they probably only know a small part of his story.
there are few people today, outside of a few living Mackay descendents,
that have ever seen all these interests and accomplishments listed in one place before.
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| updated January 21, 2008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Clarence H. Mackay, 1874-1938 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| If you find someone in 2008 who knows the name of Clarence H. Mackay, they probably only know a small part of his story. |
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| If the person is familiar with the history of the development of the western United States, he or she may know that Clarence H. Mackay was the son of John W. Mackay, the driving force of the partnership that developed the richest silver mines of the Comstock Lode in Nevada during the 1860s/70s. Here is an old post card showing John W. Mackay with General and former President Ulysses S. Grant on a visit to his silver mines in 1879. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| If the person is familiar with Roslyn, New York, he or she may know that Roslyn High School and the community of Country Estates now sits on the grounds that once were referred to as the Mackay Estate and Harbor Hill. They may even know that a collection of family papers reside at Roslyn's Bryant Library. Here are a few old Roslyn post cards displayed to give you a feel for what the area looked like when the Mackay estate thrived. If you have scenes you'd be willing to add to this display, please drop me an email. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| If a person is interested in architecture, he or she may know that the very colorful Stanford White of McKim, Mead & White was the architect who designed the mansion and the gate lodge at Harbor Hill for the Mackays as well as the Trinity Episcopal Church on Northern Boulevard in Roslyn. But does he or she know what the architectural firm of Warren and Wetmore contibuted to Harbor Hill? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| If a person knows something about landscape design, he or she may know the name of Guy Lowell as the man who designed the layout of the grounds at Harbor Hill. But what of Jacques Greber? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| If the person knows something about art history, he or she may know that there are numeorus museums throughout the USA today that contain breath-taking suits of armor, paintings by old masters, furniture and beautiful tapestries that once graced the halls and walls of Harbor Hill. Click here for a section still being expanded on this subject. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| If the person is interested in the history of Trans-Atlantic cables or the telegraph, he or she may know that Clarence H. Mackay became the president of the Commercial Cable Company and the Postal Telegraph-Cable Company upon the passing of his father in 1902. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| If the person is familiar with the University of Nevada in Reno, Nevada, he or she may know something about the Mackay School of Mines, the Gutzon Borglum statue of John W. Mackay and the athletic stadium by the name of Mackay Stadium. He or she may even know about "Mackay Days" celebrated each April on campus. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| If the person knows something about Lincoln history, he or she may know that Clarence Mackay served as Treasurer of the Lincoln Farm Association at the request of President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906. He made a personal contribution of 400 shares of "Mackay Companies preferred stock" worth $29,247 in 1907. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| If the person knows something about aviation history, he or she may know that the Clarence Mackay Trophy awarded annually to the outstanding airman or aircrew was commissioned by Clarence Mackay and awarded for the first time to Lieutenant (later 5-star General) Hap Arnold in 1912. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| If the person is familiar with Canterbury School in New Milford, Connecticut, he or she will know that he was one of the original three founders of that school in 1915. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| If the person is interested in the history of radio, he or she may be aware of the fact that he founded a company by the name of Mackay Radio Company in 1925. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| If the person knows something about Irving Berlin, world famous 20th Century composer of popular music, he or she may know that Clarence Mackay was the angry father of Ellin Mackay who became Mrs. Berlin in 1926. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| If the person knows something about business history, he or she may know that he became Chairman of the Board of the Postal Telegraph-Cable Corporation and of the Mackay Radio-Telegraph Company in 1928 after merger of the "Mackay Companies" into ITT and held those positions until his death in 1938. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| If the person knows something about the history of the New York Philharmonic-Symphony Society, he or she may know Clarence H. Mackay as a past chairman of its' board of directors. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| If the person knows something about the history of the Metropolitan Opera, in New York, he or she may know Clarence H. Mackay as a past chairman of its' board of directors. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| If the person knows something about the history of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, in New York, he or she may recognize his name as a past member of the Board of Trustees. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| But as diverse and interesting as these things may be, there are few people today, outside of a few living Mackay descendents, that have ever seen all these interests and accomplishments listed in one place before. |
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| Unfortunately, what we don't know much about, is the man himself. We have glimpses of him in his roles as devoted son, husband, father, grandfather, business leader, employer, foremost citizen, country estate owner, horseman, polo player, squash and tennis player, crack shot, upland bird hunter, art and armor collector, music lover, eminent churchman and philantropist. At his passing in 1938, we see him referred to as distinguished, devoted and esteemed friend by his business and social associates. But we still don't have much of a feel for his personality, sense of humor, degree of warmth, or personal style beyond his, "appearing fit and somewhat aloof" to those who observed him going about in his everyday activities. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Since the above was written, I've come across some additional descriptive information that sheds a little more light upon the person, Clarence H. Mackay. See Character Sketches. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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