Henry E. Huntington and His Response to the Gospel of Wealth

By Jacob Chon and John Chon (SMHS ‘20)

In his lifetime, Henry E. Huntington accumulated massive amounts of wealth but then, in his will and in response to the argument that Andrew Carnegie put forward in his Gospel of Wealth, Huntington gave away much of his fortune for the improvement of society. In this Exploration into America’s Past, two San Marino High School students, Jacob and John Chon, describe how Huntington accumulated his wealth, the extent to which he gave it away, and the reasons for all that giving.
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The Gospel of Wealth was an article written in 1889 by Andrew Carnegie, a prolific businessman of the American Gilded Age best known for his beliefs on wealth distribution.

In the Gospel of Wealth, Carnegie posited that it was the moral prerogative of the rich to donate money to the “greater good,” such as hospitals, universities, and libraries. In other words, Carnegie believed that the rich should support the poor not through direct donations to them, but by donating money and resources to organizations that support the poor. This idea of philanthropy became known as the Gospel of Wealth.

Carnegie’s Gospel of Wealth went on to say that oftentimes the rich squander their fortunes, and he pointed to philanthropy as a way to “ [administer wealth] for the community”. He believed that “[if] thou dost not sow, thou shalt not reap,” (Carnegie 4) leading to his belief that hard work earns money.

He also called for the rich to set an example of “modest, unostentatious living” (Carnegie 12). Finally, he criticized primogeniture and passing of wealth between generations, stating that “successors have become impoverished through their follies or from the fall in the value of land” (Carnegie 7).

Carnegie’s positing was extremely controversial at the time with even William Gladstone, a friend of Carnegie, criticizing Carnegies’ article. Gladstone flat out “defended primogeniture, unlimited inheritance, and the British aristocracy” (Snow 3).

On the other hand, several famous Americans of great wealth also embraced Carnegie’s message found in the Gospel of Wealth. One such wealthy American was Henry E. Huntington.

Huntington’s Accumulation of Wealth
Henry E. Huntington was the nephew of the railroad magnate Collis P. Huntington.

He came from a relatively poor background, and it is through those roots that his intellectualism and love for the finer points in life were shaped.

Born on 27 February 1850, in the small town of Oneonta of central New York, his early life was filled with both play and a serious education. From records, it has been ascertained that he often played outside and enjoyed both organized sports and unorganized exploration of his surroundings. In the classroom, Huntington was noted for his love of reading, courtesy of his parents’ collection of books.

In 1861, Collis Huntington, an uncle of Henry Huntington, invested in the railroad business, and within a few years, the railroad company was thriving. Collis contacted his nephew Henry Huntington in 1871 to offer him a job of managing a sawmill in West Virginia. Henry’s strong work ethic allowed him to go from a management position to ownership of the mill within two short years.

In the mid 1880s, Henry Huntington had supervised construction of the Chesapeake, Ohio & South Western Railroad Company and had taken control of the then-faltering Kentucky Central Railroad company, turning it into a profitable venture. Both his uncle and himself were well respected throughout the industry.

By 1892, Henry Huntington had controlled multiple railroad corporations and funded the development of electric railways and utilities. He had a sizeable fortune for himself as well and was well on his way to becoming a railroad mogul. In the spring of 1892, his uncle asked him for help with electric railways in San Francisco. Henry Huntington took a business trip to assist him, but along the way he visited the San Marino Ranch, then owned by George Patton Sr.

Instantly stunned by the beauty of Southern California, Huntington vowed to visit again and buy the ranch again. While working in San Francisco thereafter, he continued to think about both the region and his work’s relationship with developing the land. He believed that electric railways could be used to develop sprawling urban centers.

Unfortunately, in 1900, Henry’s uncle Collis died due to old age. Huntington moved south in 1902 and relocated his offices in Los Angeles.

He would purchase the San Marino Ranch, and by this point he had amassed such a wealth that he could buy whole libraries at a time, which he did. Indulging in his love for books and reading, he would eventually buy, among others, E. Dwight Church Library of Americana, the 12,000 books in the Wilberforce Eames Collection, and personal book collection of English lawyer Sir Thomas Egerton. His legacy developed the region of Los Angeles as it is known today and financed high quality development of the town.

Huntington was 39 at the time that the Gospel of Wealth was published.

Following the publication of the Gospel of Wealth, Huntington became extremely active in the Los Angeles area, building much of the infrastructure and companies considered to be normal today. Some of his notable achievements include founding the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, becoming a Booster of the Greater Los Angeles Area, and creating both the Pacific Enterprise Gas and Edison Electric Company.

Huntington also developed the Red Car Company of Southern California into a highly complex system of public transportation. During the early 1900s, towns such as Pasadena or Riverside were a far distance from Los Angeles; a lack of public roads and transportation also divided the towns geographically.

