Frederick August Otto Schwarz

Frederick August Otto Schwarz (October 18, 1836 – May 17, 1911) was a German-born American toy retailer known for founding FAO Schwarz.[1][2][3]

For persons of a similar name, see Frederick Schwarz (disambiguation).

Frederick August Otto Schwarz
Born(1836-10-18)October 18, 1836
Herford, Province of Westphalia, Germany
DiedMay 17, 1911(1911-05-17) (aged 74)
Manhattan, New York City, United States
OccupationBusinessman
Spouse(s)Caroline Clausen
RelativesCharles Henry Schwarz
Signature

Biography

Schwarz was born to a German Lutheran family in 1836 at Herford, Westphalia, Germany [4] and immigrated to the United States in 1856 with his three brothers, Henry, Richard, and Gustav.[5][6][7] He worked for a Baltimore stationery importer. German exporters sometimes packed toys and other items in with the stationery in the hope of expanding their exports. Schwarz put the toys in the store window, and they outsold the stationery.[8] By 1862 he had switched to selling the toys from his own shop, and in 1870 he moved his business to Manhattan. He married Caroline Clausen (1841–1904). Together they had four sons and three daughters: Anna Schwarz (1863–?), Ida Schwarz (1864-1942), Henry Schwarz, George Frederick Schwarz (1868–1931), Emilie Schwarz (1870–1958), H. Marshall Schwarz,[9] and Herbert Ferlando Schwarz (1883–1960).[10][11] Frederick August Otto Schwarz died at his home in Manhattan at 20 East 61st Street.[1][12] Schwarz is buried in Green-Wood Cemetery.

Frederick August Otto Schwarz Jr. is his great grandson.[13]

References
  1. "Frederick A. O. Schwarz". New York Times. May 18, 1911.
  2. "Noted Schwarz toy store has deep roots here". tribunedigital-baltimoresun. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  3. "The Schwarz house of toys started here, without F.A.O." tribunedigital-baltimoresun. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  4. Westfalen: Landeskirchliches Archiv der Evang. Kirche > Kirchenkreis Herford > Herford, Münster > Taufen 1836 - 1839 Band 51
  5. Augustyn, Frederick J. (2004). Dictionary of Toys and Games in American Popular Culture. Haworth Press. ISBN 0-7890-1504-8.
  6. "FAO Schwarz closes: Read Fortune's 1940 story about its rise". Fortune. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
  7. Kelly, Jacques. "The Schwarz house of toys started here, without F.A.O."
  8. "A Century in Toyland". Time. March 9, 1962. Retrieved July 21, 2007.
  9. Frederick August Otto Schwarz in the 1880 US Census in Manhattan
  10. "United States Census, 1910", database with images, FamilySearch, accessed 13 February 2020, Herbert F Schwartz in household of F A Schwartz, Manhattan Ward 19, New York, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 1163, sheet 8A, family 213, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1043; FHL microfilm 1,375,056.
  11. "United States Census, 1910", database with images, FamilySearch, accessed 13 February 2020, F A Schwartz, Manhattan Ward 19, New York, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 1163, sheet 7B, family 213, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1043; FHL microfilm 1,375,056.
  12. Frederick A. Schwarz; 74 y; May 17, 1911; death certificate 16589; Manhattan
  13. McFadden, Robert D. (April 25, 1989). "Man in the News". New York Times. Retrieved July 21, 2007.


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