Overview of the Collection
Western Reserve Historical Society
Gift of Ruth Gilbert
Isadore Fred Freiberger Papers
4.8 linear feet (7 boxes including two oversized containers)
Isadore Fred Freiberger was born on December 12, 1879, in New York City to Esther and Samuel Freiberger. He moved to Cleveland, Ohio, with his family when he was 3 years old. Freiberger attended Central High School, then worked his way through Adelbert College (Western Reserve University), graduating in 1901. After his marriage to Fannie Fertel in 1903, Freiberger began his 60+ year career at Cleveland Trust Company as a clerk, where he was eventually promoted to Board Chair in 1941. Freiberger served as director of Forest City Publishing Company, which published the Plain Dealer and Cleveland News, as well as nine other businesses. He also served in leadership positions at the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce, Cleveland Marshall School of Law, the Great Lakes Exposition, the Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland, Mt. Sinai Hospital, the Playhouse Foundation, and Western Reserve University. Recognition of service included the Adelbert College Distinguished Alumni Award, the American Heart Association Award of Merit for Distinguished Service, the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce Medal for Public Service, the Jewish Community Federation's Charles Eisenman Award, and the Western Reserve University Honorary Doctorate of Humanities. Freiberger died on April 28, 1969, in Cleveland at age 89. The Isadore Fred Freiberger Papers consists of architectural notes, articles, awards, biographical information, certificates, correspondence, a deed, letters, magazines, memorial resolutions, newspaper clippings, obituaries, photo albums, photographs, programs, recognitions, records, reports, scrapbooks, and speech texts.
MS 5468
The records are in English
1879-1970
Biography of Isadore Fred FreibergerIsadore Fred Freiberger was born on December 12, 1879, in New York City to Esther and Samuel Freiberger. He moved to Cleveland, Ohio, with his family when he was 3 years old. Freiberger attended Central High School, then worked his way through Adelbert College (Western Reserve University), graduating in 1901. His college years included leadership in launching a university level men's basketball team. After his marriage to Fannie Fertel in 1903, Freiberger began his 60+ year career at Cleveland Trust Company as a clerk, while attending night school at Baldwin Wallace College's School of Law (predecessor to Cleveland Marshall School of Law), earning a Bachelor of Laws in 1904. Freiberger, affectionately known as "Fry" or "Frei" among business colleagues and friends, was promoted steadily at Cleveland Trust, eventually becoming its Board Chair in 1941. His early career mentors included Newton D. Baker and Frederick H. Goff. Freiberger served as director of Forest City Publishing Company, which published the
Plain Dealer and Cleveland News, as well as nine other businesses. Freiberger was president of the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce in 1927 and vice-president of the Great Lakes Exposition in 1936. He was a member of over 50 religious, civic, business and charitable organizations including Cleveland Marshall School of Law, the Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland, Mt. Sinai Hospital, the Playhouse Foundation, and Western Reserve University. Recognition of service included the Western Reserve University (WRU) Honorary Doctorate of Humanities in 1947, the Jewish Community Federation's Charles Eisenman Award in 1953, the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce Medal for Public Service in 1957, the American Heart Association Award of Merit for Distinguished Service in 1957, and the Adelbert College Distinguished Alumni Award in 1968. Freiberger helped WRU complete a $20 million development program, and in 1956, WRU named its new library in his honor. Freiberger died at age 89 on April 28, 1969, in Cleveland.Scope and ContentThe Isadore Fred Freiberger Papers consists of architectural notes, articles, awards, biographical information, certificates, correspondence, a deed, letters, magazines, memorial resolutions, newspaper clippings, obituaries, photo albums, photographs, programs, recognitions, records, reports, scrapbooks, and speech texts. The collection consists of approximately 460 photographs.
Those interested in prominent Cleveland philanthropists and social activists will find this collection to be of value. Researchers focusing on the Jewish connection to Cleveland businesses should find this collection to be of interest. Of particular interest are photographs of I.F. Freiberger with well-known national celebrities.
Statement of ArrangementThe Isadore Fred Freiberger Papers collection is arranged in three series: Series I: Personal is arranged alphabetically by document type. Series II: Community is arranged alphabetically by subject, then alphabetically by document type, and then by subject. Series III: Business is arranged alphabetically by subject, then alphabetically by document type.
Processing InformationProcessed by Alan Gross and Jeffrey Zuckerman
Restrictions on AccessNone
Restrictions on UseNone
Preferred Citation[Container ___, Folder ___ ] MS___Isadore Fred Freiberger Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio
Acquisition InformationGift of Ruth Gilbert, 1997.
