| | Manuscript Collection | Requires cookie* | | 1 | Title: | Max Ratner Papers
| | | | Creator: | Ratner, Max | | | | Dates: | 1959-1985 | | | | Abstract: | Max Ratner was a Cleveland, Ohio, businessman, philanthropist, and Zionist. He was born Meyer Ratowczer in Bialystok, Belarus, Russia, and immigrated with his family to the United States, arriving in Cleveland in 1921. The family changed its name to Ratner. After graduation from Glenville High School in 1925, he went to work at the family-owned business, Forest City Materials Company, a supplier of lumber and building materials. He became president of Forest City Materials in 1928, and in 1929, directed its merger with Buckeye Material. By the 1950s, Forest City profited from the suburban building boom, and by the end of that decade was one of Ohio's largest retail building materials companies. In 1960, Forest City Materials became Forest City Enterprises, Inc. and began concentrating on real estate development, ending its retail operations in 1987. Since the 1970s it has been involved in large urban developments such as Tower City Center in Cleveland. Max Ratner was active in Zionist activities, was a founder of the American-Israel Chamber of Commerce, served as president of Park Synagogue, and along with other family members, supported the Ratner Montessori Schools. The collection consists of photostatic copies from business publications and newspapers, an annual report of Forest City Enterprises, art catalogues, a publication by and about former residents of Bialystok, Russia, and a Ratner Schools brochure. | | | | Call #: | MS 4623 | | | | Extent: | 0.10 linear feet (1 container) | | | | Subjects: | Ratner, Max, 1907-1995. | Ratner family. | Forest City Enterprises, Inc. | Ratner Schools. | Jews -- Ohio -- Cleveland. | Jewish businesspeople -- Ohio -- Cleveland. | Philanthropists -- Ohio -- Cleveland. | Jews, Russian -- History.
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