Stern, Edith Rosenwald (1895–1980)

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Stern, Edith Rosenwald (1895–1980)

American philanthropist who was known especially for her charities and reforms in New Orleans. Name variations: Mrs. Edgar Rosenwald Stern; Effie Stern. Born Edith Rosenwald in Chicago, Illinois, in 1895; died in the summer of 1980; daughter of Julius (J.R.) Rosenwald and Augusta (Nusbaum) Rosenwald; sister of Marion Rosenwald Ascoli and Adele Rosenwald ; married Germon Sulzberger, in 1913 (divorced); married Edgar Bloom Stern (died 1959); children: Philip, Edgar, Jr., Audrey.

Edith Rosenwald Stern was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1895, the daughter of J.R. Rosenwald and Augusta Nusbaum Rosenwald . When Edith was a young girl, her father and her uncle Aaron Nusbaum purchased half interest in Sears, Roebuck, and set about reorganizing the growing company. By 1908, J.R. was in full control. It was said that Edith inherited her father's characteristics and that her nickname Effie stood for Efficiency. Though her father and mother were penurious when it came to personal spending, they gave freely to charities, establishing a school for blacks in the rural South. Since he was a Jew, explained J.R, he knew what discrimination felt like.

Edith inherited her parents' predilection for philanthropy. When she married Edgar Stern and moved to New Orleans, she was quick to notice the absence of any civic charity in that city, as well as the rampant discrimination toward blacks and Jews. In the 1920s, she built an estate in Metairie called Longue Vue, considered one of the most beautiful houses in the South. From there, she set out to win over the city of New Orleans and reform the public school system. First she built the Newcomb Nursery School, then the Metairie Country Day School. Frustrated by the political corruption that she encountered along the way, she gained permission to examine the city's rolls and unearthed 10,000 illegally registered voters. While suffering the cries of angry politicians, Stern systematically began to divest the voter rolls of the illegals while propping up black registration. "Soon," wrote Stephen Birmingham, "she had marshaled a small army of women for her Voters Service, and she organized a 'broom parade' of socially prominent women who, brooms in hand, marched on City Hall, the message, of course, being that it was time to sweep the rascals out."

Stern was made a trustee of Dillard University, a black college, and founded the New Orleans repertory theater, the Symphony Society, and the Isaac Delgado Museum of Art; she also caused more consternation when she gave a buffet supper in honor of Marian Anderson . Edith and her husband founded the Stern Fund, which supported philanthropic activities for 20 years. She once commented to her sister Marion that upon her arrival in Metairie the streets had not been paved; her sister replied, "Good God, Edith, don't tell me you did that too!"