Indexing TermsThe following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Subjects:Bankers -- Ohio -- ClevelandJewish businesspeople -- Ohio -- ClevelandPhilanthropists -- Ohio -- ClevelandJews -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- PhotographsPersons:Freiberger, Isadore Fred, 1879-Organizations/Corporations:Cleveland Trust CompanyWestern Reserve UniversityMS 5468 Isadore Fred Freiberger PapersSeries I: Personal1879-1970 and undated11Articles, biographical information about I. F. Freiberger1927-197012Articles, I. F. Freiberger at Spring Training in a Cleveland Indians uniform; reports on sales of the Indians to Bill Veeck (includes related photographs)1934-194613Awards, I. F. Freiberger, Adelbert College Distinguished Alumni Award; Cleveland Marshall School of Law Doctor of Law; Forest City Publishing Company 80th Birthday Acknowledgement; American Heart Association Award of Merit; Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland/Charles Eisenman Award; Island Creek Coal Company 70th Birthday Resolution (original material moved to oversize container 2)1949-196814Biographical Information1879-196915Certificates, Honorary Recognition by Cleveland Marshall School of Law, Cleveland Chamber of Commerce, Western Reserve University1947-195516Correspondence, 50th Wedding AnniversaryJune 195317Correspondence, newsletters, newspaper clippings, meeting minutes, programs, Newton D. Baker1932-196518Correspondence, Bud Freiberger (son of I. F. Freiberger) receives fatherly wisdom upon Bud's 21st birthdayJanuary 12, 193119Correspondence, Fan Freiberger (wife of I. F. Freiberger), terms of estate planMay 16, 1952110Correspondence, Freiberger family1900-1970111Correspondence, Great Lakes Exposition Luncheon Honoring President Franklin D. Roosevelt (includes photographs of Roosevelt with I. F. Freiberger in the background)1936112Correspondence, newspaper clippings, and photographs, I. F. Freiberger's 70th BirthdayDecember, 1949113Correspondence, eulogy, list, memorial resolutions from Case Western Reserve University and Fairmount Temple, obituaries, I. F. Freiberger deathApril, 1969114Correspondence, presentation of award winning cartoon "Aftermath" by Pulitzer Prize winning Plain Dealer editorial cartoonist Edward D. Kuekes1953115Correspondence, Henry Rocker's 75th Birthday1957116Deed, Malabar Farm1953117Memorial Resolution, Cleveland Trust CompanyJune, 1969118Newspaper clippings, airplane flight from Cleveland, Ohio to New York Cityundated119Newspaper clippings, 75th BirthdayDecember, 1954120Newspaper clippings, 80th Birthday (includes related photographs)December, 1959121Newspaper clippings, 85th BirthdayDecember, 1964122Newspaper clippings, 87th BirthdayDecember, 1966123Newspaper clipping, "He'll Care for Your Millions: The Horatio Alger Story of 'Fry,' a 'First Citizen' of Cleveland"1954124Newspaper clipping, transmission of first dial telephone call in Cleveland, Ohio made by I. F. Freiberger from his home1928125Obituary, The Cleveland Plain Dealer, I. F. Freiberger (original material moved to oversize container 2)1969126Photo album, I. F. Freiberger (original material moved to oversize container 1)1925-1961 and undated127Photo album, Great Lakes ore carrier cruise enjoyed by the Freibergers1951128Photographs, Fannie Fertel Freiberger (oversized material removed to Oversized Container 1)undated129Photographs and drawings, I. F. Freibergerundated130Photographs, I. F. Freiberger (original material moved to oversize container 2)undated131Photographs, Freiberger familyundated132Photographs, including group photo of actor/singer Gene Autry and I. F. Freiberger1946-1967133Photographs, Mr. and Mrs. I. F. Freibergerundated134Photographs, Mr. and Mrs. I. F. Freiberger (continued)undated135Program, Colonel Charles Lindbergh Dinner following first transatlantic flightAugust 1, 1927136Program, Connie Mack's Testimonial Luncheon honoring Baseball's Greatest Lineup, Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaJuly 7, 1952137Program, General Matthew Ridgway Testimonial Dinner hosted by the American Ordnance Association (original material moved to oversize container 2)November 10, 1953138Records, dedication of I. F. Freiberger Library on the Case Western Reserve University campus (original material moved to oversize container 2)1956139Scrapbook, American Heart Association Council for High Blood Pressure Research, I. F. Freiberger Distinguished Service Award (original material moved to oversize container 2)1960140Scrapbook, "I. F. Freiberger: December 12, 1949," 70th Birthday (original material moved to oversize container 1)1949141Scrapbook, Mr. and Mrs. I. F. Freiberger crossing the Atlantic Ocean on the USS Manhattan (original material moved to oversize container 2)1937142Speech text, "A Mountaineer's Dream--The Story of a Fantastic Lawsuit" by Ashley M. Van Duzer195421Scrapbook, 55th Wedding Anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Freiberger195822Scrapbook, "Many happy returns