Robert H. Foerderer | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Image fromRobert H. Foerderer, Late a Representative-elect from Pennsylvania published in 1905. | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromPennsylvania | |
| In office March 4, 1901 – July 26, 1903 | |
| Preceded by | James R. Young |
| Succeeded by | Samuel A. Davenport, Galusha A. Grow |
| Constituency | at-large district (1901–1903) 4th district (1903) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1860-05-16)May 16, 1860 |
| Died | July 26, 1903(1903-07-26) (aged 43) Torresdale, Philadelphia, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
Robert Hermann Foerderer (May 16, 1860 – July 26, 1903) was an American businessman and politician who served as aRepublican member of theU.S. House of Representatives forPennsylvania's at-large congressional district from 1901 to 1903 andPennsylvania's 4th congressional district in 1903.
He owned Robert H. Foerderer, Inc. which produced leather goods and invented achrome tanning technique to create a leather product he trademarkedVici Kid.
He died in office in 1903, possibly due to chromate poisoning from his years handling chromium to perfect his chrome tanning technique.
Robert H. Foerderer was born inBad Frankenhausen, inSchwarzburg-Rudolstadt. His parents were U.S. citizens and were visiting the place of their birth.[1] His father Edward was a manufacturer ofMorocco leather. Robert attended public and private schools inPhiladelphia,Pennsylvania but did not attend college[2]
In 1881, he married Caroline Fischer and together they had two children.[3]
Foerderer worked for a brief period as a bank clerk[1] and entered the leather industry as an apprentice at his father'smorocco leather business.[4]
In 1885, he established Robert H. Foerderer, Inc., which also manufacturedleather goods. Foerderer invented achrome tanning technique for treating animal skin withchromium sulfate that resulted in a soft and supple leather for the production of handbags, shoes and gloves. His technique reduced the tanning time from four months to two to three weeks. Foerderer named his leather product Vici Kid — "Vici" being Latin for "I conquered" and "kid" referring to the goat skin used to make the leather.[5] Foerderer also partnered with theRohm & Haas chemical company to implement the use of Oropon as a replacement for dog dung in the leather softening process.[6]
Foerderer's company began as a one-room factory in theFrankford section of Philadelphia and eventually grew to cover 17 acres.[5] The factory employed over 4,000 people and processed 50,000 skins per day.[7] His company also used the by-products of leather production to producehide glue and goat hair for various uses. The glue plant was located in Philadelphia'sBridesburg neighborhood, and the goat-hair factory was near the leather plant.[4]
Foerderer's Vici Kid leather product won the grand prize and gold medal in a competition at the1893 Chicago World's Fair, which introduced the product to a large audience and created demand.[5]
Foerderer served as president and director of the Keystone Telephone Company[3] and as a member of the boards of directors for thePhiladelphia Rapid Transit,[8] the Columbia Avenue Trust Company, and the Quaker City Trust. He was a member of theUnion League of Philadelphia, the Columbia Club, theFive O'Clock Club of Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Bourse, and the Manhattan Club of New York. Foerderer was a member of theIndependent Order of Odd Fellows and a thirty-second degreeMason.[4]
In 1895, Foerderer purchased the summer home ofCharles Macalester in theTorresdale neighborhood of Philadelphia. The estate, previously named Glengarry, was renamedGlen Foerd.[9]
Foerderer was elected in1900 as a Republican to the57th United States Congress as a representative for Pennsylvania's at-large congressional district. He served on the committees for banking and currency, enrolled bills and ventilation and acoustics.[4] Foerderer was re-elected in1902 for Pennsylvania's 4th congressional district and served until his death in 1903.[10]
Foederer died in 1903 while in office at his home in Torresdale.[11] He was interred in Philadelphia'sLaurel Hill Cemetery.[12] It is possible that he died fromchromate poisoning from his years handling chromium for his chrome tanning technique although the cause of death was listed asBright's disease.[8]
Following Foerderer's death,Reuben Moon would be elected to fill his vacancy.[11] Foerderer's son, Percival took over management of the leather goods business and is known for building theLa Ronda mansion and estate inBryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.
The Glen Foerd estate is currently operated as ahistoric house museum, and the grounds are a public park.[13]
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link){{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromPennsylvania's at-large congressional district 1901–1903 alongside: Galusha A. Grow | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromPennsylvania's 4th congressional district 1903 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
