Biographical Sketch of Emil P. ALBRECHT (1863-); Philadelphia Co., PA Contributed to the PAGenWeb Archives by Diana Smith [christillavalley@comcast.net] Copyright. All Rights Reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ********************************************************* "Philadelphia, A History of the City and its People; A Record of 225 Years" Publisher: S. H. Clark; Philadelphia; 1912. Vol. 3, page 420 Author, Ellis Paxson Oberholtzer EMIL P. ALBRECHT Since the idea of the Philadelphia Bourse took definite shape and the movement for the materialization of this idea was instituted, Emil P. Albrecht has been associated with the undertaking, and this splendid organization for the promotion of trade interests in Philadelphia is due in large measure to his insight, to his understanding of the situation, and to his active cooperation with its president, George E. Bartol, Mr. Albrecht now filling the position of secretary and treasurer. He was born in Philadelphia, November 24, 1863, a son of Herman and M. J. Georgiana (Broadwater) Albrecht. The father was born in the duchy of Brunswick, Germany, and when twenty years of age came to the new world, settling in Philadelphia, where he entered manufacturing circles. Later he was associated with the American Machine Company of this city and the firm engaged in the manufacture of household hardware. He continued with the house until 1891, when they sold out to the North Brothers Manufacturing Company, which firm is still in existence. Since that time Herman Albrecht has been at the head of the chemical department of the Johnston-Jennings Company of Cleveland, Ohio. His wife, a native of Broadwater county, Virginia, belonged to the Broadwater family who were among the earliest settlers in that portion of the Old Dominion. As both her parents died when she was very young, she came to Philadelphia and lived with a family of Virginians, who removed from Broadwater county to this city and who had been close friends of her parents in the former state. In 1856 she became the wife of Herman Albrecht and now resides in Cleveland, at the age of seventy-six years, enjoying excellent health. While residents of Philadelphia both Mr. and Mrs. Albrecht were prominent members of the Lutheran church and during the period of the Civil war, Mrs. Albrecht was very active as one of the volunteer nurses. In the public schools of his native city, Emil P. Albrecht pursued his education and when a youth of twelve entered the high school, being the youngest member of the class. Upon completing his third year studies he left school to enter the employ of the American Machine Company, in which his father was interested, his first position being that of worker in the shop. He took this method to acquaint himself with the business in all of its branches. He afterward spent some time in the office and at the age of nineteen years went upon the road as a traveling representative of the firm, continuing thus as a salesman for three years. He remained with the firm until 1891 and spent the entire year of 1888 in Japan in negotiations with the postoffice officials of that government in the interests of the American Machine Company. During several visits to Europe in the interests of the American Machine Company, Mr. Albrecht saw and appreciated the benefits of the Hamburg Bourse to the merchants of that city and when the first inquiries were sent out relative to the advisability of establishing a similar institution in Philadelphia, he was among the first to favor and encourage the undertaking and was one of the first of the one hundred and ten charter members. His thorough knowledge of the details concerning such enterprises and the earnest interest evinced in furthering the movement, engendered a close friendship between him and George E. Bartol, and the confidence which the latter had in the ability of Mr. Albrecht led to his being requested to devote his entire time to the promotion of the undertaking. He was made secretary of the building committee and the erection of the building was begun in 1893. The 1st of January, 1896, witnessed the opening of the Bourse and with every step taken in the completion of the work, Mr. Albrecht was closely associated. He was the youngest member of the board, from which he resigned in 1896 to accept the position of secretary and was soon made assistant treasurer, and later treasurer. On becoming secretary he at once undertook the task of organizing and putting into active operation the entire news service, which makes the Bourse so valuable to its members. Arrangements were made for receiving the market reports of the principal cities of Europe on a large number of commodities not hitherto reported by cable. He also organized the service in New York city where the news was collected by a corps of special reporters at noontime, immediately collated and sent to the Bourse by long distance telephone. In addition to his duties as secretary, he organized the exhibition department. He keeps a general oversight over the entire working of the institution, so that in the absence of the president he is able to take charge of such matters as ordinarily receive the latter's personal attention. Mr. Albrecht is also financially and officially interested in other business enterprises. At the present writing he is vice president of the C. Howard Hunt Pen Company of Camden, New Jersey, and a director of the Mercantile Library, while formerly he was president of the National File & Tool Company. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Trade of Philadelphia. He also belongs to the Camden Astronomical Society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the National Geographical Society associations which indicate something of the nature and breadth of his interests. His political allegiance is usually given to the republican party, yet he is independent in thought and action and does not take active part in political work. In Philadelphia, on the 10th of June, 1885, Mr. Albrecht was married to Miss Florence Josephine Craig, a daughter of Joseph B. and Emma (Leibert) Craig. Her father was of Scotch-Irish descent, the family having come from the North of Ireland. The Leiberts, however, were among the earliest Dutch settlers of Pennsylvania, having been here since the time of William Penn. Mr. Albrecht is a member of the Lutheran church and Mrs. Albrecht is a member of the Episcopal church. She is an accomplished pianist and now gives much of her time to literary work, contributing interesting articles and short stories to many high class magazines and various popular publications, and writing to a considerable extent descriptions of foreign travel. Both Mr. and Mrs. Albrecht are intensely interested in photography and recreation and enjoyment comes chiefly to them through travel, which gives them excellent opportunity for the use of the camera. For the past six years they have spent their vacations abroad, crossing the Atlantic each year if only for a few weeks' stay. They have visited all the provinces of Holland, including towns and villages of any size and always prefer to spend their time in inland places, or if on the coast, in the small fishing villages rather than in the busy cities. They have about two thousand photographs taken in Holland beside many others in foreign land; including nearly every country in Europe. The artistic sense in both Mr. and Mrs. Albrecht is highly developed and they are masters of the mechanical processes of photography, so that their work is of the highest order. Readily appreciative of the effects produced by light and shade, recognizing with almost unerring judgment the attractiveness of a photographic "subject," their pictures constitute a most attractive art collection as well as serve as an exposition of their interest in foreign lands. Their enjoyment of photography has led them to secure splendid equipment for the making of pictures and their collections furnish interesting entertainment to their many friends, especially when supplemented by the ready description and explanation which Mr. and Mrs. Albrecht add. This file is located at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/philadelphia/bios/history/albrecht-ep.txt