Fry," I. F. Freiberger's 75th Birthday195423Scrapbook, "Tributes to I. F. Freiberger On the Occasion of his Seventy-Fifth Birthday," Volume 1December 12, 195424Scrapbook, "Tributes to I. F. Freiberger On the Occasion of his Seventy-Fifth Birthday," Volume 2December 12, 195431Scrapbook, "Tributes to I. F. Freiberger On the Occasion of his Seventieth Birthday," Volume 1December 12, 194932Scrapbook, "Tributes to I. F. Freiberger On the Occasion of his Seventieth Birthday," Volume 2December 12, 194933Scrapbook, "Tributes to I. F. Freiberger On the Occasion of his Seventieth Birthday," Volume 3December 12, 194934Scrapbook, "Tributes to I. F. Freiberger On the Occasion of his Seventieth Birthday"December 12, 1949Series II: Community1900-1972 and undated41Cleveland Chamber of Commerce, articles and newspaper clippings, I. F. Freiberger, President (includes related photographs)192842Cleveland Marshall School of Law, articles, correspondence, and recognitions, I. F. Freiberger1955-197243Cleveland Marshall School of Law, awards to I. F. Freiberger1962-196844Communal organizations, articles: Supreme Lodge Knights of Phyllis; Variety Club of Cleveland; Naval Reserve Week; Great Lakes Exposition1937-195445Community Chest of Greater Cleveland, award, Distinguished Service Certificate presented to I. F. Freiberger195446Goodrich House, articles (includes related photographs)1900-195447Greater Cleveland American Red Cross, newspaper clippings, I. F. Freiberger Recognition195048Jewish Community of Cleveland, photographs, Leadershipundated49Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland, correspondence and newspaper articles, Charles Eisenman Award to I. F. Freiberger (includes related photographs)1953410Mt. Sinai Hospital, certificates, I. F. Freiberger Recognition1953-1961411Newcomen Society, program and remarks honoring I. F. Freiberger mentor Frederick H. Goff1951412Phi Epsilon Pi, certificate, correspondence, newspaper article, I. F. Freiberger and Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver Recognitions (includes related photographs)1948, 1956413Western Reserve University, articles, correspondence, and speech, I. F. Freiberger Library Dedication1956414Western Reserve University, articles, Men's Basketball Team Launch led by I. F. Freiberger (includes related photographs)1901415Western Reserve University, articles, programs, reports and papers, inauguration and retirement of President John S. Millis1947-1969416Western Reserve University, correspondence, Class of 1901 Reunion1953-1959, 1969417Western Reserve University, correspondence and newspaper clippings, I. F. Freiberger Library Dedication1956418Western Reserve University, Distinguished Alumni Award to I. F. Freiberger (includes related photographs)1968419Western Reserve University, I. F. Freiberger Library Dedication (includes related photographs)1956Series III: Business1895-1990 and undated420Cleveland Trust Company, architectural note, construction of Rotunda at East 9th Street and Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohioundated421Cleveland Trust Company, articles, highlighting I. F. Freiberger as a banking leader1941-1990422Cleveland Trust Company, articles and correspondence, election of I. F. Freiberger and George Gund as Board Chair and President, respectively1941423Cleveland Trust Company, articles and correspondence, I. F. Freiberger and George Gund recognition of twenty years of service as Board Chair and President, respectively1961424Cleveland Trust Company, correspondence, I. F. Freiberger Retirement as Board Chair1962425Cleveland Trust Company, correspondence, newspaper articles, reports, history of organization1895-1966 and undated426Cleveland Trust Company, magazines with articles by I. F. Freiberger1928-1959427Cleveland Trust Company, Memorial Resolution, I. F. Freiberger1969428Cleveland Trust Company, newspaper article, election of I. F. Freiberger to the Board1939429Cleveland Trust Company, newspaper clippings, recognition of I. F. Freiberger for fifty years of service to the Bank (includes related photographs)1951430Cleveland Trust Company, photographs, general (oversized material removed to Oversized Container 1)undated431Cleveland Trust Company, scrapbook, election of I. F. Freiberger and George Gund as Board Chair and President, respectively.194151Forest City Publishing Company, Launch of Samuel Mather Ore Carrier, Pickands Mather & Company, certificate, correspondence, magazine, newspaper articles, photographs (8)1952-195652Island Creek Coal Company, articles and correspondence, dedication of I. F. Freiberger Tug Boat (includes related photographs)195753Island Creek Coal Company, articles and corporate reports1954-195554Island Creek Coal Company, scrapbook, dedication of "Raymond E. Salvati" Tug Boat195655Island Creek Coal Company, scrapbook, "Directors Meeting and Mine Inspection Trip"September 21, 1955 through September 25, 195556Island Creek Coal Company, scrapbook, "Directors' Meetings"September, 1951