Henry Huntington, wishing to develop Southern California, produced railway lines between Los Angeles and other small towns, such as Glendale and Palos Verdes. Although never highly profitable, the was the forerunner to the modern metro system and greatly helped with the expansion of Los Angeles and Southern California.

In addition, Huntington was also responsible for developing Los Angeles’ aerospace and technology industries. It was him who helped set up the Los Angeles International Airmeet at Dominguez Field in 1910, bringing in the likes of Boeing, Lockheed, Douglas, and the Wright Brothers. He offered them land in Southern California to fly test planes, which kickstarted the aerospace industry there.

In total, Huntington sat on 60 different boards in the Los Angeles Area and was active in social circles with other investors. Combining their wealth and knowledge, they were able to develop Caltech and create a thriving and varied economy in Southern California.

Huntington’s Philanthropy
Perhaps his best known contribution to Los Angeles was the aptly named Henry E. Huntington Library, Botanical Garden, and Art Collection.

In his will, Henry E. Huntington gave away his three prized possessions: The books found in his library, the plants found in his garden, and the art found throughout his house.

The Huntington Garden
When Huntington purchased the ranch, it consisted of a few citrus groves, a small herd of cattle, and various other crops in small numbers. Today, it is almost unrecognizable.

In 1906, Henry Huntington began to develop what is known today as the Japanese Gardens. His ultimate goal was to create a “Versailles Palace” in America.

During his life and after his death, the Gardens were expanded to include flora from around the world.

Today, there are 16 various gardens that all represent a different theme, including the Chinese Garden, Japanese Garden, Conservatory, and more. Each has a different set of plants adapted to their environment.

The Huntington Library
In 1911, Huntington purchased the E. Dwight Church Library of Americana as seen above. He would expand the collection throughout his life, and even in death his trusts he had set up ensured the library would persist throughout time.

As of 2019, the library holds over 200,000 books and photographs of the American continent alone, with over 9 million in total works of art and literature in the library overall. From manuscripts of the Founding Fathers to an authentic Gutenberg Bible, the Huntington Library is known as one of the greatest research libraries in the entire world, all in the backyard of San Marino.

The Huntington Art Collection
A surprising amount of the Huntington’s Art Collection actually came from the wife of Henry Huntington, Arabella Huntington. When she was married to Henry Huntington, she pushed for the Huntington Library to include a massive art collection. It is her that was the driving force behind the acquisition of artwork like Thomas Gainsborough’s “The Blue Boy,” Van Der Weyden’s “Pinkie,” and other famous paintings and sculptures.

As mentioned before, the Huntington Art Collection is museum that ranks among the Louvre in Paris, the Smithsonian in Washington D.C., and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. With many unique and highly sought after works of art, it is hard to ignore the scope or rarity of the artwork that the Huntington Art Collection offers.

Conclusion
Although many philanthropists existed throughout the Gilded Age, Henry Huntington was one of the most famous. Therefore, his life and philanthropic work is still remembered even a century after his death. Even today, the art, museum, and garden of a Gilded Age philanthropist remain public and open for any individual who wishes to view famous pieces and exotic flowers from around the world.

THINK

Who wrote the article The Gospel of Wealth?

• Andrew Carnegie
• Joseph Pulitzer
• William Randolph Hearst
• Henry E. Huntington

Which word appearing below is used to describe the passing of real estate to the eldest son?

• Primogeniture
• Salutary neglect
• Annunciation
• Manifest Destiny

Henry E. Huntington is most known for having accumulated vast amounts of wealth in the . . .?

• Railway industry
• Steel industry
• Oil industry
• Weapons industry

Henry E. Huntington gave away which of the following to the public?

• The books in his library
• The flowers and plants in his garden
• The art in his home
• All the above

Henry E. Huntington was born in the?

• 1600’s
• 1700’s
• 1800’s
• 1900’

WRITING AND DISCUSSION

1. What philanthropist had the greatest impact on the world?
2. If in your lifetime you managed to accumulate great amounts of wealth, to what cause would you donate generous amounts of your wealth?
3. To what extent if/any should high school students be required to help the less fortunate?
4. Andrew Carnegie once said “The man who dies rich dies in disgrace. Agree or disagree?
5. What do you think motivates most philanthropists to give so much?

YOUR TURN ACTIVITY

It’s now time to create your own Exploration inot America’s Past. To do so, first produce a working title that in some way relates to the title/topic of this exploration. Some suggestions.

• Warren Buffet: One of America’s Top Givers
• Bill and Melinda Gates: To of America’s Most Generous People
• George Soros: A Notable American Philanthropist.

Next draft your exploration using the GoogleDoc EIAP template at http://bit.ly/2GoQKk3.

Then when your draft is completed, move it to the EIAP PDF template found at http://bit.ly/2ZBngbM.

