Alfred Tredway White
Born(1846-05-28)May 28, 1846
DiedJanuary 29, 1921(1921-01-29) (aged 74)
NationalityAmerican
Known forSocial reform, philanthropy
ChildrenAnnie Jean Van Sinderen

Alfred Tredway White (May 28, 1846 January 29, 1921) was an American housing reformer and philanthropist, and was known as "Brooklyn's first citizen."[1] After attending Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, he developed the Home Buildings (1877), Tower Buildings (1879, now Cobble Hill Towers)[2] and the Riverside Buildings (1890).[3] He advocated a model of "philanthropy plus five percent," accepting a limited financial return on his projects.[4]

"Workingman's Cottages" conceived by White as low-cost housing in 1876 (2009).

White's buildings were extensively praised by Jacob Riis in "How The Other Half Lives" as a "beau ideal" and a "big village of contented people."[5] They covered roughly half of their lots, leaving large courtyards suitable for concerts and other recreation.[6]

He served as Commissioner of City Works for Brooklyn during the administration of Mayor Schieren.[7]

He was an early benefactor of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and is memorialized there by the Alfred T. White Memorial and Amphitheater.[8][9] He was also a major supporter of both the Hampton Institute and Tuskegee Institute. He was a member of the Unitarian Universalist church.[3]

Thredway White died in 1921, leaving some $15 million to his daughter Annie Jean Van Sinderen.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Alfred T. White, Brooklyn Philanthropist, Leaves $15,000,000 Estate to Daughter". The New York Times. February 20, 1921. Retrieved 18 September 2013. [D]rowned on Jan. 29 while skating in Central Valley, N.Y.
  2. Gray, Christopher (October 10, 2008). "Architectural Wealth, Built for the Poor". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 September 2013.
  3. 1 2 Hoogenboom, Olive. "Alfred T. White". Dictionary of Unitarian & Universalist Biography. Unitarian Universalist History & Heritage Society. Archived from the original on 2012-06-21. Retrieved 18 September 2013.
  4. Jamieson, Wendell (January 24, 2003). "Landmark Towers, Still Loved and Lived In". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 September 2013.
  5. Riis, Jacob (1890). How the Other Half Lives. Macmillan. p. 264. ISBN 0312574010.
  6. Gray, Christopher (August 23, 1992). "The Riverside Buildings; A Model Tenement In Dickensian Style". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 September 2013.
  7. "WHAT ALFRED T. WHITE HAS SPENT; Mayor Schieren Learns How One Man He Appointed Has Save Brooklyn Money Without Penury". The New York Times. October 25, 1895. Retrieved 18 September 2013.
  8. Furman, Bob. "Heights History: Alfred T. White". Retrieved 18 September 2013.
  9. "Alfred T. White Amphitheater - Brooklyn Botanic Garden". Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Archived from the original on 2013-09-18. Retrieved 2013-09-18.


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