John D. Rockefeller: Captain of Industry or Robber Baron

1. John D. Rockefeller:Captain of Industry or Robber Baron Rania Elmrini, Alicia Cradle and Marilyn Tenecela

2. An Introduction to John D Rockefeller • John D Rockefeller was a natural businessman with a strong moral sense and intense religious convictions in which later on in his life he dedicated unmatched wealth to charity. • Within his lifetime, Rockefeller helped launch the field of biomedical research, funding scientific investigations that resulted in vaccines for things like meningitis and yellow fever. • He revolutionized medical training in the United States, and built China’s first proper medical school. • He championed the cause of public sanitation, creating schools of public health at Johns Hopkins and Harvard, and helped lead major international public health efforts against hookworm, malaria, yellow fever, and other maladies. • He vigorously promoted the cause of education nationwide, without distinction of sex, race, or creed.

3. Philanthropic aspects • Mr. Rockefeller's benefactions from 1855 to 1934 totaled $530,853,632, of which the larger amount went to the four great foundations he established for the purpose of managing his charities. • They were the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research, the Rockefeller Foundation, the Laura Spelman Rockefeller Memorial, in memory of his wife, and the General Education Board. The University of Chicago was another large beneficiary. • Rockefeller was chiefly interested in education, scientific research, the Baptist Church and other religious or social organizations. His chief agency of distribution was the Rockefeller Foundation, established in 1913 with a $100,000,000 capital fund, later increased by $25,000,000 in 1917. It received up to 1934 from Mr. Rockefeller $182,851,480.90. This organization was formed "to promote the well-being of mankind throughout the world."

4. Philanthropic Aspects • Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research - In 1901, Rockefeller created an organization to study the cause and prevention of disease. Later known as Rockefeller University. Rockefeller University is country’s first institution devoted exclusively to biomedical research.

5. Philanthropic aspects • General Education Board - 1902, the GEB supported a wide variety of educational improvements, concentrating attention on medical schools and the improvement of public education in the South. Before it was phased out in 1965, the GEB distributed more than $300 million. Rockefeller once quoted that the GEB was for “the promotion of education within the United States of America, without distinction of race, sex, or creed.” Rockefeller made an initial obligation of $1 million to the organization, but his contributions quickly grew to $43 million by 1907. The total of these donations marked, at the time, made GEB the largest gift to a philanthropic organization in the history of the United States.

6. Philanthropic Aspects • Rockefeller Sanitary Commission Established - 1909 to address the problem of hookworm disease, the Commission mounted massive educational campaigns in the South. Later, efforts were launched overseas before the organization was closed in 1915.

7. Philanthropic Aspects • The Rockefeller Foundation - The Foundation provided funding for public health, medical schools, famine prevention, the social sciences, the arts and many other endeavors. Outstanding contributions in the form of funds, research, and fieldwork were made by the foundation in the battle against hookworm, malaria, yellow fever, and other diseases throughout the world. The Rockefeller Foundation remains one of the world's leading philanthropic forces today.

8. Philanthropic aspects • Laura Spelman Rockefeller Memorial - John D. Rockefeller, Sr. founded the Laura Spelman Rockefeller Memorial in October 1918 in memory of his wife. The State of New York incorporated the Memorial for general philanthropic purposes. During the early years, the Memorial gave support to the Young Men's Christian Association, the Young Women's Christian Association, the Boy Scouts, and the Girl Scouts. Considerable contributions from the Memorial supported organized emergency relief efforts in China and Europe. In the early twenties, the Memorial appropriated $785,000 to the American Relief Administration and to its affiliate, the Student Friendship Fund for food and clothing for teachers and students in Russian universities.

9. Philanthropic Aspects • University of Chicago - Rockefeller instituted the challenge grant approach to establish what was initially a Baptist institution of higher learning. He offered to make a large donation if a similar amount could be raised from other sources within a certain time frame; he favored this approach because it demonstrated a base of support for a project and he would turn to this form of philanthropy many times over the years. Rockefeller was also a generous benefactor of Columbia, Harvard, Spelman, and Yale.

10. Conclusion • In conclusion it’s obvious that though many of Rockefeller’s means in creating his capital were questionable and slightly immoral he was still a giving humanitarian who gave back to the world through both money and through his ability to make petroleum affordable to all classes of society. Rockefeller gave away nearly half of his fortune before his death. Churches, medical foundations, universities, and centers for the arts received hefty sums of oil money. Whether he was driven by good will, conscience, or his devout faith in God is unknown. Regardless, he became a hero to many enterprising Americans.