THRIFT & HARDWORK. In J.D.'s letters to Jr there were many repetition of such GREAT VIRTUES, GREAT IDEAS and HARDWORK as well as J.D.'s business experiences in facing adversity. I admire J.D.ROCKEFELLER Sr. not because he was a very RICH MAN, but he was indeed a man very RICH in SPIRIT. Everything he did he had a humble goal of fulfilling the WILL of GOD, FOR THE GREATER GLORY of GOD in order to serve MANKIND. No wonder, he was so successful, his CHILDREN are also GREAT in the HISTORY of AMERICA. Indeed, I am IMPRESSED!!! USA is a GREAT COUNTRY to have GREAT PERSON such as Mr.J.D.ROCKEFELLER Sr. THE READERS HAVE to get hold of such a good book personally in order to appreciate and enjoy every fine words wriiten in the LETTERS to SON by MR.J.D.ROCKEFELLER Sr. I just can't wait to get hold of the ENGLISH edition of CORRESPONDENCE of FATHER to SON, JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER Sr. to Jr. which was supposed to be shipped in November,2008. Before then, I remain your friend from HONG KONG,CHINA. RGDS, STEPHEN M. YUNG, HONG KONG,CHINA.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
It is not the same book in Chinese Version,
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Dear Father, Dear Son: Correspondence of John D. Rockefeller and Jr. (Hardcover)
I also read Chinese Version " Rockefeller's 38 letters to his son". I looked for English Version.
I read Stephen Young comments " Dear Father, Dear Son" before I bought. But when I received, I found it is not same book as Chinese Verson. It is a little of misleading. So for those people who has read Chinese verson, looking for English verson, has to be careful. It is not the same book! I am not saying " Dear Father, Dear Son" is not good, but it could be compared with " Rockefeller's 38 letters to his son". I do not know where I can find that book in English, I've searched everwhere. William Shen Sydney, Australia
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