STANLEY FIELD 

 1875-1964 



Chicago lost one of its finest citizens and Chicago Natural History 

 Museum lost its greatest builder with the death on October 28 of 

 Stanley Field in his 90th year. In a life that was as distinguished as 

 it was long, he devoted his talents to the business and cultural life of 

 Chicago with an intensity matched only by his generosity. Of all the 

 institutions with which he was associated, he loved the Museum most. 

 It grew great because of him. 



Mr. Field was born in Manchester, England, on May 13, 1875. In 

 1893 he came to Chicago to work at Marshall Field & Company, of 

 which his uncle was founder and president. He remained associated 

 with the company until his death 71 years later, serving as First Vice 

 President, member of the Board of Directors, and, since 1939, Chairman 

 of the Executive Committee. In 1918, he resigned the active adminis- 

 trative responsibilities of First Vice President of the store to allow himself 

 to devote more time to the Museum and to other civic responsibilities. 



His association with the then Field Museum of Natural History 

 began in 1906 when founder Marshall Field asked him to become a 

 Trustee. Although he had had little contact with the Museum or with 

 natural history, he acceded to his uncle's request and soon, in 1908, 

 was elected President and headed the institution for more than 56 years. 

 It was during these years that the Museum, a small and relatively un- 

 known institution when he began its guidance, grew to maturity and 

 world-wide distinction. His gifts to the Museum exceeded two million 

 dollars, but he gave himself in even greater measure. His interest and 

 gifts extended into every aspect of the Museum's broad scope, from the 

 physical plant to scientific research in each of its four fields of study, to 

 the exhibition program, to the establishment of an employees' pension 

 fund. Because of this very breadth of his interest the Museum grew 

 in a proportioned and balanced fashion, gradually reaching the stature 

 that it enjoys today. 



The largest responsibility Mr. Field assumed for the Museum was 

 the construction of the present building, which was opened to the public 

 in 1921 . When Marshall Field's original bequest of $4,000,000 for the 

 new building proved to be far short of the required amount, Stanley 

 Field personally assumed the responsibility of securing the additional 

 millions required. This he did, contributing for many years from his 

 own funds to this goal. Later, when he saw an outstanding need at the 

 Museum for which funds were not available, he often authorized the 

 expenditure and paid the cost himself. 



Mr. Field's contribution to Chicago ranged far beyond the Mu- 

 seum. He worked closely with John G. Shedd, who contributed the 

 funds to build the Shedd Aquarium, and he served for 27 years as its 

 President after supervising the Aquarium's planning and construction. 

 When the Chicago Zoological Society built the Brookfield Zoo, he ac- 

 cepted the chairmanship of the Building Committee and later was 

 Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Zoo. Children's Me- 

 morial Hospital and Chicago Child Care Society received years of his 

 service and always, concurrently, his gifts. 



His business associations, in addition to that with Marshall Field & 

 Company, included positions on the Boards of Commonwealth Edison 

 Company, Public Service Company of Northern Illinois, Continental 

 Illinois National Bank and Trust Company, the Chicago Milwaukee 

 and St. Paul Railroad, and Illinois Central Railroad. In 1917 Mr. 

 Field was asked to assume responsibility for the purchase of all Red 

 Cross supplies, with the military rank of Major. By the end of the war, 

 he had been placed in charge of all supplies and transportation for the 

 Red Cross. 



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