Alfred Cowles Jr.

Alfred Cowles Jr. (January 5, 1865 – January 15, 1939) was a director of the Chicago Tribune company for 48 years.[1]

Early life and education

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Born in Chicago, he was the eldest son of Alfred Cowles Sr. and Sarah Frances Cowles (née Hutchinson).[2][3] His father served as bookkeeper, then secretary-treasurer of the Chicago Tribune, and worked closely with owner Joseph Medill.[4][5]

Alfred Junior graduated from Yale University in 1886.[1] During his senior year, Cowles was captain of the Yale champion varsity crew which set an upstream record on the Thames River which remained unbroken until 1923.[1] He was a member of Skull and Bones.[6]: 50 

He engaged in post-graduate work, at Yale Law School from 1887 to 1888, and Northwestern University from 1888 to 1889.[citation needed] Over the years, Cowles continued to be involved with the Yale crew, serving as chief advisor to head coach Edson F. Gallaudet in 1899.[7]

Career

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Following admission to the bar in 1889, Cowles practiced law in Chicago for only a few years.[5][1] He became a director of the Chicago Tribune in 1891, two years after his father died.[1] He served as secretary and treasurer of the Tribune from 1889 to 1901.[1]

He was also a director of the Continental Illinois Bank and Trust, as well as the American Radiator Company.[1] A campaigner against government waste, he served as president of the Civic Federation and the Bureau of Public Efficiency from 1932 to 1935.[1]

Personal life

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After graduating from Yale, he married Elizabeth Cheney of Manchester, Connecticut, with whom he had four children: Alfred Cowles III (1891–1984), Knight Cheney Cowles (b. 1892), John Cheney Cowles (b. 1894) and Thomas Hooker Cowles (b. 1895).[8] Alfred Jr. played golf and enjoyed shooting.[1]

Death and legacy

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In 1928, Alfred Jr., his brother William H. Cowles, and their sister Sarah Frances Stewart donated $350,000 to Yale University to fund the Alfred Cowles Sf. Foundation for the study of government and public affairs.[1]

He had heart disease and died from pneumonia at his home at 1130 Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, on January 15, 1939.[1] He left an estate worth $985,000 when he died.[9]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Alfred Cowles, Civic Leader and Tribune Director, Dies". Chicago Tribune. January 16, 1939. p. 3. Retrieved March 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "MR. ALFRED COWLES'S ESTATE". The New York Times. December 31, 1889. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  3. ^ Read, Colin (2016). The Econometricians: Gauss, Galton, Pearson, Fisher, Hotelling, Cowles, Frisch and Haavelmo. London: Palgrave Macmillan. p. 182. doi:10.1057/978-1-137-34137-2. ISBN 978-1-137-34137-2.
  4. ^ Heise, Kenan (December 29, 1984). "Alfred Cowles, 93, former Tribune director". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b "ALFRED COWLES OF CHICAGO DIES". The New York Times. January 16, 1939. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  6. ^ "Obituary Record of Graduates of Yale University Deceased During the Year 1938–1939" (PDF). Yale University. January 1, 1940. Retrieved April 19, 2011.
  7. ^ "Level Head Needed". Boston Globe. January 29, 1899. Retrieved March 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Ferrendelli, Betta (November 11, 2001). "Four generations of Cowles built diverse empire". Puget Sound Business Journal.
  9. ^ "$985,000 in Estate of Alfred Cowles". St. Louis Globe-Democrat. January 21, 1939. Retrieved March 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.


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