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From Macy's to the Titanic - The Straus Family Legacy

The German-Jewish family that built Macys into an iconic retailer also left an indelible legacy in American politics and society, from the philanthropic work of the Educational Alliance to Isidor Straus's time in the United States House of Representatives.

In his lecture, department store historian Michael Lisicky will discuss how Isidor Straus built the Macy's empire while his less known but no less energetic brother Nathan pursued other successful businesses and invested in public health innovations. The death of Isidor and his wife Ida on the RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912 was a major blow to the family, and the Straus Historical Society will prepare a pop-up exhibition of items related to the the Titanic. After the lecture, LBI Executive Director Billy Weitzer will moderate a discussion between Lisicky and Paul Kurzman, former Chairman of the Straus Historical Society and a great-grandson of Isidor and Ida Straus.

The pop-up exhibition will open at 5:00 PM

Cosponsored by the American Jewish Historical Society, Deutsches Haus at NYU, and the Straus Historical Society