Contact @PeterPaccone if you have any questions.

APUSH KEY CONCEPTS

APUSH Key Concept 6.1-ID: Many business leaders sought increased profits by consolidating corporations into large trusts and holding companies, which further concentrated wealth.

APUSH Key Concept-1B: Some business leaders argued that the wealthy had a moral obligation to help the less fortunate and improve society, as articulated in the idea known as the Gospel of Wealth, and they made philanthropic contributions that enhanced educational opportunities and urban environments.

SOURCES

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “Henry E. Huntington.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 23 Feb. 2019, www.britannica.com/biography/Henry-E-Huntington.

Carnegie, Andrew. “The Gospel of Wealth.” Carnegie Corporation of New York, North American Review, 1880, www.carnegie.org/publications/the-gospel-of-wealth/.

Chon, Jacob, and Randy Shulman. “To the Heart Of the Matter.” 25 Mar. 2019.

Mollno, Linda. “The Making of Henry Edwards Huntington.” San Marino Tribune, San Marino Tribune, 28 Nov. 2016, sanmarinotribune.com/the-making-of-henry-edwards-huntington/.

Snow, V.F. Society (1991) 28: 53. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02695689

“The Huntington.” Huntington, Huntington Library, 7 Jan. 1970, www.huntington.org/.

ACADEMIC HONESTY STATEMENT

We declare that this work is our own work and that we have correctly acknowledged the work of others. This work is in accordance with the SMHS Academic Honesty Policy and its guidance on good academic conduct and how to avoid plagiarism and other assessment irregularities.

• Jacob Chon
• John Chon

MISCELLANEOUS

In April of 2019, I (Jacob Chon) went to the Huntington Library to learn more about Henry E. Huntington. Here’s the full story, as told by Mitch Lehman, the Managing Editor of my town’s local newspaper, the San Marino Tribune.

Give Jacob Chon full marks for having a healthy sense of cynicism.

Chon, a junior at San Marino High School, received an assignment in his Honors United States History class and wasn’t satisfied with the results of his research.

“It was to write a report on Henry Huntington,” said Chon of the man who could be considered San Marino’s founding father. Chon sank his teeth into the research he was able to access and, well, didn’t really care for the taste.

“I was looking for information so I could give a balanced perspective on what kind of an industrial business leader he was,” Chon explained. “I was unable to find any negative information surrounding him.”

Jacob informed his teacher, Peter Paccone, about what he suspected was one-sided reporting and the wheels began to spin.

An intermediary arranged a meeting at the Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens and this past Monday afternoon, Jacob sat down with Randy Shulman, the institution’s vice president for advancement, in the Munger Research Center for a little history lesson.

Shulman, who graduated from San Marino High School, spent about 45 minutes explaining what he knows of Huntington, most of which centered around Huntington’s later years. He photocopied excerpts from books on Huntington that he felt would assist Chon in presenting a balanced report. Shulman said that Huntington is believed to have been a kind, personable individual who was much loved by those he interacted with on a daily basis.

“When he walked onto the floor at his railroad yard, he greeted his employees by name,” Shulman explained. He also mentioned that Huntington and his wife, Arabella, made substantial financial donations to each of the country’s traditionally black colleges.

“There are no letters explaining why, it was just very important to them,” Shulman said.

FACE TO FACE: San Marino High School junior Jacob Chon, left, was curious why he could find no information painting Henry Huntington in a negative light. The Huntington’s Randy Shulman, right, provided Chon with substantial background information on Huntington’s legacy. Mitch Lehman Photo

Chon was also somewhat surprised when Shulman mentioned that Huntington intended on leaving his estate as a museum from the time it was built. Shulman explained many design features of what is now the Main Art Gallery which indicate it was constructed to accommodate large crowds.

“The hallways are so wide and the rooms are so large that it appears it was designed to be more than a residence,” he said.

When asked directly if Huntington lived a life above reproach, Shulman mentioned that Huntington married his aunt.

“It was not a blood relation, but that is about all there is as far as anything controversial,” he said.

Arabella Huntington was the widow of Henry’s uncle, Collis Huntington. Several years after Collis passed a way, Henry and Arabella — who were the same age — began a letter-writing correspondence and later wed.

“It was a different time,” Chon said of the union.

“And that is nowhere near as scandalous as many of the other business leaders of the Gilded Age.”

Afterwards, Chon said he was “satisfied” by the wisdom Shulman had imparted.

“It’s obvious he knows a lot about Henry Huntington,” Chon said. “It was mostly about the latter part of his life, but it still makes up a huge majority of what Huntington was as a business leader and a patron of the arts.”

All that remains to be seen is how Jacob describes the meeting in the paper’s appendix.

Jacob is the son of John and Jane Chon. He has a twin brother, Thomas, and two younger sisters, Jillian and Jodie.